Today I had the privilege of attending the media screening for I AM LEGEND. The film is an adaptation of 1954 science fiction novel by Richard Matheson.
If you have read the novel, you may be disappointed to learn that the film has very little to do with the original novel though they share the same title.
The novel takes place between 1976 and 1979. Robert Neville, the protagonist, is an ordinary man. His daily chores include making home improvements to his house, hanging up garlic and searching for more suppliers to fight against vampires. The mutated creatures were once human and are now vampires due to an unknown epidemic. Robert is all alone and hopes to find survivors like him.
The film starts in the year of 2012 and human beings are literally extinct. Robert Neville portrayed by Will Smith is alone in New York City with his German shepherd Sam. He has a strict daily routine and never stays out after sundown. He broadcasts on all frequencies and stations at the dock everyday, looking for any sign of survivors. However, his most important mission as the sole survivor and a military scientist is to research and develop the anti-virus serum.
So far I AM LEGEND has been adapted into films four times. Ridley Scott was scheduled to be the director and Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast as Robert Neville in the late 1990s. The production was cancelled due to a budget cut. Thank god for that! I much prefer to watch Will Smith than the current governor of California.
Today’s screening took place in Ambassador which is probably the biggest theatre in Taiwan with the capacity of 1,200 seats. You may wonder what’s there to see when the film is about the last human being living on earth. As soon as the film began, I was mesmerized by the sight of a ghost town that Manhattan has become. There is no trace of human beings or lives. All you see are parked cars and billboards (Rent caught my attention – the show must go on, uh? LOL!)
Will Smith is charismatic and witty as the last man on earth. When he talks to his only companion Sam, a German shepherd, the scene reminds me of Tom Hanks and his volleyball by the name of Wilson. The living dead sprang up all over the place just when I thought the film was about to move up the ladder and perhaps reveal some meaningful insights. What a letdown!
However, this film does bring up the thought for the day: What will you do if you’re the last human being standing on earth? Will you have the courage and faith to go on your life? What will your life become when you have no one to talk to? Will you like this world better when it’s quiet and tranquil for you’re all alone?
By the way, for those of you already living the isolated life by associating with no one but only talking to your dog (or your computer), you need to wake up and smell the coffee! It will do you some good if you read the novel or watch the film I AM LEGEND.
(I AM LEGEND opens Friday December 14th)