anyone seen i am legend? this is a remake of the omega man based on the book with same screen name . here is a cool omega man video . geeez i sound like casey kasem !!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymaj5r2BMIA

It is set to be released December 14, 2007 (doesn't mean no one has seen it but don't be surprised if not too many have)

The new "I Am Legend " movie is a remake of " The Omega Man" movie from 1971.

"The Omega Man" is a remake of "The last Man On Earth" movie from 1964.

All three of the movies are based on the book "I Am Legend" that was written by Richard Matheson in 1954. The book was set in the future of the early 1970s. What a cool concept he created.

I have not seen the movie yet either. But, I will when it comes out. I love the story and the first two movies. I hope the third movie is good as well.

I wonder if they'll have a scene of Will Smith in an empty movie theater watching Woodstock '99 ?

The movie "The Last Man on Earth" is an underrated film that somehow made it on a list of bad films. It starred Vincent Price. This 1964 movie has some similar scenarios in it to George Romero's 1968 Night of the Living Dead (NOTLD). Zombie like Vampires trying to get into a man's boarded up home at night. I think George borrowed some ideas from this film.

Will Smith is the star of "I am legend". Now there's a guy who made it. I once read in my MSOE alumni magazine that Will Smith was offered a 4 year engineering scholarship to play basketball there, but turned it down. Good for him, otherwise he might have wasted his time becoming a moderately successful engineer instead of the extremely successful basketball/movie star he turned out to be.

I think one reason The Last Man on Earth has such a strangeness about it is that it was filmed entirely in Italy but is supposed to take place in America. There is a certain low budget discombobulation about it. I do prefer it to The Omega Man - which to me is way too locked into the 70s stylistically and a bit over the top due to Heston's performance and also those funky funky vampires.

If Will Smith is allowed to do even ONE of his usual ticked-off rants ("Aw naw you dint!", etc) this movie is truly ruined.

The new "I Am Legend " movie is a remake of " The Omega Man" movie from 1971.

"The Omega Man" is a remake of "The last Man On Earth" movie from 1964.

All three of the movies are based on the book "I Am Legend" that was written by Richard Matheson in 1954. The book was set in the future of the early 1970s. What a cool concept he created.

I have not seen the movie yet either. But, I will when it comes out. I love the story and the first two movies. I hope the third movie is good as well.
We don't know for sure if it's really following the full The Omega Man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067525/) plot or if it's just a modified version of the original, do we? IIRC, in The Omega Man, Neville wasn't really hunting down the vampires, was he? He was pretty much only searching around the city for stuff. From the one preview I can view here - which is the first trailer - it would appear that Smith's character is seeking out the vampires and killing them just like the Neville in the book. That leads me to believe that it likely follows the book much more closely. as such, I'd like to think that we'll see an ending just like in the book, as well as The Last Man On Earth. I really don't think that Smith is above something like that.

If Will Smith is allowed to do even ONE of his usual ticked-off rants ("Aw naw you dint!", etc) this movie is truly ruined.
Actually, I think a lot of the times that he does something like that isn't at all bad. Especially when done in the context of the movie such as the MIB movies. In real life, some people use comedy when they're under stress. While not everyone is a wisecrackin' Will Smith, not everyone is the often stoic Charlton Heston, either.

For the most part, tho, I agree w/you where the overuse of his standard lines is concerned. He needs to come up with some new material.

Jeffrey,

"We don't know for sure if it's really following the full The Omega Man plot or if it's just a modified version of the original, do we? IIRC, in The Omega Man, Neville wasn't really hunting down the vampires, was he? "

I'm not sure where you're taking this dicussion. I'm not trying to get deep into the mind of the character's motivation. It's pretty obvious that all three movies are based upon a similar plot. It may very well be that the latest reincarnation of this film follows the book more closely since it shares the same name as the book.

Roland

If they don't keep the book's ending, the title doesn't make a lot of sense.

in The Omega Man, Neville wasn't really hunting down the vampires, was he? He was pretty much only searching around the city for stuff.


No, Neville was actively searching for the nest of the Family. He was systematically searching the city. He somehow knew that most of the Family was staying together, probably for one of the few he captured alive.

I thought that "the Omega Man" was pretty good until the stadium rescue. Great, spookie atmosphere, then the whole mood, and direction of the movie changed and it went straight down hill.

David.

Roland - does "The Last Man on Earth" actually get a bad rap? I agree with Zorro's explanation, but overall it has alot of merit. Maybe the fact that its included in public domain collections puts a taint on it...

To my knowledge TLMOE doesn't have a bad rap - at least not amongst most fans of the genre I've talked to. It's just not a terribly well known film, for the most part. The only negative comments I've heard about it are from folks who bag on it because it's so "dated" - but then most of them don't seem to like any movie not made in the last ten years, citing the same "it's dated" reasoning. :rolleyes:


I'm not sure where you're taking this dicussion. I'm not trying to get deep into the mind of the character's motivation. It's pretty obvious that all three movies are based upon a similar plot. It may very well be that the latest reincarnation of this film follows the book more closely since it shares the same name as the book.
Yeah, that's sorta where I was going - that your statement of this new I Am Legend movie being based off of The Omega Man doesn't seem quite right. And yes, all three movies are definitely based off the novel, just that The Omega Man has a slightly different take on things and, as such, only barely follows the novel (novella?).

No biggy in the long run. I own the book and both early movies and like them all for what they are - escapist fantasy. I just enjoy The Last Man On Earth more than The Omega Man when compared to the faithfulness to the novel.


No, Neville was actively searching for the nest of the Family. He was systematically searching the city. He somehow knew that most of the Family was staying together, probably for one of the few he captured alive.
Ah, OK. Thanks for the clarification. Definitely gotta re-watch it again when I get home. Darn my luck.... :)
I thought that "the Omega Man" was pretty good until the stadium rescue. Great, spookie atmosphere, then the whole mood, and direction of the movie changed and it went straight down hill.
Yeah, it does get pretty weird right about there and seems to go in to left field.

Griff i agree on TLMOE . i like it much better than Omega . even though it's the older movie , it's the seventies style Omega Man to me that seems "dated "lol .
don't get me wrong though, i do like 'em both .
looking forward to seeing this new one too .
hb

One major difference between Matheson's book and The Omega Man: In the Charlton Heston version, the creatures are human mutants, the result of a global plague caused by a manmade virus, IIRC. They can't stand the daylight and seem vaguely psychotic, but they're not literal vampires in the classic sense. This takes the film out of the fantasy category and puts it in the realm of science fiction.

My favorite bit of dialogue from The Omega Man:

Little boy: "Mister, are you God?"

(slight pause for audience to appreciate the in-joke)

Woman: "Let him prove he's a doctor before you go promoting him."

not everyone is the often stoic Charlton Heston, either.

True. Those who off-the-cuff accuse Chuck H. of being a hack need to get out more, see more of his stuff. Yeah, he could chew the scene with the best (?) of them, but he could also be quite restrained when required (Naked Jungle, f'rinstance...not stiff as in "unmotivated," just restrained and very, very horny).

Since you mention it, his stoic-ish portrayal of Neville fit the story to a T, imo. The flick as a whole is pretty much a huge pile of suck, but that wasn't Chuck's fault. Imagine him in his prime doing a film that actually follows the book. I can easily, and it'd be good!

If they don't keep the book's ending, the title doesn't make a lot of sense.

Never thought of that - you're quite right.

<<<SPOILER FROM THE NOVEL FOLLOWS>>>

No offense against Will Smith, but I can't imagine him - or ANY current big player - being able to hold the emotional center of the story so that the audience loses it during the end of the dog scene (as it is described in the book). I don't see Smith carrying it off. I can see some in the audience getting misty at the simple fact that a dog has to be put down with distemper...but to empathize with Neville and his crushing loss to loneliness at that point...I just can't picture anyone currently available able to pull that off. Thoughts?

Thoughts?
Watch Smith in Pursuit of Happyness and get back to us. He did a GREAT job in that movie of keeping me emotionally involved with the story. I honestly feel that he's another of those underrated actors whom people just like to snipe at sometimes. No offense meant to you, specifically, just that he does seem to get a high percentage of slams.

I too thought "Pursuit of Happyness" showed a great range of emotional content. The scene where he takes his kid into a bathroom to sleep is really heart wrenching and well played. And for those who have not seen it, it's very real to anyone who has faced homelessness. No hipness or anything less than raw emotion.

They probably want to use Will Smith because he is black for the sake of diversity. His girlfriend, if he gets one in this movie will probably be white, or Asian for the sake of diversity. Will Smith is more of a comedy type actor, isn't he. Mabey this movie will be a comedy of some kind?

I just have a hard time thinking of Will Smith in the same company of actors as Vincent Price or Charlton Heston who played in the other films based on the same book. Then again, mabey Will will pull through for us?

It may very well be that the latest reincarnation of this film follows the book more closely since it shares the same name as the book.

Roland

Yeah, well that sure worked out that way for "The Puppet Masters", and "Starship Troopers", didn't it? :lol:

David.

They probably want to use Will Smith because he is black for the sake of diversity. His girlfriend, if he gets one in this movie will probably be white, or Asian for the sake of diversity. Will Smith is more of a comedy type actor, isn't he. Mabey this movie will be a comedy of some kind?

I just have a hard time thinking of Will Smith in the same company of actors as Vincent Price or Charlton Heston who played in the other films based on the same book. Then again, mabey Will will pull through for us?

Haven't seen The Pursuit of Happyness but I've seen Ali and Will Smith handled that role masterfully. Secondly, the producers didn't choose Smith for the sake of diversity - they chose him for the sake of box-office. Thirdly, what about Matheson's book, other than the period in which it was written - predisposes the reader to picture the protagonist as any particular color or ethnicity? Haven't read it myself so I wouldn't know.

Haven't seen The Pursuit of Happyness but I've seen Ali and Will Smith handled that role masterfully. Secondly, the producers didn't choose Smith for the sake of diversity - they chose him for the sake of box-office. Thirdly, what about Matheson's book, other than the period in which it was written - predisposes the reader to picture the protagonist as any particular color or ethnicity? Haven't read it myself so I wouldn't know.

I feel reminded of some of Robert Heinlein's 1950s juveniles (and even some of his later adult novels), where he would screw with the inherent racism of the day - characters would go on about their business, with only a subtle reveal later in the story to indicate that they weren't Caucasian.

I've never read the book (or seen the earlier movies) - I'll have to pick it up.

i also have got to see the vincent price movie again and pick up the book.
i like the omega man, sure its dated but i like old movies. takes you back to the good old days

They probably want to use Will Smith because he is black for the sake of diversity. His girlfriend, if he gets one in this movie will probably be white, or Asian for the sake of diversity.
Wha...?

From the one preview that I've seen, it would appear that he's got a wife and at least one child - which follows the novel - and they're black. Not Asian, White, Hispanic, etc... Not that it really matters one iota to me so long as the plot and acting are good. She could be plaid for all I care!
Will Smith is more of a comedy type actor, isn't he. Mabey this movie will be a comedy of some kind?
Again, watch Pursuit of Happyness for an idea of Smith's range. He really does have some range beyond "action comedy". Sure, he started out doing comedy, did the semi-spoof on rap music for a couple years and has done roles that are more comedic than serious in his action movies. However, he's done some drama, too, and done it very well.
I just have a hard time thinking of Will Smith in the same company of actors as Vincent Price or Charlton Heston who played in the other films based on the same book.
Vincent Price in The Last Man On Earth is a bit out of character for the roles he has usually played in the past. It's somewhat more serious, if I may use that word to describe his Neville character, than many other characters he's played over the years. Even in his more serious horror movie roles he was less somber and "real" than his portrayal of Neville. I think he did a fantastic job in the role.
Then again, mabey Will will pull through for us?
I think he will definitely surprise a LOT of folks, yes.


Haven't seen The Pursuit of Happyness but I've seen Ali and Will Smith handled that role masterfully. Secondly, the producers didn't choose Smith for the sake of diversity - they chose him for the sake of box-office.
Very good points!
Thirdly, what about Matheson's book, other than the period in which it was written - predisposes the reader to picture the protagonist as any particular color or ethnicity? Haven't read it myself so I wouldn't know.
Y'know, that's a good question! I just read the book a couple weeks back and don't recall anything specific with regards to ethnicity, to be honest. I guess you can call me a racist if you want to, but I was picturing him being white, tho I think that's more because I was picturing him as Vincent Price more than as a generic "person".

Anyhow, I really do feel that Will Smith is one of the more underappreciated "big name" actors out there right now.

And for the record, I really liked I, Robot and have never read the book. Taking the movie at face value for what it is, it was quite entertaining and seemed to have very little in the way of plot holes.

Thirdly, what about Matheson's book, other than the period in which it was written - predisposes the reader to picture the protagonist as any particular color or ethnicity? Haven't read it myself so I wouldn't know.

I have the book but haven't read it in quite a while...if memory serves there's nothing in it that predisposes it to being a white guy, IIRC. Color is irrelevant to me.

What would limit me is the fact that I honestly don't recall if Neville - in the book - is the germ warfare expert he's made out to be in Omega Man. If he is to bethat in this film, then that is a strike against not only Smith but most other box office draw names you that could put pulled outta the hat. Nothing personal against any of them -- but I'd have trouble ever seeing Smith et al in a film where Neville has that on his resume. Sorry, couldn't buy it if you threw in a free washer/dryer.

*pauses*

*resumes typing*

I just sat here for three minutes and can't think of any modern name below the age of 40 that would do be credible in it, either, who ALSO would be box office big enough (read: pretty) to get the role in the first place. To do so wouldn't be quite as bad as casting a supermodel as a nuke physicist, but not too far off from it, either.

Now, if the germ warfare bit isn't crucial to the story this time around - if Neville is just Joe Blow Citizen - then sure, Will might well surprise me. If it is, there's no way I'm buying it.

*thinks some more*

Wanna know who might be right in the role if he has more depth to him than (to my knowledge) has been shown before...and if he wasn't so Chippendale stud beefy now...AND if he hadn't already played similar roles in Jurassic Park and Independence Day?

Jeff Goldblum.

In the novel there's no mention of exactly what Robert Neville does for a living. They make vague references to "The Plant" initially, then I seem to recall mention of some sort of doctor at some facility that Neville was also working at towards the end as civilization was falling apart and the vampires were starting to rise.

It's been years since I've read the book, but if I remember correctly, Neville is not a scientist. At one point, he decides to investigate the source of the vampire plague and has to essentially teach himself how to do so. I seem to remember a scene where he gets a microscope, throws it away, then decides to read up on what to look for.

I also seem to remember him being described as blond, but that may be a a false memory. I need to see if I have the book in my current apartment.

But I think Frank brings up some important issues. It always bugs me when a movie is made with some established character and the fanboys whine about every little change. Too many seem to 1) not be able to distinguish between inherent qualities and incidental details, and 2) base their judgement solely on physical appearance. The fact of the matter is, if you take any movie, at the time of its production, there are probably no more than a dozen actors who can be cast in the lead. In a movie like I AM LEGEND, you want someone who can convey an everyman quality, yet be credible in action sequences. Someone who is a big enough draw to justify the movie's budget. Someone who can carry a movie while being onscreen alone for a majority of it. And someone who can handle the dramatic extremes the character goes through. Why would you add in something as trivial as the tint of his skin or hair and needlessly limit your choices even more?

[left]
I just sat here for three minutes and can't think of any modern name below the age of 40 that would do be credible in it, either, who ALSO would be box office big enough (read: pretty) to get the role in the first place.
How about Christian Bale?

In a movie like I AM LEGEND, you want someone who can convey an everyman quality, yet be credible in action sequences. Someone who is a big enough draw to justify the movie's budget. Someone who can carry a movie while being onscreen alone for a majority of it. And someone who can handle the dramatic extremes the character goes through. Why would you add in something as trivial as the tint of his skin or hair and needlessly limit your choices even more?

Best example: Morgan Freeman in "The Shawshank Redemption" - the character of Red was Irish in the book, but Freeman was so good when he came in to read for a smaller role that he got the bigger part.

They probably want to use Will Smith because he is black for the sake of diversity. I just have a hard time thinking of Will Smith in the same company of actors as Vincent Price or Charlton Heston who played in the other films based on the same book. Then again, mabey Will will pull through for us?

My personal opinion as a white middle-aged guy who works in entertainment: I think there is currently a far more interesting and talented stable of black/african-american actors than there are white. I can't think of any white actors today who are equal to Vincent Price or Charlton Heston, but there are black actors who come close.

EDIT: okay, as soon as I stopped typing, my mind took over and spit out: Al Pacino, Robert DeNero, who are IMHO better actors than VP or CH.

I know it's a little old now, but watch the film Glory to see how a superior black cast can make the white star not only look like a robot, but that he simply wasn't paying attention in acting class.

My $0.02

John O.

One of the things that I particularly liked about the Omega Man movie was how Neville fell in love with the only adult woman in the world who happened to be black. In the early 1970's, this was unusual. It still is unusual today for a white man to fall in love with a black woman. I agree that skin doesn't matter to some of us, but, it does to alot of other people. Even in today's politically correct nation with the existance of civil rights, racism still exists.

As far as the choice of Will Smith is concerned, I only have seen him in the context of comedies at this point, so I don't know how well he would do in a serious roll. He was won awards for his acting, so I suppose he could do well. We'll see how the movie turns out.

They probably want to use Will Smith because he is black for the sake of diversity.In this case, I doubt it. To me, Smith is one of those actors -- Tom Selleck is another -- with whom you'd want to just hang out. He's friendly and likable in a natural, easygoing way, and it never comes across as condescending or pandering. Just my take.

Qapla'

SSB

I know it's a little old now, but watch the film Glory to see how a superior black cast can make the white star not only look like a robot, but that he simply wasn't paying attention in acting class.
John O.

Great movie although I thought Broderick did a decent job himself. One "black" movie I really love is Devil in a Blue Dress. I don't think there's a better actor working today than Denzel Washington and the Easy Rawlins books were ripe for a film franchise. Disappointing that it didn't happen.

How is this a black / white issue. Who cares? Maybe Dog cares. Will Smith sucked in Independence day and Wild Wild West. Chuck Heston made so many stinkers! So did my man Vincent Price! The name of the thread is "Who Saw I Am Legend" Here is the answer. None of you! How stupid! When it comes out we will judge the movie on its merits!

To me, Smith is one of those actors -- Tom Selleck is another -- with whom you'd want to just hang out. He's friendly and likable in a natural, easygoing way, and it never comes across as condescending or pandering. Just my take.[IMG-LEFT]http://images.teamsugar.com/files/usr/0/88/WillSmith,_Grani_12904628_600.jpg[/IMG-LEFT]


And he has such cute ears!

I still don't think that Will Smith would be the actor I would chose. He doesn't look the the part. I'd probably pick Morgan Freeman ahead of Will Smith. But, it ain't my movie and I ain't a director, so, I'll just have to live with it.

If cute is what people want, then mabey they should had the lead charater be a woman and use Halley Barry. Or, mabey Sydney Poitier's daughter, Sydney. I just watched her in Death Proof, aka Grindhouse. They're both alot cuter than Will Smith is.

I still don't think that Will Smith would be the actor I would chose. He doesn't look the the part. I'd probably pick Morgan Freeman ahead of Will Smith. But, it ain't my movie and I ain't a director, so, I'll just have to live with it.
Morgan Freeman is 70 years old. How would he be a better choice? And exactly how does Will Smith not "look the...part"?

He looks too happy for the world's loneliest man. I think it needs someone a little bit older and wiser. Why couldn't a 70 year old man play this role? Mabey 70 is too old, someone in his 50's would be about the right age. Someone who has more intelligence than athletic ability.

Will Smith would not be my first choice but I think he can pull it off. Think
ENEMY OF THE STATE as opposed to I, ROBOT (which I hated!) The trailer
certainly looks great at least!

OK. I found my copy of I AM LEGEND and started re-reading it. This is from the second page of the 1st chapter:

"He was a tall man, thirty-six, born of English-German stock, his features undistinguished except for the long, determined mouth and the bright blue of his eyes..."

Later Matheson describes "the cool breeze ruffling his blond hair."

So the question is how important is this to the character? Since most people on this board seem not to remember this description, I'd say not much. In fact, making the sole human survivor of the human race an Aryan would probably work against the story. (Or maybe enhance it if they remain faithful to the ending and had the courage to really run with it.)

Good catch on the description. I didn't remember that at all.

Doesn't bother me any at all what his race is. The way the character was originally written he's sort of the smart, self-motivated EveryMan. I've got no problems with Robert Neville being white, black, hispanic or plaid. Just so long as the actor does a good job and ain't a chick. Sorry, that's the one thing I'd have a real problem with - call me sexist if you want, but that's one of the strengths and weaknesses of the character, as written.

I wonder how this one will turn out? ....The first thing I thought was "gee this looks a lot like Omega man" then quickly remembered ...that film was based of the book 'I am Legend'

http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=199857

I love the original movie with Vincent Price. Fantastic stuff!

I was lucky enough to see it for the first time just a few months ago. I don't know how I managed to miss it all these years . . .

Some critics classify "The Last Man on Earth" as a bad film. I thing it was an underrated film.

Neville is supposed to be an Everyman, as Griff notes. Can Smith portray that? Depends on what circumstance the Everyman finds himself in.

I saw the flick where he loses everything with his kid, and he was fine. But this role (if it follows the book) calls for an emotional gravity and profound depth of grief that, afaIk, Smith has shown nothing near...Heston didn't hit those notes either, for whatever reason...mostly cuz the way it was written, I suspect. Had they been there I'm not sure he'd have been subtle enough to carry them off without a side of ham; maybe, maybe not.

Anyway, that's the main reason why I can't see Smith in this role. A younger Morgan Freeman? Yes. Smith? Nope. He will adequately pull off what the script requires because the role will be written around him and for him. But it will not be Matheson's book. imhp (in my humble prediction)

After more thought, there is just one A-list actor I can name.

Phaser me if you want but I'd much rather see Tommy Lee Jones in this. He can be stone faced - Neville has largely shut himself down emotionally - and yet show the range necessary for the role (the dog, etc). If it just HAS to be a name star, he'd be perfect, i.e., grim and believable without "acting" grim, or contrived setups to broadcast to the audience "This is a grim man." Jones can give all of that with a look. Smith cannot, nor can most.

imo

I wonder how this one will turn out? ....The first thing I thought was "gee this looks a lot like Omega man" then quickly remembered ...that film was based of the book 'I am Legend'

I wondered where my post was? I had no idea this thread was already going. It must have been on the lower section of the Movies for Modelers page and didn't see it. My thread must have been bleeped and my text inserted here on page three on the 20th ...17 days after this one started....why would I create a 'new thread' on page three of an exsisting thread??
I'm 100% certain that I started a Thread titled 'I am Legend' ....Moderators??


spe130....do you really think that I would chime in after three pages and say what I did?