completely failed to hit the mark...

Rating: 3/10 (29 December 2007)

Sweeping aside the normal PR hype that comes with a marquee film like this, this film had so much potential but completely failed to hit the mark.
Set in 2012, the story revolves around Robert Neville (Smith) the last known survivor of a post-apocalyptic nightmare when the cure for cancer mutates into a deadly virus spreading around the world. We then follow Neviles day-to-day life in a destitute New York City which feels a little like 'Castaway' until we learn that the virus has turned the citys' former inhabitants into zombies.
I can say that Smith, with his canine companion, manages to keep the film together with his ever-so maturing acting skills, but then everything else starts to come apart. The lack of a well-thought-out script and bad direction starts to become apparent as the movie starts unravelling.
I left the film thinking about the number of narrative holes, unrealistic scenarios considering the premise of the film, un-need use of cultural references and most importantly was the unnecessary use of unrealistic CG effects. I'd read somewhere after watching the movie, that music director Francis Lawrence decided after a weeks filming that his human actors made-up as zombies weren't realistic enough so he went down the CG route, I think this is one of his biggest mistakes as the tension he attempts to build-up to is completely brushed aside when we continually get close-ups of CG generated zombies that look like they're from a ten year old music-promo.
A part of me understands that they had to hit the 15 certificate and not go down a darker and edgier narrative/style so not to sway it into an 18 - bums on seats and all that. Honestly wait until it comes out on DVD or TV. This film had so much potential but unfortunately turns into just entertaining fodder.
Note: the much more superior '28 Days Later' cost £5million to produce ($10 million) whilst this supposedly cost $150 million. It really isn't just about style...