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Powerp i am legend
1. Done by Ryan Jones
@
http://ryanmediajj.blogspot.c
o.uk/
Unit 26
analysing film
2. I am legend talking head script:
Intro + synopsis:
''the omega
man'' on which i am legend is based.
I am legend is a 2009 film starring will smith is based on the 1970s classic the
omega man.
The world has fallen apart from a virus created by a pharmaceutical company in an
attempt to cure cancer Robert Neville is the last man in new york as far as he knows
could be the last man on earth, until he meets Ethan and Anna whom eventually lead
to Neville finding the cure.
3. In I am legend there are themes of isolation, death, peace/hope, then vs now as well
as the luxuries of live vs survival, night vs day and state of mind the protagonist
Robert Neville experiences not just mental instability form his circumstances but
also a great deal of self loathing as he was partially responsible for the original
outbreak. When Neville loses his dog (who is his only company) he attempts suicide
in a reckless rampage against the infected which is where he is rescued and the
begins to take shape.
-the opening scenes show several dramatic symbols like the butterfly poster “god
still loves us” the butterfly has relevance later in the film (leads to the cure).
-the deer chase showing the audience how crucially nature seems to have taken
over
-Robert has had no human contact (apart from the infected) for three years, despite
this he talks a lot whether it to his dog or mannequins e.c.t. In my opinion not
because he is loosening his mind but in an attempt to keep it to remind himself of
social interaction gives himself the impression of a community.
Talking to mannequin scene
Conforms to genre:
I am legend, is not a post apocalyptic virus film like most we know not only are the
creatures not zombies, but could be described almost like vampires (because of
there sensitivity to light) and are more organized than Zombies. I think the writers
choose these creatures in order to stand out from the other post apocalyptic films
around.
The infected in “I am legend” are scary not just faster than zombies but stronger
than most people if it was up to me id take zombies any day. In addition most of the
film is quiet, not constant running or action like “resident evil” or “dawn of the dead”.
Instead there are tense build ups to revealing moments for example the audience
might have thought Robert relatively stable mentally… until he lost his temper with
one of the mannequins resulting in the death of his dog… in addition the audience
thinks that there is no hope (or other people alive) at this point then Robert goes on
a suicidal rampage to avenge his dog where he discovers Anna and Ethan.
4. The creatures in i am legend do not conform to genre
Reasons for choosing this film:
I am a very big fan of the post apolyiptic genre from dawn of the dead to book of Eli,
I like the idea of a world without the restrictions of government and society in
which survival is the only real intention for the day it puts things into perspective
and is reminiscent of a time before technology and governments a time where
survival was for the fittest, in my opinion the definition of “the Omega man” or even
the title “I am legend” suggests survivor… Omega (the last letter of the Greek
alphabet) is often used to denote the last, the end, or the ultimate limit of a set. In
this case the last man alive.
the abandoned landscape in i am legend would have been painstaking to film with one scene of the
Brooklyn bridge costing 5 millin dollars.
Narrative functions
There is not much narrative in the opening scenes of i am legend except for the new
report, which stets the backdrop for the film highlighting the "good intentions" of
the scientists
Robert Neville has a narrative in the car with his wife, which shows the audience
how the virus has become airborne and lead to Robert staying in New York to try
and rectify the virus.
5. In addition their isn’t much narrative between Anna and Robert exept debate about
religion/hope (which is hidden but essential theme to the film) and the final scene
in which Robert trusts her with the cure.
Narrative conventions
The butterfly on the poster has allot of significance later on in the plot though it only
appears briefly in a scene at the beginning which reads the words "god still loves
us"(not to mention the irony of it being posted on a military vehicle)
The narrative starts off very slow and only picks up when the deer chase begins
The presence of deer and lion highlights the post apocalyptic atmosphere with
nature taking over in the absence of man. man vs nature
The mental effects of isolation are also emphasized with the silence and Roberts
zoning out whilst washing the dog this is before the sounds of the monsters outside
as he slept, all after closing up the house to the sound of Bob Marley's three little
birds for the night. The irony being Bob Marley is a contradiction to the sound of
monsters outside.
SIGNIFICANT SCENES
(1 min 2 secs)in addition to the flashback in which the butterfly which eventually
leads to the cure
it is also the protagonists final scene in the film which is ironic considering the title i
am legend
this is the scene i have from the end of "i am legend"it is the moment when the
protagonist discovers the cure to the disease that has plunged the world into
anarchy
(1min 48- 2mins 8secs) there is no sound in the final scene adds to the dramatic
significance and feeling of hopelessness could be described as a barthes code
enigma
6. According to propps character roles:
The hero is obviously Robert Neville (whom dies for the cure)
the villain is the virus (which is cured thanks to Robert)
Anna and her son Ethan are the donors whom unwittingly deliver the cure
the dispatcher or in this case motive is the absence of people which is a constant
reminder of the work that Robert needs to complete to reverse the situation
The helper would be the 2 survivors Ethan and Anna
From Todorovs point of view:
The balance of the film started tilted to the opposite of Roberts favor with very little
hope and...
...The death of Roberts dog and arrival of the other survivors as well as leveling the
equilibrium begins to tilt it the opposite way when the protagonist dies as a result of
them arriving but discovers the cure before taking his own life which brings about
the new equilibrium
levi-strauss:
There are few references to culture in i am legend however the scene playing golf on
an abandoned aircraft carrier brings to mind the idea that a virus can bring a nation
and government to its knees without technology and weapons but just basic
biological chink in the chain. (Biology vs technology)
in addition to the scene in the music store when Robert (driven slightly mad from
isolation) flirts with a mannequin as they discuss the music in the store reminiscent
of what the world was before the virus mentioning elements of romance and music
presenting it to the audience as almost a luxury. (then vs now/luxury vs survival)
7. Infamous ''Fred scene''
Commentary for significant scenes:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_tts6_LpGnk"
frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
• This is the scene in which the audience can clearly see that Robert is loosing
his mind, if talking to his dog wasn’t enough.
• The scene is so dramatic that it makes the audience feel that Fred has done
something wrong. Robert proceeds to step into his own trap in a rage whilst
shooting several windows out the surrounding buildings. This leads to his
beloved dog Marley (his only surviving family member) getting infected. This
can be described using Tzvetan Todorovs theory of balance and Equilibrium.
<iframe width="560" height="315"
src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jFnmCQcXpfQ" frameborder="0"
allowfullscreen></iframe>
9. Alfa male and female
• Alternative ending highlights the camera techniques used for example
lighting in the final scenes was key and fill and the special effects which
including fire smoke and c.g.i. Used to enhance the ambience of such a
dramatic scene the creatures for the first time ever have are interacting with
Robert and not attacking him.
• This gives him the chance to cure the Alfa female. I believe they made this
scene because of the fans demand for a sequel which is still pending. Despite
will smith announcing that he will not be part of it.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-
7LsxKkh0zg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
• In the original ending Robert kills himself with a grenade trying to save
Ethan and Anna, Whom had with them the cure. Which has ironic significance
to the title “I am legend”
• In addition the original ending involves Robert discovering the cure is within
his blood with a crucial flashback to his daughter saying, “look at the
butterfly" essentially meaning to the audience “look into yourself”. This can
be described in Barthes code as an enigma with signs going all the way back
to the opening scene with the butterfly poster.
10. You can see the outline of the butterfly in the glass, which leads Robert to the cure at
the last minute
<iframe width="560" height="315"
src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gLeix0ZYSCE" frameborder="0"
allowfullscreen></iframe>
• Opening scenes and butterfly poster(significance to end scenes ''look at the
butterfly'')
This is a very short but extremely significant scene in the begging with crucial
relevance to the plot ''look at the butterfly'' which i think is a metaphor to look
under your nose.
