DVD : I Am Legend (2 Disc Special Edition) [2007]

Rating: - I AM NOT A LEGEND!
I was greatly looking foward to seeing this as I had read the book and seen the 2 previous films - LAST MAN ALIVE ON EARTH (Vincent Price) and THE OMEGA MAN (Charlton Heston), which these are based upon but was let down and alittle disappointed with the end result. This could have been alot MORE chilling and scary but it was just an empty film of nothing much!
I must urge you to purchase 'THE OMEGA MAN' as this is still far superior and had everything - a good cast, chills, excitment, and good music also!
Go for the latter film!

---

Rating: - Could have been so much better
Ok. First off this is not a `bad' film, it is just a badly conceived one. The original novel on which this is based is a true classic. It's one of the few books I've read 5 times! It was also hugely influential. For a start there may never have been any George Romero Zombie movies if it hadn't been for Richard Matheson. Matheson's tale may be simplistic and the book is slight, running to only 141 pages, but the content and premise is so brilliant it's outstanding.

So what's wrong with the film?

Well, one of the fundamental flaws is the casting of Will Smith in the role of Robert Neville. In the book he is a white Caucasian and a doctor, not black and a military scientist. Don't get me wrong his performance is excellent, but when you've read the book it just doesn't gel.

There is also the CGI creatures, menacing vampires in the book, but frenzied zombies in this. Why they chose to use CGI is anyones guess but it doesn't work in the long run. Also why zombies and not vampires? The idea of them being vampires is central to the book and there are some brilliant ideas and concepts explored by Neville in the book about the nature of vampirism. However, these are all thrown out of the window in this version. If you want a true reflection of the book try the old black and white low-budget Vincent Price movie, The Last Man on Earth, which is at least faithful to the source material. In many ways this version bears more resemblance to The Omega Man, the Charlton Heston version, as his character in that was a military scientist who was as good with a gun as he was with a microscope.

There are some saving graces, however. The scenes of a devastated New York are inspired and genuinely eerie and impressive. There are also some superb set pieces. The descent by Neville into the dark building searching for his dog, and the sequence where he's captured hanging upside down and knocked unconscious in the daylight as the sun gradually starts to set as he comes around, are both standout moments.

But on the whole this was a great opportunity missed. It should have been a classic and if someone like Harrison Ford, Kevin Costner or Hugh Jackman had played Neville, and they had stuck with the vampire concept and had `real' actors playing the bad guys, then maybe it would have been.

And to think this was almost made with Arnie and genius director Ridley Scott when they were both at the top of their game. What a mouth-watering version that could have been.

NOTE: I bought the 'extended' edition which has a totally different ending to the 'theatrical' one. And when I say 'totally different' that's not an understatement. To give it away would spoil it but suffice to say that it 'improves' the film no end and is more 'logical'.

---

Rating: - Wow!! This is a Powerful Performance by Will Smith
I watched this thinking it might be a light-hearted Independence Day type performance by Will Smith. I watched this and have GREAT admiration and respect for Will Smith. Its one of the most powerful performances I have ever seen. He makes you feel what it likes to be there and identify with him. This is one of the most disturbing and powerful films I have seen in years. I spoke to some friends and family about the effect this film had on me. They have reminded me it's just a Film, and it could never happen. If it should ever become reality, I don't want to be the last person left. The agony that this person portrays/suffers in the film is quite overwhelming.

---

Rating: - Ouch
I hate to say it but its probably one the few films I would never ever see again. once you have sat through it once you will know what I mean. Some of suspense is great, albeit predictable in some places however by the second viewing you know whats going to happen and it just doesn't seem exciting any more. Has anyone noticed that none of the Zombies can drive cars? They've gone from lumbering in very large groups to being able to run very fast in even larger groups? so why couldn't they drive cars?
But anyway not Will Smiths finest hours (or 3 as the case maybe) too be honest hes the only reason why I would watch it, I like his style.

---

Rating: - Read the book, love the movie
I have read the book and have also seen the movie. I know I am likely to be shot here, but I much prefered the film! Even though I thought the book was ok, I did find it very drawn out in places and some aspects of the book were fleeting moments, where as in the film the same moments were much more established. For example the film really made you feel his relationship with the Sam (the dog) in the same way that Castaway made you feel for Wilson (the ball). However in the book this is not felt and is done extremely quickly. Now I must admit I did see the film before reading the book so could have been influenced. However I think you need see the film for what it is and read the book for what that is. They are two different things (the same as the two Italian Job films. The first one was great, the second was good. However if you compare them then you will be dissapointed). To stop people mentioning the book maybe they should have called this film something else. In the book they are vampires, in the film they are dark seekers, in the book he lives in a small town, in the film it's NYC, in the book they know where he lives, in the film they don't - the list goes on. In fact the only two similarities is the title and the lead charactors name (and the fact he's trying to find a cure)

Regarding the CGI it's not as bad as some people are making out. I think peoples expectations are far too high nowadays. As for Will Smith - Great as ever!