Francis Lawrence
Io sono leggenda

I take the liberty of writing a duplicate, which is not really a duplicate, considering that the review currently on Debaser does not reach 100 characters. In my opinion, one should always substantiate their arguments.  

At this moment, as I write, I have in my hands the volume no. 1292 of my brother's Urania series titled "I Am Legend." It is precisely from this book (first published in 1954) that the blockbuster of the same name, currently taking cinemas by storm, is derived. The reason that compels me to write a few lines about this film is that I consider its cinematic adaptation to be decent, at times good: a big surprise.
The best parts are all found in the first half, which truly captures the book's nightmarish situation. A city, a deserted world, where there is only a single human being who has survived a man-made epidemic caused by the genetic modification of a virus. It is in this setting that Robert Neville tries to survive, avoid madness, and find a reason to go on by searching for a cure.
Will Smith, therefore, has nowhere to hide, and everything relies on his expressiveness. In the first half, virtually without special effects, he ends up having dialogues with a German Shepherd and mannequins, trying to convey the difficult mix of desperation and superhuman determination that characterizes his character. At night, our hero has to barricade himself inside the house because the effects of the deadly virus (to which he is completely immune) have transformed many people into rabid vampires.
In the second half, the ties with Matheson's novel become more and more sparse, if not nonexistent. The only point of reference is the increasing clashes with the said vampires, culminating in an attack on his house. The ending, however (very quick and summary), is completely invented.

In conclusion, there are many discrepancies between the novella and the film. Neville in the text was a determined person, yes, but also extremely mean and ruthless, who, aware of his fate, tried to survive and kill as many vampires as possible. His life was a constant barrage and struggle. The second half, in particular, for a reader of Matheson's superb work can prove to be unbearable, as it destroys the evocative, philosophical, and paranoid initial atmosphere.

Nonetheless, for everyone who hasn’t read the book "I Am Legend" (which is the vast majority of people), it is a truly well-made and enjoyable film. Its peculiarity is that it boasts great shifts in pace; scenes with a good level of tension are indeed alternated with more dynamic ones (without delving into splatter or trash) passing through brief flashbacks and more reflective snapshots.

Nothing sensational, mind you, but not an insipid and obscene product as many perhaps write it off to be, taking a stand against big Hollywood productions. A nice step forward for director Francis Lawrence, who with Constantine had hit rock bottom with his debut.  

2 and a half