I Am Legend [2007] - DVD (Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson - Dir: Francis Lawrence)

A mainstream Hollywood actor who seems committed to igniting science fiction features, Will Smith chalked up another sizeable hit in the shape of I Am Legend, the latest cinematic adaptation of Richard Matheson's book of the same name.

This time, Smith plays Robert Neville, the last man on an Earth emptied by a deadly virus that he continues to try and find a working vaccine for. With just his dog for company, and the fear of the vampires that haunt the night never far away, I Am Legend quickly establishes itself as a taut, highly watchable blockbuster, with plenty of reasons to gnaw at your nail.

Where I Am Legend really scores is in the excellent first half. The scenes of a deserted New York are quite staggering, and it's also to Smith's immense credit that he holds the attention even though for the most part he's the only person on the screen. It's a quite wonderful opening hour that the film enjoys, and one that easily stands repeat viewings alone.

The back half of I Am Legend is, almost inevitably, not quite the match of what's gone before, as the threats of the night don't, when you finally see them, live up to expectations. Nonetheless, for Smith's performance, and the sheer quality of the build up, I Am Legend can stand side-by-side with the last take on the story, the Charlton Heston-starrer The Last Man On Earth. Take either home, and you're in for a rollicking good night in front of the telly. --Jon Foster

Customer Reviews of I Am Legend [2007]

Sophie
Dorset, UK
30th November 2008

A little overrated methinks...
I Am Legend has a few good points but loads of bad ones.
The acting is terrific, Will Smith is very talented. The storyline is very good too but it's just a shame they didn't manage to pull it off the way I thought they would.
It was the zombies that really dissapointed me. Once they came out, it turned into some action-horror, making me forget how calm it was before-hand. I know that was the storyline but couldn't they reveal to us what the zombies looked like at in the ending? That way, I'd be a little more intrested of finding out what happened in the end.
I think the nobleness of Will Smith's character ruined the ending. It would have been so much better if he got out of his house along with the woman and her child.
I thought the bit when he had to kill his dog was really, really sad. I nearly cried and I never cry at films!
Nonetheless this is a movie you should consider on watching, just when you watch it, make sure your mind is open!

britsurfer1

26th November 2008

Epic...but disappointing
I had high hopes for I am legend. In the end i was slightly disappointed. I like Will Smith and found he did a great job acting in the this film. As a viewer you are intrigued for the story to unfold and find out why he is alone. However, I thought the special effects were quite poor considering the size of the this movie, and also felt the ending was quite commercial in the sense that it was wrapped up very quickly (and to my mind quite boringly).

This isn't a bad film but it is nothing new, but i feel it was marketed and hyped to be an amazing film. Disappointing for that reason.

Cam
London
25th November 2008

Very good film- although the infected people had that fake cgi look
Its a very good film although the infected people had that fake computer generated image look, just like the robots in I Robot. I really enjoyed this film though. I have to agree with everyone else, the first half of the film was the best. I loved the way you see him bonding with his dog. He talks to his dog like a human, it really portrays a realism that the lack of social interaction with humans could create.
I almost cried though when his dog dies (sorry for the spoiler). It made me think, what if that was me and my dog alone in the city. But I know my dog would definately get me killed, she would try and chase after air if she could see it.

psmith999

18th November 2008

Not bad at all
An interesting idea, quite well handled. Like other reviewers, I thought the first half was better than the second. There were a few inconsistencies in the plot, and some bits were a little silly, but overall it was both entertaining and enjoyable.

Magdabat
Staffordshire
10th November 2008

Truly Legend
Coming at this deceptively moving film expecting the usual cheeky charm and snappy one-liners from a Will Smith character, I will be apologising for ever more for anticipating anything less than the depth, humanity and underplayed grief that make his portrayal of Robert Neville, the last man in New York, if not the entire world, a real eye opener.

The look of the film is amazing, from the crumbling, grass lined streets of Manhattan, complete with abandoned jets that never made it past the moment of disaster (hinted at but never overblown in flashback), the script is tight and never over-sentimental and the suspense is an absolute killer...if you're not on the edge of your seat watching Neville chase his pet dog into a dark, abandoned warehouse that you just know is going to be crawling with evil, then you may have to question whether you are entirely human yourself!

Okay, so it's not without its flaws. The zombie/vampire/villains are the usual fast moving, blood lusting, head shaking, roaring CGI blobs with generic zombie/vampire/villain features (I couldn't help wondering, as I so often do in these situations, whether a few real humans with some ghoulish makeup may have been eerier) and after quite an intense build up I can see why some audiences might feel cheated by the unapologetically swift and convenient conclusion. Nevertheless, when the film ended I felt desolate: moved, astonished but desolate at the vision and image I was left with, and for a CGI monster movie to have that effect on a cynic like me is nothing short of amazing.