Legion

Upon seeing the trailer for Legion, I knew instantly that I wanted to see it. I knew nothing about director Scott Stewart, or the other names behind the making of the movie, but I knew some of the stars: Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Kevin Durant, and Tyrese. I felt the film had some promise. I had the basics from the trailer: something went wrong on earth and God decided to forsake us. But there was something left worth saving in the eye of one angel.

As I write this review, I am conflicted on what to say about the movie. On one hand, the movie is exactly what the trailer said that it would be. But I suppose I had wanted more. I wanted the movie to say something, to take a stand FOR something, to make a person think. But I am skipping ahead.

The movie opens on a dark, dreary night; the kind of night when even the animals don’t want to be outside. We see a figure falling from the moonlit sky, but against all odds the figure lands safely. He goes about his business, quickly cutting off his wings and stealing a small arsenal of weapons. The figure must fight a pair of cops to leave the street where he has fallen, but they are little match for him. When the figure is on his way, we switch locations to the diner that is the main focus of the movie.

At the run-down diner, we meet the human characters; some stressed and at their worst, while others are seem to be generally good people. The small group is led by Bob, the diner owner, played by Dennis Quaid. Working at the diner with Bob is his son Jeep, Charlie the waitress, and his cook Percy. The customers today are a couple and their teenage daughter who were stranded when their car broke down, and a man who is lost on his way to his son.

Things go downhill quickly for the small group as they are attacked first by a little old lady. The old woman wounds one of them badly and they try to go for help, but they drive into a swarm of insects and are forced to return. Our humans are stranded, cut off from any assistance, or so it would seem. The figure from the opening scene shows up, and he says that his name is Michael. Michael claims to be there to protect Charlie and her baby. He claims that the future of the world is in the hands of the people in the diner, Charlie most especially.

At various parts of the movie, I found myself wanting to think about what was going on, but the plot holes made this too difficult. It got so bad that I had to force myself not to think. When the film opens, it is December 23th, and later in the movie the baby (who will save the world) is born on Christmas Day. Wait, haven’t I heard this story somewhere before? This story, which started out with promise, became a mindless popcorn action film. After seeing the movie, I can say that it reads like a recipe: one part Terminator, one part The Prophesy, and a dash of generic horror movie, shaken until it appears new.

All in all, this movie brings nothing new to the table. Treat it as you would any leftovers. If you want an action oriented movie that doesn’t make you think too much, go for it. But don’t try to look deeper; you will only be wasting your time on this mishmash.

- Nicole O'Connell