Random Babblings

I Am Legend an adaptation of the novel by Richard Matheson, staring Will Smith. I say adaptation and not “based on” since the story line is quite changed. Getting away from that it was quite a good film.

Not having much to do today, Lisa and I headed out to the movies. We had discussed seeing this when it was released but events and timing got in the way, so we held off till this vacation week. Despite some negative commentary from folks at Lisa’s work, we’re glad we went and saw this.

When we first saw the previews we didn’t know what to expect, they didn’t reveal much of the plot, just that Will Smith was the only survivor of some catastrophe. Then as more commercials and previews came out we thought it was a Zombie movie. A little digging into the history of the original novel said Vampire. Neither of these are quite true, but the disease in the movie is portrayed as a little of both. Despite the horror/suspense genre not being our normal cup of tea, both Lisa and I wanted to see this movie. For Lisa at least there was some drool factor in Will Smith, but the concept of such an actor doing essentially a “one man show” was a good draw as well.

This movie could have been an effects fest, and probably many people went in expecting it. In the end the movie is all about the story, the story about the “last man” on earth and how he has survived, and how such solitude takes it’s toll. Will Smith manages to pull off a remarkable portrayal of a man fighting to save the world while at the same time fighting to save himself.

When you go to see this remember to turn off that blockbuster mentality. This movie is not meant to be that despite it’s budget. Instead, go in ready to care about the characters of this movie, because it’s hard not to.

Overall 4/5.