A thematic adaptation ruined by the third act

Rating: 5/10 (15 December 2007)

I was rather pleasantly surprised for at least the first 2/3. Though it's terribly unfaithful to the novel, and that bugged me at times (mostly in regards to the creatures and the ending - it didn't matter that the location was changed), it still manages to take some of the key themes and elements from the story and craft its own tale. The third act trails off into convention and clichÃ©, though, and the happy ending is completely at odds with the book, so it's not a perfect movie, but it is a damn good one and a very powerful one to boot.
Most of this is because of Smith's performance. Without seeing either of his Oscar-nominated roles, I think this is his best work to date. For much of the movie, he completely and utterly owns the screen, simultaneously making us laugh and cry, while never straying into overacting or self-parody. Even scenes that could be funny (and sometimes were, to some people), like talking to mannequins, he infuses with a sense of realism and seriousness that makes us believe in the character. Though his final act turn is predictable and corny, Smith makes the character, as a whole, relatable and likable, if a bit too perfect. It's really a remarkable performance.
As such, the rest of the film has trouble keeping up. The direction is impressive, never really being overly flashy while still adding a touch of style to the piece. The suspense is built up immensely at times and the action isn't overused until the finish. The production design and visual effects are fairly impressive; it's stunning to see the deserted city, but the creatures needed work and should have been left as 'normal' vampires. And the story, while straying from the novel, stays relatively strong until the third act, where all logic and reason is thrown out the window.
The problem with this third act is the gaping plot holes that open up. Who sets the trap that leads to Smith being captured? How do the other survivors rescue him? How have they survived for so long? How is there a camp set up? The film really does away with all of these questions and just goes for an action-packed, thrilling, and emotionally-charged finish. It's a far cry from the psychologically dark and disturbing ending of the book, and it's really a disappointment. It's too bad, because most of the film is nearly flawless.
As I said, the differences from the novel really didn't bother me, though I think the creatures should have been made into real vampires instead of some super-strong mutant things. Neville's psychological breakdown is there (a bit), his scientific work is there, and his dark past (brought about fantastically in flashbacks) is there. For the most part, the film manages to keep the message of the novel intact, even if it completely botches the ending.