I Am Legend

Good question. I think they have little Rudolph slippers and Old Navy sweaters to keep 'em toasty. Some of the models in the Old Navy commercials look familiar...

 

I think we'll see it. I like "end of the world" type movies, but zombies (28 Day Later types) leave me with nightmares!

love,

Sopranette

 

Oh yeah....end of the world movies are hard for me to resist. I've even seen more zombie movies than I wanted because sometimes that's the only post-apocalyptic movie available. I couldn't care less about rotting bodies and gore, but gimme a group of people trying to survive at the end of the world and I'm there, popcorn and Milk Duds in hand.

28 Days Later sure took zombies to the next level, lol. But yeah, it's a bit much for me, too. Interesting part of that one is it had some beautiful and calm scenes, too. I would have liked the ending better if they'd left the soldiers out.

 

OK, I saw the movie today. I did see Omega Man years ago, but can't remember enough to compare the two.

I went back and read the thread again because I kept stopping at the spoilers before I saw the movie. I really want to read the book now and then go back and watch all three movies. I wasn't as bothered by the ending as some of you, but not only had I read that you guys were disappointed in the ending, but Brandon had also told me that he was disappointed in the ending, so I went in expecting the worse.

Now it's my turn to alert SPOILER!!

Several things really stood out to me.

1) We really mess with God's order and we really mess up - the cure for cancer was disastrous. Do we even think about the outcome for something like curing cancer? Overpopulation at the very least! Not to be doom and gloom, but it's reality. I loved that line for R.N. - God didn't do this, we did.

2) I hated it when the dog died. It was the only time I cried. He had been so alone and that dog was his only companion. I did wonder why he didn't put her in a cage and give the antidote time to work, but I didn't write the script.

3) I didn't see the whole mate thing you guys did. They imitated his scenario, but he didn't even question that they were thinking at any level - he was still calling them a hive. Stupid, stupid on his part.

4) And his whole downfall was that he was out after dark - something he'd so carefully planned NOT to happen until after he was upset about the loss of Sam.

I thought it was great. I didn't understand why Smith didn't get an Academy Award for Pursuit of Happiness. I hope this is it.

 

"Pursuit of Happyness" was a total bummer. The message to me was, "life sucks, then you die". I know that's not what they wanted to say, but for 9/10ths of the movie, it was totally dog eat dog storyline. Still, Smith did do a good job with it, not his usual over the top, larger that life character that can be so off putting at times.

love,

Sopranette

 

I haven't seen it, but I plan on it, DVD. I really like Will Smith, and love this story, saw the 70's version many times. I would love to read the book. Is the current I am Legend book same as the original(assuming there is an original).

 

I haven't seen a novelization of the new movie, but the original I Am Legend novel is considered a classic and very influential in the genre.

 

1. Yes, it was refreshing to see a movie that didn't pretend God doesn't exist or that blamed him for the situation. And with a positive Christian character and a genuine-seeming prayer, I was impressed.

2. I wondered why he didn't sedate or cage the dog, too. And soon he seemed to find a cure, at least for humans. I'd have felt really bad about the dog about then.

3. The mate thing was just a possible interpretation of the way the leader of the zombies acted. It certainly wasn't explored in depth in the movie, so maybe it wasn't intended. But ya, he underestimated the zombies badly, maybe because he'd survived for 3 years with them.

4. There was a sort of break in his character when he finds the mannequin out of place. He sort of loses his sanity instead of questioning how it got there, and thus falls for the trap. Based on the Omega Man, I was expecting the mannequin to have been put there by another survivor that was watching him.

Interesting themes in these movies and the novel. Among other things, it makes me wonder about the Rapture teaching--specifically, if it happens, how it will come off to those that stay behind. It's hard to imagine them not realizing what really happened, despite the odd and unbelievable explanations given in Left Behind and similar stories--that it was some strange effect of radiation or just something mysterious that no one seems bothered about.

 

My daughter in law has it, it has the movie promo picture of Will Smith(I think the running down the street look, don't recall) on the front.
Of course she has 3 young children it will take her forever to read it, she was roud to have finally finished the first chapter. LOL

 

I picked up the book at Target~note that the story "I Am Legend" is just one of several short stories in the book. I thought I was at the end of a chapter, turned the page,and realized the story was over.

I'm also a big fan of apocalyptic stories, and The Omega Man is one of the earliest movies I can remember seeing on TV. Haven't been to see Legend yet, maybe go today, but broke my foot and am on crutches (who'll carry the popcorn? :laugh: )

 

I'm back home. I bought the book for the ride home and I was surprised to find that it was the longest of a series of short stories. Like MrJim, I turned the page and thought there would be more! I wanted more! I couldn't believe it was over!!!!!

I'd love to talk about the book's ending - any takers?

MrJim - take a tote bag and throw it over your shoulder for the popcorn

OR find a date

 

OK, I mean it's only Cleveland, right?:laugh:

 

Ooh! Mememe!

What did you think of it?

Neeeeeevillllle! Come out and play, Neville!

If it is a book of short stories you guys picked up, it sounds like you got the original. Since it was so famous in the genre, I was curious whether there would be a novelization of the new movie. Wouldn't surprise me if one showed up since the movie was a success at the box office.

 

Chessic -- There were several different books, but they were all the same. I just figured that there was some twist to the story that led to the parts having different names. Other books by the same author where obviously collections of short stories from the description on the back.

Book - Spoiler - which will of course be a movie spoiler too .

To the story - There were some things I liked about the movie better - a definate setting and better technology. The book was rather like reading about old Star Treks. The projector to watch a movie made me laugh.

Where in the Sam Hill was the setting? Out west some where? On a military base? I was reminded vaguely of some Robin Cook or Michael Crighten book that I've read. So much so, that I'm thinking I've got to start looking for it to see how much they stole from Matheson.

I liked that the beings didn't loose their thinking ability completely in the book like they seemed to in the movie. Cortman's taunting was really eerie. I wondered if he remembered that they'd been friends - or was it more mechanical than that? Were there others that remembered other things?

Then there was the dog. At least in the book, you felt like the dog had a chance.

I actually thought the movie ending made much more sense after reading the book ending. Neville probably really was the last non-mutated being, so unlike the movie, he had no choice - there was no escape. He was already dead. They could have used him for testing though - an ever lasting source of untainted blood for medicine???

I've got some more questions bumping around about the mutations of the original vampires, but they aren't quite clear in my head yet.

I did wonder when I started to read the book why the movie maker didn't just go ahead and make the movie mutants vampires. It's not like we couldnt' tell they were vampiresk or that vampires aren't popular enough or someone would think that would be any sillier than anything else put forth . . .

 

Bitsy,

My wife and I came out of the movie theater and saw a line of people, waiting to watch I Am Legend.

Well, I told them they didn't need to go in, because they were watching him--I am Legend. :laugh:

They got a laugh out of it too. :laugh:

 

Actually, I thought the message was worse than that: "Without money, there is no chance for happiness."

 

Good point, Don!

love,

Sopranette

 

Originally Posted by Sopranette
"Pursuit of Happyness" was a total bummer. The message to me was, "life sucks, then you die". I know that's not what they wanted to say, but for 9/10ths of the movie, it was totally dog eat dog storyline. Still, Smith did do a good job with it, not his usual over the top, larger that life character that can be so off putting at times.

love,

Sopranette

SPOILER WARNING: Consider yourself warned.

I didn't get that message at all. It was a man bettering himself for the sake of his son. An excellent movie, and while there are parts that are depressing, Smith has proved to me that he has grown into a fine actor... especially when you consider that the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" was his start. The scene in "Happiness" while he's holding his son in the bathroom of the train station, when he finally gets the job, and in "Legend" when he has to kill his dog to put her out of her misery, were among the finest acting moments in recent movie history.