7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.4 |
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: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
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.
Dr. Robert Neville hunts his next meal in post-apocalyptic New York City.
Warner Brother's effort for their Blu-ray release of I Am Legend is perhaps their best yet,
providing viewers with a stunning image quality that is certainly befitting the film. I cannot
believe how much better this image looks than the one I saw in theaters. There it was dank,
drab, almost colorless. The move from the local theater's presentation to the one at home on
Blu-ray is almost like jumping from VHS to 1080p high definition. I really enjoyed this film in
theaters, paying close attention, and I am noticing an incredible amount of nuances in the
background details I missed in theaters, and obviously at a mere 65", my screen is dwarfed by
that in the local multiplex. Whether the print was poor or the theater projected using
substandard equipment (my guess would be a bit of each), the image I saw today was a
revelation, one definitely benefitting from the razor-sharp resolution and clarity only Blu-ray
offers for home viewing.
Unlike those I saw in theaters, colors are rich and vibrant on the Blu-ray. The fire engine red on
the 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. 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. The image often presents contrasting light and dark scenes, moving from dark, lifeless
interiors or nighttime shots, to scenes filmed in broad daylight. I Am Legend is one more
item to add to
my list of why I believe Blu-ray is making traditional movie theaters a thing of the past for me.
I've been waiting for this movie to hit Blu-ray since the credits rolled at the theater, and the
transfer to the format is exemplary.
Presented in lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1, I Am Legend never disappoints sonically. 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 we're
about
to experience with Dr. Neville. As the movie begins, after we hear the sounds of silence, the
sounds
of a dead city (the chirping of insects, the rustling of tall, unkempt grass and weeds), the sound
stage opens up. We're 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. As his
car
spins we hear it swirling 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, we hear the slightest echo of his heavy,
stressed breathing. For a moment I thought I'd hear his heart beating. 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 make you feel like the last man on Earth. Dialogue reproduction is
uniformly excellent from beginning to end as well.
I was also blown away by the quality of the bass. LFE effects are not as powerful as they are in
other recent Blu-ray discs, like those heard in Independence Day or Hitman, but they are presented here so
cleanly, effectively, efficiently, and naturally that I left the experience more than impressed.
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 the rest 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 rocked the listening room and my senses, as did 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 my favorites yet on the format, and is also definitely demonstration-worthy material.
Warner Brothers has brought I Am Legend to Blu-ray with a nice selection of
supplements, but fans of the film will be left wanting more. Perhaps the most
impressive--and
most wanted--special feature is the alternate cut of the film that offers viewers a different
ending
to the film. I enjoyed that the alternate ending wasn't just tacked on as a standard extra, but
integrated into a cut of the film you can watch from beginning to end. Like the rest of the movie,
the image looks fantastic and the sound remains Dolby TrueHD 5.1 As for the ending itself, I
liked
it, but prefer the theatrical ending. Perhaps my reasoning lies in that I've had this movie on my
mind for months, pondering the ending I saw in theaters, and have had it grow on me. This new
ending is definitely an interesting watch and might please other viewers with its less conventional
approach to concluding the story.
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 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 are series of short
features that delve into many aspects of the film, including the work of Abby, the German
Shepherd
seen in the film, to a look at the weapons used by Dr. Neville in the film, and to 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. Four short animated comics, relating to
the film and presented in 1080p, conclude the special features.
Needless to say, I Am Legend was one of my favorite films of last year, and is certainly one of the better Blu-ray discs currently available. Will Smith and Blu-ray seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, a natural fit, and his films released on the format this month (including the aforementioned Independence Day and I, Robot) represent what Blu-ray is all about. This disc offers exceptional video and audio quality, as well as a set of supplements that are good, but left me wanting a whole lot more. Still, I've never been one to let a lack of supplements keep me from recommending a film, and I Am Legend is definitely one I think anyone who has an interest in science, action, population-eradicating virus, zombie, vampire, or post-apocalyptic films will enjoy a great deal. To those Blu-ray fans who feel a film such as this is right up their alley, as it is mine, I strongly and very highly recommend I Am Legend on Blu-ray.
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2007
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
2016
2004
2002
2013
2008
2009
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
2010
2009
2007