Review: I Am Legend - Directed by Francis Lawrence
Rated PG-13 for violence and frightening sequences

This was one of the movies I was most looking forward to this year. Simply being a big-budget Will Smith sci-fi thriller was enough to get me into the theater, but I had high hopes that I Am Legend could very well be the USA's equivalent of 28 Days Later.

In director Francis Lawerence's I Am Legend, military scientist Robert Neville (Will Smith) struggles to exist as the last man on Earth in the wake of an apocalyptic virus. Hunting and gathering during the day, he retreats to his laboratory at night to test possible cures on the vampire-like infected. But with a trusty dog his only companion, Neville soon finds himself growing increasingly paranoid.

The American 28 Days Later? Not quite. There are similarities to be had, but in exchange for an increase in scale and polish, I Am Legend loses much of the dreary atmosphere and tension that made 28 Days Later a horror classic. Still, for fans of one-against-millions zombie holocaust movies, Legend is definitely worth consideration.

Had it not been for the final 20 or so minutes, I Am Legend would have been...well, legendary. It starts out quite strong, focusing on the day-to-day life of Neville and his dog. With dialog at a minimum, star Will Smith shines at driving the story with action and facial expression alone. Kudos to Smith for bringing so much emotion and soul to a movie most actors would pass off as a meaningless popcorn flick.

I found myself feeling considerably turned off by the film's final act, however. Whereas the opening bits portray an excellent sense of isolation and dread, the ending reeks of action movie mindlessness. Also, the heavily computer animated infected humans had me feeling disappointed.

A great film up until the final act, I Am Legend comes to a close in mediocrity. Still, I can honestly say that it features one of my favorite Will Smith performances yet. Also, it's far more enjoyable than I, Robot.

Rating: 7 / 10