DVD : I Am Legend [2007]

Rating: - The worst film I have EVER seen!
I had to write a review for this film to stop anyone wasting their money and buying it! It simply is the worst film I have had the misfortune to ever see. How any 'actor' could want to be associated with this is beyond me. Simply DO NOT BUY IT! If there were a minus rating option, it would be minus 10 from me!

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Rating: - A fair adaptation of a great book
This is the third time Richard Matheson's excellent book has been given the big screen treatment. It works well - the atmosphere of isolation is done well, and the shots of a deserted New York are very eerie in places. Will Smith gives a good performance as the last man on earth, fighting hard to keep things together.

The action is very good, although there isn't much of it. This is a good movie to experience in the right kind of mood. Recommended.

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Rating: - One man, one dog and lots of carnivorous zombies
I have mixed feelings about "I Am Legend"; Will Smith does very well as a one-man show throughout most of this film and captured the insanity that comes with the solitude very well. I especially liked the scene where he is alone in the DVD store saying to one of the plastic models: "Hello" and `say hello to me'. It really made me feel compassionate towards the character as I can't imagine what it's like to be so lonely you've resorted to speaking to inanimate objects as if they are real.

The most surprising part of the film is seeing a city, absent of life, at the beginning. It was kind of creepy with the one man, one dog and deserted land.

I think the zombies could have been made better; they could have been made to look more `real' as they appeared rather computerized. Otherwise, they added a layer of chilling horror to the film.

In the film, a sickness wipes out the world, Robert Neville (Will Smith) appears to be the only survivor, immune to the disease that has taken everyone else. While trying to avoid going `nuts', he perseveres in search for a cure for the disease that has killed off humanity and left the others as carnivorous zombies. This film contains some dark and some-what cringe-worthy humour, but it seems appropriate in the setting of the film.

Altogether, I think the film is worth seeing but maybe not owning.

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Rating: - Not as bad as some idiots are saying
I've just watched this - bored on a Friday night, whilst having a rare night to myself.

And you know what, I was expecting some awful Will Smith vehicle with the worst CGI ever in the world. EVER.
Imagine my surprise when I get neither, and what I do get is a half decent, and in places rather touching portrayal of a desperate survivor played with an amazing degree of subtlety by an actor I usually avoid like the plague (see what I did there). Yes, the CGI is crap, but in no way does it really detract from the story. Some sections of the press absolutely mauled this film for a number of different reasons. Remember, the only critic that ever matters is YOU. I wouldn't even class this a guilty pleasure. Yes, it could have been better, but so could most films.

I don't usually like Will Smith films, and I don't really like Hollywood mainstream tat, but I thought this was a perfectly watch-able and entertaining entry into the cannon of end of the world flicks.

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Rating: - Controversial
After all the hype before release and then all the damning reviews after release I just knew this film must have potential for me to find it enjoyable. Having never read the book of the title I cannot complain the lack of faithfulness to the "supposed" source but can any film really be 100% faithful to it's source book??

Will Smith has impressed me over the years by the diverse film roles he has taken on and in this one, which for most of the film he carries the plot single-handed (apart from a great paw support from his dog!!) he reaches new heights as a solo performer, no easy feat by any actor's standards.

Most of the reviews damn the CGI and maybe they are right but for me, a child of the pre-CGI generation, I don't concentrate on the state of the art effects but more on the story and the atmosphere of the film itself. A personal favourite film has long been the original version of The Fog because despite it's shortcomings the film is atmospheric and needs the watcher's imagination and not the gore and effects which recent filmgoers seem to need.

I felt 28 Days Later was good but over reliant on the effects while this "apocalyptic" film played to the strengths of the actor in the lead who did so well with the pathos and characterisation which lead to me enjoying this film and hence reviewing it with praise rather than damnation.