I am Legend

[Bobby42]

finally viewed the movie last week.

I would suggest you check out Richard Matheson's novel which naturally is the basis for the movie. Written in 1955 and they've republished it in paperback with the Will Smith movie poster. Having seen read the novel the movie is another departure, like the two other adaptations: Vincent Price's 1964 film "The Last Man on Earth" or Charlton Heston's "The Omega Man."

Spoiler alert:

Will Smith once again delivers especially since he's alone a good part of the movie. That is, except for his canine partner Sam. Imagine being totally alone for three years following the extermination of the human race: you now possess the materal things left behind but you're nervious about hooking up with the hottie department store mannequin.

Smith plays the role perfectly as Robert Neville, a military scientist whose virual cancer cure mutates, killing off most of society. Those who remain (the "dark seekers") are a hideous, rabid band of savages who hide in the daytime but stalk Neville at night. Neville is immune to the sickness.

The cinematography of a long deserted New York City is riveting. However, I would have preferred actual human actors playing the "dark seekers" instead of the computer generated effects. Unlike most films of the genre there is moderate gore and the violence is...how can I say this...appropriate?

This film was a long project in the making. Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to play Neville before he became governor. Will Smith is much more convincing and while this is an action film, you'll totally believe in Smith's performance because this is also a character-driven story.

IMO, the last 30 minutes sidetracks the novel by introducing uninfected survivors and a possible cure. The ending in Matheson's novel was not as rosy.

[King Crimson]

i've never read the novel or Matheson but the movie was pretty to look at but lousy.

no disrespect to Will Smith who is sort of OK, i see no reason to go out of your way to see this movie. network TV is better.

in sum: no real plot development, Will Smith, and God will save us no matter how bad the cost. provided the "us" is genetic preference.

i'm staying away from that last conclusion, but i expect in the next 50 years it becomes interesting.

[King Crimson]

IMO, the last 30 minutes sidetracks the novel by introducing uninfected survivors and a possible cure. The ending in Matheson's novel was not as rosy.

That shouldn't matter since every sportswriter and jock sniffer close to media LOVES "The Natural". sorry folks, but in the real Bernard Malamud novel, the Robert Redford character strikes out, sells out to the money evil owner. takes the jake.

we prefer the hero home run ending, but it's false. this is why i laugh when "sports writers" gush about the Natural.......

[Bobby42]

FYI in Matheson's novel Neville commits suicide because he finally understood there was no hope. The 'new, normal' species (the infected) shall inherit the earth and he was the feared phantom:

Robert Neville looked out over the new people of the earth. He knew he didn’t belong to them……And, abruptly, the concept came, amusing to him even in his pain…Full circle, A new circle born in death, a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever.

I am legend.