What Do The Critics Say?

"Will Smith raises his game and insists that those around him do the same. The result is a movie that's massively entertaining, and another jewel in its star's cinematic crown." Mike McGranaghan AISLE SEAT "New York City co-stars with Will Smith in this intense film and both give Oscar-calibre performances." Tony Medley TOLUCAN TIMES "I Am Legend is actually about the last man on earth played by one of the last real movie stars on earth." Wesley Morris BOSTON GLOBE "I Am Legend is a scientific marvel. A must see." Vince Koehler ENTERTAINMENT SPECTRUM "Is going to be bigger than crucifix sales on Judgment Day. Scary, inventive, exciting and breathless adventure." Kyle Smith NEW YORK POST "Will Smith's astounding one man show is never less than physically and emotionally shattering, from moment to gripping moment. Think An Inconvenient Truth: The Last Sequel. Ever. And give the man an Oscar, and a stiff drink." Prairie Miller NEWSBLAZE

"The movie year's most expensive and ambitious sci-fi spectacular, I Am Legend, is three movies in one: a futuristic effects-o-rama, a zombie thriller and a survivalist parable. Each is better than average, and the experience is fairly gripping." William Arnold SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER "I Am Legend is Will Smith's one-man sci-fi thrill show, entertaining in all the ways we've come to expect from the talented actor." Kit Bowen HOLLYWOOD.COM "Go for the thrills, for some nerve-gnawing suspense, for the wonderful production design and for the opportunity to spend some time with Will Smith." Robert W. Butler KANSAS CITY STAR "Solitary and suspenseful, it's the scary of which nightmares are made." Susan Granger SUSANGRANGER.COM "Lawrence's direction is patient, solid and suspenseful, and his vision of a lone fellow wandering through the atavistic hulk of Manhattan yields an indelible portrait of post-cataclysmic solitude." Amy Biancolli HOUSTON CHRONICLE

The Inside Story My name is Robert Neville. I am a survivor living in New York City. If there is anybody out there…anybody. Please. You are not alone." Will Smith, the star of such films as "Independence Day", "Men in Black I & II" and "Wild Wild West" is no stranger to science fiction and has long had an affinity for Richard Burton Matheson’s timeless novel "I Am Legend". "There are so many genres within it: horror, science fiction, and this wonderful character piece," the 1998 ("Men in Black") & 2000 ("Wild Wild West") ASCAP Award winner says. "The psychology of being the last man on Earth has always intrigued me. The physical, emotional and spiritual lengths that Robert Neville has to go to just to survive present a beautiful opportunity to tell a universal story about the nature of humanity." Francis Lawrence, the director of the new science fiction action thriller based on Matheson’s tale, adds, "The idea of a man surviving cut off and alone in a modern urban environment was fascinating to me and one that I wanted to explore on film. "I Am Legend" is the quintessential story of one man against the world, which is one reason why it continues to capture people’s imaginations more than half a century after it was first written." Complex and provocative, Matheson’s 1954 novel, widely recognized as a primer for the modern-day horror-science fiction genre, has influenced generations, inspired countless imitators and spawned two prior movie adaptations: 1964’s "The Last Man on Earth", starring 1971 ("The Abominable Dr Phibes") and 1983 (House Of Long Shadows") Caixa de Catalunya Award winner Vincent Price as Dr Robert Morgan, and 1971’s "The Omega Man", starring 1959 Academy Award winner Charlton Heston ("Ben-Hur") as Robert Neville. The Academy Award winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind") who is a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of the author, says that he relished the opportunity to reimagine "I Am Legend" for the screen. "Richard Matheson is like a god to those of us who are science fiction geeks. There is a tradition within serious science fiction of reaching deeply into the roots of character to explore powerful themes: the idea of using science fiction as allegory. This film really grows from that ethic." "Poseidon" producer Goldsman worked from the initial adaptation of Matheson’s seminal novel by Mark Protosevich, which had been one of the most coveted scripts in recent years. "This has been a passion project of mine for over a decade now, and I was thrilled to finally see it being made, especially with this level of talent on both sides of the camera," Protosevich ("The Cell" & "Poseidon") recounted. The filmmakers knew the demanding role would require a high-caliber actor, and when they learned that Will Smith had an interest in the role, the main element of the project clicked into place. Smith, along with producer James Lassiter ("Ali" & "Saving Face"), his partner at Overbrook Entertainment, had been keeping tabs on the project’s development over the years. He regarded playing the role of Robert Neville; a character who occupies the screen virtually alone for much of the film, as both a challenge and an opportunity. "As a writer, I believe greatly in the ability of the written word to describe and generate a character. But, ultimately, what is equally important is the ability to convey what is unspoken. Will is such a fine actor; he delivered an extraordinary performance wherein many of his thoughts and emotions are conveyed through his expressions and behavior," Goldsman comments. Smith had to rely on other forms of expression to portray the emotional range of Neville’s journey. "The process was very different for me because it’s all behavior. It’s just an incredible exercise to not be able to talk yet have to communicate," he offered. "To have to figure out how to communicate without words: for me, it’s the center of what acting is. When you just go quiet for a while, you start to discover a whole range of things about your character and yourself. It’s a fascinating place to explore, both artistically and psychologically." Making his first film with Smith, Francis Lawrence found a sound anchor for the emotional story arc at the heart of the adventure. "What’s fantastic about Will is that he has such a warmth and charisma to him," he notes. "He brings so many dimensions to his role and takes you along with him at every moment. There’s real sympathy for him, you’re scared for him, you laugh with him and you cry with him, and all those layers exist at once in his performance. Most importantly in this role, he is able to convey everything he is going through, both physically and emotionally, often without any dialogue at all." Perhaps the greatest compliment to Smith came from the man who first created the character of Robert Neville. "I think Will Smith is the perfect person to portray Robert Neville," author Richard Matheson stated. "I’ve seen almost every film he has made, and he is always totally convincing in whatever role he is playing. In this story, his character is key and, therefore, he is key." At the core of "I Am Legend" is one man’s struggle to survive against seemingly insurmountable odds: alone and surrounded by 'The Infected'. These monstrous beings will kill without thought or rationale. Neville's situation is made worse by the knowledge that it was instigated by his own kind. The roots of the pandemic that wiped out civilization and left Neville isolated and in a constant state of peril emerged from what was initially hailed as a breakthrough in modern medicine: a man-made retrofitted virus developed to combat one of history’s most deadly diseases, cancer. But the initial success of the retrovirus was soon met with unimaginable repercussions. If you've read Matherson's novel, you're already noticing the film's storyline is a big departure from the original tale. The repercussion for mankind in "I Am Legend" is that 'The Infected', those who didn’t succumb to the virus, have been dealt a worse fate: their ravaged metabolism transforming them into creatures who dwell in the darkness of the city’s vast underground, emerging from the shadows, driven by a singular, primal hunger. Neville, knowing he is immune to the virus is driven by his need is to find a cure. "Now he has been put in this position of being a lone survivor after being the one who, in his mind, couldn’t save mankind." says two time Oscar nominee Smith ("Ali" & "The Pursuit of Happyness"). "Neville is a very disciplined man," Lawrence comments. "It’s what keeps him as sane as possible in a situation like this. His choices are extreme, but if that routine were to start to break down, it’s very possible that he would fall apart." With only the companionship of his dog, Sam, Neville struggles to keep himself one step ahead of the Infected. By day, he and Sam subsist by scavenging for supplies, working in the lab and broadcasting daily radio messages in hopes of finding other survivors. By night, they barricade themselves in a reinforced brownstone monitoring the Infected as they roam through the city streets, sniffing out any hint of prey. "Neville has access to virtually anything," Smith says. "There’s a medical supply; he knows where canned goods are, where gasoline storage is. He uses the entire city as his home. And there’s nothing like standing up on top of an aircraft carrier with a golf club." It wasn't all fun and games. Sprinting down abandoned streets, hanging upside down twenty feet in the air, maneuvering a speeding Ford Mustang, leaping atop rusted vehicles and fighting stuntmen garbed in motion capture visual effect suits to portray the Infected are only a sampling of what Smith endured to accomplish the film’s heart-pounding action scenes. To choreograph these sequences, the filmmakers brought in fourty year veteran stunt coordinator Vic Armstrong and his stunt unit. Armstrongs film credits include 007 movies such as: "Die Another Day" (2002), "The World Is Not Enough" (1999), "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997) and "Live and Let Die" (1973). Smith also worked with longtime physical fitness trainer Darrell Foster ("Ali") who revealed, "We put him in desperate straits. High altitude training for oxygen deprivation, heat, cold, humidity, low caloric intake and many other adverse conditions." Training with military and weapons consultant Sam Glen to handle Neville’s specially modified rifle was far easier on the actor, who had handled firearms on previous films. Smith's role also required working with a three year old german shepherd dog named Abbey, who is Neville's constant companion, Sam. Head animal trainer Steve Berens ("Click" and "The Mask") explained, "It all lies in how you prepare the animal. It’s about creating a camaraderie with your dog and then passing that on to the actor. And Will was terrific with Abbey. They really developed their own bond." In a twist Neville comes in contact with two survivors: Alice Braga and a child Ethan. "I think that hearing Neville’s message is the moment that Anna begins to believe there is hope, that there are people out there in the world," says Brazilian-born actress Alice Braga. The filmmakers cast Braga because of her performance in the Academy Award-nominated "City of God". "Alice has a natural beauty and an innate compassion that is evident," Goldsman said. "My character has belief and hope still inside her even after all she has seen," Braga says. "I learned a lot about life through this search for Anna." Synopsis

Robert Neville is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable and manmade. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City, and maybe the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by 'the Infected', victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path. For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging for food and supplies and faithfully sending out radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. All the while, the Infected lurk in the shadows, watching Neville’s every move, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind’s last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But his blood is also what 'the infected' hunt. Neville knows he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time.

The Verdict "Those who have read Matherson's novel, or are old enough to remember seeing either of the previous film versions, "The Last Man on Earth" or "The Omega Man" may encounter a few problems when it comes to wrapping their head around this reimaging of the story which now set in 2012. Fortunately, for the vast majority of cinemagoers, this modern take on the novel will prove a most rewarding experience. Will Smith stars in this exciting, thrilling, nerve jangling tale, set in Manhattan, New York. While locals weren't impressed when the production team moved in the result of shooting on site provides for an eerie, ultra realistic feel. Smith gives another faultless, gutsy performance in a film that hasn't one dull moment. Very recommended. 4 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "I AM LEGEND" stars .......
Will Smith ["Bad Boys II", "I, Robot", "Hitch" and "The Pursuit of Happyness"]; Salli Richardson ["Mo' Money", "Antwone Fisher" and "Biker Boyz"]; Joanna Numata ["I Am Legend"]; Alice Braga ["City of God", "Only God Knows", "Drained" and "The Milky Way"]; Charlie Tahan ["High Falls", "Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot" and "Once Upon a Film"] and Dash Mihok ["The Guru", "Dark Blue", "Connie and Carla" and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"] as the Alpha Male.
"I AM LEGEND" was .......
directed by Francis Lawrence ["Constantine"]; from the novel by Richard Matheson ["The Shrinking Man", "The Last Man on Earth", "Omega Man" and "Stir of Echoes"]; set decoration by George DeTitta Jr ["Inside Man", "Michael Clayton" and "Enchanted"]; costume design by Michael Kaplan ["Se7en", "The Long Kiss Goodnight", "Matchstick Men", "Mr & Mrs Smith", "Miami Vice" and "Lucky You"]; production design by David Lazan ["The Hitcher"] and Naomi Shohan ["American Beauty", "Training Days", "Tears Of The Sun" and "Must Love Dogs"]; edited by Wayne Wahrman ["Searching for Bobby Fischer", "Charlie's Angels 1 & 2" and "Constantine"]; cinematography by Andrew Lesnie ["Lord Of The Rings I, II & III", "Love's Brother" and "King Kong"]; original music by James Newton Howard ["Stir of Echoes", "The Sixth Sense", "Unbreakable", "Signs", "The Village", "Lady in the Water", "Michael Clayton" and "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep"]. Who's Who?

Will Smith Dash Mihok Joanna Numata Alice Braga Charlie Tahan Salli Richardson Willow Smith Darrell Foster April Grace Pedro Mojica Anthony Mazza Steve Cirbus Patrick Fraley

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Robert Neville Alpha Male Alpha Female Anna Ethan Zoe Marley Mike - Military Escort TV Personality Sergeant Evacuation Cop Military Police President

Run Time 100 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Warner Bros - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.