I am Legend Movie Review: Legend becomes Christianized

http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/i_am_legend_movie_review.html ^

[truthfinder9]

[spoiler alert]

...the story had been changed in a not quite so subtle manner. The first indication was in a flashback near the beginning of the movie when Smith and his family were praying together. That doesn't happen very often in Hollywood-produced movies. Then, when a surviving mother and her son found Smith, the woman indicated that she had been called by God for that purpose. Smith was skeptical, having spent years trying to find a way to reverse the effects of a "cancer cure" that had mutated and killed most of the human population and turned the remaining members into frightful creatures. During this encounter, it was discussed why God would allow such a terrible thing to happen to the human race. As with most real forms of evil in the world, the cause was the result of our own error. Smith was still skeptical that the woman had been sent by God, as one could see him struggling with his previous faith. However, at the end, he recognizes that, indeed, God has called him and the woman for a special purpose.

[LS]

I look forward to a Freeper review of this movie.

[normy]

Let me guess, the woman is a beautiful mix raced woman with a great body. Good to be Will.

[TruthConquers]

Me, too!!!

[truthfinder9]

No, she was black.

[drjimmy]

The reviewer must not be aware of the 1971 movie version of the story, “The Omega Man.” Charlton Heston does his best impression of being crucified at the end of that one.

[denydenydeny]

It helps tremendously that Will is black. Otherwise, the only depiction of Christians permitted in movies or television is toothless southern rednecks or pedophile Catholic priests. There are no other Christians according to Hollywood, unless they’re black.

[normy]

Was she hot?

[knews_hound]

OK you got it.

Saw it Wed night and have the following observations;

It moves along in fits and starts.  The scenery is quite nice with subtle additions that make it come alive ( the billboard for Superman vs Batman is a nice touch). Much of the story is told in flashbacks that reveal what the Author alludes to in this piece.

I have read complaints that it is "slow".

Hogwash.

In order to display the aching loneliness that this man must feel and to get a sense of what it must be like to literally be the last man on earth takes time.

I thought the movie was excellent.  Well written, sparsely acted by Will Smith and with a surprisingly (to me) spiritual ending, it was well worth your 7 bucks.

Cheers,

knewshound

http://www.knewshound.blogspot.com/

[Romneyfor President2008]

It was not a bad movie. Pretty good in some ways. Smith did a good job.

[VOA]

bump

[LS]

Thanks. I think I’ll see it, if I can find a time next week where everyone won’t be there (my main hangup about going to a theater anymore is the rudeness of the audience, what with conversations and/or cell phones).

[WackySam]

I wished I’d have waited for the DVD.
With the exception of the amazing cinematography of post apocalyptic NYC this movie is a total waste of time.

[Cheverus]

I saw the film.

If you were to call it a film in three acts the first two are excellent. There is one particular scene (no worries telling you this doesn’t give anything away) which takes place while he is trying to find his dog that is absolutely brilliant playing on the childhood fear of the dark.

The third act however feels compressed and gets a bit too hollywood. Also I have some issues with the special effects.

I’ve seen both previous adaptations, (The Last Man on Earth and Omega Man) and read the book. I’d say it is more of a reimagining of Omega Man, in which Neville is an imperfect savior of the human race.

That said Smith’s Neville has a much greater nobility to him than either of the previous Neville’s (while troubled he is bound by an admirable sense of duty) and nothing like the book Neville who is as flawed as they come, I would guess this to be Smith’s influence as he is a very strong personal proponent of strong male role models.

Overall, my review would be “Matinee” - which means take it in some afternoon, get the large popcorn and enjoy.

Closing I will add (and some film fans will agree) that the director’s or extended cut has some real potential... I am very curious as to what has been cut in the interest of a two hour theatrical release.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Which ending was sadder.

Vincent Price in THE LAST MAN IN THE WORLD, which was more like the book,
Charlton Heston. THE OMEGA MAN

or

Burgess Meridith as Hennry Bemish in the Twilight Zone .

[endthematrix]

Great review!

[endthematrix]

Alice Braga is Brazilian...and hot.

[WritableSpace]

I have seen it, it is a good film. There are no pointless sex scenes in the film, but there is lots of violence, and it is very intense, so don’t bring the young kiddies.

Will Smith is just good in this role, and the religious themes running through this movie are similar to “Job” and must of the Old testament as well, but then the Bible is really only one book, just in different revelations.

I’d say that it is a good film, and worth the price of a ticket.

[af_vet_rr]

Let me guess, the woman is a beautiful mix raced woman with a great body. Good to be Will.

Sonia Braga's niece (and she was easy on the eyes). The women in the audience got a shirtless, very buff Smith working out, the men got a few minutes of her ;-) (this movie was definitely not there for the eye candy/romantic types).

My wife and I saw the movie last night. When Smith and his wife and daughter (Smith's real-life daughter btw) prayed right in the middle of a lot of chaos, it was very surprising - it was very natural in the flow of things, but we are so used to religion being down-played in action and sci-fi movies that it was almost jarring, but it fit.

I know that doesn't make sense, but it just fit in.

Later on, the young lady and the boy she was protecting showed up, and she was talking about her faith in God.

I feel like I'm spoilering the movie, but one of the last scenes, the filmmakers had a church and an American flag with very prominent places in the scene. The church was right out of a Norman Rockwell scene.

I'm sure some are foaming at the mouth over this movie - because of the religious imagery, the main characters praying together, the prominent church and American flag, people's faith getting them by, the fact that everybody is armed to the teeth - man, woman, and child, etc.

My mini-review: Very well done movie, although the ending - let's just say it takes after Omega Man (the filmmakers even acknowledge they love Omega Man). Some people will like the ending, some people will hate it.

I would have personally chosen a larger-caliber rifle and pistols, but they were pretty pro-American in the movie (the "villain" if you want to call it that, was British), and the choice of weapons followed that. That's my major nitpick.

I will say this - they definitely assumed their audience was intelligent enough to pick up on things on their own.

Overall, we really liked it. There were a couple of scenes that would make children squirm or upset them (involving a dog, and it was some very emotional acting on Smith's part). Probably one of Smith's best movies - lot of emotional range.

I would recommend it - one of the better action/sci-fi movies to come along in years. There was quite a bit that would make you think.

[af_vet_rr]

In addition to the Christian and American imagery present in the movie, a well-done music video for the National Guard was shown before the movie - see this thread for links/lyrics. I don't know that it was in all chains, but it was in our's.

[af_vet_rr]

I sent you a private message with info on at least one scene that was cut out.

[livius]

I liked it, too. When the woman and the little boy showed up in a car with a rosary or crucifix dangling from the rear view mirror, I was bracing myself for some Christian-bashing. But actually, it wasn’t that at all; she was very hopeful, and it was really her hope that managed to carry on at the end.

I thought it was a very good movie, impressive crowd scenes, lots of scenes of NYC with weeds growing up in Times Square, etc., and of course, lots of terrifying zombies. I went to see it in the afternoon because I didn’t think the zombies would be something to see right before I went to bed!

Will Smith was excellent, and in fact, while the other actors only had fairly brief parts, they were all good, too.

[papertyger]

I thought this version surpassed all previous...including the original book!

[af_vet_rr]

Will Smith is just good in this role, and the religious themes running through this movie are similar to “Job” and must of the Old testament as well, but then the Bible is really only one book, just in different revelations.

A friend made a good point - there were elements of Job as well as Moses, but also Christ - Smith's character is deliberately shown multiple times on the cover of a magazine in his uniform with a large caption that says "Soldier, Savior", Smith at one point tells the creatures that he wants to save them, and then the ending which I won't spoil. Also, he chose to stay and work, even though he knew there was a chance he could die - he was very devoted to saving people in general.

Could be we are reading into things, I'll admit, but they were obsessive about small details, so things like the family praying, the crucifix hanging from the mirror, the church and American flag, the "Soldier, Savior" magazine cover, the discussion about God, the movie release date (even though it was delayed a few weeks, it was still timed to be released near Christmas). It would be interesting to hear more.

[Cheverus]

I always wanted to be a professional movie critic. I even have my own review system based on the “real world” rather than stars...that’s why I gave it a matinee rating.

If any Freepers have a connection to a place where I can do movie reviews......

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Will Smith is the man. The guy turned down an MIT scholarship to be a rapper. Then he starred in a TV show. Then he made some kick-ass movies.

I feel bad for Jazzy Jeff. I'm envisioning the poor guy moping around in a one-bedroom apt, with TV dinner trays strewn about.

[Puppage]

I look forward to a Freeper review of this movie.

I am Bored

Not good at all.

[Puppage]

It was not a bad movie

I thought it incredibly boring. Way to much time before he saw another normal human being. And, can we have 10 more minutes of him sitting in front of his video camera to tell us what didn't work?

The best part of that movie was the dog.

[warsaw44]

I saw this movie last night with a buddy and greatly enjoyed it. I was so surprised and pleased with the element of Christianity that came into play at the end of the movie.
But I would love to know about the scene that ended up on the cutting room floor that you mentioned!