I Am Legend

I Am Legend, based on the 1954 science fiction novel by Richard Matheson, has already had a number of cinematic adaptations, most notably The Last Man On Earth with Vincent Price and The Omega Man with Charlton Heston. A modern adaptation has long been mooted. The most tangible was with Schwarzenegger attached and Ridley Scott ready to direct in the late-90's, before a spiraling budget and Arnie's fledgling political career put the skids underneath it. This relatively loose adaptation, directed by Constantine's Francis Lawrence, starts ponderously as Will Smith's last man on earth is doomed to wander New York City alone after the man-made virus "KV" (virologist Smith is partly to blame for the pandemic) wipes out the population. Yet, as ever, he is not alone...

The sheer scope of the film has to be applauded. The emptiness of the familiar landmarks of one the most populous cities on earth has been executed with great aplomb thanks to a combination of CGI and early morning shoots - the Brooklyn Bridge set-piece in particular is a magnificent sequence. Thankfully too Will Smith is at his least annoying and actually delivers a very well balanced performance as last survivor John Neville, replete with endearing dog (seemingly the only non-CGI animal left living in The Big Apple).

It's certainly by no means perfect - the decision to adapt the "survivors" (originally actors with prosthetically attached appliances) to more agile CGI demon-like characters is a mistake (though the employment of rock legend Mike Patton to voice them is inspired!) and the references to Ground Zero jar - but overall this is an excellent post-Christmas treat that delivers the necessary surprises and shocks as the impending apocalypse beckons.

Released on 26th December 2007 by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Written by Simon Cole.