This movie, “I Am Legend”, made me weep. That’s not a good thing. Now before I’ll get into it, this movie is VERY good. As always, Will Smith puts in an award worthy performance. The story is strong and you get caught up very quickly in it. All pluses.
If you have NOT seen any trailers and know nothing at all about this movie. Don’t read any further. I will give you this much, though… animal lovers may have a tough time with this movie.
As anyone who has seen the trailer, though, you can pretty much tell that the dog dies. It’s not a pleasant death and it’s drawn out a lot more than I was comfortable with. My husband tells me that this is the hero cycle; the hero’s best friend always gets it.
Well, screw that. I’m really sick and tired of seeing animals killed in films. I know the animals really aren’t hurt in real life. It seems that film directors are squeezing every ounce of emotion out of the movie goer as they can, any way they can. Wild animals are a little different; you can kind of divorce yourself from that if their deaths in a movie are natural. Pets are another matter. Because we, as humans, have strong, emotional ties to dogs and cats, they are often subjected to cruelty for entertainment. I read enough about true cruelty perpetrated by man on these dogs and cats we love, I do NOT need to see it reflected in a movie.
In “I Am Legend” Will’s dog is his only companion in a world of horror. The dog is his only link to sanity, to his family and to his own humanity. When the “dark seekers” take their revenge upon Smith, they don’t attack him, they attack and infect his dog. Fifteen minutes, at least, of screen time is devoted to the tension leading up to the attack and then to Smith’s pain. As the infection speeds its way through the dog, it snarls, and Smith strangles his beloved friend.
I wasn’t the only theatre goer that found this too tough to take. I left before the attack on the dog and waited just inside the theatre door with four other people. Kleenex and sniffles were coming from all of us. One guy, yep a man, was having a much tougher time and just as I was heading back to watch the rest of the movie, he left… for good.
I can understand how such scenes only enhance a story. I see this from a purely “Vulcan” logical sense. I just cannot stand them anymore. Especially not after one of my beloved furry kids died in my embrace. It hurts too much.
Why must film directors be so graphic? Whatever happened to the skill of a film maker to imply an action or scene with subtle lighting, the actor’s performance, or the music?
That scene gutted me like no other I’ve ever seen. When I saw Smith’s contorted face and then the dog roll lifelessly off his lap, I was incensed with anger and sadness to the point of getting up, leaving the theatre and taking a cab straight home to see and hold my own dog.
Up to the point, it was just another stupid and disturbing sci-fi horror film. The only thing I can say in its favor is that in this scene Will Smith’s face spoke volumes about that devastating turn of events. If you can get an oscar for making someone leave an otherwise inane film, then he’s got it.
I’m mostly relieved to hear that there are others that simply can’t watch a helpless and loving creature die a horrible death, whether or not it is happening in real life. I wish there had been some others in my theatre- I could have used a shoulder to cry on (instead of a taxi driver who used my obvious distress to come on to me!).
It was nice to be back home with Duke.
Eric – I appreciate your comments and you are correct in that I did not see everything because I had to walk out. The attack on the dog was told to me by my husband. I did see Will’s character kill the dog.
I understand, completely, how the dog’s character was used in the film and it was vital to the story. There was no other way to show Will’s despair, anger and devastation with his own situation.
The thing is, I’m the one who could not handle the scene. I never can. This is one of those scenes that was so hard for me that I had to walk out.
Everyone must choose for themself whether or not they go see the movie. It was a GREAT movie and another feather in Will Smith’s cap. I just choose not to see it again.
I appreciate your concerns with the movie, but you have overstated a case that you yourself cannot appropriately make. You claim you left before the attack on the dog. First of all, the darkseekers did not attack the dog. They set a trap for Will. The dog stood by Will until the evening came, and the dog got infected by saving Will. The fact that Will held the dog in his arms until the virus took hold and the fact that Will humanely put the dog out of its misery are strong moments that you should not have missed. Second, Will’s character was so crushed by the loss of his dog that he attempts a suicide revenge mission. I really don’t get your reaction. Will’s character loves his dog–as his only companion and reminder of his family–and it shows throughout the film. Finally, the dog is really an actor in the movie, and a superb one. This should be an animal-lover’s ode to canine companionship and loyalty. The dog sacrifices itself to save Will’s character. The death was handled gracefully, humanely, and realistically
I agree completely. I sobbed. My heart ached… not only because I’m an animal lover, but because this dog was all this man had left in the world…his only friend and only family. He’d lost everything up to this point and you can see his will to live completely die with the dog. I don’t blaim him.
I told a friend the day before I went to see the movie that I knew I was making a mistake. That movies like that never end without something horrible happening to the dog. I often avoid such movies if I see a dog in the trailer… because I just love dogs too much.
When I got home, I took one look at my dog, put my arms around his neck and started to cry.
I should have followed my instinct.
Shelly Mitchum
I’ve heard quite a few great reviews on this movie and I’m tempted to get out to the theater during my days off next week. Going to try out a new teenaged babysitter soon. Yikes.
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Thanks for the head up on this. My son (grown) has probably seen hundreds of thousands of humans blown away and it’s entertainment. But if a dog gets a paw stepped on he won’t see it or will walk out. He can now save the admission price.
As for me, I still haven’t gotten over “Old Yeller” dying.
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Thanks for your column on the movie. It was well done. I don’t know if we’ll see the movie, Will Smith is a terrific a actor, so at the very least I’ll hit the restroom when that scenario starts unfolding. My dog and I are involved with animal rescue (performances for fundraisers), and Ive seen many horror stories personally and in the media, si I’d rather not see it on the giant screen also.
Do you know who the dog is in the movie? I saw it in a trailer, what a beauty. Keep up the good work, Rick Caran