I Am Legend: Special Edition (2 Discs) (3D Lenticular Packaging)

Using the original title of Richard Matheson's source book is a bold statement. Not only is it an incredibly evocative title but also when used within the context of the book's ending, it is possibly the most powerful film title in recent memory.
The concept of the last man on earth battling monotony, insanity, and extinction is a fascinating and terrifying one for audiences to contemplate.
The latest adaptation has a lot going for it, Smith's sublime performance as the haunted and slowly unravelling Neville, an eye popping but familiar deserted New York, and Sam the wonder dog-touchingly humane, loyal and heartbreaking.
So why doesn't it work?
Once again the C.G.I. effects so lifelike when used to render the overgrown streets through which Neville hunts and stalks his infected tormentors are also to blame for their badly created design. These infected humans look like a ten-year-old computer created them and never recapture the menace they promise when first heard screaming, as Neville lies foetal in a bath, barricaded behind steel shutters, with only Sam for company.
We should be terrified of these cannibals but they are so underwritten in their origin as to only serve as a typical monster threat to Neville. One of these "humans" does show hints of a former capacity for leadership and organization but this ultimately leads to nothing in the chaotic climax-an assault on Neville's Tribeca fortress (rebuilt after September11th perhaps?).
And with this climax the film bottles what could have been the best ending to this or any other movie if the book had been followed more closely. Instead we have a functional one of sacrifice-controversial in it's own way but interesting in it is depiction of a black Jesus. Perhaps because Neville is black in this adaptation we couldn't have the book's superior resolution. Read it and judge for yourself.

The title I Am Legend has poignant meaning for those who actually read the book. The Hollywood version leaves me wondering why it was deemed necessary to alter Richard Matheson's work so greatly?

Having read the novel before watching the film, not only was I let down by the poor special effects of the vampires, but the several massive changes that were made to the narrative.

Will Smiths portrayal of Robert Neville is decent enough, but nothing special. The notion of extreme isolation and impending insanity doesn't come through well, nor does the relationship with Robert and the dog, which, again, changed from its source material.

The most notable difference is the ending, which seemed to be such a cop out in terms of climaxing and giving meaning to the entire thing. As if it was feared audiences wouldn't 'get it' so had to dumb it down for a 'hero's ending', defeating the point of the story thus placing this casually amongst other hugely budgeted, forgettable blockbusters.

If you've not read the book, then you might enjoy this as a way to spend a few hours, but if you're dreaming about seeing the magnificence of the novel brought to life on the big screen, I would seriously consider giving this a miss as it will leave you wondering 'what if...?'.

This is the third time the novel I AM LEGEND has been brought to the screen. The first was the terrible Vincent Price effort in the 60's Then came average Chuck Hestons's Omega Man in the early 70's. Now is the time to do the cult book justice...
The good points of this adaption far out shine the bad. First of all credit should go to Will Smith's performance. For one man to hold the film together is a sign of this guys talent. Just watch the scene where he has to deal with his dog,as the camera focus his on Will Smith, and not what his happening,as the guys expression tells whats going on. Also his fall into madness due to the isolation is very well acted, a perfect example is him knowing the movie Shrek off by heart, and his conversations with the shop front dummies. The flash back sequences of the unfolding outbreak of the virus is also very well handled,showing the on going panic as the virus spreads and gets out of control. This also serves well to understand and pity Will Smith Character. The settings in a empty New York are amazing, but it seems a little less special than it should, as 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks repeated this emptyness to greater and more shocking effect on less than a tenth of this movies budget. The second half of the film does not match the slow burn tension build up of the first fifty minutes, and the ending of the cinema released version on disk 1 is a huge let down, although it could not have ended any other way, it just seemed over too quick.
The second disc contains the Alternate version, which is basically the same movie, but with a alternate ending, that I think is slightly better than the cinema version,but is still an anti-climax.
The infected although show menace, never come close to horror of the Rage infected in the far superior 28 Days Later.Also the director relies too much on the many CGI recriations for them to truly scare. I understand the reason to use CGI if there is hundreds of these creatures in one shot, but to use it one on one is very distracting, as the CGI creations are not that brilliant. They should have stuck to the tactics of 28 Days Later's Rage victims or Blade 2 with the Reapers, using make up effects when possible.
This is still a very good but flawed film, and the best adaption of the book.
A good film,thanks to Will Smiths outstanding performance.But the film could have been so much better.
A valiant effort, and well worth watching!

YES!!! this is a good film to watch, but there is so many problems with the story that just doesnt seem plausible, this is how it is, a cure for cancer is found that goes horribly wrong and kills off most of earths population some are immune and others get turned into bald, superstrong, superfast, flesh eating vampire type creatures called dark seekers that apparently according to robert neville show no typical human behaviour but for some reason all decide to follow a leader of the darkseekers, maybe he was formerly george bush and they all forgave him for the iraq war. and thats basically the only problem with this film, that the dark seekers just dont seem plausible enough and to little about them is explained, the dessolate new york theme is brilliant and will smith gives a terrific performance, the only other concern is the ending, for some reason the film has a sudden (maybe everything will be alright after all) type ending, which i think hurts the film because of the whole last man alive theme, so overall a good film to watch but just plain silly in places,*** out of *****.

The film its self is superb but i was disapointed with the special features on the 2nd disc, as with the below review i was looking forward to being able to watch these on my dvd player but you cant you have to log on to your computer whcih to me is annoying otherwise fantastic buy and great film