I am Legend

Rating: 6/10 (29 December 2007)

Based on the 1954 novel by Richard Matheson, this is the third adaptation of the story. The earlier two were The Last Man on earth (1964) and The Omega Man (1971). With its Christmas release, huge budget and production costs and general hype created around it  obviously, it was a tempting offering during Christmas holidays.
Robert Neville (Will Smith) is the only man to survive the worldwide apocalypse due to a viral disease that has killed most of the human race and left the remaining humans as flesh eating zombies  who cannot come out in the light and can only come out in the dark to search their food. Robert and his dog Sam roam around deserted New York streets every day to search / hunt for food and waiting for some other survivors to contact them or works in his lab to find a viral cure. Robert encounters his own despairs and memories of his lovely wife and daughter, and battles with zombies. In one encounter with zombies, his dog is infected and dies, which leaves Robert desperate to take revenge and commit a suicidal attack on zombies. Anna (Alice Braga) - another survivor, rescues Robert. In the end, Robert dies in an effort to save Anna, but not before finding the cure for the disease.
Those who have not read the original novel  might find the movie entertaining to some extend. But be aware, that except the theme, this movie does not have any close resemblance with the original story, which is many times more interesting in its content, events and story telling.
This is a more ultra Americanized (American saving the worldnot again!) effort by the first time movie director Francis Lawrence, who until now only directed videos  mainly music videos for singers like Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.
The budget is big and the production values enormous, which is seen on the cinema canvas and those visuals of deserted New York City are fascinating to say the least.
The movie belongs to Will Smith all the way. He carries each scene with great maturity and presence. He is the sole recognizable character in the whole movie until the last 30 minutes when Anna enters the scene. Will Smith has done great job in acting out the emotions and range of it. He looks great with his newly built muscular physique.
With good entertainment value, but poor adaptation (a lost opportunity  both for Francis and Will Smith) makes it movie an average viewing. I will go with (Stars 6.25 out of 10)