I am Legend (2007) [rate 2.5]
I like how movies are picking up more and more on the wealth of visual storytelling that comics have to offer. With recent successes like Sin City (2005) and 300 (2006) and perhaps slightly less successful offerings like V for Vendetta (2005) (which was not all bad in my opinion), the genre is building a nice position for itself. I am Legend adds a nice piece to that line, though I think it could have been a lot better.
It’s mainly the sweet and sappy ending to the story that takes away from the satisfaction this movie was able to give me. The story unfolds in an unsurprising and cliche way, even though it has you wondering about far more exotic endings in the beginnnig. A movie that’s set on delivering a cliche tale is fine, but a movie that hints at more and then just doesn’t deliver is all the more disappointing.
Visually though, the movie is a good watch. Will Smith’s acting is fine, though not exceptional, but it fits the character and I think his casting has been a fair move. Play close attention to detail, since (like in the comics) a single frame sometimes contains amusing references to the current age. Some subtle, some not so subtle (like the Batman/Superman-movie announcement).
