Movie Review: I Am Legend

In the year 2012, Robert Neville (Will Smith) finds himself the only healthy survivor of a biological attack, as his fellow New Yorkers have become zombies. By day, Neville hunts the undead who walk the streets; by night, he barricades himself in his home against the mob gathered outside and searches for a cure.

Several attempts have been made at turning this 1954 Richard Matheson novel of the post-apocalypse zombie/mutant genre. There was Charlton Heston's Omega Man in 1971 and the one I'm most familiar with, Vincent Price's The Last Man on Earth in the 1960s, among others. The reason there are several movies is that it's a great story and many ways to tell it. This movie tries more of an action method with lots of chase scenes, edge-of-your seat action and creepiness. It's still pretty heavy on emotion though as the man is fighting his own demons and loneliness while trying to keep from losing his mind.

Will Smith carries the film almost single-handily (with a tip of he hat to the German Shepherd who stole some scenes) much like Tom Hank's had to carry Castaway with his pal Wilson (a volleyball). Not many actors are capable of doing this, but he does it well. He's come a long way since the Fresh Prince of Bellaire.

The city itself looks really cool as Will wanders around and the mutants are scary as all hell. Lots of good work on special effects.

Part horror, part sci-fi... overall it's a solid survivalist tale with a somewhat satisfying climax, but I thought the end could have been better. Still though, very memorable but just short of a classic maybe.

8/10