I Am Legend

As the draws to a close there are a couple of movies out there I would still like to catch before I bid 2007 a dieu. However one of the movies I knew there was no way I was going to miss was Will Smith latest, potential blockbuster, if such a thing is possible in December, I Am Legend. This movie along with American Ganster were a must for me before the close of the year. Both feature two of my favorite actors, Mr. Washington and Mr. Smith, and both had all the makings of greatness in the design. American Gangster did not disappoint and delivered everywhere it was supposed to, I Am Legend was in no way a disappointment, but did fall a little short. Please don't mistake what I am saying, and I will get to this later, the movie is definitely worth seeing, I highly recommend it, but when you are Will Smith I expect greatness every single time, and this fell just short of greatness.

The premise of the movie was an interesting idea; supposed cure for cancer turns out to be infectious disease that turns all those that come into contact with it into "mindless" super zombies that are faster, stronger, and more agile than humans. However they feed on flesh and blood and are extremely sensitive to ultra violet light. Dr. Neville, Will Smith, is immune to the disease and spends several years alone in New York as the only apparent human survivor trying to develop a cure. Along with his dog Will spends his days, trying to contact any other potential survivors, working on a cure and trying to stay alive.

I Am Legend features a couple of very cool action sequences and a handful of very poignant moments, in particular one between Will and a mannequin. I cannot say anything negative about Will's acting, once again he is exceptional. While Will did not bulk-up to Muhammad Ali size, he definitely toned up and got really fit for this flick, in addition to the look Will had absolutely no problem pulling off the role of genius, super soldier, trying to save the world. Both acting and visually the movie was tops, the movie fell a little short on the story side of things. I can't say the ending sucked, but I don't know it fell a little short. If you haven't seen it I won't ruin, but there was this big build up and in the end the story cheated itself. I will however disagree with many of the critics that felt the infected humans were not scary enough. I don't think the point was for them to be scary, the movie was unaffected by the design of the infected humans.

I really enjoyed this movie, a lot of fun, exciting, suspenseful, emotional, I want to say it was great, but it fell just short of great, but no excuse to not see this movie or even own it.

GRADE - B+