The other thread ended up being more a pre-release discussion. I created this one since the movie is now out so folks can discuss what they've seen. No more speculation, please.

So, who's seen it yet? What did you think? I don't necessarily need to know details, but am curious to know how the ending is in comparison to the novel. It's going to be the movie Wife and I go see on our Date Night first full evening I'm back from Over Here. Dinner and a Movie - dinner not cooked on a serving line and a movie not shown in one of Saddam's old movie theaters. Should be nice. :)

I heard a review on The Today Show this morning, it was pretty bad. They did say the SFX of the deserted city were impressive.

I scanned a review on a Canadian site, canoe.ca, and they said much the same thing - great effects but a bad movie. Looks like I'll wait for it to come out on video and rent it.

Huzz

I haven't seen it yet, but one of the critcs' reviews indicated that they decided to go for "a Judeo Christian themed upbeat ending", whatever that means. So rather than the story coming to its logical conclusion as it did in the book and previous adaptations, we get the mega happy ending.

Of course, given the name Akiva Goldsman in the writing credits, I'm can't really say I'm surprised. This is the same "writer" who wrote the Joel Schumaker Batman movies, Lost in Space remake, and I Robot. So I guess those who enjoyed his other work will like this as well.

The general consensus of the critics was that the acting and production design were excellent, but the CGI monsters were unconvincing and the movie kind of falls apart in the third act.

This is the same "writer" who wrote the Joel Schumaker Batman movies, Lost in Space remake, and I Robot. So I guess those who enjoyed his other work will like this as well.

Both of them?

Both of them? Yeah. And they're both members of HobbyTalk.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

I liked I, Robot and the Lost In Space movie, anyhow. Never was keen on the Schumaker Batman movies, tho.

Hey Griff - lost in your post is the great news that you'll be stateside soon! Welcome back big guy, and thanks for all you've given for us and the country. Merry, merry Christmas!!!

The reviews I read said the acting and the art direction were great. Got a high rating in a New York newspaper. Did not mention the writing though.

I give it a C+. I saw it today at 12:30 EST. It could have been a much better film, given the story's premise. CGI was too much relative to the 'mutants' abilities. They could have written the story to include a better time frame as to what occured after the city is quarantined. 28 Days Later was even a better action movie (LOL)

I'll bet AVP-2 will have much more action than 'Legend.'

I saw this movie with my son last night. The theatres were all selling out.

I did like the model of New York city. It looked like a real abandoned city with the weeds growing from cracks in the asphalt and cement.

Will Smith did a pretty good job acting although he didn't seem like the studious doctor type to me. His relationship with his dog added a nice aspect to it. He was convincingly lonely. When he meeets the lady and her son, he lashes out against them in anti-social way. It didn't seem like he was grateful for them.

The ending is that he sacrifices his life, so that the other surviving people can live. That's the christian like ending that was referred to in a post above. He figures out how to reverse the process with an infected person.

The CGI monsters were pretty much CGI looking. I can't remember the name of the guy that created them. His name popped up on the credits at the end. I like how they breathed faster. They creeped me out the first time a group of them were shown in the dark. The monsters are action intense animations. But, they weren't that convincingly real looking.

The movie was about 2 hours long. I thought that it could have been expanded a little. For some reason I expected the only man in woman in Manhattan to fall in love, but, they didn't have the time before the CGI monsters broke into the building.

I would give this movie three out of five stars. My son rated this movie at four stars. I noticed a much younger audience than usual attended this film, probably because of the PG13 rating.

I saw this movie with my son last night. The theatres were all selling out.

I did like the model of New York city. It looked like a real abandoned city with the weeds growing from cracks in the asphalt and cement.

Will Smith did a pretty good job acting although he didn't seem like the studious doctor type to me. His relationship with his dog added a nice aspect to it. He was convincingly lonely. When he meeets the lady and her son, he lashes out against them in anti-social way. It didn't seem like he was grateful for them.

The ending is that he sacrifices his life, so that the other surviving people can live. That's the christian like ending that was referred to in a post above. He figures out how to reverse the process with an infected person.

The CGI monsters were pretty much CGI looking. I can't remember the name of the guy that created them. His name popped up on the credits at the end. I like how they breathed faster. They creeped me out the first time a group of them were shown in the dark. The monsters are action intense animations. But, they weren't that convincingly real looking.

The movie was about 2 hours long. I thought that it could have been expanded a little. For some reason I expected the only man in woman in Manhattan to fall in love, but, they didn't have the time before the CGI monsters broke into the building.

I would give this movie three out of five stars. My son probably would give it five stars.

I guess we agree: three out of five = 'C' As far as [his] acting ability, many, many years ago he made a film entitled: Six Degrees of Seperation. In 'Legend,' there's less dialogue than I Robot. Easy film for him to paly in; workout scene, golfing, a little running.

One question: is it true this flick tries to pass Smith off as some kind of biowar genius doctor?

Nope! No mention as to 'when things went wrong, and what was attempted to correct it. Movie doesn't touch on how Smith's character was chosen to have 'His Region' at ground zero. The Sci Fi part of the movie is too loose:
1. He's an arm official, yet doesn't have a fortress to survive in. Charlton Hestons' pad was beter fortified (LOL)
2. CGI human mutants ability to climb walls like a Trek Suliban character.

Hey - Wait a minute!!! Watch BLADE II and see the exact (or almost) type of creatures (minus the face split routine).

previews make this seem like another Omega Man. Or did I miss something?

I'll bet AVP-2 will have much more action than 'Legend.'
The novel doesn't have much in the way of action, either.

previews make this seem like another Omega Man. Or did I miss something?It looks as if they've taken essentially the same liberties with the source material, turning the global vampire holocaust into a biological plague, the result of good scientific intentions gone horribly wrong. Science fiction rather than gothic horror/fantasy.. . . The ending is that he sacrifices his life, so that the other surviving people can live. That's the christian like ending that was referred to in a post above.IIRC, that's the way The Omega Man ends -- with Charlton Heston's lifeless body lying in a crucifixion-like pose. GET IT, nudge-nudge, wink-wink?

I rather liked that about the novels reason for the plague. It was theorized in the novel that the cause of the plague was quite literally caused by lots of Vampires being somehow killed and their ashes or some resulting biology of their deaths created the plague that killed everyone. The main character is apparently the only one immune - at least that we see or hear of in the book. He didn't do anything like give himself a shot of an vaccine like Helton's character did in The Omega Man.

If you've never read the book and would rather pass, I seriously recommend getting the movie The Last Man On Earth with Vincent Price. It follows the book pretty darned well. At the very least, it's much more faithful to the novel.

Slightly OT: The Omega Man score, or big chunks of it...it helps to pay attention to the mood than the early '70s style and execution. Worth listening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k1GJlWFdHY

I grabbed it with Firefox's Download Helper (been wanting it for years).

previews make this seem like another Omega Man. Or did I miss something?
same source novel.

Saw the movie. Apparently Fords were on sale during the end of the world.

Having just finished the book in anticipation of the movie, here's a recap: SPOILERS/SYNOPSIS ALERT!!! For those who would like an entertaining read, I recommend the book... otherwise, enjoy the rough outline below






In the book, Neville was not a scientist by profession, just that he worked at some kind of a plant. In my opinion, what makes the book so effective is his transformation from ordinary Joe to a self taught scientist (it's amazing what one can accomplish without distractions...)

Over time, he discovers that a bacteria is the cause of vampirism, and has been going back to the time of folklore. When the bacteria has blood to feed on, it stays in the host body; when the body dies the bacteria turns to spores, which were then spread by the dust storms caused by an unspecified war. He theorizes that his immunity is due to a bite he received in Panama from a bat with a weak strain of the bacteria.

After making this discovery, Neville then figures out the scientific basis for folklore defense against vampires; garlic, fear of mirrors and religeous artifacts, death by staking, etc.

In the final act, he comes across a woman named Ruth walking in the field in broad daylight. Although he suspects someting is not quite right with her, he eventually drops guard long enough to divulge all of his and the vampires' secrets. She agrees to undergo a blood test, but as Neville is looking at the slideshe gives him the El-Kabong treatment with his mallet.

He awakes to find a note from her explaining that there are two types of vampires: the dead who are animated by the bacteria, and those who are infected but still living. She reveals that the latter group intends to eradicate the dead vampires and rebuild society, and that she was a spy sent by them to find out how to do it. They have even devised a treatment that allows them to spend limited time in the daylight. When he rechecks the blood on the slide, he finds that their bacteria has mutated.

The book ends with Neville captured by the living vampires, all of them clamoring for his blood. By this point he has become something of a boogie man to these vampires; the moster who comes and kills you in your sleep (indeed, Ruth volunteered for the spy mission because Neville killed her husband).

He comes to the realization their point of view that in this new society, they are the norm, and like Dracula of old Neville is the monster. The title of the book is Neville's final three words: I Am Legend.

In order to cheat the mob out of its vengeance and preserve his mystique, he takes a handful of pills provided by Ruth (the implication is that the pills killed him, but the book does not specifically spell it out.)

Saw the movie. Apparently Fords were on sale during the end of the world.

So with that mouthful...are we to assume that you thought it blew chunks? :p ...Mr. Car critic!

If one enjoys a variety of sci-fi / horror, not expecting a dish full of brain food and just wants to escape from this mortal coil for 2 hrs.....do you recomend seeing it or should one wait for DVD rental?

One question: is it true this flick tries to pass Smith off as some kind of biowar genius doctor?

He's a doctor and a soldier. They show a magazine cover with him on it. It's not biowar. He's trying to reverse the process of people transforming into monsters after a scientist's cure for cancer backfires and infects the world.

I liked it enough. I didn't like the CGI Vampires and I thought the last act of the film was it's weakest. Neville gets too far out of character so that the plot devices can work. I wanted to love the movie, but I ended up liking it.

So with that mouthful...are we to assume that you thought it blew chunks? :p ...Mr. Car critic!

If one enjoys a variety of sci-fi / horror, not expecting a dish full of brain food and just wants to escape from this mortal coil for 2 hrs.....do you recomend seeing it or should one wait for DVD rental?

Too things that were interesting was the Batman/Superman billboard movie sign at Times Square and that gas was $6.63 a gallon. Also the creatures looked like something out of Blade 2.

Noticed something about the credits. The screenplay is officially based on the script for THE OMEGA MAN as well as Matheson's novel. The story did seem closer to the earlier movie than the book, especially the ending.

I really liked the movie a lot! But have to agree that the CGI (lions, herds of deer, etc) was pretty weak at points. Why did the infected have to be realized in CGI anyway? But it is - so far - my favorite movie out this winter season.

Saw it this afternoon. Not a bad film, but not a good film either. Strong performances by Will Smith and his canine companion, and decent pacing, but the aforementioned CGI "infected humans" aren't menacing and the ending is rather lackluster. I and the two friends I saw it with walked out of the theater saying the same thing--something's missing, but I (we) don't know what it is. If you really want to see this film, go ahead. If you're "on the fence" I'd say wait for cable or DVD; this film doesn't need to be seen on the big screen.

Saw it in IMAX on Saturday. I really liked it. I thought the first 2/3 or so of the movie really adhered to the spirit of the book. They really spent time making you like him and empathize with his loneliness. His relationship with Sam the dog was great.

The ending was very different, but I can forgive that. It’s a movie I plan to buy and watch more than once.

I must have missed something regarding the "cure". After he captures the girl mutant, he injects it with blood sample #6 and it quickly dies. He then injects it with what I can only believe is the KV virus and it's heartbeat returns. I the end, the creature is apparently on it's way to a full recovery to human form. How did this happen? Are we to assume that somewhere since meeting the woman and boy he's found the answer through further experimentation?

I must have missed something regarding the "cure". After he captures the girl mutant, he injects it with blood sample #6 and it quickly dies. He then injects it with what I can only believe is the KV virus and it's heartbeat returns. I the end, the creature is apparently on it's way to a full recovery to human form. How did this happen? Are we to assume that somewhere since meeting the woman and boy he's found the answer through further experimentation?
There was a scene were he has the mutant on ice and explains that slowing down her metabolism may allow the vaccine to work without killing her. (or something to that effect)

There was a scene were he has the mutant on ice and explains that slowing down her metabolism may allow the vaccine to work without killing her. (or something to that effect)

Ah yes, I remember that now. Thanks.

I couldn't figure out the medical details because it happened so fast. I watched the credits at the end and they had a list of doctors that were consulted for the movie. There were several listed. I have never seen a credit listing like this in a film. It's like they wanted to put together a credible scienctific explanation, or somthing.

Below is the face of one CGI monster. On the left that is, not the right. :)

http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/1/13839/50_2007/I-AM-Legend-1.preview.jpg

That shot reminds me of one from one of the Alien movies...whichever the one was with Sigorney Weaver bald.

I hated this movie--what a let-down after that fantastic opening. I didn't stay through the credits but I'm glad they gave credit to The Omega Man because it's far more a remake of that than it is an adaptation of the novel.

The Charlton Heston movie is cheesy but I find it far more dramatic and even far scarier than the Will Smith version simply because Heston is being chased and menaced by PEOPLE who are onscreen with him and that is instinctively exciting. I never once believed the CG creatures here were occupying the same space as Smith therefore there was no suspense--and the climax of The Omega Man involves a character Heston loves "turning" and ultimately betraying him, which is far more dramatic than the petering-out finale of I Am Legend. The end is really a mess--there was a far more upbeat ending shot but the new one is not any more effective.

Saw the movie. Apparently Fords were on sale during the end of the world.

Yeah, and mustangs were the car of choice. Charleton Heston drove a blue mustang convertible when he was racing to get back home before dark.

Vincent Price was driving a station wagon or hearse in "The Last Man on Earth". He had a more practical car for transporting equipment and bodies.

Vincent Price was driving a station wagon or hearse in "The Last Man on Earth". He had a more practical car for transporting equipment and bodies.

Back in the 50s, and 60s nothing said 'family man' like a station wagon. Now it is an suv, or minivan, but before Uncle Sam killed them, it was the station wagon. :lol:

David.

"Uncle Sam killed them"?

Could you explain that without getting too political? It's my understanding that the automakers discontinued production of traditional station wagons because of changing consumer needs and the introduction of the more practical and versatile minivans in the 1980s.

Anyway, if I'm being chased by rabid, plague-carrying psychotic mutants, I'll take the Mustang any day!

A Shelby version Mustang. Take THAT Bumblebee!

I like station wagons better than SUVs. I remember some the early SUVs, Subaru I think, looked like a station wagon, but had 4 wheel drive. I like the lower profile. Although the Woody, had a tall profile like an SUV. I guess SUVs are just a modern version of the station wagon.

Too things that were interesting was the Batman/Superman billboard movie sign at Times Square and that gas was $6.63 a gallon. Also the creatures looked like something out of Blade 2.

I saw it last night. Two of the three things you mentioned will probably be reality before 2012! LOL...

I thought the movie was good but certainly not great. I went in cringing cause I DISLIKE Will Smith. I gotta give him his due cause I thought he put in a commendable performance. I saw alot of what was gonna happen before it actually happened. Maybe it was formulaic or just not original. Yeah I know about the other two movies so maybe this is why I knew the plot turns and twists.


Spoiler space. Do not read below if you don't wish to read about the happenings








I had a brief Road Warrior Deja Vu moment at the beginning when he is cruisin in his bad Shelby, with his dog. Post Apocolypse hot rodding with the pooch. Another Mad Max moment when he was injured crawling to his SUV. A problem I have with that scene is that he was apparently in no hurry to try to get his butt off the pavement and back to the car. He wasn't even dragging his but very fast! When the hounds from hell came out and the only thing keeping them at bay was the last glimmer of sunlight he still did not pick up the pace.
Only got off his butt when they rushed in for the attack and it cost him.
Also when he sits down with Anna and Ethan for breakfast. He seemed a bit obbsessive/compulsive cause he had to have the glass and utensils just right. Was he displaying OCD anywhere else in the movie?

The first time he went upstairs to see if Anna/Ethan were okay there was a shot of fresh blood dripping from something. What was it? I was totally shocked that either one was alive. I thought the kid got it at least.

My biggest complaint is the ending. The ending felt like it was so rushed. Okay he finds other humans and she gives up their location. I could believe that. He fortified the place and they are instantly in. Could we not have had at least one attack and a day where Neville and his guests are argueing about Vermont. Then the no win scenario put to him?
The end just seemed anticlimatic. He has no protection in his lab except one grenade? How bout a gun or at least a freakin sunlamp to hold off what you are trying to survive from? He had lamps set up outside.
I was so hopin that when those gates opened for Anna that inside was just as bleak as they had just came from but it was a Green Utopia.

Overall I enjoyed it but it could have been so much better and had a better ending.


Max Bryant

"Uncle Sam killed them"?

Could you explain that without getting too political? It's my understanding that the automakers discontinued production of traditional station wagons because of changing consumer needs and the introduction of the more practical and versatile minivans in the 1980s.

Anyway, if I'm being chased by rabid, plague-carrying psychotic mutants, I'll take the Mustang any day!

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be political at all. It was the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations that killed the station wagon. They were just too big, heavy, and didn't get the gas mileage. But there was a need for that type of vehicle, and as light trucks, suv's, and vans were excempt, they took over the role of the station wagon.

Some info on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy .

David.

Saw a boot-leg AVI (not sure if it's the final cut though) from the Net - flick isn't released in NZ until this Thursday.

Overall I thought it was pretty good. Flashbacks helped explain things.
Felt for the guy after he lost his dog (which was bound to happen - hero has to loose everything and reach the depths of dispair).
Ending was similar in feel to Children of Men - hope for the future but still a little melancholy.

I like station wagons better than SUVs. I remember some the early SUVs, Subaru I think, looked like a station wagon, but had 4 wheel drive. I like the lower profile. Although the Woody, had a tall profile like an SUV. I guess SUVs are just a modern version of the station wagon.I've often thought the same thing--station wagons simply "evolved" into SUV's. I think the popularity of the Land Rover in the 80's made this possible to some extent--similar to a station wagon, but "sportier" and more versatile.

I didn't have any serious expectations so I enjoyed it! and the Batman trailer alone was an extra spiff.

Smith did a good job on this one and thank the gods they didn't fall back on all the old Will Smith standards that seem to follow him through out most of his past works.

It grabbed, made me tense up a few times, I thought the scene with the Lion and its family was very well placed and the dog thing was very good & sad.

Seeing a world un cluttered by crummy humans always makes my day! :p

I'm glad it ending the way it did....we all now how the last two version left off....what the heck....its not a happy story to begin with and at least they did it quickly w/ out too much happy happy joy joy hooplah.

I wonder what fate the original Dr. who found the cancer cure had?...probably not very pretty ;)

I've often thought the same thing--station wagons simply "evolved" into SUV's. I think the popularity of the Land Rover in the 80's made this possible to some extent--similar to a station wagon, but "sportier" and more versatile.
Sorry to continue this OT part of the thread, but I have to disagree. We had Suburban's, Bronco's and Scout's long before we had the title "SUV" slapped on 'em and well before the station went out of style. I can remember when those "SUV's" didn't have anywhere near the luxury of today's counterparts, and while still somewhat expensive, were much more utility than symbols of status.

Sorry to continue this OT part of the thread, but I have to disagree. We had Suburban's, Bronco's and Scout's long before we had the title "SUV" slapped on 'em and well before the station went out of style. I can remember when those "SUV's" didn't have anywhere near the luxury of today's counterparts, and while still somewhat expensive, were much more utility than symbols of status.You're absolutely right Griff. I should have written that I think the popularity of the Land Rover allowed some people to think it was okay to own such a vehicle without being "labeled" among their peers. Back then, most Suburban, Bronco, and Scout owners were labeled as "offroad enthusiasts", "outdoor enthusiasts", or simply "truck" owners and, in certain circles, it was unheard of to own one (at least here in California). :rolleyes: When people who were more "affluent" began owning them, the manufacturers started making them a bit more "driver friendly" by including some of the niceties featured in most passenger and luxury cars.

Well, I've rambled long enough. We now return you to your regularly scheduled topic.

Finally got around to seeing it today - gotta love having some Leave Time and the inclination to go see a matinee! :)

I really enjoyed it. I liked it as a stand-alone movie, as well as a very nice nod to the book. I agree that the CGI aspects weren't the greatest in the world where living things are concerned. Even the lions, deer and infected rats & canines didn't look quite "right". I don't have a problem w/any of the changes from the original story, as the heart of the thing is still there.

I liked how they showed the subtle and not-so-subtles effects that the three years of isolation had on Neville in this movie. He doesn't want to recognize the behavior of the one infected male towards what was - IMNSHO - obviously it's mate, being in full denial. All while wanting to continue his work to find a cure. And then how he reacts when he meets up with other uninfected people. Things were quite different than I expected, yet to my thinking worked out exactly as they should have where a lot of that was concerned.


Oh, yeah: Wow, lots of SUV's in the movie! :D