Strange Adaptation

Rating: Null/10 (5 October 2008)

Will Smith plays a scientist who appears to be the sole survivor man-made plague that turned the vast bulk of humanity into vicious, inhuman zombies in this strange adaptation of the novel by Richard Matheson. I say strange adaptation because, although it retains some of the original storyline, it is a mirror opposite of the themes of the book. The book was a dark meditation on a rational man left alone to battle a world of vampires. Being unwilling to accept a supernatural explanation for the events, he slowly finds the rational explanation and comes to the realization that he could one day be the source of another legend himself. In this film, Will Smith must abandon his rational worldview and accept the supernatural. Perhaps the filmmakers thought the mass audience wouldn't accept a film with the original viewpoint, but if that were true, why bother making the film at all?
Still, Will Smith gave a great performance, and the film had enough thrills for a summer blockbuster. There is simply nothing in this film with the power that novel ends with when Neville says "I Am Legend."
The Vincent Price version was the closest to the novel. The Charlton Heston version displayed the most campy fun. This version isn't bad. It just isn't the novel.