I Am Legend (movie)

I am Legend was released in theaters on Dec. 14, 2007. It is the third feature film adaption of Richard Matheson's 1954 I am Legend, following 1964's The last man on Earth and 1971's The Omega man. (Wikipedia).

INTRODUCTION

The story starts in our current world. It's about one man and the discovery of the life-threatening cure for cancer. In the movie, the cancer was discovered in 2008, this virus kills most of the living population all around the world and turns those who were not killed into what they call dark seekers. They are monsters who only come out at night due to the fact that the light kills them, kind of like vampires. 1% of the population is immune to the virus, but most of them would have been killed by the dark seekers.

By the year 2012, there was only one man remaining, at least in Manhattan. His name was Robert Neville, a military virologist. His only companion is Samantha, his dog, who had belonged to his only daughter Marley.

Dr. Neville is shown as he drives around a desserted Manhattan in a red sports car, deer-hunting with Sam. He follows one deer, and when he thinks he finally is going to get meat for dinner, a lion comes to the scene and his family follows. He gives up, and returns to his car.

The movie follows Dr. Neville and Sam around and we discover more about their routines and strong bond with one another. Dr. Neville has a lot of canned food, and very little meat so Sam was given vegetables for dinner. During the day they carefully hunt for the Dark Seekers on a block by block basis, and sometimes bring one back to try out his potential cures in his laboratory.

Every day at noon, he awaits in hope for other survivors:

My name is Robert Neville. I am a survivor living in New York City. I am broadcasting on all AM frequencies. I will be at the South Street Seaport everyday at mid-day, when the sun is highest in the sky. If you are out there... if anyone is out there... I can provide food, I can provide shelter, I can provide security. If there's anybody out there... anybody... please. You are not alone. http://movies.coolnsmart.com/

He pays daily visits to a CD shop, where there are mannequins all around and with whom he has regular conversations with, including one called Fred.

At dusk he shuts himself inside his prepared house and rests until the dawn. He sleeps in the bath close to Sam, while we hear demented screams in the distance.

CALL TO ADVENTURE

While in the bath, and with his eyes closed, we are able to see him with tears rolling down, and looking at the helicopter, with Sam in his arms, just saying goodbye to his family. During that moment he confirmed to the audience that he feels the need to stay in New York, as it was Ground Zero, where it all started. He felt that as coronel, it is his duty to stay and fight the virus that is killing so many people. Even though it broke his heart to be separated from his wife and daughter, he decided to stay, with Sam.

REFUSAL OF THE CALL

In I am Legend, he feels it is his duty to stay, and has no regrets in doing so.

CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD

This is the part where he is at the bridge waving bye to his daughter and wife. When he turns back and starts walking is where we realize there is no turning back. He is staying in New York.

THE ROAD OF TRIALS

When Dr. Neville goes to the basement, we see a laboratory. In there, he tests his formulas on infected rats. He wants to find a cure, and whichever rat doesn't look as sick, he may run some more tests on it. The rats did look like they were infested because of the look in their faces. Their eyes where burning red, and they were just going wild in their little cages.

THE MEETING WITH TH GOODDESS

This happens literally when Samantha follows a deer into a dark building, and Neville steels himself to follow her in to save her. This scene was very scary. The scene is shot from behind Dr. Neville, and we can only see what he sees by the light of his torch, making this more heart pounding. We hear and feel his fear in his low breaths as he whispers for Sam. His light sees something on the floor, its blood, drippings of blood that make a pattern up the stairs. Robert follows and as he approaches the audience fears for the worst, as he turns the corner we can see the deer. Dead. Then he slowly pulls up his light and it shines on a group of dark Seekers, who have gathered in a circle and don't seem to have noticed Robert. He quickly stops the shining of the light with his hand and as he turns around and spots Sam, under a table, scared, frightened. He calls for her to come, but she refuses to come out as she just looks forward whimpering, she notices something. Dr. Neville turns and looks, and it's a dark Seeker, it has noticed them. Dr. Neville yells to Sam to run, and they escape by running through a window and falling in a car. A couple of Seekers follow behind and are instantly killed by the sunlight.

Robert returns to the location as the day passes by, but returns with a plan and a trap to catch a seeker. He takes out some of his blood, and breaks it inside the dark place. He is successful, but as one seeker is trapped, another Seeker comes to the entrance, he screams when he is being hit by the sunlight and goes back inside. Robert brings the Seeker, which is a female, into the lab to do some testing. When starting the research, he mentions the male Seeker in his log:

Behavioral note - an infected male exposed himself to sunlight today. Now its possible decreased brain function or growing scarcity of food is causing them to ignore their basic survival instincts. Social de-evolution appears complete. Typical human behavior is now entirely absent. (Screen play http://www.horrorlair.com/scripts/legend.txt)

He completely overlooks the other option, which is that perhaps the male Seeker was attempting to rescue his mate. But, he later takes in option this thought made by the audience.

WOMAN AS THE TEMPTRESS

Driving around the city, Neville notices that the mannequin, Fred, has been moved. He looks at Fred, and Fred moves his head as the audience watches. Dr. Neville hits the break and the car stops. He gets out and calls to Fred, asking how he got there. He shoots at Fred, twice, which by then has fallen down. Robert approaches Fred, and still confused by Fred, he doen't think is a trap. Robert made one false move and he