Kara and I got to go see Will Smith’s new sci-fi dystopian flick, I Am Legend this past week. I had been looking forward to this film since I saw the first trailer so I’ve been trying to avoid all the trailers since to preserve at least some kind of surprise. I find that these blockbusters have a tendency to get over exposed in their trailers. So after almost a month of shielding my eyes every time the trailer would come on tv we finally were able to see the flick.

[spoilers to follow from here on out]
I was happily surprised at much of the film, for instance the opening sequence where Robert Neville (played by Smith) is deer hunting in downtown Manhattan by chasing his prey down in a Ford Mustang with an assault rifle hanging out the window was eerily reminiscent of one of the first scenes of 28 Days Later where the streets of London are entirely abandoned. At times Legend had the kind of adrenaline inducing scenes of anxiety mixed with terror (the scene when Smith gets trapped by the “dark seekers” is particularly well done), but what I was most surprised about and most appreciative of was Smith’s performance. He masterfully portrays a scientist wrecked by tragedy after tragedy who is in turn driven and disciplined to fix what has happened around him. But no amount of testing rats with “the virus” is enough to keep this man from crumbling under the weight of being so alone. Smith portrays Neville as being on the verge of entirely losing it if not for the companionship of his German Shepherd, Sam. Neville’s relationship with Sam reminded me of Chuck Noland’s relationship with the volleyball Wilson in Cast Away. Sam becomes Neville’s best friend, conversation partner, child.

It’s not a flawless film by any means but the criticisms I would have would only make for a longer film (which I’m almost always for anyhow). One thing that was puzzling about the film was the shift at the very end when it apparently becomes a tribute biopic of the fictional Robert Neville. It’s a great film to check out this holiday season for both the suspense and Smith’s performance.

In the true spirit of Advent we saw a glimpse of the inbreaking Kingdom of God yesterday when the Broncos hammered the Chiefs 41-7. Even if this season turns out to be a loss it will warm my heart during this cold winter to think back on what happened yesterday when the Broncos flat out embarrassed the Chiefs. The way Cutler has been playing, I’m looking forward to a lot more of this!

This post is dedicated to Brian Postlewait, Mike King, Jason Sturdevant and all my other Chief loving friends… love you guys!