Good, But CHILDREN OF MEN Was Better

Rating: 7/10 (29 December 2007)

Third and best adaptation of Richard Matheson's classic science fiction novel. Special kudos to Will Smith, who manages to hold the screen with nothing more to interact with than a German Shepherd. Unfortunately, the ending is marred by pseudo-philosophical babble about God and Bob Marley (!), not to mention a lengthy plug for SHREK. (Do Will Smith and Eddie Murphy run in the same posse?) They should have stuck with the original ending from the novel: the vampires form their own society, and Will Smith's character realizes that now HE is the monster (hence the title). Last year's under-appreciated CHILDREN OF MEN did a much better job of balancing hope and despair, without tipping over into sentimentality.