I Am Legend

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2007)

Having read the book, seen "The Last Man On Earth" and "The Omega Man" (the other two 'versions' of Matheson's novel), I would have to say that I Am Legend is far and away the best version of all. Not because of the CG effects, or the scripting; it is the best version of all because Will Smith truly makes you believe that he is the lonely, obsessed, and nearly schizoid Robert Neville.
In a scene where he is forced to go into the dark, Smith truly conveys the duality of his nature: on one hand, he is trying to save a loyal friend; on the other, he is in a state of abject terror at what may (or may not) be lurking in the dark.
The original novel's strength lie in its ability to take the reader inside the head of the "last man on earth", and share his despair, obsession, and loneliness. This movie, while not letter-perfect when referenced to the book, certainly captures the nuances contained therein.
A must see--and if Will Smith does not at least get an Oscar nomination for his transcendent performance, then the Academy can just take their cute little brass statues and put them in the dark somewhere...