7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.7 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.7 |
A brilliant scientist, Robert Neville, is possibly the last human survivor of a deadly man-made virus that has decimated the world. But he is not alone in what remains of New York City. As Neville desperately seeks a cure and sends out radio messages seeking other survivors, he is constantly threatened by victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous predators.
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Willow SmithThriller | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 76% |
Horror | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.41:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
German: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Only English on Alternate Version.
English SDH, French, German, German SDH, Italian, Italian SDH, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (2 BDs, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
My name is Robert Neville. I am a survivor in New York City...If there is anybody out there,
anybody, please...you are not alone.
Director Francis Lawrence's I Am Legend represents a new entry into the annals of the
small but wonderful list of post-apocalyptic films, a genre boasting classics such as The Road Warrior and
28 Days Later.
This genre has always held a remarkable fascination as perhaps the greatest “what if?” question
ever posed to moviegoers. I Am Legend is a retelling of the novel of the same title
written
in 1954 by Richard Matheson, writer of both the Twilight Zone TV episode and the movie segment, "Nightmare
at 20,000 Feet." The book has seen several movie renditions, including Vincent Price’s
brilliant film Last Man On Earth (1964) and Charleton Heston’s solid yet unspectacular
The Omega Man
(1971). I
Am Legend is similar to Matheson's work in name and basic plot only. It's an updated
version
of the story that works remarkably well as an effective thriller and action film with a message of
the
role of fate and harmony in even the bleakest of circumstances.
Robert Neville on the hunt for his next Blu-ray purchase.
Warner Brother's effort for their Blu-ray re-release of I Am Legend remains one of their best yet, providing viewers with a stunning image quality that is certainly befitting the film. The transfer is a revelation compared to some of the lesser theatrical presentations of the film during its original run, and the film definitely benefits from the razor-sharp resolution and clarity only Blu-ray currently offers for home viewing. Though the bitrates varied across both versions on the original release and this special edition, the transfer appears to be from the same source, and there is no appreciable difference between the two. Colors are rich and vibrant throughout this Blu-ray. The fire engine red Mustang Neville drives at the beginning of the film is marvelously reproduced. Detail in every single shot of the film is strikingly high and real; close-up shots of Neville's face, for example, feature rich, practically tactile texture and definition that makes for some of the more realistic shots yet on Blu-ray. Black levels are fantastic, producing a deep and dark image, when appropriate, that adds another level of dread to the already frightening proceedings. There is a fine amount of grain visible in certain dark shots, notably those lit only by the light on Neville's M4 carbine. The image often presents contrasting light and dark scenes, moving from dark, lifeless interiors or nighttime shots to scenes filmed in broad daylight. No doubt about it, I Am Legend remains a stunner of a transfer, one that does well as demonstration material both for its amazing visuals and equally impressive audio.
Presented in lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1, this re-release of I Am Legend never disappoints
sonically, carrying over the amazing soundtrack that accompanied the original release. It
sounds
just as good as the image looks, and that's high praise indeed. The soundtrack gets going by
creating a pleasant, realistic atmosphere, setting the mood for the loneliness and terror that
define Neville's very existence. After the movie begins by conveying the
sounds
of a dead city -- the chirping of insects, the rustling of tall, unkempt grass and weeds -- the sound
stage opens up. Listeners are treated to a fantastic chase sequence that pits animal versus
machine as
Dr.
Neville chases a herd of deer through the streets of a deserted downtown New York City. The
car
spins and swirls around in the rear channels. The revving of the engine is also
marvelously
reproduced. Surrounds are bustling with activity throughout, both with minor ambience and
major
action pieces. When Neville is in dark quarters, alone, the slightest echoing effect accompanies
his heavy,
stressed breathing. On the other end of the
spectrum, flashback scenes feature helicopters and jets flying across the listening area with great
effect and power. Some of the sounds are downright horrifying in lossless audio (in a good way),
such as the shrieks of the creatures of the night that roam the streets while Neville and Sam
sleep. Sound moves around, even the subtlest of sounds, so effortlessly and seamlessly that it
really does recreate what it might sound like to be the last man on Earth. Dialogue reproduction
is
uniformly excellent from beginning to end as well.
LFE effects are not as powerful as they are in
other recent Blu-ray discs, like those heard in Independence Day or The Incredible Hulk, but they are presented
here so
cleanly, effectively, efficiently, and naturally that the experience is suitably impressive.
I Am Legend definitely proves that bass doesn't have to be completely raucous and loud
to be effective. Make no mistake, it'll rattle the windows a few times, but it absolutely never
oversteps its bounds, recreating a very realistic sounding -- and feeling -- experience. Bass
rumbles
with clarity and presence, on cue, and sounds like every good soundtrack should, reproducing
lows as only the best tracks can, and as many others only wish they could. What few gunshots
there
are in the movie come mostly from Neville's M4 carbine, and they are appropriately powerful and
loud, and they reverberate with the authority and punch heard and felt in real life. A bridge
collapse in chapter 18 rocks the listening area, as does a series of exploding
claymores in chapter 23. While not as aggressive as some other mixes, I Am Legend
earns a top score for producing a strikingly realistic, horrifying, and well-mixed soundtrack that is
one of the best yet on the format, and is also definitely demonstration-worthy material.
While other studios haven't quite figured out the perfect mix of price versus goodies in their
limited
edition boxed sets, Warner Brothers has nailed their I Am Legend set, offering fans a
handsome package priced just right. The set, like all other limited editions, isn't for everyone,
but
fans looking for something fresh and a product to show their love of the film need look no
further.
I Am Legend comes housed in a nice looking and sturdy heavy-duty cardboard case
measuring 11.5" in length, 8" in height, and 1.25" in depth. The top lid flips open, revealing
artwork on the opposite side. Inside the box is a softcover 44-page book featuring a number of
before-and-after apocalypse images of New York City as well as some stills from the movie. Like
the
Wanted limited
edition, I Am Legend also comes with a motion card housed inside a clear plastic
magnetic
case measuring approximately 3" in height, 5" in length, and 0.5" in depth. Also included are six
postcard-style cards that showcase famous locations from around the world (Taiwan, Spain,
Tokyo,
London, India, and Paris) in a state of decay. The centerpiece of this set is, of course, the movie,
offered here in three varieties over three discs. The discs come housed in a black tri-fold-open
case,
with the theatrical version of the film and supplements on disc one, the alternate cut and
additional supplements on disc two,
and a digital copy on disc three. As always, photos of this set are available through the
"Screenshots" tab atop this review. This boxed sets ports over the extras from the previous release, and adds
some new material as well.
Disc one begins with Behind the Story. This segment is headlined by a commentary
track featuring director Francis Lawrence and producer-screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, which is
exclusive to this set. The track is extremely informative and interesting as the pair shares their
thoughts on the look and feel of the film, the locations, the emotional themes of the film, Will
Smith's performance, and plenty more. Fans will love this track, and it makes for another good
reason to upgrade to this set. The remainder of Behind the Story includes supplements
found on the original release. Cautionary Tale: The Science of 'I Am Legend' (1080p,
20:41) looks at the real-life
science behind some of the ideas presented in the film. Not only do cast and crew discuss the
science, but medical doctors, professors, and virologists examine what a virus is and what it
can do to a population. This is a fairly technical and scientific feature, but it is presented mostly
in
layman's
terms. A minor background in science, say an entry level college biology course, will
definitely help in understanding what's going on and being said here. Next up is a series of short
features under the heading of Creating 'I Am Legend' that delve into many aspects of
the film, including the work of Abby, the German
Shepherd
seen in the film, a look at the weapons used by Dr. Neville in the film, and Smith's physical
training for the role. These features generally run several minutes in length, are presented in
480p, and make for some interesting viewing.
Continuing on disc one, viewers will find Focus Points. With this feature turned on, a
disc
icon appears on the top left corner of the screen, cuing viewers to press the "enter" buttons on
their remotes to access
additional behind-the-scenes materials. The mini-features are presented full screen and in
1080p
high definition. Also included are the four animated comics that appeared on the original release
-- Death is a Gift, Isolation, Sacrificing the Few For the Many, and
Shelter. Rounding out disc one is the film's theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:46). Disc two
features a few additional extras. The Making of 'I Am Legend' (480p, 25:57) features
the cast and crew discussing the themes of the film, the research that went into ensuring
the film played as authentically as possible, the variations between novel and film, shooting in
New York, creating the film's various effects shots, utilizing the Armed Forces in several scenes,
and plenty more. 'I Am Legend:' The Making of Shots (1080p, 26:04) is a five-part
feature that offers a look into the creation of the film's visual effects shots. They are broken
down into
the various stages of completion, and include commentary describing the work that went into
the
production of each shot. The five segments are as follows: Visual Effects Highlights,
Alpha Male, Times Square Hunt, Seaport Evacuation, and Alternate
Ending. Concluding the supplements on disc two are a series of 12 deleted scenes (480p,
19:45) with optional commentary from Francis Lawrence and Akiva Goldsman. Disc three of this
set contains a digital copy of the film, though it is neither Mac nor iPod compatible, which is a
major oversight and the only blemish on this otherwise wonderful set.
I Am Legend is a movie that will interest viewers who enjoy themes such as science, action, population-eradicating viruses, zombies, vampires, or post-apocalyptic stories. Will Smith turns in a great performance in what was one of the better films of 2007, and is still also one of the better Blu-ray discs currently available. This film as transfered to Blu-ray offers exceptional video and audio quality, and the new supplemental package that ports over the old extras and brings many new ones to the table make this set a worthy addition to any Blu-ray library. For collectors who do not already own the original discs, and for the film's most ardent fans, this one is easily worth a buy. If you already own a Blu-ray copy of the original release and wish to upgrade, that old copy will make a great gift for someone else just discovering the magic of Blu-ray on Christmas morning. Highly recommended.
2007
2007
2007
2007
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Ultimate Collector's Edition
2007
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2016
2004
2002
2013
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1971
Director's Cut
2009
2008
2012
Ultimate Collector's Edition
1986
2011
バイオハザード:ディジェネレーション / Biohazard: Degeneration
2008
2013
2016
1998
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2007