I Am Legend

Thorpe · 05-31-2007, 07:24 AM

Really looking forward to this. The trailer is due out before Ocean's Thirteen next week. I know they have tried making different versions of this movie but Will Smith is the man and I thought Francis Lawrence did a good job with Constantine. Anyone that has read the short story able to give me a quick plot? From what I understand it's post-apocalyptic setting where vampires have all but taken over the world.

Kiroy · 05-31-2007, 07:57 AM

Sweet I've been waiting for Blade 4! They got the same guy to play blade too... oh wait.

Frax · 05-31-2007, 08:30 AM

The story is based on the book I am Legend by Richard Matheson, the other movies are The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price and Omega Man with Charlton Heston.

Basically a plague wipes out humanity, almost all survivors turn into "vampires", one does not and the vampires try to kill him. I suspect the hollywood ending will be different from the book, because it doesn't have a happy ending as I recall.

DickTrickle · 05-31-2007, 12:41 PM

I read a version of the script long ago that, I believe, was originally intended for Ahnold. Despite that fact, it was actually a pretty engaging read and a bit depressing at times (which is good) though it did have a happy ending.

Zeste · 05-31-2007, 12:52 PM

The Matheson Book is one of my favorites. It's really cool.

The plot in the book is basically that 1 guy is (supposedly) the last man to be infected by some sort of virus that's turned everyone into some sort of unspecified vampire/zombie. By day, he can roam freely around, but by night, he barricades himself in his house.

I know it sounds cliche nowdays, but it was written 50+ years ago. If you read the book as a somewhat "original" it's really great. The story has been borrowed from so many times, though, that a movie 50 years later might seem a little played out. But, I am not aware of any major works before it with that idea.

I think it *could* be good though.

Vorph · 05-31-2007, 02:08 PM

The graphic novel is excellent too. Adapted by Steve Niles (of 30 Days of Night fame, which also has a movie due out late this year), it follows the Matheson story extremely well.

I'm looking forward to both movies, in the hope that at least one of them remains faithful to the original story (as neither has a particularly "Hollywood" ending).

WarderX · 05-31-2007, 04:24 PM

Pretty awesome book, could be cool. What's the setting gonna be time wise?

Cybsled · 05-31-2007, 04:51 PM

Modern times.

Awanka · 06-01-2007, 01:00 AM

Last page of this story is a beautiful piece of writing.

Frax · 06-01-2007, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarderX

Pretty awesome book, could be cool. What's the setting gonna be time wise?

Modern for sure, he's pimping a new Shelby Cobra

Zeste · 06-01-2007, 12:49 PM

The story could really be set in any modern times, as long as there was electricity and generators.

You could even do it pre-industrial too.

If you haven't read the book, please do. It's a VERY short story, like 150 pages or something. But I tell you, it's damn near flawless for what it is trying to accomplish.

If they do it right with Will Smith, it could easily be an amazing movie.

EDIT for the people who've read the book: They can't call it "I am Legend" without keeping the original ending, can they? That's the whole purpose of the title, he realizes that he's a Legend among the "infected" as they carry out his execution.

Frax · 06-01-2007, 01:27 PM

I agree with you Zeste. The book was a damn near perfect story. That it has at least three movies made directly from it is a testament to how brilliant the book was for its time.

woot! · 06-04-2007, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frax

I suspect the hollywood ending will be different from the book, because it doesn't have a happy ending as I recall.

That would be retarded. They can't call the movie that way if they change the ending, it's giving the title it's whole strengh/meaning.

Frax · 06-05-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woot!

That would be retarded. They can't call the movie that way if they change the ending, it's giving the title it's whole strengh/meaning.

Don't forget this is the era of movie making when they shoot multiple endings to a lot of big budget films and then show the films to test audiences (who are all apparently left leaning lobotomized retarded poo-flinging californian simians) and we end up with the crap that is generally forced out into the theaters. There seems to be a serious lack of real film making these days and an over abundance of "Hey the studio will give me a $2,000,000 fee to remake "Over the Top with Carrot Top in the Sly Stallone role! I"m all over it!" (sadly, I probably would be too!)

Ilex · 06-05-2007, 07:33 PM

The teaser poster just ruined any hope I had of them doing this right. The film should be a brooding reflection on a man's ability to cope with being the last human being left in a world full of monsters that look human. Instead it looks like it's going to be another slick, shitty, action vampire film.

Fuck Hollywood to death with a broken pool cue if they screw this film up.

05-31-2007, 07:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kiroy CORP POR! Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,181 -1 Internets	Sweet I've been waiting for Blade 4! They got the same guy to play blade too... oh wait. __________________ ORALE!!! CHAMACOS!!

05-31-2007, 08:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Frax Please Don't Fuck Up! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Axis of Evil Posts: 2,945	The story is based on the book I am Legend by Richard Matheson, the other movies are The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price and Omega Man with Charlton Heston. Basically a plague wipes out humanity, almost all survivors turn into "vampires", one does not and the vampires try to kill him. I suspect the hollywood ending will be different from the book, because it doesn't have a happy ending as I recall. __________________ Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. Ronald Reagan 40th president of US (1911 - 2004)

05-31-2007, 04:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cybsled Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 9,437 +16 Internets	Modern times. __________________ Training the citizens of Norrath from 1999-2003!

06-01-2007, 01:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Frax Please Don't Fuck Up! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Axis of Evil Posts: 2,945	I agree with you Zeste. The book was a damn near perfect story. That it has at least three movies made directly from it is a testament to how brilliant the book was for its time. __________________ Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. Ronald Reagan 40th president of US (1911 - 2004)

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05-31-2007, 12:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
DickTrickle Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 305 +1 Internets	I read a version of the script long ago that, I believe, was originally intended for Ahnold. Despite that fact, it was actually a pretty engaging read and a bit depressing at times (which is good) though it did have a happy ending.

05-31-2007, 12:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Zeste Ben's Secret Assassins - HIPPITY HOP RABBIT Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,103 +21 Internets	The Matheson Book is one of my favorites. It's really cool. The plot in the book is basically that 1 guy is (supposedly) the last man to be infected by some sort of virus that's turned everyone into some sort of unspecified vampire/zombie. By day, he can roam freely around, but by night, he barricades himself in his house. I know it sounds cliche nowdays, but it was written 50+ years ago. If you read the book as a somewhat "original" it's really great. The story has been borrowed from so many times, though, that a movie 50 years later might seem a little played out. But, I am not aware of any major works before it with that idea. I think it could be good though.

05-31-2007, 02:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vorph Never Go Full Retard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 5,880	The graphic novel is excellent too. Adapted by Steve Niles (of 30 Days of Night fame, which also has a movie due out late this year), it follows the Matheson story extremely well. I'm looking forward to both movies, in the hope that at least one of them remains faithful to the original story (as neither has a particularly "Hollywood" ending).

05-31-2007, 04:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
WarderX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,593 +1 Internets	Pretty awesome book, could be cool. What's the setting gonna be time wise?

06-01-2007, 12:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
Zeste Ben's Secret Assassins - HIPPITY HOP RABBIT Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,103 +21 Internets	The story could really be set in any modern times, as long as there was electricity and generators. You could even do it pre-industrial too. If you haven't read the book, please do. It's a VERY short story, like 150 pages or something. But I tell you, it's damn near flawless for what it is trying to accomplish. If they do it right with Will Smith, it could easily be an amazing movie. EDIT for the people who've read the book: They can't call it "I am Legend" without keeping the original ending, can they? That's the whole purpose of the title, he realizes that he's a Legend among the "infected" as they carry out his execution.

06-05-2007, 07:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ilex Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisville, Ky Posts: 197 +0 Internets	The teaser poster just ruined any hope I had of them doing this right. The film should be a brooding reflection on a man's ability to cope with being the last human being left in a world full of monsters that look human. Instead it looks like it's going to be another slick, shitty, action vampire film. Fuck Hollywood to death with a broken pool cue if they screw this film up.