DVD : I Am Legend [2007]

Rating: - Could have been much better (SPOILERS!)
The first half of this film is a promising, last guy left after the apocalypse type of thing. Well shot, with the scenes of deserted New York quite errie,and Will Smith acting quite well. The background to the viral outbreak is slowly revealed and heightens interest nicely.

Predictably though, someone thought the film was a bit too "intellectual" to continue in this vein and decided that some CGI monsters, explosions and good ole butt-kicking was required to guarantee box office green.

By the way screenwriters, it doesn't matter how crazy someone with a virus is, they can't climb up the side of a New York brownstone using only their fingernails, and two such people can't topple over an SUV weighing well over a tonne.

So, what could have been a brooding sci-fi chiller with some cleverly delivered shocks is spoiled by a run of the mill "ex-army hardman must keep the kid and the girl safe" exercise.

Monsters are ALWAYS scarier when glimpsed from the corner of an eye, so the heavy use of CGI to show as many monsters on the screen at once destroys all the tensions built earlier.

What a shame. I'd give it 2.5 as the first half is really pretty good.

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Rating: - Good not great, but worth watching
Will Smith puts in a very good performance in this film - ably assisted by "his dog" Sam - portraying an isolated man on the verge of losing it altogether while trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic New York. You feel a real sense of panic when Sam runs into a dark building and Smith is afraid he will become infected with the virus. I also thought the sight of them sleeping curled up together in the bath while the "monsters" own the city at night was unexpectedly moving.

The film is less strong in the second half and loses its emotional intensity when he finds some human company and the monsters come out of the dark but is still a decent, watchable action movie. I would certainly suggest you give it a go.

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Rating: - Yes this is a good one
I lowered my expectations because of the bad reviews. Really enjoyed the film. Not a classic but good acting, effects and action scenes. A good way to pass 2 hours.

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Rating: - Woah!
After being subjected to some hype about this movie I thought that it wouldnt live up to the hype. I was so wrong.

This film is a masterpiece. Brilliant.

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Rating: - Very powerful!
Like other reviewers I wasn't expecting a great film - I watched more out of interest based on the hype the film had received. Boy was I surprised! Yes, the film (as far as I am concerned) has an identical plot to 28 days later (but based in New York), but what really sets it apart from this and other films is the oscar winning, highly emotional portrayal by Smith and the beautiful, haunting and atmospheric music. Sure, the CGI effects weren't the best, but they did the job and didnt detract from Smiths acting which honestly was superb. The gore element was JUST right; this isn't a zombie film and Im confident the director got just what he was looking for - shock factor, tension, sadness and hope! I thoroughly recommend this film ... and when you've watched it, maybe you might do as I did and download the music score from iTunes - haunting! One other film I might also recommend for similar viewing (i.e. a powerful cinematic experience) is Children Of Men - another film like I Am Legend that surprises so much.