I AM LEGEND by reginaroadie

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
I can picture Vincent Price and Charleton Heston slowly going mad. I just can't really picture Will Smith slowly descending into madness. Desperation, yes. But not madness.

I'm betting Will will stretch with this one, plus the director's done crazy before well (Constantine).
If it has Matheson's name on it, read it is my motto, or it would be, if I, you know....

Fingers crossed Chrisisall

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 9, 2007 3:05 PM

Same here. And the book does make me think of BUFFY/ANGEL in that they're both deconstructions of the vampire myth. It's just that Dick Matheson focused more on the vampires from a scientific POV and the psychology of a person being the only human left in a world filled with monsters. As opposed to Whedon who focused more on the usual victim turned slayer and helped along the whole "vampire as pretty boy victim" movement in pop culture.

I dunno. Maybe I'm more into I AM LEGEND because it actually makes the vampires true creatures of the night. They're ugly, dirty, rat-like beings that no woman would want to fuck, unlike Bela Lugosi, Tom Cruise or David Boreanaz. And while Buffy might complain once in a while about her having to shoulder the burden of being a vampire slayer, she at least has a group of people to support her. Robert Neville literally is on his own.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 9, 2007 3:15 PM

Find and devour The Shrinking Man, Hell House, Bid Time Return, Shores Of Space, etc., god that guy's stuff is good.

TwilightZoneisall

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 9, 2007 3:19 PM

I have actually seen THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, and it is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. And while I wouldn't be against a re-make since the fx in that movie could be improved upon, just so long as Keenan Ivory Wayans is not anywhere near it, then I'll be good.

He also wrote the story that "Duel" was based on. And that, without a doubt, is the best TV movie ever made, although I have a personal fondness for RKO 281.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 9, 2007 3:38 PM

Legend Of Hell House is my favourite horror movie of all time, and I love Somewhere In Time and The Incredible Shrinking Man (all three HIS screenplays too)...I also have What Dreams May Come...he also wrote The Enemy Within on Star Trek.
I could go on...

As you see, I'll be there for Will's new flick! Chrisisall

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 9, 2007 3:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:

He also wrote the story that "Duel" was based on. And that, without a doubt, is the best TV movie ever made, although I have a personal fondness for RKO 281.

TV movies? I have a fondness for Kung- Fu, but as far as Matheson goes, he wrote Night Stalker (my god was that great), Night Strangler, Trillogy Of Terror, as well as Duel...

Chrisisall, fan

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 9, 2007 6:27 PM

SINGATE

I have a question regarding the circumstances in the book. If everyone is now vampire-like, and I'm assuming they crave blood, what is it that they are eating? Each other? There are only so many animals to be hunted down and killed especially with the story taking place in New York City.

_________________________________________________

We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 9, 2007 8:19 PM

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Well, if you think about it a single human could play dinner to many vampires. Vampire one drains the blood of human. Vampire two drains vampire one’s blood. Vampire three drains vampire two’s blood…Vampire n drains vampire n-1’s blood. Since vampires are immortal, they can start over at one when get done.

Or maybe they’re just ordering out.

Seriously though, this is one of those movies I really want to see. And Will Smith has matured a lot as an actor in the last 10 years. In I,Robot, he played the cop on the edge pretty good, better then I think Heston would have. Charlton Heston was prone to rather dramatic overacting, but Smith is a much more composed actor. His restrained facial expression and defensive body language in I,Robot said as much as Heston’s dramatic “damn dirty apes” stuff, and then when Smith finally broke it was a loud and sudden outburst to a seemingly innocuous by-stander. That is the real way people crack. I think Smith is one of the best, least appreciated, actors in Hollywood.

Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

-- Cicero

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 10, 2007 1:29 AM

I heard nothing about the film until I saw the trailer before watching Beowulf last month. I read the book last year, and as long as the film is faithful to it, it should be a great film. Hopefully they won't change the ending, anyone who's read the book to the end will know why I say that, so I won't spoil it any further.

I think Will Smith is more than capable of the role; he's certainly a much better actor than he is a musician.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 10, 2007 8:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
I heard nothing about the film until I saw the trailer before watching Beowulf last month. I read the book last year, and as long as the film is faithful to it, it should be a great film.

*WARNING*
Highlight ONLY if you've read the novel:

Select to view spoiler:

I can't see a major Hollywood film using the book ending; if they get the feel of the book in general right- I'll be thrilled.
That said, they ARE keeping the title, and that gives me hope that Will might have used his star power card to be daring.
The Incredible Shrinking Man had a VERY daring ending for it's time, I thought. But peeps like to leave the theatre happy or wowed these days.

Either way, I think I'm gonna like it.

Cortisall

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 10, 2007 9:57 AM

I loved the book, so I'm looking forward to it.

But truth be told, I'm equally excited just to seer the Dark Knight trailer before it (and really, really wish I could see the whole IMAX TDK prologue).

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 10, 2007 10:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Highlight ONLY if you've read the novel:

The ending is pretty much the whole point of the story. I'd be curious how they could do without it, and still be able to call it "I am Legend".

One thing I am wondering about that's in no way related, did anyone see the JJ Abrams Trailer that was played before Transformers, and do they know what it was for?

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 10, 2007 11:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
I'd be curious how they could do without it, and still be able to call it "I am Legend".

Once again, Highlight ONLY if you've read the novel:

Select to view spoiler:

Oh, he'll buy it, but it will be in a spectacular way, sacrificing himself, or something like that. Not the simple quiet end of the novel.

But I may be wrong...

Prognosticatin' Chrisisall

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 10, 2007 11:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:

One thing I am wondering about that's in no way related, did anyone see the JJ Abrams Trailer that was played before Transformers, and do they know what it was for?

The trailer is for a monster flick called "Cloverfield". It's gonna be all virte-style, shot with camcorders and such. It's nickname is "The Blair Godzilla Project". It's only produced by JJ Abrams. I forget the director's name off-hand, but it's written by Drew Goddard, a name folks around might recognize...

There was an expanded trailer for it recently released with Beowulf.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 10, 2007 12:09 PM

I thought Cloverfield was just a codename? I heard it was based on Lovecraft, wondering if anyone had heard more.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 10, 2007 12:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
I thought Cloverfield was just a codename? I heard it was based on Lovecraft, wondering if anyone had heard more.

It was assumed to be a codename, but either they were playing, or it stuck well enough in people's monds to keep it. Either way, that's the official title, now. There's a bit in the new trailer that mentions Cloverfield being a military codename for a section of Central Park.

And the Lovecraft thing was just one of several rumors (ranging from Godzilla remake to a Voltron movie), which were all false. It's an original story.

It was apparently screened last week for Paramount people, who are said to be very happy with the final product. We'll all see it in about a month.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 1:37 AM

HIXIE129

I am so tired of movies with Will Smith in them, I won't see this movie...

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 2:35 AM

JONGSSTRAW

I've already heard reviews that say this movie sucks the big one.

Knowing how Hollywood continuously pours out re-hashed crap, plus having overrated Will Smith in it, I know I 'aint-a-goin' to see it.

If I want zombies and end of humanity stuff I can watch :

The Omega Man
The Last Man On Earth
Night Of The Comet

& many others

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 2:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
If I want zombies and end of humanity stuff I can watch :

I am Legend is about Vampires.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 5:36 AM

STRANGEBIRD

Ok I'm sorta on the fence about this one. I do agree that Will Smith is at times overrated but I have enjoyed a couple of his movies quite a bit. Also remakes can be done well and sometimes should be done, especially if the previous attempts failed or just seem to have lost whatever made them so good decades ago. Not so sure this is the case with "The Last Man on Earth" and "The Omega Man". I've only seen the more recent of the last two adaptations and I honestly enjoyed it even though it does fall quite a bit short of the awesome story. I'll be giving the movie a shot but not until it hits the cheap seats for three bucks a head. My money is being spent on other movies this holiday season. Besides I hate it when they add in an animals death just to add some feeling of loss or saddness. It's seriously not bad enough for him that his family(not to mention everyone else) dies? They have to add more loss for the character to get him to whatever point he reaches?

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 8:57 AM

JONGSSTRAW

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
I am Legend is about Vampires.

Ya mean vampires, like you? Can't you ever give it a rest, you hopeless twit? Vampires, zombies....BFD!...yer an expert on the difference I suppose? Piss off!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 9:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
I am Legend is about Vampires.

Ya mean vampires, like you? Can't you ever give it a rest, you hopeless twit? Vampires, zombies....BFD!...yer an expert on the difference I suppose? Piss off!

Try not to cry Trollstraw, its ok.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 9:14 AM

JONGSSTRAW

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Quote:
Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
I am Legend is about Vampires.

Ya mean vampires, like you? Can't you ever give it a rest, you hopeless twit? Vampires, zombies....BFD!...yer an expert on the difference I suppose? Piss off!
Try not to cry Trollstraw, its ok.

I'd tell ya to go shove it up your ass, but your big, fat stupid head is already there blocking the way.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 9:23 AM

Is there a baby that needs changing in this thread? There seems to be an awful lot of crying.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 9:26 AM

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!

*snif*Chrisisall

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 10:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
I am Legend is about Vampires.

Ya mean vampires, like you? Can't you ever give it a rest, you hopeless twit? Vampires, zombies....BFD!...yer an expert on the difference I suppose? Piss off!

Damn, way to over-react.

It is about vampires.... and I'm pretty sure most people know the difference. Lighten up. You were wrong, and were corrected, (politely, even). No need to fly off the handle.

If you don't want to run that risk, get your info straight first.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 12:13 PM

THATWEIRDGIRL

Saw it.

*rant*Can't believe people took children under 8 to see it. It's a freakin' horror movie people! Why do they do that?*rant*

Not bad at all. I liked it.

Spoiler. Kay? Big movie thing in here, stay away...

Select to view spoiler:

MWP and I agree it could have used another 20 minutes or so. Will Smith does a darn good turn as Neville. It has some slow parts, but that's to be expected when he has no one to talk to. It's faithful enough. Smith does something I don't think he's ever done before...bites it. Definitely reantable but only hit the theater if this is your genre.

Emma Thompson...

---
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."
-- Charlie Brown

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 12:34 PM

FINN MAC CUMHAL

I Am Legend

First let me say that while I liked the movie, it wasn’t what I expected and honestly I was more jazzed about the previews, particularly this:

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/

Yay!

Anyway…

[LIGHT SPOILERS] Nothing that will ruin the movie for you, but if your one of those who doesn't want to know anything about a film - stop reading.

Despite the title, this movie does not address the issues of the book, and instead is better understood as a remake of the Omega Man. Once again a brash commentary on the evolution of society is replaced with a Hollywood ending more about the preservation of society then it’s evolution, which should leave many wondering where the title comes from. In the book,

Select to view spoiler:

Robert Neville like those vampires and witches that people once feared, has become a Legend. In other words, while human kind does go on in the book, it does not continue in any way that might have been familiar to Robert Neville or to any of us today.

(Edited: Spoiler is for the book - not really a big spoiler, but some people are actaully still reading this book.) Don’t expect this explanation of the title in the movie.

One really incredible thing about this movie is the post-apocalyptic images of New York, which are nothing short of amazing - far, far, far more realistic then anything seen in the Omega Man and much more realistic then I expected. Three years of abandonment has left a desolate New York that is well on its way to being reclaimed by nature with cracked streets covered in foliage forcing its way through. While the stunning landscapes may be a testament to how far CGI has come, the CGI monsters are a testament to how far they have yet to go. The monsters were frightening, but they looked more like something out of a video game then anything real.

The other great thing about this movie is Will Smith. You can put any reservations you might have had about Smith’s ability to take the story seriously. He marvelously captures the insane loneliness of man trapped alone in a brutal world for which he is partially responsible. And as I suspected, he does so in that subtle unassuming way that makes you believe that he is not just acting. The first hour of the film is just Smith and his dog and it is psychological exposé so powerful that it is disturbing to watch. I found myself actually writhing in my seat.

The end of the film is not as good, and lapses into a typical Hollywood adventure completely with obligatory fight scenes. Not a bad ending - it doesn’t kill the movie - but it fails to capture the meaning of the book and its no where near as compelling as the first part. If you haven’t read the book, you’ll appreciate the ending more, if you have, you might be a little disappointed, but probably not a lot. All in all, the movie is well worth seeing.

http://iamlegend.warnerbros.com/

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 12:44 PM

THATWEIRDGIRL

Oh yeah, future New York looked great. You're right, the monsters did look like something out of a game.

Select to view spoiler:

Did you see the movie poster in future New York? The really awesome Bats and Supes feature? Less exciting was the idea that in 2009 gas will be almost $7.

---
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."
-- Charlie Brown

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 12:48 PM

Thanks for the reviews (which I read with one eye closed just in case

), I NEED to see this soon!!!

Didn't really expect the book Chrisisall

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 12:48 PM

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Quote:
Originally posted by thatweirdgirl:
Oh yeah, future New York looked great. You're right, the monsters did look like something out of a game.
Select to view spoiler:
Did you see the movie poster in future New York? The really awesome Bats and Supes feature? Less exciting was the idea that in 2009 gas will be almost $7.

Hilarious. I did see the poster, but I missed the other thing! They really put a lot of detail into creating the landscape. Probably the best depiction on film of a post-apocalyptic world I’ve seen.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 1:23 PM

Thanks for the review.

Though with respect to CGI, these days poor artwork is ussually down to the artist or unrealistic deadlines, than flaws in the system...

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 14, 2007 2:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Thanks for the review.

Though with respect to CGI, these days poor artwork is ussually down to the artist or unrealistic deadlines, than flaws in the system...

I heard from some guys that worked as PAs on the movie, that they planned to do make-up creatures, but didn't like the test shots, and decided to go the all-CGI monster route relatively late in the game, which led to the less-than-stellar animation.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, December 15, 2007 9:23 AM

I just watched I Am Legend this morning and the very first thing I noticed was the bad CGI. Why oh why do some moviemakers insist on 100% animated human action? The infected in this movie were just as bad as Jar-Jar.

CGI should be used for still shots and animating "inanimate" stuff. I recall the very first time I watched the firefly pilot episode and was very impressed with the CGI that animated the floating derelict scraps when the crew boosts the cargo. Later when I had just about memorized every corner of each episode I found myself furtherly impressed with other CGI triumphs...such as the animations needed for the holoimager in Ariel, and the docking screen in the pilot episode when Mal delivers his "King of londinium" speech.

There have been some good CGI improvements of human action in the past though...don't get me wrong. A perfect example is the Mouth of Sauron in the extended scene from Return of the King. Here you have a real actor who is filmed normaly before CGI enhancements make him really creppy. That's what I Am Legend should have done. Use actors to play infected then CGI enhance things that make them scary...like the hyperventilations. But you can't CGI them into leaping/jumping freaks. I would have much prefered infected that resembled more agressive Resident Evil zombies with some CGI improvements.

And don't misunderstand, I thought the resident evil films were terrible, I just needed an example.

And by the by, one of my previews was Batman Dark Knight. The Heath Ledger as Joker looks awsome. The teaser ended with some wonderfully insane joker laughter that sent chills.

Do not fear me. Our's is a peaceful race and we must live in harmony.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, December 15, 2007 10:33 AM

I don't know, Gollum was pretty good. Beowulf's CGI was too, it was obviously CGI, but then the whole film was CGI so animator and render time would have dictated a loss of realism.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:02 PM

Well, I finally saw I AM LEGEND today. It's amazing how after three times (four if you count the crappy knock-off direct to video I AM OMEGA), they still can't get all of it right. I mean, the overwhelming isolation of an empty city on one man trying to do the impossible in finding a cure they get right. And Will Smith does have some moments of desperation and insanity that the book has. But yeah the CG monsters didn't look all that great. And they still do the OMEGA MAN ending of self-sacrifice and hope for the future.

But I read the books ending. And that ending is truly awesome. It's makes the entire book the book. To not do it is kind of a cop-out. And no ADR voice over can truly fix that and properly tie in the title.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:

But I read the books ending. And that ending is truly awesome. It's makes the entire book the book. To not do it is kind of a cop-out.

Yup. You got it.

The end of the book is so well done. The graphic version does a good job at the end too. What a great concept: that the last human views the infected (vampires in the book) as the outsiders and that he's the last real human; and that they view the same thing in reverse and that HE is the thing to be feared. I liked how the final panels conveyed the meaning of the book with the sitting down, and the head slump before the words "I am Legend". Well done.

This film lost all of that. It had high points in conveying the emptyness of the world without humanity and Will Smith showed masterful acting abilities during the breakdown in the video store. (bravo Will) The story makes it's about face around the time the girl shows up with the kid (What were they doing out at night anyway? Never explained)

A better movie would have combined elements from the book with what the film did right. Will explains that 90% of humanity died upon infection. Of the remaining 600 million 588mil became the crazed infected monsters and 12 mil are immune. I would have done it this way: 588mil are infected and crazed: 12 mill are infected but higher functioning like the vampire race in the book. Will is the 1 man on earth that's immune due to his work with the virus and an immunity he gained by a fluke due to exposure to a previously mutated strain that made him sick but didn't kill him. (again...similar explanition to the one given in the book)

Now you can set up the story condition where the girl is sent by the new society to find Will because they heard his AM radio broadcasts. And you can then take the movie to it's glorious end where he becomes a legend. As a final element to make the film great...establish to the audience that Will's character always wanted to be great...a legend in biology. To be the man that actually cured cancer...a true human legend. Repeat this theme throughout the film as he goes insane, as a mocking reversal of what he wanted. Then at the very end of the film allow the book's events to transpire so as to bring about his observation a new world order that fears him. We then end with the ironic twist as he achieves his dream and narrates the final line: I AM LEGEND.

Truely a great movie. If done right, one of the best of all time.

But no we don't get Joss Whedon caliber movies.

Do not fear me. Our's is a peaceful race and we must live in harmony.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:54 PM

Totally agree with what you laid out. But I wouldn't do the whole "always wanted to be a legend" bit and that he was somehow responsible for the virus. That to me seems a bit too convenient. I LOVED the opening with the news interview with the Emma Thompson character. And I like that while he didn't start it, he was the one chosen and looked to to fix it. It explained why he hasn't given up yet. That he feels this obligation to be the one who comes up with the cure.

But yeah. Keep everything up to Robert waking up to the second time he walks in on SHREK, and do what you described, and you'd have the perfect adaptation of the book.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, December 15, 2007 1:00 PM

I gotta add this final tidbit about Will Smith. I watched him in The Pursuit of Happyness" (yes that is the spelling) and now this movie. He is quickly becoming for me one of the great actors of this generation. I never would have said this in the 90's with movies like Wild Wild West and Independance day to cite. But I find my opinions changing now.

The sequences when he yells at his manaquin "friend" and later holds Sam are very strong. The oscar caliber moment for Will is his breakdown in the video store. I almost cried.

Do not fear me. Our's is a peaceful race and we must live in harmony.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, December 15, 2007 1:19 PM

Yeah, him shooting the mannequin in front of Grand Central was the "insanity" moment that I wasn't too sure if he could pull off, but did. When I listened to the audiobook with the narrator really getting into the characterization of Robert as he's gets drunk and gives this "defense of the vampires", I realized that the book was just as much a story of a guy trying to keep his sanity, as well as hold off the vampires. And while I could see Vincent Price and Charleton Heston being able to do that flawlessly, I couldn't necessarily see Will be able to do that. But when he started to yell at the mannequin and shoot at it, that's the moment that convinced me that he was able to do it.

I think he still has a way to go before I call him one of the best actors of our generation, but I do like the fact that he's said to himself "I have more money than God, I can do whatever I want. And what I want to do is stuff that intrigues me personally and not something that my agent or the studio wants me to do so that they can make more money."

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 16, 2007 11:15 AM

KIRKULES

I just got back from seeing I am Legend and my first impression is that this is one of the saddest movies I've seen in awhile. If you see it be prepared to shed a few tears. I was sceptical of Will Smith's ability to pull off this role but am happy to report he proved me wrong. Walking out of the theater it occurred to me that this role required a person of Smith's personal integrity to make it believable. Charlton Heston is one of my heroes and no one could be expected to live up to his performance in the Omega Man but Smith did as good as any could have. I'm just glad it wasn't a Omega Man remake because I can like this movie without having to make comparisons with one of the greatest movies ever made.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, December 16, 2007 3:11 PM

DEEPGIRL187

When I first saw the previews for this, boy did I complain up a storm. The Omega Man was one of my favorite films when I was a kid, and I personally thought it was sacrilege to remake it.

Then came 4:00 this Sunday. And boy was I wrong.

I haven't read the book, so I can't compare and contrast the two, but I do have to say that this blows the Charleston Heston version out of the water. And I really have to hand it to Will Smith, it was an amazing performance. The hell with the monsters; watching him slowly lose his mind was truly frightening. And they were able to handle it in a realistic manner, I thought.

Quote:
Orginally posted by Strangebird:
Besides I hate it when they add in an animals death just to add some feeling of loss or saddness. It's seriously not bad enough for him that his family(not to mention everyone else) dies? They have to add more loss for the character to get him to whatever point he reaches?

You're missing the whole point here. Sam wasn't just a dog, she was his last connection to his old life. Sure, losing his family fucked him up, it screwed with him royally. But losing Sam meant that he had nothing left. That would make anyone go off the deep end, I'd think.

**************************************************

"This is my timey-wimey detector. It goes ding when there's stuff. Also, it can boil an egg at 30 paces, whether you want it to or not, actually, so I've learned to stay away from hens. It's not pretty when they blow."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, December 17, 2007 1:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by deepgirl187:

You're missing the whole point here. Sam wasn't just a dog, she was his last connection to his old life. Sure, losing his family fucked him up, it screwed with him royally. But losing Sam meant that he had nothing left. That would make anyone go off the deep end, I'd think.

I agree. But I think it goes even deeper than that. In a world where everyone is dead, he saw Sam as more than a dog...it was a person. As real as "Fred" the manaquin. More so.

All of his interactions with Sam indicate a connection as strong as anything you might feel towards your own child. When they're eating : "Eat your vegetables, don't just push them around" When they're hunting in the car "What da ya see? What da ya see?" The extreme relief of saving Sam from the nest of infected after she ran for the deer was identical to that of a scared parent finding their child that had wandered away. The fact that he even went into the darkness after Sam...a dog...demonstates the deepest love possible, a thing reserved for kin or a foxhole buddy.

Do not fear me. Our's is a peaceful race and we must live in harmony.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 2:03 PM

LEIASKY

I haven't read the book at all but I did see the movie last week at a special employee screening. I didn't think those creatures in the film were vampires at all. Interesting that the book says they are vampires? I'll have to go get it so I can compare. I thought the movie was a great mixture of sadness and suspense.

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 2:15 PM

LEIASKY

Re- the detail. I loved the almost $7 a gallon gas, and the Batman/Superman poster but did you read the scroll at the bottom of, was it CNN, when the woman who cured cancer was talking? Taken right out of today's headlines . . .

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 2:30 PM