Excellent adaptation, gripping horror, and not the rubbish that some people claim

Rating: 10/10 (1 February 2010)

Firstly, you may have read some other reviews slating this film. I will reply to some of the more common themes:
(1) Anti-Christian. Seriously, get a grip. The religious fundamentalist fanatic (not your everyday Christian) is the main foil throughout most of the movie. She discredits the new testament, slanders modern Christians, and goes against pretty much everything Christians stand for these days. This is obvious. She says it. Others say it. By that mote, you have to be purposefully ignorant to claim the film implies all Christians are like her.
It shows what happens when fundamentalist fanatics prey on the fears and desperation of people in an extreme situation - in this case, trapped in a mall, with a strange mist full of monsters just outside the window, and no hope of escape.
It does not show that Christians are just waiting for the right time to re-ignite the witch hunts. So basically, to those commenting that it IS: get a grip, and stop being so blatantly ignorant and full of self-importance that you can't see that it ISN'T.
(2) Bad acting I liked the acting, personally. I thought everyone did a bang up job. I particularly liked the Ms. Carmody, Ollie and Frank characters. I guess that's a matter of opinion though.
(3) Unrealistic This covers a number of points really, but the most commonly touted is the actions of the people in the store - from thinking it was all a joke, to going to the pharmacy, to most turning to the zealot.
OK, some people deny things because they cannot comprehend them being possible - this explains why the lawyer shrugged the creatures off as a joke and headed out.
Going to the pharmacy was a desperate act to get much needed supplies. Again, people do desperate things in desperate times.
When you're trapped, with no hope, and no answers, and are getting increasingly desperate, a lot of people turn to someone who claims to have the answers and solutions. Charismatic, confident people. You've heard of Hitler right? Yeah. Exactly. Also, a lot of people are saying "they wouldn't do that after just a few hours", or some going as far as saying "one day". It's two to three days, for a starts. And this situation is about as extreme as it gets - so yeah, that's easily long enough.
(4) The Ending This is the biggest beef, and, honestly, I can see why some don't like it. It's a real kick in the teeth, head shoved in the toilet, gut punch kind of ending.
The fact that minutes after running out of gas, they turn to suicide, is something that is debate-ably against character - though you have to remember they've been striving for days, have been driving for miles and hours, have witnessed the true monstrosity of the creatures (RE: massive monster towards end), the mist is seemingly never ending, Frank has found his wife has died, they've seen school buses with dead kids inside, etc. That creeps up on you. They were, I assume, also aware of the dwindling fuel as they were driving, and this gnaws at you as you slowly watch hope slip away. So I urge you not to think of it as "omg we're going to escape, drive!" to "ah well, ran out of gas, BANG BANG BANG BANG" but instead think of it as it is - the slow draining of all hope.
Back to the ending itself, yeah, it's nihilistic. But I liked it. I thought it fit the tone of the film, thought it was a clever, emotional ending. But again, this may be a case of opinion.
(5) Bad CGI OK, this is the only one I agree with on some level. I don't think it's the worst CGI since time began, as some claim, but I thought it was lacking somewhat. Not enough to make it a horrendous film, and certainly, with the strong acting, gripping tension and horror, and clever plot, it didn't dampen my enjoyment of the film at all.