Indeed, nobody in 2007 could believe that we were going to eradicate cancer in less than 2 years. I am legend is about a zombielike horde wiping out much of humanity, but its confusing ending and butterfly symbolism become a lot more. I am legend, directed by francis lawrence, is the latest adaptation of richard mathesons 1954 novel of the same name, following two earlier versions the last man on earth 1964 and the omega. The researches of doctors lend to discover how to cure the cancer. She was robert nevilles beloved german shepherd companion and best friend, and a survivor of the krippin virus. I am legend the movie is based on richard mathesons novel of the same name. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of i am legend by richard matheson. September 14, 2015 september 24, 2015 maddie jack years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in new york city struggles valiantly to find a cure imdb.
One could always argue for other interpretations, but this is a wellconsidered take on mathesons work. However, the film goes deeper than the typical scifi adventure in exploring psychological and philosophical issues related to nevilles isolation from humanity. Camera angles this angle gives a deserted abandoned feeling to the audience again duethethe starts with an establishing shot of to film. The novel version of i am legend is better then the motion picture because the information slowly leaks out about nevilles past, present, and specifics about the vampires. The story is set in new york city after a virus, which was originally created to cure cancer. Robert neville is a scientist who is unable to stop the spread of the horrifying virus that is. I am legend, directed by francis lawrence, is a 2007 american postapocalyptic dystopian film. I am legend dystopian movies always have a big change in the society. Film poster analysis i am legend the film poster of the horror i am legend is used to tease the audience into wanting to see the film. You can either love it or hate it, but will smiths powerful acting is something you can never deny. Matheson remained a prolific, highlyrespected scifi writer throughout the second half of the 20th century. Throughout the entire dystopian trailer, the director has used the visual construction of it as the primary device to not only entice the audience, but also deduce the key elements of a dystopia. Lets deal with the horror aspect, because its the most academically.
Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am. The movie i am legend directed by francis lawrence is dystopian movie. I am legend themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Other than that i am legend is a solid postapocalypse film. Camera angles the film starts with an establishing shot of new york city, this shows a lifeless run down new york which creates questions in the audiences minds. Definition of a legend in i am legend by robert neville. On a morning in january 1976, a man named robert neville walks around his house, carefully checking to see if its wellfortified.
The opening scenes of i am legend have special effects so good that they just about compensate for some later special effects that are dicey. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in i am legend, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The film, i am legend is a postapocalyptic science fiction film directed by francis lawrence and starring will smith. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of i am legend, directed by francis lawrence. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson, directed by francis lawrence and starring will smith, who plays us army virologist robert neville. The first adaptation is the movies last man on earth in 1964, and the second is the movie the omega man in 1971.
A brilliant scientist who raced to discover a cure for. But npr movie critic bob mondello says that the film has some. Throughout the book, robert neville studies the science of vampirism. We see manhattan three years after a deadly virus has killed every healthy human on the island, except one. Francis lawrences i am legend is a 2007 sciencefiction thrillerdrama starring will smith as the lone survivor of a devastating virus that has wiped out 90% of the population of humanity. As such, i can not speak for all of the people that complained about the departures from the source material that this film has taken. With will smith, alice braga, charlie tahan, salli richardsonwhitfield. I will be looking at the way it entices the viewer and how along with the magazine cover and teaser trailer the whole package advertises the film to potential viewers. Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in new york city struggles valiantly to find a cure in this postapocalyptic action thriller. Themes of transformation, spirituality, and mans struggle with isolation come up throughout i am legend. I am legend is about a zombielike horde wiping out much of humanity, but its confusing ending and butterfly symbolism become a lot more clear if you understand the personal journey of its hero. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing i am legend near you. In this scene the most important and focused on element is the zombies trying to get in the house. Camera angles this angle gives a deserted abandoned feeling to the audience again duethethe starts with an establishing shot of to film presence of only one moving car new york city, this shows a lifeless run instead of a crowded avenue.
I will be analysing the film poster for i am legend like i analysed the empire magazine cover for the same film. Sometime in or before 2009, sam was a puppy, who was adopted and became part of the neville family, consisting of lieutenant colonel robert neville and his wife and daughter zoe and marley. The camera focuses most on this by cutting to shots of the zombies getting closer. Or perhaps the film simply doesnt have the same nuances as the richard matheson book on which its based. I am legend, the movie released in 2007, is the third adaptation of richard mathesons novel of the same name. That is the main focus of the scene and with out that element then there would be nothing going on. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville set in new york city after a virus, which was originally created to cure cancer, has wiped out most of mankind, leaving neville as the last human in new york. I am legend study guide from litcharts the creators of.
We depend on other people not just for re production and survival, but for psychological and. January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he could get back. This film is actually the third adaptation of richard mathesons novel of the same name from 1954. He works to create a remedy while defending himself against the virus victims, who turn into hostile mutants. I am legend essays are academic essays for citation. I am legend key scenes analysis by stuart grenville. Whether is it has something to do with aliens or the world ending. The challenge of survival in the road and i am legend. Its as if the screenwriters or director, or producer ran out of ways to wrap it up. This links to the theory of blumer and katz where the audience can escape from reality as he is the last man alive and there are zombies. Living alone in new york city, robert neville smith, a former lieutenant and us army virologist, tasks himself with finding a cure to the plague. Mise en scene in i am legend by jennifervissering concentrating on the impact of lighting choices that were used din the movie i am legend, the meaning of the film is intensified by use of a combination of lowkey lighting, highkey lighting, in between lowkey and highkey, and traditional threepoint lighting. Director france lawrence creates a world of hopelessness in the human race after a man made virus breaks out, mutating new york residents in man eating animals.
The streets are overgrown with weeds, cars are abandoned, the infrastructure is beginning to collapse. I am legend is a novel by richard matheson in which robert neville struggles to survive as the sole remaining human in a world overrun by. I am legend film analysis essay 1227 words bartleby. In the process, he empowers himself and gives himself a new purpose in life. Of particular salience in i am legend are the motifs of being isolated, sexually frustrated, and preyed upon. I am legend dystopian science fiction movie description. Seeing the opening scene, we expect i am legend to be a utopian movie. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson. Compare contrast book movie i am legend free essays.
Analysis of i am legend directed by francis lawrence 123. The 2007 loose film adaptation and only one to bear the name of richard mathesons novel i am legend will smith plays virologist robert neville, who is immune to a manmade virus originally created to cure cancer. Still, you cant fault i am legend for trying to be different from the typical action thriller. Robert neville, a skilled military colonel who is believed to be the last man in new york city. Also, its a horror film, largely designed to unnerve the audience.
Jessica wang english 106 10 april 2008 robert neville is the last normal living man in the world. While i am legend, the latest in a series of film versions of a novel by richard matheson, fits comfortably within the conventions of the. Samantha, also known as sam, was the deuteragonist of i am legend. Neville broadcasts over all am and fm frequencies that he is in new york city and. I am legend established all the classic themes of the modern zombie film. I am legend is based on the popular 1954 novel by richard matheson, which inspired countless vampire and zombie threads, including. How long can robert neville survive alone with his dog in a world of vampires and how long do you think you can live in this case. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. It is the third movie to be made from the novel and mathesons writings have modernized the vampire, in todays culture.
I am legend film analysis essay examples 1218 words. The i am legend community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Another important theme of i am legend is the powerboth benevolent and maliciousof science. As i am legend begins, in january, 1976, earth has been ravaged, first by nuclear war, then by a mysterious plague that transforms its victims into vampires. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. If he had been more analytical, he might have calculated the approximate time of their arrival. Dystopian film i am legend by daniel thomedos santos on. This show celebrates ryans love for film, games, art and entertainment through personal retrospective analysis that aims to explore what. The haunting meaning of i am legend ryan hollinger. The entire basis of this movie is centered around the completely dehumanized state the humans are left in.