Here's a simple mathematical formula: Will Smith + science fiction + lavish production values = rousing mainstream entertainment and a box-office blockbuster. Richard Matheson's chilling sci-fi novel, twice before adapted to the screen (as 1964's The Last Man on Earth and 1971's The Omega Man), turns out to be a perfect starring vehicle for the popular leading man of Independence Day, Men in Black, and I, Robot. Smith plays research scientist Robert Neville, apparently the only survivor of a fast-mutating virus that turned Homo sapiens into a violent, atavistic species of bloodthirsty flesh-eaters. Living in a decaying, post-apocalyptic New York City and foraging for food whenever he's not seeking a cure, Neville eventually discovers that others have also escaped the virus' effects, including a lovel;y female survivor (Alice Braga). Director Francis Lawrence's I Am Legend falls short of being a classic, largely because it's more concerned with delivering action in battles with zombie-like mutants than exploring the true implications of the central calamity, but it will still entertain most viewers with a taste for sci-fi thrills. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras on this two-disc “special edition” include an alternate version of the film (four minutes longer), four animated comics (22 min.), a bonus digital copy of the film for download to Windows and Apple media players, a DVD-ROM weblink to 21 “making-of” featurettes (52 min. total), and trailers. Bottom line: while the alternate ending is interesting, the rest of the extras are a bit on the paltry side and having to go online to watch the “making-of” featurettes is hardly optimum.] (E. Hulse)[Blu-ray Review—Apr. 1, 2008—Warner, 100 min., PG-13, $35.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2007's I Am Legend features a great 1080p transfer and Dolby TrueHD lossless audio, as well as Dolby Digital 5.1. The bonus features on the disc are nearly identical to the two-disc standard DVD release, which include an alternate version of the film (four minutes longer), four animated comics (22 min.), and 21 “making-of” featurettes (52 min. total). Bottom line: I Am Legend is a tailor-made showcase for the Blu-ray format thanks to its stunning visuals and impressive sound. Unlike the two-disc standard DVD version, viewers here can watch the “making-of” featurettes without having to use a computer.]
I Am Legend
Warner, 100 min., PG-13, DVD: $28.99, Mar. 18 Volume 23, Issue 2
I Am Legend
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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