Well Acted and Thought Provoking

Rating: 8/10 (28 March 2008)

Francis Lawrence's adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel of the same name may not be the most faithful representation of the book, but it certainly makes for a great film, and one that I'm proud to add to my collection. I've just viewed the film for the third time now, and after having seen the "alternate theatrical version," I must say I prefer the original ending.
Will Smith's performance has received a lot of praise, and none of it is undeserved. His portrayal brings Robert Neville to life, and there are several times ("Please say hello to me") when I was almost brought to tears by the strength of his performance. He, along with the script writers, have managed to lift the film above being a "genre film" and to something closer to art.
Don't get me wrong, however. "I Am Legend" is unabashedly a zombie flick, but by the end its strong character development and commentary about God help to avoid the feeling that we as an audience have been here before. As a Christian, I also appreciate that the film doesn't shy away from issues of belief and faith, which figure prominently in the climax (I personally feel like the movie strongly endorses a belief in God).
Visually, the movie is somewhat of a mixed bag. The cinematography and set pieces are both nothing short of stellar, and come together to make the "nature takes back the town" idea really come to life. However, the CG characters created for those infected with KV are lackluster at best. The director tries to compensate for this by having them move quickly, but it still falls flat, and the biggest scare we really get from the infected comes early on, when they're half hidden in shadows.
James Newton Howard's score is subtle, understated, and beautiful, which is pretty much what we've come to expect from him by now. I'd be looking to buy the score, but I honestly don't think there's enough music here to fill an album, which is a shame. The music is used quite sparingly (but like I said, it makes a positive impression).
Poor CG aside, "I Am Legend" is one of those movies I would recommend to just about anyone. I have vivid memories of going to see it at the local cinema, and nearly all of my expectations were met or exceeded.