I Am Legend [Two-Disc Special Edition]

This is but one part of the narrative that doesn't hold up to any sort of scrutiny. What does hold up, though, is Smith. He is the anchor, the soul, the reason for watching. His is an emotional performance, that of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He makes reference several times in the film to having to correct the mistake, to make everything right. Is he merely trying to motivate himself, or does he truly believe he can bring the dead back to life? An argument can be made for both, but whatever the reason, he's never anything less than captivating. And it isn't until the last twenty minutes when new characters enter that the picture stumbles just a bit. Not because of poor acting, but because their inclusion is an obvious way to end the story.

Let's face it: Neville has survived in NYC by himself for three years. He's fought these dark seekers, conducted medical tests on them and rabid animals, constructed elaborate defenses in his home, and built a pseudo-life with mannequins in stores. There's nothing in the film to suggest he wouldn't have been able to keep going for another twenty. Which would make an entirely boring movie with no real resolution. Unless he makes a mistake.

That's what happens, without giving too much away. A mistake. An innocent mistake, but one nonetheless. When his companion is taken away, it seems to sap Neville's strength, sending him on a road to utter destruction, perhaps as suggested, even suicide. It's the same thing Tom Hanks faced while on his makeshift raft with Wilson. Neville treats Sam as a real person, carrying on complex conversations with an animal he knows he'll get no response from. For three years, the dog is his only companion and he'd go to great lengths to keep it safe. It's no more obvious than in our first encounter with the creatures.

And there is the thematic turn in the movie. Instead of remaining true to the premise of "the last man on earth" trying to make things right, "I Am Legend" devolves into an action film. Running, shooting, fighting, screaming, exploding. It's all very much by the numbers. The ending looks spectacular with top-notch effects, but nothing created in a computer (or practical on set) can compare to seeing the skyscrapers of the city shrouded in weeds and the eerie silence of a jungle. We're conditioned to expect all the sounds associated with a bustling city, and when there is nothing, it's the greatest effect the film can have. Those scenes of the empty New York streets create a mood no music cue, no line of dialogue can. It's far more effective in involving the audience than any action sequence.

However, I will concede the ending would not be possible without that action climax, let alone the name of the film. Certain things have to happen in order for a person to become a legend (hence the title). A long and celebrated life isn't one of them.

Now, considering "I Am Legend" takes place in the middle of New York City, it is perhaps inevitable that businesses and other products are featured. Nevertheless, there comes a moment early in the film when the product placement becomes entirely too much. As Neville and Sam zip around in a red sport car, it comes to a sliding stop, eventually showing the car model squarely to the camera. It's not just the car, though. Name brand companies are prominently displayed on skyscrapers, retail stores and restaurants, Broadway productions. The camera seems to take extra time to look for the product placement. Among the strangest is a clip from "Shrek" late in the film. Strange considering it has little to do with anything in the movie and doubly so as "Shrek" is a DreamWorks production, not a Warner one.

Despite my small nitpicks--including a puzzling lapse that sets up the climax--"I Am Legend" is completely recommendable. Viewers looking for action won't be disappointed and those looking for something a bit more involved will find new questions come to mind long after the credits roll. Unfortunately, as already mentioned, the script hopes we get on board for the ride without asking those extra questions. It's then, and only then, that the chinks in the armor of "I Am Legend" come out. The movie is enjoyable throughout without holding up to detailed dissection.

Jason's film rating: 6/10

Video:
Warner Bros. use a high-bit-rate, anamorphic transfer to render the 2.40:1-ratio picture as well as possible on disc. What we get are deep, solid colors, evidenced from the very beginning in the vivid red of Neville's Mustang; a minimum of print grain; and no added noise or halos. The screen hues are never bright, sometimes even a tad subdued, but they are always natural, never flashy. Finally, definition is good without being great. There is a soft fuzziness about some of it, especially in medium shots, while close-ups are generally excellent.

Audio:
The disc includes a satisfying Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, representative of what most good action soundtracks offer these days. It has a potent bass that roars when necessary; a generous use of the surrounds, although interspersed with vast stretches of quiet; and a strong dynamic impact, evidenced by the several gunshots and explosions we hear. I wish the filmmakers hadn't anchored out voices in the center channel as usual, but I guess that's a necessity for modern motion-picture theaters.

Extras:
For a "Two-Disc Special Edition," there are relatively few extras involved, probably because the WB powers that be have given over the whole of the second disc to an alternate version of the film with a new ending. So, disc one contains mainly the original theatrical version of the film and four animated comics, the comics totaling about twenty-one minutes: "Death as a Gift," "Isolation," "Sacrificing the Few for the Many," and "Shelter." In addition, disc one contains some DVD-ROM bonus material; a few theatrical trailers at start-up only; twenty-seven scene selections but no chapter insert; English, French, and Spanish spoken languages and subtitles; and English captions for the hearing impaired.

Disc two contains an alternate rendering of the film that is four minutes longer than the theatrical version, including what Warner Bros. claim is "a controversial ending." Well, I wouldn't call it controversial, but it is certainly different from the ending that accompanies the theatrical version. Like night-and-day different. On this second disc, by the way, you get only English as the spoken language, with French and Spanish subtitles and English captions for the hearing impaired.

Parting Thoughts:
"I Am Legend" is a sullen, somber affair, so don't expect a whiz-bang sci-fi action thriller along the lines of earlier Will Smith projects. "Legend" is darker, more introspective, and a whole lot slower; it's serious in purpose but not always as entertaining as it could be, thanks to its generally dour attitude. Nevertheless, it's good to see a Hollywood sci-fi film at least attempt to do something more than provide a gore fest of exploding heads.

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