I AM LEGEND

I was talking with a friend of mine about the movie coming out this weekend, I Am Legend, staring Will Smith. This movie is an adaptation of the same title by Richard Matheson. Just from the previews my friend Scott pointed out that Smiths character seems like a Christ figure. He is the I Am Legend. God says that he is the great I Am. In the previews Smith is immune to the virus that has effected NYC. He is the only one alive, everyone else is dead. Christ being the only one alive when everyone is dead in sin. And Christ provides the "immunity" to the dead. Smiths character says, "I can help you. I can stop this."

Not to overspiritualize this film but as Christians we should be looking for the redeeming value in movies. I saw Stephen Kings The Mist...and there was NOTHING redeeming about this movie. It is in the truest sense a tragedy.

I did a little research and Richard Matheson is not a Christian. However, he does hold some spiritual views. I am posting an interview by Matheson. I hope to go see this movie next week. Feel free to join me. Just comment and we will decide times. Here's the interview:

FAX: Though you’ve always used supernatural themes in some of your work, there is a deepening spirituality in your fiction as the decades pass. Was this because of your growing personal feeling about the nature of the human soul and what lies beyond what we call life?

MATHESON: I have read countless books on parapsychology, metaphysics, etc., through the years. My special favorite is Thinking and Destiny by Harold W. Percival. It inspired my book The Path which consists mostly of quotes from Thinking and Destiny.

Anyway, I have studied these books and evolved my personal philosophy which, when all the details are considered, consists of that little quote in Hunted Past Reason—“To die is nothing. To live is everything”—with all that implies.

FAX: Were you religious as a youth?

MATHESON: Not particularly. I was raised as a Christian Scientist, which I accepted. A good religion. On the wall of the pulpits in Christian Science churches is the phrase “God is Love;” not a bad statement.

FAX: Did your experience in World War Two affect your religious views?

MATHESON: I used my Christian Science belief system when I was in infantry combat. It reassured me. At the same time, my blood pressure went sky high—so you pays your metaphysical money and you takes your choice. Later, I left the Christian Science religion and chose to evolve my own belief system, which does not adhere to what has been described as “Churchianity.” However, I still think Christian Science is an acceptable religion.