This film is so frustrating because it REALLY doesn't get the point, almost more than any other on the list. (Yes, even "Day of the Dead") And unlike previous remake "The Omega Man", it even restored the original title of Richard Matheson's excellent source story (The original film was changed to "The Last Man on Earth") which basically is the cue to that very point. As I'm sure many know, in this film Will Smith thinks he may be the sole survivor of the human race. Everyone else is some kind of vampire/zombie/creature (delete according to preference) that Smith stalks and studies, hoping to restore humanity/fix them/understand. Eventually, er, stuff blows up and he lets a mother and child he found escape a horde of creepy-something-or-others to find civilization. BUT - That's not what's supposed to happen. And unlike so many other films that change their source's original ending, this one DID have the original ending found in the book. Smith realizes, after observing behaviour that's pretty intelligent and compassionate on his adversaries' part, that HE'S the monster, the "Legend" in this new world. They're moving the world on, and he's the bogeyman who comes out in the day (They're overly sensitive to sunlight) and hunts and traps them. The whole point of the story is in that ending. And it was removed due to poor audience reaction. I'm not saying demographics are worth ignoring, but maybe some editing to make Smith less an action hero/sympathy figure would've made the ending a little more understandable. Up to that point, the film plays him off as likeably as any other of his movies tend to.... We're only supposed to sympathize with him because he's like us SUPERFICIALLY. "I Am Legend" gets it wrong from the start by making him perfect - The "human" qualities should really be on display with the creatures all along.... ARGH: How are we ever supposed to see this guy as removed from humanity when he's the most cuddly dog owner ever? Seriously, the guy cuddles his dog in the bathtub while singing Bob Marley to him, and any thoughts that anyone involved with the film, including Smith, "got it" with regards to the story are cut away even faster than that original ending. Don't get me wrong, these scenes and the flashbacks to his family are well-done and acted....they just don't belong in this movie and belie EVEYTHING about its concept. IRREPLACEABLE ELEMENT: In "The Last Man on Earth", lead Vincent Price was remote and distant. In "The Omega Man", Charlton Heston was a bit of a dick. Either approach would've worked great here.
In a parallel universe where game shows' final jackpots and consequent fortunes depend on knowledge of obscure music trivia and Jon Pertwee/Tom Baker Doctor Who episodes, I've probably gone rich, insane, and am now a powermad despot. But happily we're not there, so I'm actually rather pleasant. Really.
