Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Bob Marley - Contributed
Reggae icon Bob Marley's legend carries over into the blockbuster film industry, with a strong presence in the hit movie I Am Legend.
Largely based on the life and philosophy of Robert Nesta Marley, I Am Legend, starring Will Smith, opened to the largest box office for a film released during December, having been released worldwide on December 14, last year. I Am Legend is a 1954 science fiction novel by Richard Matheson. The novel was adapted to film as The Last Man on Earth in 1964, The Omega Man in 1971, and again in 2007 as I Am Legend.
inspiration of the movie's name
In the last rendition of the novel the plot surrounding Marley was written in, changing the soundtrack and background philosophy and impacts on the movie's very name. The tale of I Am Legend is not only that of the book, but of Bob Marley's impact on the world. The movie chronicles the life of military scientist Robert Neville (Will Smith) and his dog, Sam. Smith believes he is the last man on Earth after an outbreak of a deadly virus in 2009. Opening in 2012, Smith scavengers through an uninhabited New York which is overgrown and overrun with bushes and wildlife.
While the virus killed much of human life most were mutated into a degenerated primal state of aggression and began to react painfully to UV radiation, forcing them to hide in buildings and other dark places during the day. While Neville scavenges during the day, conducting a moderately 'normal' life, he hides with his dog at night waiting for the daylight, when he attempts to find a cure to reverse the effects of the mutated humans.
human colonies cure
Towards the end of the movie, Neville is saved from the mutants by Anna (Alice Braga) and a child, Ethan. Not alone in the world anymore he discovers that there are normal human colonies, but Neville finds it hard to adapt to human interaction. Eventually Neville gives his life so that Anna and Ethan can not only live, but carry the newly discovered cure to the human colonies.
Where does Bob Marley come in? Throughout three-quarters of the film Marley's presence is like an ambiguous third character, along with Neville and his dog. The movie's entire soundtrack features Marley's positive music. As Neville arrives home in the days his CD player immediately picks up the comforting refrain "don't worry about a thing" from Three Little Birds. Smith's character uses Marley mantra to overcome the difficulties of his lonely life.
Three Little Birds is used as the soundtrack for what is going on below the surface and it is summoned at the most opportune times. It explains how Neville's vulnerable side seeps through the cracks of his tough-guy persona. When's Neville's only family and friend left in the world, his dog Sam, dies Neville sings the dog into final sleep with lines from the song. The Marley influence gets stronger as the film progresses, when Anna and Ethan make their appearance into Neville's life.
In a discussion about Neville's daughter who died, Neville tells Anna that he named his daughter 'Marley' after the legendary singer. One of the more humorous moments begins as Anna is unaware of Bob Marley's music. An astounded Neville sings a snippet of I Shot the Sheriff but Anna is still unaware, having only been familiar with the music of Bob's son, Damian.
marley's album legend
As the scene progresses Neville presents Anna with the "best album ever made" - the Legend Bob Marley collection. The movie continues with one of its more touching speeches that brushes on the philosophy that defines the end of the movie. Neville tells Anna, "he (Marley) had this idea, it was kinda virologist idea, he believed he could cure racism and hate, literally cure it by injecting music and love into people's lives. One day he was scheduled to perform at a peace concert, gunmen came to his house and shot him down. Two days later he walked out on that stage and sang. Somebody asked him why, he said it was the people who were trying to make this world worse never took a day off, so how can I? How can I light up the darkness?"
The concert mentioned is the Smile Jamaica Concert, held on December 5, 1976, at the National Heroes Park. Only two days before Marley had almost been killed by gunmen in his house, but survived and was driven up in the Blue Mountains. Nevertheless Marley agreed to perform one song for the 80,000 people in attendance, but it turned into a whole 90-minute performance despite his injuries
Neville gives his life for a cure at the end of the movie to 'light the darkness' that the world had become. The movie ends as Anna narrates "Robert Neville dedicated his life to the finding of a cure ...
At 8:51 he discovered that cure. At 8:52 p.m. he gave his life to defend it. We are his legacy, this is his legend. Light up the darkness". Then I Am Legend closes on the poignant Redemption Song by Bob Marley.
According to Jerome Hamilton of Headline Entertainment, publicity agents for the Marley's musical interests, Marley' influence on I Am Legend reiterates what Bob said long ago, "yuh a go tired of si mi face". According to Hamilton the presence of Marley in the film is a significant one.
He said "I would say it portrays Marley's influence as a positive one. It also represents the myth of how many persons were named after Marley in some way, as seen with the naming of the little girl in film as Marley. I was overwhelmed by how important Marley was to the main character in the movie. I was very impressed by them naming the movie after Bob Marley's biggest selling album, Legend, the music of which is also in the film".
Hamilton concludes that the movie assists in further spreading Marley's story to the world and teaches persons a few new things about the icon. However, Hamilton suggests that Jamaica should have made a connection between the movie and the singer a lot sooner so as to capitalise on 'Brand Jamaica.'
Even then, with I Am Legend, Brand Jamaica undoubtedly got a boost.
Robert Neville (Will Smith) and his dog, Sam, wander the empty streets of New York City in 'I Am Legend'. - Contributed
