Movie review – “I am Legend” (2007) ***

They still haven’t done justice to the novel, which is bewildering since it could be filmed so cheaply. This one cost a fortune, though to be fair a lot of it’s up on screen, with spectacular sets and heaps of extras during flashback sequences. But after a powerhouse first third it’s like the filmmakers lost their nerve or something and the film is closer to The Omega Man than the novel. On one level I guess I can understand – The Omega Man is a perfectly sound structure and offers greater hope at the end. It’s just a shame they haven’t used the “man killing vampires then realising he’s the vampire” option in the novel, which is really clever. Will Smith gives a good performance in a role which requires a decent actor (Arnie was connected with this project for a while and I wonder what he would have done with it).