I Am Legend

[Reggie]

I'm not really into horror in general, but every now and then something will get my attention.

So, recently that was the preview I saw before Transformers for I Am Legend starring Will Smith.

I figured there was something more there than what a Will Smith movie would make of it, so I looked it up and found the book...and read it, because it sounded pretty interesting to me.

I just finished it a couple of days ago and I was wondering what any of you think of the book, and what kind of expectations you may or may not have for the movie version...?

(I know there's another Vampire thread below, but I didn't think this fit into that)

[Leon Kensington]

I expect it to be better than Omega Man, which I don't think will be hard.

[Reggie]

Hmm...I haven't seen that...I think I'll Netflix it....

[Simon]

I adore "I am Legend", one of my all time favourite SF stories (surprised you've started this thread over in horror to be honest)...

The tightness of the narrative, when for over a hundred pages there is one character, mostly living in the present, is staggering.. Its a truly astounding work or paranoia.

Up until last week I thought it was the origin of the Post-Apoc Zombie story, until I came across Dark Benediction by Walter M. Miller (author of the classic A Canticle For Leibowitz).  This is another "Unexplained virus turns everyone into roaming predators and brings the end of civilization" story, only it was published 3 years before Legend...  Unfortunately (and much to my surprise after the seminal Leibowitz) the story is badly written, badly characterised and has an almost embarrassingly bad denouement.  I read it in a 3 novella book along with The Daftseller and Conditionally Human, both of which exhibit the same horrendous writing...  I was therefore completely staggered this morning when I found that its a Gollancz SF Masterwork...

Looks like Gollancz are beginning to dilute the top quality stuff in order to keep the range going.  Still, I stongly suspect it was the seed for Matheson's masterpiece.

[Alasdair5000]

The book has the distinction, along with Se7en and The Mothman Prophecies, of being one of the three things that has ever really, really unsettled me.  It's astonishingly grim and weirdlessly timeless both in the prose and the setting.  If they keep the ending for the Will Smith version I will be amazingly impressed.
   As for the new movie version I'm really looking forward to it.  Judging by the trailer they've got the desolation absolutely right and Smith is, I still maintain, a far smarter leading man than almost all of his movies have let him show.  There's real potential for something very very dark here and even if we don't get it, the movie should still work extremely well as a big budget high end piece of apocalyptic cinema.
   Oh as an aside, someone has stuck together the I Am Legend teaser with the 1-18-08 teaser, elements of 10,000BC and Sunshine  and put it on youtube.  I was amazed by how well it works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS8CqHz8loI

[Leon Kensington]

Maybe that is the 1/18/08 secret, it's really just another Scary Movie.

[Reggie]

Yeah...I know I Am Legend is actually referred to as sci-fi, but I see vampires and think horror....like I said...I'm not really that big into horror...at all, really, so what would I know? 

I really like reading books that are made into movies and then watching the various movies that are made from them.  I try to read the book first, but I always feel like a poser when I decide to read a book because I see a preview for the movie version of it first....and since this one is supposed to be so influential on so many writers and filmmakers, I feel like that even more this time around 

But I was pretty pleased with it. And I have already Netflixed "The Last Man on Earth" (starring Vincent Price) and The Omega Man, which are the two existing movie versions of it because I'd like to watch those before seeing the new one.  Considering the Will Smith version is actually called I Am Legend, one would expect it to be the most faithful adaptation....you know, like I Am Robot....   

And, Simon, you mentioned hoping that it was the origins of the zombie story as we know it but found that other story that came before it.  I found in my research into other movie versions of this story that previous zombie tales aside, I Am Legend is actually the one that influenced and inspired George A. Romero to make his films.  So....there ya go.

    

[Alasdair5000]

Maybe that is the 1/18/08 secret, it's really just another Scary Movie.

I'm actually frightened by how much sense that makes:)

[Leon Kensington]

Dear God!  I could be right.

For the love of all that is SF, if this happens someone please kill JJ Abrams.

[Kris]

Someone - I think my mother - bought me I Am Legend for my birthday years ago, and the astonishing power of its final pages still resonate with me. That theme has been done over and over again since.

On the downside, it encouraged me to seek another Matheson novel and bought Hunted Past Reason. Man, that is a bad book. It's hard to believe the same person wrote both.

I'm reserving judgement on the movie. If they give Smith some acting to do and don't just have him running around for two hours, I think it could be the best adaptation yet.

[Reggie]

Right on, I argue with my friends all the time that, yes, Will Smith is in fact a good enough actor, we all loved the Fresh Prince, he's just been so typecast into the same role over and over again, because it sells tickets...It'd just be nice to finally get to see a bit more depth.

[Darwinist]

Saw the movie yesterday.  I thought it was pretty good.  I have not read the book but will do so.  The first 2/3 were pretty interesting, towards the end the movie became more of an action fllick and a little more bloody.  Won't say much else.   The scenes of deserted New York were amazing.   I would be interested in hearing what people who read the book have to say about the movie. 

[goatkeeper]

I loved the book...I was so excited to hear there was a movie coming out... then two word combinations broke my heart...  1."Will Smith" and 2. "PG-13"

I'll be waiting for the scene where Will Smith punches a zombie in the face and says something like "chew on that!"

And a PG-13 zombie movie??? C'mon!

The CG looked pretty cruddy from the preview- how is it in the movie?

[Darwinist]

I loved the book...I was so excited to hear there was a movie coming out... then two word combinations broke my heart...  1."Will Smith" and 2. "PG-13"

I'll be waiting for the scene where Will Smith punches a zombie in the face and says something like "chew on that!"

And a PG-13 zombie movie??? C'mon!

The CG looked pretty cruddy from the preview- how is it in the movie?

I hear you on the Will Smith thing.  I thought the same thing going in but actually I thought he was pretty good.  The CGI was not good.  The deer in NYC scenes looked fake and the zombie action scenes were ridiculous.  My son and a few other people I know that saw the film hated the ending.  It thought it was OK.  I can't wait to read the book. 

[DKT]

I'm disappointed to hear about the crummy CGI.  Whatever problems I had with Constantine (mostly pacing and plot) I thought the visuals were impressive and I thought Francis Lawrence would bring that game to I Am Legend.  Guess not. 

Still, it made $75 million on the opening weekend?  Holy crap, that's a lot of money!

I'll probably see it eventually, but I don't know if it will be in the theaters...

[Darwinist]

I'm disappointed to hear about the crummy CGI.  Whatever problems I had with Constantine (mostly pacing and plot) I thought the visuals were impressive and I thought Francis Lawrence would bring that game to I Am Legend.  Guess not. 

Still, it made $75 million on the opening weekend?  Holy crap, that's a lot of money!

I'll probably see it eventually, but I don't know if it will be in the theaters...

I guess I would say that most of the visuals of the movie were great, much of it being NYC of course.  The things that were fake-looking (deer & zombies) didn't have huge amounts of screen time.  I saw it matinee on a mega screen and I thought it was worth the $5.50.

[goatkeeper]

When you've got Will Smith in your movie why bother wasting money on decent CG?  People are going to go see it either way...
Yes, I'm in a cynical mood today.

[eytanz]

When you've got Will Smith in your movie why bother wasting money on decent CG?  People are going to go see it either way...
Yes, I'm in a cynical mood today.

I neither saw, nor have any interest in seeing, this movie, but the majority of reviews I've read (I like reading reviews for movies I won't see) make a point of the CG being really great for most of the movie.

[Chodon]

I'm leaving work early today with some co-workers to check this movie out.  All I have to say is:

[oddpod]

i hear thay are already thinking about a sequel to i am legend ,
 this is worying

[eytanz]

i hear thay are already thinking about a sequel to i am legend ,
 this is worying

Oh dear. But it's going to be fun to try to figure out what the title will be. At the moment I think my favorite idea is: I am legend 2: I am still legend

[Russell Nash]

i hear thay are already thinking about a sequel to i am legend ,
 this is worying

Oh dear. But it's going to be fun to try to figure out what the title will be. At the moment I think my favorite idea is: I am legend 2: I am still legend

I Am Legend 2: The Legend Lives On

[Darwinist]

i hear thay are already thinking about a sequel to i am legend ,
 this is worying

What??!!  That's ridiculous.  Who is the story going to be about?  DJ Jazzy Jeff?  Spoiler: The Fresh Prince is gone!  Gawd.   

[DarkKnightJRK]

I read the book, first through the Steve Niles comic adaptation and then the actual novel by Matherson. I'm hoping the movie will at least be similar to one of Smith's other recent works, I, Robot: Not exactly the story, but keeps the tone and theme of the piece with it. I don't have a problem with Will Smith and think he's a pretty good actor (watch Six Degrees of Seperation if you don't believe me).

Question to those who've seen the movie--no need to spoil me completely, but: how close is the movie's ending to the book ending?

[Tango Alpha Delta]

I read the book, first through the Steve Niles comic adaptation and then the actual novel by Matherson. I'm hoping the movie will at least be similar to one of Smith's other recent works, I, Robot: Not exactly the story, but keeps the tone and theme of the piece with it. I don't have a problem with Will Smith and think he's a pretty good actor (watch Six Degrees of Seperation if you don't believe me).

Question to those who've seen the movie--no need to spoil me completely, but: how close is the movie's ending to the book ending?

Okay... we're so very close to being in agreement... if we just change a couple of the words... seriously, I have enjoyed Will Smith in his popcorny MiB, Independence Day-type roles, and I have seen him do great dramatic work, too (screw you, I'm allowed to like "Pursuit of Happyness").  I'm open to the possibility that they might have managed to make this "Legend" story successfully. 

But I have a serious beef against what they did to I, Robot.  I mean, if you're a studio, why pay Isaac's estate, use the title, and CG in some robots... if you're not actually use any of Isaac's stories?  There is literally, a whole universe of storytelling there, and they blew it for a half-assed hack job of Minority Report.

Here's a mind blower for you:  Sigourney Weaver as the REAL Susan Calvin.  Let her stretch her legs and solve a couple of clever puzzles.  Then put Gary Sinise and Jack Black through the wringer on Mercury ... friggin' Mercury in a movie, how cool would that be?  And Alan Rickman was so great as Marvin in Hitchhiker's Guide... let him actually put on some tin-man makeup and bring the robot prophet to life!

How's about you play... who'd make a good Elijah Bailey?  R. Daneel Olivaw?  Hmm?

[Chodon]

I watched it and I can honestly say I did not dislike it.  I expected more zombie vampires, but it wasn't bad.  I think a movie about the 3 years leading up to the start of the movie would have been more interesting though.

[qwints]

Here's a mind blower for you:  Sigourney Weaver as the REAL Susan Calvin.  Let her stretch her legs and solve a couple of clever puzzles.  Then put Gary Sinise and Jack Black through the wringer on Mercury ... friggin' Mercury in a movie, how cool would that be?  And Alan Rickman was so great as Marvin in Hitchhiker's Guide... let him actually put on some tin-man makeup and bring the robot prophet to life!

Dear god, please don't torture me with further images of a good "I, Robot" movie. EP 105, "Impossible Dreams" was painful enough.

[eytanz]

I watched it and I can honestly say I did not dislike it.  I expected more zombie vampires, but it wasn't bad.  I think a movie about the 3 years leading up to the start of the movie would have been more interesting though.

Hey, maybe if we're lucky than the planned sequel will in fact be a prequel ("I'll be legend"?). That would be a seriously better movie than a proper sequel.

[DarkKnightJRK]

But I have a serious beef against what they did to I, Robot.  I mean, if you're a studio, why pay Isaac's estate, use the title, and CG in some robots... if you're not actually use any of Isaac's stories?  There is literally, a whole universe of storytelling there, and they blew it for a half-assed hack job of Minority Report.

Here's a mind blower for you:  Sigourney Weaver as the REAL Susan Calvin.  Let her stretch her legs and solve a couple of clever puzzles.  Then put Gary Sinise and Jack Black through the wringer on Mercury ... friggin' Mercury in a movie, how cool would that be?  And Alan Rickman was so great as Marvin in Hitchhiker's Guide... let him actually put on some tin-man makeup and bring the robot prophet to life!

How's about you play... who'd make a good Elijah Bailey?  R. Daneel Olivaw?  Hmm?

I think they got away with it by saying it was SUGGESTED from the book in the credits. At least they had the balls to fully admit that they were mostly just using the universe.

[Tango Alpha Delta]

I think they got away with it by saying it was SUGGESTED from the book in the credits. At least they had the balls to fully admit that they were mostly just using the universe.

There is that... and I usually spot those kinds of disclaimers and don't get so exercised about it.  Most of the time, I keep my expectations extremely low so that there is a better chance of being pleasantly surprised.  Like I said before, I am capable of enjoying light-hearted, bubblegum stuff for what it is.  But in this case, I let what I wanted color my expectations.

Still, if it's possible to make so many GOOD adaptations (thinking of "Blade Runner" and "Total Recall" for Phil Dick, Lord of the Rings, and now I Am Legend by most accounts) why do they insist on taking good material and "baddening" it? 

[Thaurismunths]

I haven't read the book, but I did just see the movie.

If you're in to Zombie movies, this doesn't count. It's much more to do with Robert Neville's deteriorating mental state and I think Will Smith did a pretty good job of it although I can't help but feel that someone was holding Will Smith or the director back from making it as dark as it should have been.

I have a couple of non-plot related gripes.

1) Will Smith, or his agent, or the director, just had to put this sappy foreshadowing in there. By that I mean: the butterfly:
2) I think they used the same CGI animation house as in I, Robot, I say this because I'm pretty sure they used the same models, if not the same sequences, but with different skins.

[DarkKnightJRK]

I haven't read the book, but I did just see the movie.

If you're in to Zombie movies, this doesn't count. It's much more to do with Robert Neville's deteriorating mental state and I think Will Smith did a pretty good job of it although I can't help but feel that someone was holding Will Smith or the director back from making it as dark as it should have been.
I have a couple of non-plot related gripes.

1) Will Smith, or his agent, or the director, just had to put this sappy foreshadowing in there. By that I mean: the butterfly:
2) I think they used the same CGI animation house as in I, Robot, I say this because I'm pretty sure they used the same models, if not the same sequences, but with different skins.

Well, if I remember correctly, the studio forced them to reshoot the ending three weeks before the movie came out...

[wakela]

Just saw the movie and really liked it.
Disclaimer: never read the book or saw the previous movies.

Will Smith:  I think he's a fine actor.  Don't hold his cheeseball movies against him.  If someone waved that kind of cash in front of you, you would say, "Bring on the catch phrases."  (I originally wrote "cash phrases".)  In Legend he was able to carry half of a big budget movie by himself.  And while the studio may have lightened the story a bit to avoid a full-blown Girlfriend Rebellion, this was not snappy, cute Will Smith. 

CGI: Not the best.  But I think using real actors would have made this a horror movie.  I read that Tarantino used animation for the most disturbing scenes of Kill Bill (young O-ren and Boss Matsumoto pedophilia).  It seemed like Tarantino artsiness, but it let him ratchet the disturb-o-meter up higher than he could have with real people.

I liked that Smith was a smart guy.  He acted like his character had read our "when the end comes !" thread.   

[Chodon]

I have to add the disclaimer that I also have not read the book.

I don't know how peope are saying this movie wasn't dark enough.  I lost it when he had to choke his own dog to death.  I'm talking full blown tears.  It was a little awkward because I saw it with a co-worker.  Luckily, I don't think he noticed or if he did chose not comment on it.  Showing weakness with my co-workers is like putting chum in shark-infested waters.  It could have been really bad.

Maybe the ending should have been darker, but the scene mentioned above was about as dark as it gets for me.

[Tango Alpha Delta]

I have to add the disclaimer that I also have not read the book.

I don't know how peope are saying this movie wasn't dark enough.  I lost it when [spoiler not quoted]...  I'm talking full blown tears.  It was a little awkward because I saw it with a co-worker.  Luckily, I don't think he noticed or if he did chose not comment on it.  Showing weakness with my co-workers is like putting chum in shark-infested waters.  It could have been really bad.

I feel your pain; my wife caught me ...um...  with something in my eye ... ahem... at the end of Star Trek Nemesis. 

(It caught me off guard, okay?  Sheesh... I wasn't as bad as she was after Jadzia Dax croaked on DS9!)

[beardiebloke]

Question to those who've seen the movie--no need to spoil me completely, but: how close is the movie's ending to the book ending?

*SPOILER*



The ending is totally different.  A lot of the elements from the book leading up to THAT ENDING are there but they don't get used.  The woman's concern when she finds out that all the subjects died - that's in the film but I don't think you would notice it unless you read the book.  It's so different that the title of the film is a bit pointless.  I really despair when Hollywood remakes things so differently from the original that I wonder why they bothered.

[lowky]

I was definitely disappointed in the movie.  It was entertaining enough, and cinematography/imagery was excellent, but it just left me wanting more, especially after all the prerelease hype it received.

[Alasdair5000]

I was definitely disappointed in the movie.  It was entertaining enough, and cinematography/imagery was excellent, but it just left me wanting more, especially after all the prerelease hype it received.

This, is the original ending:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/03/05/must-watch-i-am-legends-original-ending-this-is-amazing/

Which is substantially closer to the original.  Scheduled for inclusion on the DVD.

[Darwinist]

This, is the original ending:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/03/05/must-watch-i-am-legends-original-ending-this-is-amazing/

Which is substantially closer to the original.  Scheduled for inclusion on the DVD.

Cool. Thanks for posting. 

How do the filmakers ultimately determine which ending will be used?  I seem to recall that the DVD of 28 Days Later had 2 or 3 alternate endings.  The ending can change a person's whole opinion of the movie.

[Heradel]

Cool. Thanks for posting. 

How do the filmakers ultimately determine which ending will be used?  I seem to recall that the DVD of 28 Days Later had 2 or 3 alternate endings.  The ending can change a person's whole opinion of the movie.

They don't. The studio does. Unless it's someone like Lucas, the studio can, and often does, force the filmmaker to change the ending because a test group didn't like it. Or some studio bigwig thinks they're better equipped to understand what the audience wants than the filmmakers.

[Darwinist]

Cool. Thanks for posting. 

How do the filmakers ultimately determine which ending will be used?  I seem to recall that the DVD of 28 Days Later had 2 or 3 alternate endings.  The ending can change a person's whole opinion of the movie.

They don't. The studio does. Unless it's someone like Lucas, the studio can, and often does, force the filmmaker to change the ending because a test group didn't like it. Or some studio bigwig thinks they're better equipped to understand what the audience wants than the filmmakers.

So much for a filmmaker's "vision".    I wonder if they had a test group for 2001.  A lot of people had issues with that ending.

I guess that's why there are so many versions of Bladerunner.

[Alasdair5000]

Happens across the board too.  Peter Berg and Matt Carnahan had to fight to get The Kingdom at the level of grim it achieves.  As it stands, the film's pretty dark although the original ending (In which at least one member of the FBI Evidence Unit does not come back to the US) never even got filmed.

Similarly, Spike Jonze's version of Where The Wild Things Are was finished two years ago.  Rumour has it that it's still on the shelf because the studio want to make Max nicer.  1408's original ending was pulled to my knowledge as well.  Although interestingly for the first time there's a movie that people are in effect in revolt over.

   A couple of years back a no budget indie comedy called Fanboys got picked up by I believe the Weinstein Corporation.  It's about a bunch of Star Wars fans who have a friend dying of cancer, who won't live to see Episode 1.  They decide to break into Skywalker Ranch to steal it and lo, there is comedy.

   EEarlier this year, a new producer was hired, ordered the cancer subplot completely excised and the film prepped for release.  It's in test screenings now and according to reports, is being torn apart. 

[Heradel]

Hollywood loves Art, so long as it's McArt. And since they're in the business of making money we can't condemn them for it, just hope that the newest generation of HD handicams and Final Cut Studio/Motion/Shake make it so that Indie starts going big.

They've always moderated material to appeal to a wide audience, it's just that recently they've lost their ability to make it good while moderating it. Look at Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Great play that was made into a slightly missing pieces movies that was also great in a very different way.

[Russell Nash]

Cool. Thanks for posting. 

How do the filmakers ultimately determine which ending will be used?  I seem to recall that the DVD of 28 Days Later had 2 or 3 alternate endings.  The ending can change a person's whole opinion of the movie.

They don't. The studio does. Unless it's someone like Lucas, the studio can, and often does, force the filmmaker to change the ending because a test group didn't like it. Or some studio bigwig thinks they're better equipped to understand what the audience wants than the filmmakers.

That's why after he makes a rep for himself a director will often have that he gets final edit put in all of his contracts.

[Tango Alpha Delta]

Cool. Thanks for posting. 

How do the filmakers ultimately determine which ending will be used?  I seem to recall that the DVD of 28 Days Later had 2 or 3 alternate endings.  The ending can change a person's whole opinion of the movie.

They don't. The studio does. Unless it's someone like Lucas, the studio can, and often does, force the filmmaker to change the ending because a test group didn't like it. Or some studio bigwig thinks they're better equipped to understand what the audience wants than the filmmakers.

That's why after he makes a rep for himself a director will often have that he gets final edit put in all of his contracts.

Too bad, in the case of Mr. Lucas.  An editor might have salvaged something out of Revenge of the Sith.  (Hell, I could eat alphabet soup and crap a better story...)

[Darwinist]

Cool. Thanks for posting. 

How do the filmakers ultimately determine which ending will be used?  I seem to recall that the DVD of 28 Days Later had 2 or 3 alternate endings.  The ending can change a person's whole opinion of the movie.

They don't. The studio does. Unless it's someone like Lucas, the studio can, and often does, force the filmmaker to change the ending because a test group didn't like it. Or some studio bigwig thinks they're better equipped to understand what the audience wants than the filmmakers.

That's why after he makes a rep for himself a director will often have that he gets final edit put in all of his contracts.

Too bad, in the case of Mr. Lucas.  An editor might have salvaged something out of Revenge of the Sith.  (Hell, I could eat alphabet soup and crap a better story...)

Or gassed Jar-Jar Binks!

[Russell Nash]

Cool. Thanks for posting. 

How do the filmakers ultimately determine which ending will be used?  I seem to recall that the DVD of 28 Days Later had 2 or 3 alternate endings.  The ending can change a person's whole opinion of the movie.

They don't. The studio does. Unless it's someone like Lucas, the studio can, and often does, force the filmmaker to change the ending because a test group didn't like it. Or some studio bigwig thinks they're better equipped to understand what the audience wants than the filmmakers.

That's why after he makes a rep for himself a director will often have that he gets final edit put in all of his contracts.

Too bad, in the case of Mr. Lucas.  An editor might have salvaged something out of Revenge of the Sith.  (Hell, I could eat alphabet soup and crap a better story...)

Or gassed Jar-Jar Binks!

Lucas actually said that he would sit down each day and not get up until he had written 5 pages.  Maybe if he gave a shit about quality instead of quantity, we might have gotten a decent movie or two out of the prequels.

[DarkKnightJRK]

Just checked that link for the original ending and yeah, LOADS better.

I thought it was a good movie, if only because of Smith's performance throughout the picture. Still, would have been a lot better if they were more faithful to the book.

[DKT]

Just saw the alternate ending. Wow. Completely different.  I certainly like parts of it more than the ending they went with in the movie.

I hear they're talking seriously of filming a prequel now, of all things. Might've made more sense with the original/alternate ending than the theatrical one.  Endings, man. They're a real bitch. 

[stePH]

Endings, man. They're a real bitch. 

Wasn't that from Get Shorty? 

[DKT]

Endings, man. They're a real bitch. 

Wasn't that from Get Shorty? 

Why yes, Yes it was    One of the best, funniest endings I've ever read