A big budget, character-driven movie that WORKS.

Rating: 9/10 (14 December 2007)

Having read Richard Matheson's original novel I AM LEGEND, I was curious to see how this third film adaptation would fare (the two previous versions were THE LAST MAN ON EARTH and THE OMEGA MAN).
**Spoilers** Does this film work? Yes. Is it good? Yes--quite good in fact, and better than the first two films. No, it is not an exact adaptation of Matheson's novel--don't go in expecting that (for one, the location in the film is New York City, not Los Angeles as in the novel; Neville is a white male in the book. But both Nevilles do end up meeting their Maker, if you know what I mean).**End spoilers**
What you will see is a tense, downbeat, occasionally funny and at times all-out scary character piece. Will Smith puts in an excellent performance as Robert Neville, who is trying to survive, a man who might very well be the last man on Earth following a horrific plague that has wiped out billions and has left many as vampire-like monsters. Neville is immune, but his routine is to stave of something else--the slowly dawning madness of being totally, utterly alone.
There is another more important character in the film--New York itself. The scenes of the deserted, abandoned city are simply stunning. Kudos then, to Smith, Francis Lawrence, and all involved for making one hell of a great movie. And kudos to Richard Matheson for penning the original tale over fifty years ago (has it been that long since the book was first published? Jeez!). Overall, a great film.