A violent plague ravages the population, turning surviving victims into an ungodly new species. One man survives with the drive to push forward and fight for his dead species.

There are few similarities between the movie and the short story: a plague that wipes out humanity, one woman, and zombies. Beyond that, I am Legend varies a bit between the original short story, the first movie version with Bella Lugosi, and the second movie version Omega Man with Charlton Heston.

How could Will Smith top Charlton Heston’s or Bela Lugosi’s take? Obviously you do not recognize the power of Richard Matheson’s short story I am Legend.

Matheson was a gifted writer. He was a capable author able to create widely different stories and make the audience involved in them. Matheson’s book of short stories may rival Steven King’s short stories.

Will Smith proves to us he has come a long way from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And thank God. While Smith has not moved much past rapper tuned actor; he tries. He can give us a character not much different than Independence Day.

Finding a fine balance between the original story told over and over again on screen and updating old storytelling is not easy. But I am Legend has a disturbing theme that rings true though the decades.

I am Legend stands alone from 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead. They have a common idea, but different views of a horrific fear of the future.