A Legendary Bore - But Popular

Rating: 3/10 (17 December 2007)

After reading many of the reviews for this movie I realize again how outside the mainstream I tread. I did enjoy the views of an empty, abandoned NYC, which are always interesting. One scene was of a derelict Union Square subway entrance which was a block away from the theater and many moviegoers had just used - always good for a laugh. I am not sure I appreciated the superhuman carnivorous "survivors" of the virus, the leader of which reminded me of the demon in the Aphex Twins video "Come to Daddy". I watched I am Legend with my wife and a friend and we all thought it pretty much sucked (how's that for a pithy review?) I felt no emotional connection to Will Smith's character Rober Neville's family or the millions who had died. I felt no emotional connection to the survivors who go to the Vermont refuge. For so many people to have responded positively there must be something here but for me - I am still looking for Waldo. In 1954 Richard Matheson wrote "I am Legend" - The first movie adaptation had Vincent Price and was called "The Last Man On Earth" (1964). The second movie had Charleton Heston and was titled "The Omega Man" (1971) - This Will Smith movie is the third and only version sporting the original story title. My favorite remains the Vincent Price version - I re-watched it recently and it still holds up - I recommend it - but not the latest Will Smith vehicle.