I AM LEGEND
movie review by David Blackwell

100 minutes, Rated PG-13
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

STARRING Will Smith (Robert Neville), Alice Braga (Anna), Charlie Tahan (Ethan), Willow Smith (Marley)
WRITTEN by Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman
based on the novel by Richard Matheson and the OMEGA MAN (1971) screenplay
DIRECTED by Fancis Lawrence

STUDIO: Warner Bros. Pictures/ Village Roadshow Pictures/ Original Film/ Weed Road Pictures/ Heyday Productions/ Overbrook Entertainment
Theatrical RELEASE DATE: 12-14-2007

I AM LEGEND is a fantastic nocvel by Richard Matheson. It has now been the subject of three film adaptations (THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, OMEGA MAN, I AM LEGEND). Now have fully captured the full essence of the novel. The first hour of the latest attempt, I AM LEGEND, captures the novel's atmosphere. Then the film starts to get into trouble by revealing a Hollywood style climax. Will Smith is great as Robert Neville. He captures the lonely and desperate nature of Robert Neville.

It is a little far fetched that he is a scientist looking for that miracule cure to a miracle cure to Cancer that mutated and created this whole mess. Neville fights to cure the infected (about 5 percent of the world's population since 94 percent died from the virus and only 1 percent are immune). Neville's only companion is his dog (he has been alone for about three years in New York City). He hunts for food and supplies during the day while being hole-up in his townhouse (and sometimes in the bathtub) at night when the infected come out. He works on finding a cure in the basement lab. He is the last uninfected person on Earth (as far as he knows). He broadcasts a radio signal in hope someone else has survived infection free and avoided being killed by the infected. The infected are fast and almost midnless. That is one of the film's faults. They are CGI and seem to be devoid of intelligence (one actually learns to spring a trap to get Neville). The infected take away from the film's power. They should have been more released and the film's third act shouldn't have been so rushed. I would have loved to seen the events in that built on more and be more true to the novel. Like other film versions, I AM LEGEND shares the rushed third act fault. If I AM LEGEND is ever adaptated into film again, I hope someone gets it right. This version comes the closest despite all it's faults and variations from the source material.

this movie review is (c)12-19-2007 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com  


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