More "Omega Man" than "I am Legend"

Rating: 9/10 (22 December 2007)

Richard Matheson's classic scifi/horror novel "I am Legend" has always been one of my favorites. I read it first when I was about 12 after my dad gave it to me (himself a big fan of classic science fiction) and couldn't put it down until I had finished the last page. Since then I must have read it a dozen times, still being fascinated like the first time. I had some really high expectation in this movies as both prior versions, "Last Man on Earth" (Vincent Price) and "Omega Man" disappointed me quite a lot. Well, to get to the point, "I am Legend" is not Richard Matheson's "I am Legend", it's sort of a "Omega Man" remake ... nevertheless an exceptionally good one and it contains much more of the novel's spirit than anything else before. The infected now are really bloodthirsty creatures (not pale, religious weirdos like in "Omega Man") and 80% percent of the movie shows Robert Neville in his loneliness and desperation while searching for other survivors and a possible cure. Will Smith really does a great good job. Graphic violence and action sequences are pleasantly kept on a low level. Don't get me wrong, "Dawn of the Dead" is one of my favorite movies, but it wouldn't fit this one. There are only 2 things I dislike. First of all there is no Ben Cortman, the Neville's former neighbor, who is now infected and terrorizes him every night. Those night attacks and especially Cortman are vital parts of the novel. Second, in Richard Mathesons's novel the titel "I am Legend" becomes the clear, logical and inevitable conclusion in the end while the movie's ending is just pathetic. Nevertheless I really enjoyed this movie!