Why were the writers so lazy?

Rating: 5/10 (19 January 2008)

3rd film adaptation of the book, with each adaptation getting further away from the book. Why fix what isn't broken? Why unnecessarily up-date plot lines which are still perfectly relevant? Why make the man (Neville) and the mutants more than they need to be? Having just read the book, and being a fan of the earlier adaptation 'The Omega Man', I can't (or more cynically, maybe I can) believe what a mess Hollywood can make of a wonderful story. The overuse of CGI actually detracts from the film. The 'dark searchers' are unbelievable. The humans have mutated themselves, gaining super powers, instead of contracting a virus meant to decay them into abysmal wretches, and eventually zombie vampires.
Parts that work - The touching bond between Neville and his dog Samantha, his only companion, and a gift from his late son. When the dog runs off, Will Smith's effort to find/save his dog, forgoing his own safety, brings home his desperate loneliness, and elicits real suspense.
Parts that could have worked - Will Smith's reduction into isolation/stress induced madness. Not enough time taken, or background given. His character flits from sane/intelligent to cuckoo/stupid almost willynilly. It's not Smith's fault, more lazy writing or editing. This for me is the most annoying problem with the film. It's as though not enough thought was given beyond making the special effects work. There are homages to the previous films, and the best bits are the real-life human touches/ sub-plots that made the previous films work so well. but these bits are just that - bits. It needed more care and attention to themes we can connect with, not cartoon creatures. All in all, a wasted chance to make something brilliant.