I Am Legend Falls Short of Legendary, Still Amazing

When I first heard Will Smith was playing Robert Neville in the newest movie version of the novel I Am Legend, I cringed a little bit with the though of the classic story being turning into another Independence Day or Men in Black.

Thankfully, Smith does an amazing job in I Am Legend and has brought himself up a few rungs on the ladder of present-day actors.

While the movie starts off in a decrepit New York City (instead of Los Angeles, like the book) with Neville flying through the empty streets on Manhattan in a brand new Mustang GT500, with his dog Sam riding shotgun, it doesn't take long for the audience to grasp what is going on. The scene quickly turns into a view of Neville's lonely life as the only person left on Earth. The movie quickly describes the event of three years prior when a cure for cancer, turns into the Krippin Virus which effects 90% of the Earth's population and subsequently turns the victims into blood thirsty vampires.

The movie's hour and 40-minute run time flies by as Neville fights off night-seekers (vampires), haunting memories and dark depression in order to continue living. Saying too much more would kind of ruin it for you though.

Expect a mixture of well-shot scenes, heart-stopping drama, explosions, violence and one of the best stories in theaters this year.

For a quick glimpse of what to expect, check out this short trailer.