No Redemption

by Mickey Z.

I went to see I Am Legend yesterday and truly enjoyed it. The ending was both too “action movie” and way too “spiritual” for me but overall, it was well-made...for a Hollywood film. (Plus, Alice Braga is stunning.)

 

I especially appreciated the Bob Marley angle. The main character talks of when Marley was shot before a major concert in 1976 but still performed. Asked why, the singer replied (and I paraphrase): “The bad people trying to make the world worse never take a day off so why should I?”

 

This sentiment serves as the spine of the film but—surprise, surprise—the folks in the theater with me appeared to miss it by a mile. Firstly, two teenage girls in front of me (both of whom seemed eerily numb to the suspense, violence, and bloodshed on the big screen) spent the entire movie sending text messages. I looked around to see if anyone else had noticed their shining little screens but the Yuppie in his mid-20s to my left was also texting and so was the Spanish-looking guy (early 30s) to my right.

Anyway...the movie ends with another Bob Marley reference and the opening guitar notes of “Redemption Song" (also too “spiritual” for yours truly but still an inspiring song) are promptly heard as the credits begin to roll.

 

I felt choked up by this juxtaposition and sat there to soak it in. Everyone else—and I mean everyone else—immediately jumped up, pulled out their phones, and checked messages as they hurried out from the theater (probably to go stuff their faces).

A tear slid down my cheek as I listened to the Marley song: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.”

As with just about every character in I Am Legend, it was way too late for my fellow movie-goers.