I Am Legend (PG-13, 2007)

common sense media says

Intense, thoughtful thriller has some big scares.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although this cerebral action thriller is quite clean when it comes to language and sexual content, it deals with intense subjects like the fall of mankind and the fight for survival. It's not for kids who get scared, since it gets pretty terrifying, especially when the mutants take their turn onscreen. They jump out of nowhere, and the movie makes the most of that suspense to heighten the audience's response. Overall, the movie is very sobering -- and, unlike many Will Smith thrillers, it's light on the fun. Still, teens will want to see it and will be intrigued by the special effects and the edge-of-your-seat action.

Positive messages: In the aftermath of a viral apocalypse, society has collapsed. People have become zombie-like mutants that feast on human flesh. The main character is reduced to his base nature, paranoid and on the brink. But he rises to the occasion when the time comes and makes a difficult decision for the good of mankind.
Violence: Frequent. The main character totes guns and shoots at marauding, rabid mutants who attack him with the intent to either eat him or kill him -- or both. He also accidentally stabs himself, flashes a gun at a woman and her child, and conducts experiments on feral rats and other creatures. Bridges and buildings explode, cars careen, and a loyal dog becomes collateral damage.
Sex: A married couple shares a tender kiss.
Language: Pretty mild; "damn," "hell," "Oh my God."
Consumerism: Premium placement for the Mustang GT500, Apple computers, iPod, and a Time magazine cover. Lots of signage left behind in New York, especially in Times Square, where billboards for Broadway shows abound, as well as hotel brands like Hyatt.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Robert downs prescription pills at a very difficult moment.

More on I Am Legend

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about Hollywood's fascination with disaster movies and post-apocalyptic stories. What's the hook? How is this one different? Which aspect of the movie is more interesting to you: its thoughtful side or the fighting-off-mutants side? How is this movie different from other Will Smith sci-fi films? Families can also discuss what they'd do in Robert's place. Would you be able to keep your wits about you, as he seems to have (barely)? Would you be able to make the selfless decisions he seems to make?

What's the story?

What's the story?
If anyone had any doubts left that Will Smith could carry a movie, I AM LEGEND will banish them forever. He's virtually alone in this sci-fi thriller, with a dog -- albeit a talented one -- as his only foil. There are stretches when he literally talks to himself, and he's able to hold the audience's gaze throughout. Frightened and on edge, determined to survive, Robert Neville (Smith) is the last man standing in all five New York City boroughs after a virus thought to have cured cancer mutates and becomes a worldwide plague. Almost everyone on the planet dies; those who survive are turned into rabid creatures who only come out at night to hunt for food. But Robert decides to stay in the new ghost town of Manhattan. "This is Ground Zero," he declares. "I can still fix this."

Three years later, he's still there, spending his days hunting for deer with his dog, Samantha, by his side. He's hoping to find an antidote to turn the mutants back into humans. In the meantime, he has to fend his enemies off -- which is no mean feat, considering how violent they are.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Director Francis Lawrence has a way with suspense; jumping out of your seat is almost a requirement here. Onscreen, Manhattan transforms into a true island, isolated, removed, and falling apart. Weeds grow on the streets, Times Square is deserted, the Flatiron Building sits neglected, and an eerie hush has fallen. Bravo to the special effects crew, who have created a New York never seen before (except, perhaps, in Escape to New York). The results are nothing short of amazing.

But the story ultimately disappoints. It starts out strong, hooking viewers in, but it sputters in the end. It's as if the screenwriters (or director, or producer) ran out of ways to wrap it up. Or perhaps the film simply doesn't have the same nuances as the Richard Matheson book on which it's based. Still, you can't fault I Am Legend for trying to be different from the typical action thriller. Taking on such themes as mankind's need for companionship, the fight for survival, and the existence of God, it at least succeeds in making us think.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Alice Braga, Dash Mihok, Will Smith
Genre: Science Fiction
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: December 13, 2007
DVD release: March 17, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence.
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This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

Jadenp
teen, 15 years old
 
Suggested MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of horror violence, frightening images, and some disturbing images.

movie fan141999
kid, 12 years old
 
its OK
all they do is kill

Terminater101
teen, 15 years old
 
perfect for people 9 to 99
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's kind of violent with a little bit of language but not terrible probably not for younger kids cause you've got all these infected guys jumping out of no where. Overall I give it a 10/10

coolkid3
teen, 15 years old
 
love it
i dont have any concerns its just another action packed movie with vampires

Tsion
parent of 15 year old
 
A Stellar Thriller With a Thoughtful Side...
I AM LEGEND could have been a bad movie. The people making it could have messed up in many ways. However, they turn the flaws of the story into advantages. Its biggest asset is Will Smith's powerhouse performance. The script is very well-written also. The people making this movie took a big risk. Instead of making it an all-out action thriller with mindless, constant violence, they took the story line and made it, primarily, a tragedy about one man left alone in the world (with some great action pieces on the side). Parents need to know that this movie is very intense. Even when the action lets up, the emotion doesn't, and several scenes are emotionally draining, whether by fright or sadness. I don't like to include SPOILERS! in my reviews, but for the sake of a well-informed review, I will now. SPOILER! About 50 minutes into the movie, Neville's dog, Sam, becomes infected with the virus. He must strangle her before she becomes a zombie like the rest, and, since the dog is his only companion through the movie, this scene will be too overpowering for kids under 12 at least. END OF SPOILERS. In addition to that emotional scene, there are several others detailing the death of Neville's wife and daughter (helicopter crash). There's no more violence in the movie than there is in, say, a SPIDER-MAN film, but many scenes featuring the zombies will be frightening for kids. The film has a constant feel of desperation and despair, and while I wouldn't call it disturbing, it makes the film NOT for kids.

TheSuperman765
teen, 16 years old
 
good for tweens who can handle scary movies
What to watch out for * Messages: In the aftermath of a viral apocalypse, society has collapsed. People have become zombie-like mutants that feast on human flesh. The main character is reduced to his base nature, paranoid and on the brink. But he rises to the occasion when the time comes and makes a difficult decision for the good of mankind. * Violence: Frequent. The main character totes guns and shoots at marauding, rabid mutants who attack him with the intent to either eat him or kill him -- or both. He also accidentally stabs himself, flashes a gun at a woman and her child, and conducts experiments on feral rats and other creatures. Bridges and buildings explode, cars careen, and a loyal dog becomes collateral damage. * Sex: A married couple shares a tender kiss. * Language: Pretty mild; "d--n," "h--l," "Oh my God." * Consumerism: Premium placement for the Mustang GT500, Apple computers, iPod, and a Time magazine cover. Lots of signage left behind in New York, especially in Times Square, where billboards for Broadway shows abound, as well as hotel brands like Hyatt. * Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Robert downs prescription pills at a very difficult moment.

mynameisnick
teen, 15 years old
 
Good for a teen/tween who can handle scary movies.
This movie isn't too bad for someone who likes to jump while watching movies. Not too violent, about four or five cuss words. Will Smith's character does inject some kind of medicine but I wouldn't say drugs. A little suspense here and there but should be fine for someone who likes scary movies. No sexuality at all.

TheRightGuy101
parent of 10 and 13 year old
 
Throughout the movie I was having mixed feelings...
This movie was more of a thriller than an action. It is the kind of movie when you're always on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. The zombies aren't too scary and the violence was not too bad. Just a depressing story. It was really realistic in some ways because in some zombie movies the survivors are almost jumping off walls and having really, really good "luck" and "Strength". In this movie the living are not farfetched and fight like we do now. Overall a worth-seeing movie with a mixture of; Thriller, Action, Drama. Fine for 13 and up! 4/5

Poetic Ramblings
teen, 16 years old
 
A decent flick
Very generic movie, but the acting is fantastic. I recently saw this movie, and at 14 years old, I still found it very frightening. That said, my friend saw it at 12, and he had no problems with it. It may be a difference in gender, but I don't recommend this movie to children or tweens.

jimmyjo55
teen, 18 years old
 
coolio
its an awesome movie

Spielberg00
teen, 14 years old
 
Will Smith's best film so far. Like an intense, suspenseful Pursuit of Happyness--just a way to say that this movie has a lot of heart.
My rating: PG-13 for intense sci-fi violence and action, and some disturbing images.

eagles4ever
teen, 15 years old
 
This is probably one of the best movies that I have seen in my life. There are some sad scenes. But overall, it was a really good movie.

 
Sort of good
not really that bad personally i did not like it

SumBO
kid, 13 years old
 
PG-13 is a Good rating.
Theres some Violence, Some Language and Pretty Scary Images. I defiantly think PG-13 is a Good rating! P.S. GREAT MOVIE!

PYEsinc
teen, 14 years old
 
Lots of positivity, but the same amounts of violence.
My suggested rating: Rated PG-13 for intense action/violence, and for disturbing images and some mature content.

twilightfan2459
teen, 14 years old
 
first time i tried to watch it i chickend out because i knew it was about zombies then second time i had to go to the shops but finally i got to watch it a friends sleepover and it was really worth it. This is kinda horror and made me jump once or twice as the zombies are quite scary. At first i didnt think it would be good, as in will smith and a dog throught the majority of the movie but he(they) really pulled it of. Willow smith was in it too as his daighter! ********SPOILER ALERT************************* Any way alot of people dont like the ending but its actually quite relevant to the story he was the only one left there for saving everyone in NY( please correct me if im right cus cant actually remember exact details) but it kinda makes sense wills charicter killing himself to save the zombie vampirey things whatever you want to call them and save the lady and her son by killing himself. ********* SPOILER GONE NOW**************** IN the end its a really good 'post apocalyptic' movie and its a good watch especially you want to progress to 'scarier' movies. Please watch and enjoy

mylibrarycardw ...
teen, 15 years old
 
Not worth your effort!
This was not really a good movie. It was technically a zombie movie (they just did not call it that.) There was a lot of violence and it was pretty creepy in some places. I do not think that this is appropriate at all. My opinion is that parents should watch it first. This also was not a good story line. It got boring and it was not really done well. It is a one time watch, but I may have to even say that you should just pass it up.

fredn
teen, 15 years old
 
really violent and thrilling but is sad and good with intense action

She-WolfAlpha
teen, 14 years old
 
Love it!!!
I'll start out with the good stuff. It has a godly message at one point, the girl saying she was listening to God and when Will Smith is about to sacrifice himself, he tells the girl he's listening. The man is trying to save the world by finding a cure. He cares for his family and the people he protects. Cons, it's a bit dark, nothing big. There's a part where you can just barely see a female zobie's breasts but you can really see it if you're not looking for it. There is some cussing but not anything too extreme. The viloence is the worst but a 11 year old could possibly handle it. There is some scary scenes that can make you jump. In my words, the movie is epic, I wished I saw it in the theater.

The reviewer345
teen, 16 years old
 
tips for watching this movie
I did the mistake of watching my first horror film, and this was my choice. It's very intense and is extremley frightning at some points. I think if you want to watch it anyway, than here is a few tips to be less scared: 1. don't watch it alone! its not a good idea. watch it with someone who is older than you. (i watched it with my older brother, and it helped a lot!) 2.its a good idea to watch it on the computer- that way the screen isn't to big and it will be less scary. It's a whole different experience, trust me. 3. Don't watch it in the dark, or at night. its a good idea to finish this movie untill 3 p.m. this whole movie is about mutants living in the dark....so do yourself a favor, don't watch it in the evening.... 4. if you suspect that a mutant is going to jump out of the dark or something- lower the volume or pause it for a few seconds. don't force yourself to look at the screen- the only thing youll be missing out is images that might give you nightmares. 5. pause it every now and then. it will give you a chance to wake up to reality. go get a drink or listen to music for a few minutes- it won't distract you completley from what youve seen but it defintly helps you to calm down and prepare yourself for the rest of the movie. 6.watch something funny after your done. after the movie you might find yourself walking around like a zombie, trying to get the images out of your head. everything youll try to do (work, reading a book, listening to music) will be a little diffucult because although you might occupy yourself with something- you will still be thinking about the movie. It's hard at first, but after you take a walk or do something else thats nice, you won't be scared anymore. mabye you won't have nightmares at all, depends how sensitive you are. it took me at least an two hours to be totally calm... but at least i was able to enjoy the movie without having any nightmares at all and i didnt get distracted by it too much after an hour....

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