I Am Legend (Movie)

We managed to catch I Am Legend with Will Smith last night. Inspired by the 1954 book of the same name by Richard Matheson, the film recounts the tale of Robert Neville who is apparently the sole survivor of a pandemic. The film moves the location from LA to New York, has Neville as an Army doctor who may have contributed to the pandemic and, disappointingly revises the ending to a more Hollywood one.

The scenes of Neville traveling around a deserted New York are very effective and the interspersing of flashbacks to explain the situation helps break the potential repetitiveness of the "last man alive" story. Will Smith is good as Neville, slowly breaking down as he fails to find anyone else alive or a cure for the victims of the pandemic who didn't die.

The film certainly succeeds in providing some tense moments but fails to provide the depth of the book's story (often a problem with book/film conversions). My wife enjoyed it but hasn't yet read the original story (something I am recommending she does).

Obviously comparisons are bound to be made with The Omega Man starring Charleton Heston which is also inspired by the same book. Both films have their merits but clearly the advantages of modern CGI do help with the creation of the atmosphere in the later movie.

I Am Legend was entertaining and, whilst I understand why they may not have wanted to film the book ending, it did affect my overall opinion of the movie. Worth a watch.