Perhaps Tim Burton should solely focus on doing animated movies, since it's the only thing he still manages to do right, after a long streak of disappointing live action movies.

Besides, Burton's visual style is perfectly suitable for animated movies. The environments, the exaggerated characters, its set design, it all fits in well within an imaginary fantasy world, or rather said something that could be called Burton's world. And it's also definitely true that Burton's knowledge and understanding of the classic horror genre help to make this a perfectly fine and enjoyable movie to watch!

Some of the horror references are blatantly obviously, while some of the others are better hidden and more clever. This basically means there is something for everybody to enjoy within this movie. The more casual moviegoer can catch on to all of the obvious references, while the more hardened classic horror fan can marvel at some of the references this movie makes. And of course people who have absolutely no clue what the movie is referencing at, such as young kids which this movie still mostly got aimed toward, can simply enjoy it for its story and light horror elements. The movie or Burton doesn't ever tries to impress you with its knowledge and understanding of the genre but it really is more subtle and obviously loving toward it. You could call it a homage, though the movie foremost still remains a straightforward genre movie of its own.

Thing that I especially loved about the movie was that everything seemed to be horror about it. All of the characters for instance have a classic horror look to them, expect for the movie its main family, who appropriately and not so very subtly are called the Frankenstien's (yes, stien- not stein). Also of course the visual look and atmosphere of the movie are perfectly dark, without becoming cold or bleak, or anything else of that sort. It perfectly uses the black & white cinematography to set up the right atmosphere and tone for the movie, though the fact that's entirely in black & white seemed to have scared of some people and kids in particular, fore "Frankenweenie" wasn't the box office hit they were hoping for.

The story itself is pretty simple and straightforward. But I don't know, I sort of liked it that this movie didn't featured a bigger than life type of plot in it, in which its main character had to become an unlikely hero and safe the world from getting destroyed. It's simply the story about a boy who tries to bring his beloved dog back to life, so they can live happily ever after. There also really aren't too many other distractions in the movie such as a love story or any other dramatic elements. The movie always moves right toward its goal and luckily in the process manages to be entertaining and also definitely interesting enough. There is still plenty going on in this movie, also thanks to it's many very rich, unique- and also certainly unique looking characters.

The movie also shows that using stop motion can be just as impressive and in some ways better, than a CG animated movie. It's flawless looking really, especially when you start comparing it to earlier Burton stop animated, like "The Nightmare Before Christmas". It really once more proofs the genre is far from dead and also doesn't stand still in its further development.

Definitely way better and more entertaining than any of Burton's recent live action outings!

8/10

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(Review originally written at 12 May 2008)

This is simply a good quality movie to watch but it nevertheless leaves you hungry for more, since the movie its potential and concept screamed for a better and more exciting execution. After all, this movie is about the last man living in New York City, battling a whole bunch of mutant zombie, while trying to find a cure to the virus that almost entirely wiped out mankind. It's basically its potential that still makes this such a fine movie to watch but the movie however is just not as action packed or tense/scary as you would expect beforehand. It does make the movie perhaps a bit of a missed opportunity and it does has some wasted potential in it, which does give you the feeling that the movie is missing something but it fortunately doesn't make this movie any less pleasant to watch.

First of it all, it's absolutely something great to see New York City entirely being overgrown by plants and wild life. It's above all very good and convincing looking and basically this alone is already enough to make "I Am Legend" a real recommendable movie. They did a real good job with it, although this effort apparently went at the expense of some of the movie its other effects. It's a mixed bag really. The one moment the effects are great looking, while the other its totally apparently too fake looking, especially for 2007 standards really.

It's also really a tough movie for Will Smith, since well basically he has no one to play against, except for a dog. Still he knows to carry the movie brilliantly. Leave it up to Will Smith to make a successful blockbuster, which "I Am Legend" really was at its time of release.

It's story gets obviously a bit restrained because, well how much stuff can you come up with for a movie that is being completely set in a large deserted city. They tried to give the story something extra by putting in an occasional flashback sequence but I don't think they were really in the right places and completely necessary for the movie. It probably would had worked out better if there were more and constant flashback sequences in the movie, completely explaining and showing how mankind got almost completely exterminated and everything involving around that. It still sort of gives you the feeling that they could had worked out the script better, also since the movie its ending really isn't completely satisfying (and yes, if seen both different versions of the ending.)

It's one fine big budget quality movie. It's just missing this tiny bit of extra to make this movie a true tense, action packed or completely memorable movie to watch you'll talk about for years to come. Appereantly a sequel is currently in the making, lets hope it will include this extra elements required to make it a real great movie to watch.

7/10

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