Movie Review: I Am Legend - Starring Will Smith
Released: December 14th, 2007
Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min.
Ticket Price: $7.50 Matinee
Refreshments: Gummy Bears & Red Vines
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Willow Smith and Salli Richardson
Director: Francis Lawrence
Rating: Worth an Early Matinee
Synopsis: A brilliant scientist is unable to find a cure for a man made virus that has become unstoppable. He is immune and looks to be the last human survivor in New York and maybe even the world. Yet, he is not alone, as the infected victims have turned into carnivorous monsters that can only survive in darkness. They will destroy anything they come in contact with. Three years have past, as each day the man tries to make radio contact with other survivors and find food. He hopes one day to find a way to use his immune blood to create a cure for the disease, but he must stay alive to do so, as the monsters lurk in the shadows and he is running out of time.
Review: I Am Legend is based the novel
Once thought to be a cure for cancer, a genetically altered strain of a virus has been created to do so. The virus mutates and becomes contagious through the air, as well as contact, and it begins to kill off the population. Those that aren’t killed by it are turned into ravenous monsters that can only survive in darkness. Neville lives his days hunting for food and other things he can use, trying to contact any other survivors and trying to find a cure, but by night, he must seal himself off from the dangers outside.
It looked like there was going to be more excitement, but it is a bit of a slow mover. It builds to an explosive ending, but it didn’t leave you with the emotional punch they were probably going for. It does, however, make you think about the possible downsides of scientific advancement.
Smith has some great scenes, but the real reason to go see the film is for its portrayal of a deserted New York City. The portrait of a lone man traversing the once bustling city is quite amazing. Some of the special f/x aren’t that special, but the overall look of the city after three years of abandonment is something to behold.
Overall, I Am Legend is worth an early matinee, as it should probably be seen on the big screen for the scenery. But, once it turns into a monster movie, it loses a little something. Especially, when you know what is going on, long before the brilliant scientist does. Who knew that monsters have feelings too?
What did you think of I Am Legend?
What New Movies Start Friday, December 14th?
This week, we finally get something that looks like it is worth seeing, as there are six new movies being released, with three opening nationwide and three in limited release.
Opening Nationwide on Friday, December 14th:
Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG)
Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson & Jane Lynch
Genre: Family Comedy
Synopsis: Based on the old cartoon series about a trio of singing chipmunks that are taken in by a single guy named Dave.
First Thoughts: Has the potential to be really bad, or fun for the whole family.
Movie: I Am Legend (PG-13) (Read Review)
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan and Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Genre: Sci-Fi Action
Synopsis: A brilliant scientist is unable to find a cure for a man made virus that looks to be unstoppable. He seems to be immune and looks to be the last human survivor in New York and maybe even the world. Yet, he is not alone, as the infected plague victims have turned into carnivorous monsters that only can survive in darkness. They will destroy anything they come in contact with. Three years have past, as each day the man tries to make radio contact with other survivors and find food. He hopes one day to find away to use his immune blood to create a cure for the disease, but he must stay alive to do so, as the monsters lurk in the shadows and he is quickly running out of time.
First Thoughts: Looks like the best movie to hit the big screen in the last few months. Hope it lives up to the wait, as they have been playing trailers for this since the beginning of the summer. Also, there is an IMAX version of the film playing in some areas.
Movie: The Perfect Holiday (PG)
Starring: Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Faizon Love, Charlie Murphy, Terrence Howard and Queen Latifah
Genre: Family Romantic Comedy
Synopsis: A divorced woman with three kids just wants to find a nice man and have a little romance in her life. Her daughter wants to do something about that, which leads her daughter to ask a department store Santa to grant her wish that her mother would find someone. The Santa just happens to be a down on his luck songwriter that pretends that he sells office supplies by day, but he only works part-time at the mall. But, he might just be able to make the little girl’s wish come true.
First Thoughts: A holiday themed movie that I haven’t heard or seen anything about until just now when I watched the trailer. It looks like it could some good holiday fun.
Movie in Limited Release:
- The Kite Runner – Psychological drama about two unlikely friends, one the son of a wealthy businessman and the other the son of his servant, that grow up amidst the time of the Afghanistan monarchy to the atrocities of the Taliban. It is a story of friendship, cowardice, betrayal and reconciliation.
- Nanking – Historical biopic about the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China during the early stages of World War II and a group of unarmed Westerners that created a safety zone for refugees.
- Youth Without Youth – Psychological drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola that tells a love story wrapped in a mystery.
Expanding to more theaters this week are Atonement and Juno.
For New Movie Friday there are four new movies this week to choose from. They are Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Kite Runner, I Am Legend and The Perfect Holiday. What new movie will you be heading out to see this weekend?
Movie Review: The Golden Compass - Starring Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards & Daniel Craig
Movie: The Golden Compass (PG-13)
Released: December 7th, 2007
Runtime: 1 hr. 54 min.
Ticket Price: $7.50 Matinee
Refreshments: Small Cherry Coke, Large Popcorn & Red Vines
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott & Eva Green
Director: Chris Weitz
Rating: Wait for the Rental, if Not Longer
Synopsis: In an alternate universe, an orphan girl spends her days happily playing with local boys and hanging around a nearby college. While there one day she overhears a plot against her uncle and sets out to find what is going on with a mysterious substance known has “dust,” to rescue a kidnapped friend and find her uncle. What she finds is a frightening world of possibilities and a plot that could end her world, as well as ours.
Review: The Golden Compass is based on the first book
Putting aside the controversy of this being the atheist version of The Chronicles of Narnia for a moment, the movie is pretty boring for an epic. Well, except for one grizzly, yet short, fight between two polar bears. Wait, can a polar bear fight be grizzly? Anyway, there was not enough depth of character provided for you to care about what might happen to them on screen.
Maybe, had the film actually been longer than its just shy of two hours running time, they might have been able to develop the characters a bit more. The movie wouldn’t have felt rushed and some sort of emotional connection with the lead characters would have been made. Background characters would have made more sense. And, it would have had a more epic feel. Unfortunately, none of these things took place and when the movie was over, the mood in the theater was quite blah. There was no energy; no I can’t wait for the next one feeling.
The story takes place in a bizarre parallel universe where witches are good, your soul is separate from your body and takes the form of an animal called a daemon (pronounced demon), animals talk and fight, and the Magisterion (a stand in for a Catholic Church like organization) steals children for their own nefarious reasons. So, if the underlying message of what’s usually considered good in this universe, is actually bad and vice-versa, is your cup of tea, then you might enjoy this flick. But, if you are looking for something substantial, with an emotional hook and great special f/x, then you might want to look elsewhere. Well, at least the computer-generated scenery is impressive.
After viewing The Golden Compass, the moviegoer compass was consulted and revealed the truth to be that you should wait for the rental, if not longer to see this movie. While the special f/x may lose a little something on your home theater system, they, by themselves, aren’t enough to warrant seeing it on the big screen. Maybe, in a parallel universe, they were treated to a much better movie epic this weekend.
What did you think of The Golden Compass?
What New Movies Start Friday, December 7th?
This week, we still don’t get a whole lot to choose from, as there are eight new movies being released, but only one opens nationwide and the rest are in limited release.
Opening Nationwide on Friday, December 7th:
Movie: The Golden Compass (PG-13) (Read Review)
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott & Eva Green
Genre: Adventure Fantasy
Synopsis: An orphan girl that happily plays with local boys and terrorizes professors at a college hears about a plot against her uncle and sets out to find what is going on with a mysterious substance and a frightening world of possibilities. Based on Book One
First Thoughts: Once again this is the only real choice this weekend. Am really looking forward to the next couple of weeks with I Am Legend and the second National Treasure.
Movie in Limited Release:
- The Amateurs – A sex comedy starring Jeff Bridges, Ted Danson, William Fichtner, Patrick Fugit and Lauren Graham about a guy that decides that the path to riches is to enter the multi-million dollar porn industry and produce and shoot a film of his own with the help of his friends.
- Atonement – A romance drama starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley and Vanessa Redgrave set in the 1930s.
- Dirty Laundry – A comedy starring Rockmond Dunbar and Loretta Devine about a closeted gay man that returns home to visit his mother a finds out that he has a son.
- Grace is Gone – A psychological drama starring John Cusack about a family man dealing with the loss of his military wife.
- Juno – A comedy drama starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons about a smart young woman dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Opens today, December 5th.
- Looking for Cheyenne – A comedy drama two women that want to be together, but their lifestyles keep them apart.
- Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding – A comedy farce starring Joey McIntyre, Mila Kunis and Krista Allen about a couple that wishes they had eloped after their bickering families threaten to completely ruin the carefully planned event. Opens today, December 5th.
For New Movie Friday there are two new movies this week to choose from. They are Atonement and The Golden Compass. What new movie will you be heading out to see this weekend?
-
Subscribe via RSS
