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So this weekend, so far, has been one of watching movies and whatnot at home. And it got me thinking about one movie I missed...on purpose. I toured the role playing zone in Second Life but I never sat in the theater to watch I am Legend. And this, summed up by an MSNBC columnist, is why:

The death of a dog is the most toxic of emotional Kryptonite. Sure, I’m fairly helpless when it comes to nostalgic baseball catches between fathers and sons, but the real damage is done by movies like “The Incredible Journey” and “Benji.”

As you are no doubt aware, in the film, Will Smith’s character is one of the last humans alive on Earth. His solitude is leavened by one thing: man’s best friend. His German shepherd — Samantha or “Sam,” for short — is his only pal and rides shotgun with him wherever he goes, head happily struck out the window, tongue flapping in the wind.

But in protecting her owner — no, partner — Sam is bitten by a hairless zombie. (There’s an ad for an invisible fence.) Despite Mr. Smith’s best efforts, she quickly contracts the rabies-like disease that has decimated the planet. When our hero is forced to strangle his only friend with his bare hands, he can’t even stand to watch her death, gazing helplessly away. And, oh Lord, ditto for me. Read more...