I Am Legend

[no name 1]

I was dreading that movie - but it turned out better than I expected, barring a number of rather odd continuity errors (e.g. does anyone know where the zoo is in downtown Manhattan?) - Smith in particular was better than I thought he could be - but it is an almost exact remake of The Omega Man, except they dropped the Christ metaphor.

The biggest problem I had with this is that both of those movies completely ditch the ending of the book - that ending BTW is the reason for the title I Am Legend, and has nothing to do with Robert Neville curing the virus. Its rather more sinister than that...

Also I thought the CGI mutants were rather ropey... I did like the decaying NYC - with the made-up movie posters for 2009 releases (Batman Vs. Superman).

The Vincent Price version - The Last Man on Earth is actually the most faithful adaptation of the book, except they ditch the vampires in favor of George A. Romero zombies.

Where was the zoo scene in downtown? They were in Times Square when they chased the animals?

The ending was complete Jesus metaphor!!!!

There was no zoo scene - but I was wondering where the deer and lions came from if there was no zoo on Manhattan Island... With the bridges blown out that would make it rather hard. Plus... what do deer eat in a concrete jungle Or indeed - why those animals weren't infected with the disease...

The ending of this film was more or less exactly the same as The Omega Man - but they dropped the blatant Christ symbolism.

Essentially they kept the self sacrifice part but stopped short of having the main character spreadeagled against a running fountain that was turned red with his blood.

Its far more pronounced in the Charlton Heston movie. That they took it in the 2007 film seems to me to be an example of Hollywood secularism. That said the ending of both of the movies has absolutely nothing to do with the ending of the book. They would have been better going with that IMO, but whenever Hollywood adapts this novel - the ending is the first thing to go...

Central Park Zoo! The only explanation is that they are too fast for the zombies.

I thought the voiceover at the end was so religious & preachy - I hated it. blah blah blah Dr. Neville sacrificed for us....

I expected more from the ending, that's for sure. It was like excitement, ego, excitement, ego, excitement, then a feather drops. Lame!

I wanted to see the helicopters crash if indeed they did.

Edited December 17, 2007 by devilette

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I was dreading that movie - but it turned out better than I expected, barring a number of rather odd continuity errors (e.g. does anyone know where the zoo is in downtown Manhattan?) - Smith in particular was better than I thought he could be - but it is an almost exact remake of The Omega Man, except they dropped the Christ metaphor.

The biggest problem I had with this is that both of those movies completely ditch the ending of the book - that ending BTW is the reason for the title I Am Legend, and has nothing to do with Robert Neville curing the virus. Its rather more sinister than that...

Also I thought the CGI mutants were rather ropey... I did like the decaying NYC - with the made-up movie posters for 2009 releases (Batman Vs. Superman).

The Vincent Price version - The Last Man on Earth is actually the most faithful adaptation of the book, except they ditch the vampires in favor of George A. Romero zombies.

Where was the zoo scene in downtown? They were in Times Square when they chased the animals?

The ending was complete Jesus metaphor!!!!

There was no zoo scene - but I was wondering where the deer and lions came from if there was no zoo on Manhattan Island... With the bridges blown out that would make it rather hard. Plus... what do deer eat in a concrete jungle Or indeed - why those animals weren't infected with the disease...

The ending of this film was more or less exactly the same as The Omega Man - but they dropped the blatant Christ symbolism.

Essentially they kept the self sacrifice part but stopped short of having the main character spreadeagled against a running fountain that was turned red with his blood.

Its far more pronounced in the Charlton Heston movie. That they took it in the 2007 film seems to me to be an example of Hollywood secularism. That said the ending of both of the movies has absolutely nothing to do with the ending of the book. They would have been better going with that IMO, but whenever Hollywood adapts this novel - the ending is the first thing to go...

Central Park Zoo! The only explanation is that they are too fast for the zombies.

I thought the voiceover at the end was so religious & preachy - I hated it. blah blah blah Dr. Neville sacrificed for us....

I expected more from the ending, that's for sure. It was like excitement, ego, excitement, ego, excitement, then a feather drops. Lame!

I wanted to see the helicopters crash if indeed they did.

Yeah - that voiceover narration is totally not from the book at all. Making Neville into a saviour completely changes the message of the story. The guy is trying to find a cure for the disease - but he spends most of his days hunting the vampires that keep him awake at night. The wikipedia entry has a lot more about it - but if you were put off by the movie, I'd say the book is worth a go. It is very good.

Also the flashback stuff was quite different - relegated in that movie to an unfortunate helicopter crash, which also does not happen at all (though it does make the ending rather predictable).

In the book Neville's wife contracts the disease and turns into a vampire. As I recall there's a big flaming pit in a quarry pit somewhere where the army takes out the bodies of the infected for cremation before they can rise from the dead. Neville actually uses the pit to dispose of the vampires he kills during the day.

In the flashbacks you see him dealing with his wife's illness and then rescuing her "body" from the plague trucks. If I remember rightly she comes back to life and he has to kill her with a stake through the heart

[no name 1]

In the book Neville's wife contracts the disease and turns into a vampire. As I recall there's a big flaming pit in a quarry pit somewhere where the army takes out the bodies of the infected for cremation before they can rise from the dead. Neville actually uses the pit to dispose of the vampires he kills during the day.

In the flashbacks you see him dealing with his wife's illness and then rescuing her "body" from the plague trucks. If I remember rightly she comes back to life and he has to kill her with a stake through the heart

That sounds WAY better! And far more interesting.

The problem with this movie is it dragged - only Will until what - 20 minutes out? Boooooooooooooooring.

Edited December 17, 2007 by devilette

[chispas 0]

I've heard the first half is fantastic (post-apocalyptic New York) and the resolution is so-so.

Yup, but still fun to watch though.

I went to see this movie over the weekend, and it scared the s**** out of me. I never see intense movies because I am just a baby about those things. I thought it was supposed to be about the last man and dog on the planet so I wasn't prepared. I missed the end, because I went to the bathroom and missed a crucial scene at the end. Overall I would recommend it.

[no name 1]

I thought it was supposed to be about the last man and dog on the planet so I wasn't prepared. I missed the end, because I went to the bathroom and missed a crucial scene at the end. Overall I would recommend it.

Yeah, which made me hate the entire film.

[jundp 191]

I am looking forward to seeing it. I just finished reading the book.

I'm worried to see the movie. I LOVED the book, my students loved the book. They got all the symbolism of why he became a legend and why the end had to be the way it was (in the book). I'll be disappointed if the movie is less than the book.

But I love this author. He also did What Dreams May Come and the movie, though wonderful, is very different from the book and that annoyed me too.

I'm a nerd. I'm always disappointed when the movie is worse than the book. (Scarlet Letter anyone?)

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

In the book Neville's wife contracts the disease and turns into a vampire. As I recall there's a big flaming pit in a quarry pit somewhere where the army takes out the bodies of the infected for cremation before they can rise from the dead. Neville actually uses the pit to dispose of the vampires he kills during the day.

In the flashbacks you see him dealing with his wife's illness and then rescuing her "body" from the plague trucks. If I remember rightly she comes back to life and he has to kill her with a stake through the heart

That sounds WAY better! And far more interesting.

The problem with this movie is it dragged - only Will until what - 20 minutes out? Boooooooooooooooring.

Its the same in the book - although there's no dog until midway through, and then its only in it for a chapter or two. It works in Richard Matheson's book because he is a good writer - but this screenplay was written by the guy who wrote The Da Vinci Code movie, and directed by the guy who did Poseidon.

Considering how long the project has been in development (well over 10 years) with folks like Ridley Scott being attached to it at one time or another - it was never going to be as good as it could have been. IMO - a wasted opportunity. At least in The Omega Man the vampires actually added something that wasn't in the book (the mutants in that were a cult of neo-luddites who blamed technology for destroying the human race and were fixated with Neville because he was the last survivor of the "dark age").

One of the biggest problems with this movie, IMO is that the vampires have no relationship with Neville at all.

[no name 1]

One of the biggest problems with this movie, IMO is that the vampires have no relationship with Neville at all.

They can't cuz they are all crappily done CGI zombies. No need for detail if it's all computers.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I am looking forward to seeing it. I just finished reading the book.

I'm worried to see the movie. I LOVED the book, my students loved the book. They got all the symbolism of why he became a legend and why the end had to be the way it was (in the book). I'll be disappointed if the movie is less than the book.

But I love this author. He also did What Dreams May Come and the movie, though wonderful, is very different from the book and that annoyed me too.

I'm a nerd. I'm always disappointed when the movie is worse than the book. (Scarlet Letter anyone?)

Matheson doesn't get served well by Hollywood, which is weird as there's nothing wrong with his stories that couldn't be included in a screenplay.

He also wrote the short story "Duel" that Steven Spielberg adapted into the movie of the same name, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and several Twilight Zone episodes (including the famous one with William Shatner on the airplane).

One of the biggest problems with this movie, IMO is that the vampires have no relationship with Neville at all.

They can't cuz they are all crappily done CGI zombies. No need for detail if it's all computers.

The CGI was pretty unnecessary IMO - considering if you watch 28 Days Later which also has zombies - but are done the old fashioned way with makeup effects. It was far more intense than those cartoon creatures.

Edited December 17, 2007 by Number 6

[Dan J 277]

I am looking forward to seeing it. I just finished reading the book.

I'm worried to see the movie. I LOVED the book, my students loved the book. They got all the symbolism of why he became a legend and why the end had to be the way it was (in the book). I'll be disappointed if the movie is less than the book.

But I love this author. He also did What Dreams May Come and the movie, though wonderful, is very different from the book and that annoyed me too.

I'm a nerd. I'm always disappointed when the movie is worse than the book. (Scarlet Letter anyone?)

Matheson doesn't get served well by Hollywood, which is weird as there's nothing wrong with his stories that couldn't be included in a screenplay.

He also wrote the short story "Duel" that Steven Spielberg adapted into the movie of the same name, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and several Twilight Zone episodes (including the famous one with William Shatner on the airplane).

One of the biggest problems with this movie, IMO is that the vampires have no relationship with Neville at all.

They can't cuz they are all crappily done CGI zombies. No need for detail if it's all computers.

The CGI was pretty unnecessary IMO - considering if you watch 28 Days Later which also has zombies - but are done the old fashioned way with makeup effects. It was far more intense than those cartoon creatures.

For the zombies yeah, they could have done the closeups with real actors. But some of the shots, well, its not like they can get New York to close down times square for a couple of weeks while they film that sequence there. If you havent figured it out, the time square sequence was almost entirely CGI.

[no name 1]

The CGI was pretty unnecessary IMO - considering if you watch 28 Days Later which also has zombies - but are done the old fashioned way with makeup effects. It was far more intense than those cartoon creatures.

That movie was very scary!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I am looking forward to seeing it. I just finished reading the book.

I'm worried to see the movie. I LOVED the book, my students loved the book. They got all the symbolism of why he became a legend and why the end had to be the way it was (in the book). I'll be disappointed if the movie is less than the book.

But I love this author. He also did What Dreams May Come and the movie, though wonderful, is very different from the book and that annoyed me too.

I'm a nerd. I'm always disappointed when the movie is worse than the book. (Scarlet Letter anyone?)

Matheson doesn't get served well by Hollywood, which is weird as there's nothing wrong with his stories that couldn't be included in a screenplay.

He also wrote the short story "Duel" that Steven Spielberg adapted into the movie of the same name, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and several Twilight Zone episodes (including the famous one with William Shatner on the airplane).

One of the biggest problems with this movie, IMO is that the vampires have no relationship with Neville at all.

They can't cuz they are all crappily done CGI zombies. No need for detail if it's all computers.

The CGI was pretty unnecessary IMO - considering if you watch 28 Days Later which also has zombies - but are done the old fashioned way with makeup effects. It was far more intense than those cartoon creatures.

For the zombies yeah, they could have done the closeups with real actors. But some of the shots, well, its not like they can get New York to close down times square for a couple of weeks while they film that sequence there. If you havent figured it out, the time square sequence was almost entirely CGI.

Well that was a given - I wasn't meaning "CGI is bad period" - I thought the deserted cityscape was pretty well done, but given that the vampires/mutants are integral to the story, doing them cartoon style was rather lazy IMO. It reminded me immediately of that Smithified I, Robot.

[no name 1]

Well that was a given - I wasn't meaning "CGI is bad period" - I thought the deserted cityscape was pretty well done, but given that the vampires/mutants are integral to the story, doing them cartoon style was rather lazy IMO. It reminded me immediately of that Smithified I, Robot.

The zombie on the table was really poorly done as well - even if it was a mannequin. It looked very fake.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

If anyone is looking for an intense movie to watch during the holiday break, I'd recommend this one! It was incredibly intense...and a very emotional scene involving his best friend and only companion...a dog named, Sam. Good acting performance by Will Smith.

Steven, how dare you draw attention away from the Simpson's movie coming out on dvd tomorrow??

Saludos,

Caro

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If anyone is looking for an intense movie to watch during the holiday break, I'd recommend this one! It was incredibly intense...and a very emotional scene involving his best friend and only companion...a dog named, Sam. Good acting performance by Will Smith.

Steven, how dare you draw attention away from the Simpson's movie coming out on dvd tomorrow??

Saludos,

Caro

See them both.