Reviewed by Max Foizey.

Release Date: December 14, 2007
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok
Rating: PG-13

This is the third film adaptation of Richard Matheson’s 1954 story, after 1964's "The Last Man on Earth" starring Vincent Price, and '71's "The Omega Man" starring Charlton Heston, and the first to use the proper title.

Will Smith is scientist Robert Neville this time around, and Smith plays the role to the hilt. It's been three years since he's seen another human being, after a super virus has wiped out mankind. Rob spends his time taking care of his canine companion, and sending out daily radio messages in hope of finding other survivors of the plague.

But Rob and his dog are not alone. There are survivors whose infections have mutated them into daylight-fearing monsters. Isn't that always the way? The infected survivors are CGI monsters, which is too bad because they look fake, and thus are not frightening. I wish they had used real people instead.

Being a scientist, and racked by guilt that he may have had a hand in the destruction, Rob works on a cure for the infected, but comes up short time and time again. He soldiers on however, trying out new serums, taking care of his dog, and listening to his favorite album, Bob Marley's "Legend." (Perhaps now they can re-issue Marley's album as "I Am Legend.")

Smith plays Neville not as a BIG ACTION HERO, but as an emaciated guy just this side of sane. Works for me. After three years of solitude, you would be super clingy to your dog, wouldn't you? There are also lots of quiet moments in the film that really impressed me. I was expecting BIG SLAM BAM ACTION, and instead director Francis Lawrence ("Constantine") ensures the focus is kept on Neville's plight, not explosions.

With his performances in "Six Degrees of Separation," "The Pursuit of Happyness," and now "I Am Legend," Will Smith has convinced me he is one of the most exciting actors of his generation. He gets a lot of flak for some reason, but seriously, this guy is a fine actor. Watch "Ali" is you still don't believe me.

So why am I giving this flick only Two Stars out of Five? Simple: they boofed the ending. Totally boofed it. I enjoyed "I Am Legend" very much until the final act. I never put big spoilers in my reviews, because I think a film's surprises should be kept intact for its audience, so I'm going to have to tread lightly here as I discuss the final moments of the movie.

You see, the story features a twist ending. The title is supposed to be ironic, not heroic. The fact that this is the first time the original title of the story has been used for a film adaptation makes it even more confusing that the ending would be changed.Imagine if someone remade "The Sixth Sense" and Bruce Willis wasn't dead the whole time. (Spolier Alert!)

The original twist ending is far more satisfying than the upbeat ending this film has. I am disappointed that such a fine, exciting, enjoyable film was ruined by a needless change to the strongest, most powerful part of the story - the end. As is stands, "I Am Legend" feels like "28 Months Later" instead of a successful adaptation of a story that has stood the test of time.

In addition to hosting 'Max on Movies' every Saturday at 2pm on 97.1 FM Talk, Max appears weekly on the Dave Glover Show Fridays at 5pm. A member of the Saint Louis Gateway Film Critics Association, Max has written about film and theatre for various print and Web media, and appeared as guest critic on nationally syndicated radio shows. Mike Patton performed the voices for all of the ‘Infected’ in this movie. w00t Patton! E-mail Max at mfoizey@stl.emmis.com