I Am Legend

[Nikilidstrom]

After talking about it briefly in another thread, I thought I'd start one about this possible disaster of a movie to see what, or if, anyone thinks about I Am Legend.

I don't know how many have read the book, but just from the previews it looks like they completely destroyed that material, turning it into I, Am Robot Legend as far as adding the action and changing the setting and pretty much leaving the source material in the circular file.

I understand partially why they did it. Its very hard to market a multi-million dollar vampire movie, or any horror movie for that matter, especially when the source material is more of a Indie Film style character study than an Hollywood action/adventure.

And of course this isn't the first time they have gutted this book, concidering the crapfest that was Omega Man back in the 70's. I'm sure many will disagree with me on this one, but when compared to the source material, its has many shortcomings.

Anywho, I'm curious if anyone else has any opinions about this.

[Kadath]

According to the Wikipedia article, they are in talks for a sequel.

That movie can go to hell as far as I am concerned.

[Plan9]

Check it out: I AM ROBOT LEGEND

I Am Legend is gonna be like this. Meh. I'll go watch it and cry anyway.

...

I'm just glad that they haven't butchered Stephen King's franchise as much.

[World's King]

Are you kidding... Stephen King has been butchered more then any other author.

[Plan9]

Sarcasm.

God, didn't you see "badass" Timothy Dalton in the Dark Half? I almost shit myself. And ate it.

[adds jerkass smiley to previous post]

[m0rpheus]

The only reason I'm going to see this is the Dark Knight preview that I posted about in the Dark Knight thread. This movie looks like ass.

[Moyaboy]

I haven't read the book, but I am excited by the preview of I Am Legend. Now about the Dark Knight, I really enjoyed the Batman Begins movie, I was excited about a sequel.

I wonder sometimes.

Are we upset that they butchered the book to create a movie or upset that in order to make a movie the book got butchered.

[Nikilidstrom]

Well, its not necessary to butcher the book to make a movie, just to make a multi-million dollar blockbuster attempt at a movie. As I said before, the book itself is movie material, but more of a calm character study with a few action bits thrown in, rather than a summer explosion movie with bloodsuckers.

[Kadath]

Originally Posted by Nikilidstrom

Well, its not necessary to butcher the book to make a movie, just to make a multi-million dollar blockbuster attempt at a movie. As I said before, the book itself is movie material, but more of a calm character study with a few action bits thrown in, rather than a summer explosion movie with bloodsuckers.

I think Castaway showed that a character study can be a popular and successful movie. I wish they had taken the risk and made the movie like the novella and not followed the line of The Omega Man.

[filtherton]

Meh, having never read the book, i think it looks entertaining enough, but then again i'm a sucker for abandoned and decaying cityscapes.

[Strange Famous]

I liked the book a lot. Not really interested in the movie so much - I dont see how it would translate - especially as I will know what's coming.

[docbungle]

I also loved the book.

However, if you allow yourself to get over the fact that the movie will not necessarily follow the book, the movie looks like it might be quite entertaining.

As long as Matheson was paid well for the movie rights, I see no problem with this film.

[Plan9]

Alternative Titles:

"I Am Sellout"

"I Am Legend(ary for Product Placement)"

[Jack The Lad]

When I was a kid I used to like the 1971 adaptation, The Omega Man. It deviates from the novel though, and hasn't aged well.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X-MosmUseSY&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X-MosmUseSY&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

I believe there's also a version starring Vincent Price but I haven't seen that.

[Plan9]

Soylent Green Is Vampires!

[hagatha]

Soylent Green is People...its People!!!

[Jack The Lad]

Originally Posted by Jack The Lad

I believe there's also a version starring Vincent Price but I haven't seen that.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i4mYireNvcg&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i4mYireNvcg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

Good ol' YouTube to the rescue!

[Derwood]

from the TV ads this looks about 100% like 28 days later

[Willravel]

Boastful title (funny), vampire causing bacteria (scientific explanation > asking us to accept supernatural), and Will Smith (will he rap for the soundtrack?).

I'll see it.

[Kadath]

The only way to enjoy this movie is be totally ignorant of its origins.

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by Kadath

The only way to enjoy this movie is be totally ignorant of its origins.

A book?

[Plan9]

Man, I sure hope he does a lot of slo-mo shots where he fires two pistols at the same time!

[Prophecy]

I've never read the book but the movie looks entertaining. I'll most likely read the book after I see the movie. I've read to many books and then seen it on the big screen. Nine times out of ten I come away disappointed.

[Nikilidstrom]

Originally Posted by willravel

A book?

I always pegged you as someone who reads the previous posts, Will. It was a book written in the 50s by Richard Matheson, which has seen other onscreen iterations including Omega Man and Last Man On Earth, none of which have held very close to the plot of the book, IMO. And this one looks to be the farthest from the book of them all.

[Willravel]

Omega Man and Last Man On Earth have nothing to do with the story's origins. The origins are the book. Seeing as how no one here has seen the movie, I was confused as to how an ignorance of the book had anything to do with enjoying the movie.

Yes, I read all previous posts.

As for being farthest from the book, have you seen Omega Man? Not one vampire. That alone means that I am Legend is closer to the book than the previous interpretations. Not only that, but I read a review that states the explanation of the title "Why is Will Smith a Legend?" and it sounds just like the book: Spoiler: Will Smith's Robert Neville is a legend to the hybrid vampires because he killed them along with the fully infected.

[Kadath]

Sorry will. I assumed by this: "Boastful title" that you didn't hadn't read the book. Because I wouldn't describe its use in the novel as boastful.

[Willravel]

I think the title is hilarious without context. What would you think if a guy with a beard wearing a trash bag living in the park said that? I'd give him $10.

[LoganSnake]

1. I've never read the book.
2. The trailer looks sweet.
3. Will be watching this.

[Kadath]

Originally Posted by willravel

As for being farthest from the book, have you seen Omega Man? Not one vampire. That alone means that I am Legend is closer to the book than the previous interpretations. Not only that, but I read a review that states the explanation of the title "Why is Will Smith a Legend?" and it sounds just like the book: Spoiler: Will Smith's Robert Neville is a legend to the hybrid vampires because he killed them along with the fully infected.

I want to address this more fully (because I am a nut for Matheson and waaay too into this topic), but mostly in spoilers. This may indeed be the most faithful adaptation (we shall see) but that does not make it particularly faithful. The whole point of the novel is the crushing isolation that Robert Neville feels. I don't get that sense from the movie. If you want to see a movie that is a faithful adaptation of a Matheson story, look at Spielberg's Duel -- and that isn't totally faithful because of the differences in medium. It's hard to be solely inside someone's head in a movie. Spoiler: Anyway, this version looks more action-oriented than the novel, which is not about a heroic battle against vampires but a slow and ultimately fruitless struggle against impossible odds. And the title comes from this, will: Spoiler: in the end, as the last man on earth, as an object of fear and loathing, Neville has changed places with the vampire. He is legend like Dracula is a legend to us.

[Plan9]

Originally Posted by willravel

I think the title is hilarious without context. What would you think if a guy with a beard wearing a trash bag living in the park said that? I'd give him $10.

I'll be that man.

...

As long as I pretend the movie and book aren't related, I should be fine.

[Nikilidstrom]

I apologize Will. I assumed that by asking the question "a book?" you were stating that you were unaware that there was a book which was the original material the movie was derived from. The whol point of me starting this topic was to be able to read other peoples feelings on the obvious leaps the movie is taking from the source material. And I stated above, I thought Omega Man was horrible, both as a movie and as an adaptation of the book. But I still think the deviation of setting and the shift to an action/horror oriented plot is going to make I Am Legend the one that feels the least like the book, which was mainly an introspective on Neville, and less a horror book about vampires.

[Willravel]

Omega Man was mediocre as a stand-alone, but you're right considering it's source material it was a travesty.

The thing with previews is that they're not made by the same guy who directs the movie. Some marketing asshole finds the most visually stimulating parts of the movie and irresponsibly strings them together with loud noises and flashes because he or she thinks that will entice people better than what the movie is actually about. When it comes with the latest adaptation of I am Legend, I doubt they could really capture the sense of aloneness that was portrayed in the book and possibly portrayed in the movie. It'd end up being a 20 minute preview. It still could be the wonderful introspective piece, so long as Will Smith doesn't start rapping like an idiot.

Uh, yeah, yeah, here come da vampires big Willie style!

[Mister Coaster]

Originally Posted by LoganSnake

1. I've never read the book.
2. The trailer looks sweet.
3. Will be watching this.

And I'll be sitting next to him.

And to all you tools in this and all other TFP entertainment topics... The movie isn't like the book... Get Eff'ing Over It. When YOU produce a multimillion dollar movie, feel free to follow the book exactly, and still get bad reviews.

[Plan9]

Hell, I just want to hear WillRavel make fun of Will Smith's musical career.

(he's not that bad, ya know)

[blahblah454]

Just watched the trailer. I am definitely going to see this. And I like will smith, yes he did sell out pretty hardcore in iRobot, but I forgive him.

[Plan9]

Originally Posted by blahblah454

Just watched the trailer. I am definitely going to see this. And I like will smith, yes he did sell out pretty hardcore in iRobot, but I forgive him.

iRobot?

Is that like iPod?

(imagines jokes)

[Willravel]

iJoke?

[Plan9]

iSmith: Handheld hip-hop device.

[blahblah454]

Aww jeez guys, give the Smith a break

My bad, its I,Robot or something.

Forgive my mistake, every bloody thing these days is called iSomething.

[mrklixx]

This is I, Robot:




This is irobot




Not sure which one sucks more.