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

Will Smith stars in the third adaptation of Richard Matheson's classic science-fiction novel about a lone human survivor in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by vampires. This new version somewhat alters Matheson's central hook, i.e., the startling idea that an ordinary man, Robert Neville, spends his days roaming a desolated city and his nights in a house sealed off from longtime neighbours who have become bloodsucking fiends. In the new film, Smith's Neville is a military scientist charged with finding a cure for a virus that turns people into crazed, hairless, flesh-eating zombies. Failing to complete his work in time, and after enduring a personal tragedy, Neville finds himself alone in Manhattan, his natural immunity to the virus keeping him alive. With an expressive German shepherd, his only companion, Neville is a hunter-gatherer in sunlight, hiding from the mutants at night in his Washington Square town house and methodically conducting experiments in his ceaseless quest to conquer the disease.

The film's first half almost suggests that I Am Legend could be one of the finest movies of 2007. Director Francis Lawrence's extraordinary, computer-generated images of a decaying New York City reveal weeds growing through the cracks of familiar streets that are also overrun by deer and prowled by lions. It's impossible not to be fascinated by such a realistically altered cityscape, reverting to a natural environment, through which Smith moves with a weirdly enviable freedom, offset by his wariness over whatever is lurking in the dark of bank vaults and parking garages. Lawrence and screenwriters Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman wisely build suspense by withholding images of the monsters until a peak scene of horror well into the story. It must be said, however, that the computer-enhanced creatures don't look half as interesting as they might have had the filmmakers adhered more to Matheson's vampire-nightmare vision. I Am Legend is ultimately noteworthy for Smith's remarkable performance as a man so lonely he talks to mannequins in the shops he frequents. The film's latter half goes too far in portraying Smith's Neville as a pitiable man with a messianic mission, but this lapse into pathos does nothing to take away from the visual and dramatic accomplishments of its first hour. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews of I Am Legend [Blu-ray] [2007]

P. Da Silva Mari
portugal
5th January 2009

SUB TITLES
Please inform if the film "I am Legend" has sub titles in Portuguese.
Tkanks

P. PAGE
Doset, UK
31st December 2008

Yet another film cut short
As is becoming the norm with alot of films these days, they build up quite a good story line, then realise its been on for 90 mins and need to finish it quick. When i saw this film at the cinema it made me think there was a good 30 mins+ missing from it, i even thought i might have fallen asleep and missed some of the film due to the way they cut it dead for the end.

K. D. Squire
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK
7th December 2008

One man and his dog went to.... save the world!
Will smith is one of my favourite actors, with modern classics like "independance day", "Men in Black" and of course the series "The fresh prince of bell-air" i thought his new film I am legend would be a big success, i was however left feeling neither amazed but not greatly dissapointed so hence the 3 stars.

Its an ok film the subject says it all its one man and his dog for pretty much 3/4 of the film. The monsters are less than realistic and the story greatly resembles that of 28 days later. But Will smith makes it his own with fantastic acting especially when he has to make a tough choice.

It was worth watching, anticipation however wasnt matched by results so although i would buy im not rushing out to add it to my collection!

My choice
Bedford, UK
1st December 2008

Good, but a bit pridictable!
This film is not at all, the acting is realistic and Will smith portrays the best character he has, for some time now, but the ending of the movie isnt at all great, and like others before me, yes the alternative ending is much better then the original.

Well anyway, i believe the purpose of all blu-ray reviews is not to yap on about the movie but about the delicious transfer to HD.

Picture: the picture is very good and sharp at most moments, the colors are spectacular and the contrast is also very fine. 9/10

Audio: The sound is very nice, clear, and very good quality probably the best audio quality blu - ray i have 10/10

Overall (including the transfer and the film and acting, etc): 8/10

Allan woo
uk
13th November 2008

Boring...boring...boring!!!
Boring...boring...boring!!!The plot is all a bit obvious and you know what is coming all the way through. Also, the (animal) special effects did not gel very well.why do Hollywood scriptwriters think they can improve on good books when all the do is dumb them down into unbelievable trash. Alternate ending isn't much better where he does go off with them, it's a cheap imitation of resident evil which has been there, done that, & did it much better.
One to rent if you have no paintwork to oversee the drying of.