For june and day everything is pretty much a lifeordeath matter, so theyre always on the lookout or running from something. What did the healing zombie in the basement have to do with it. Like many book to film conversions, the screenplay differed from the book. Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in new york city struggles valiantly to find a. I picked it up mostly because i read about the alternate ending of the will smith movie, which some criticized for not following the spirit of the book.
I am legend isnt particularly long either, hardly even novel length. But if you have only seen that will smith movie that went 180 degrees on the books message, the soulcrushing impact of these words will be lost on you. I am legend is about a zombielike horde wiping out much of humanity, but its confusing ending becomes clear if you understand the personal journey of its hero. As discussed by first showing and film, the alternate ending for i am legend is a better representation of the source material. The first time was in 1964 with the last man on earth featuring vincent price, and then in 1971. I am legend is named vampire novel of the century books. Why has no movie version of i am legend dared to keep the original ending. This was actually the third time it had been made into a movie. Thus, in the final line of the book which also serves as the books title, neville accepts that he is a monster. Both present the spectator with a differentalternative ending, far from what happen in the actual book. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth, the omega man, and i am legend. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am legend. This alternate ending to i am legend is imho far superior to the abrupt version in the theatrical release, and fits in better with something that happens in the film about midway through.
But when it comes down to it, is the book really better than the movie. I am legend zombies arent zombies, they have a culture and hierarchy, which zombies do not. Easily share your publications and get them in front of issuus. I am legend is a dystopian story very loosely based upon a book of the same name. Although many people werent huge fans of it, i really enjoyed will smiths i am legend when it was released two years ago. It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage indepth discussion about all. The 1954 scifivampire novel i am legend by richard matheson has now been filmed three times.
Film column i did on the source material and the four films loosely inspired by it. All the completely insane ideas hollywood dreamed up for i. I am legend movie conclusion the movie as well as the novel are both extremely captivating, and although they are based off of the same thing they are extremely different from one another video what are the key elements that stand out and separate both. Strong small cast, decent storyline, good effects and good pace i hate slow films. As richard mathesons third novel, it was first marketed as science fiction for although written in 1954, the story takes place in a future 1976. At one point in the movie when will smiths character took the lead zombies mate away from them, the zombie reacted with extreme rage, indicating that there was some vestige of humanity left in them. Yesterday, some intrepid soul posted an alternate i am legend ending to youtube. So i just finished i am legend by richard matheson. It was also an inspiration behind night of the living dead.
Furthermore, the final line suggests that human societyof which neville was the last representativeis now fading into the past. Hollywood really wanted to make i am legend 2, starring will smith. Differences between i am legend book vs movie page 1. He checks the planks and boards that hes hammered in front of all the windows, and. Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, constantine director francis lawrences i am legend follows the last man on earth as he struggles to. January, 1976 i am legend opens with robert neville inspecting his house on a cloudy day. The book ends with june and day together, running from the law and. Putting all of that in a movie might not be possible or might not make a good movie, but the alternate ending for this one goes just about as far as it could in one scene. On a morning in january 1976, a man named robert neville walks around his house, carefully checking to see if its wellfortified. I am legend by richard matheson goodreads share book. Will smith, alice braga, charlie tahan, salli richardsonwhitfield. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in i am legend, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Perhaps there could be a section on i am legend in popular culture and i am omega listed as being inspired by it or something like it but it is no more an adaptation than any movie where someone goes around gathering up allies is a remake of the seven samurai. Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Blogger adam katz sent me the link because of the book vs. One of the most influential vampire novels of the 20th century, i am legend regularly appears on the 10 best lists of numerous critical studies of the horror genre. Plot summary for i am legend 2007, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Whats the difference between i am legend the book and i am legend the movie. Is there any movie based on the i am legend novel by richard matheson that shares the same ending to the book. He stood there for a moment looking around the silent room, shaking his head slowly. Smith does a great job as robert neville, the protagonist, and despite some completely unnecessary cgi characters that looked old after a couple of years, its quite a pretty and w. It was based on a book on the same name which was released in the 50s. Neville sacrificed himself for humanity and that because of his cure humanity was able to rebuild, establishing his legend. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Is there an i am legend movie that actually preserves.
I am legend 2007 the basics hopefully all of you know the basic story behind i am legend. The controversial original ending where neville finds out that the infected are, in fact, organised, b. This alternate ending to i am legend is imho far superior to the abrupt version in the theatrical release, and fits in better with something that happens in the film about midway through at one point in the movie when will smiths character took the lead zombies mate away from them, the zombie reacted with extreme rage, indicating that there was some vestige of humanity left in. I didnt know the film with an alternative ending even existed so when i saw it i had to watch. This man, our protagonist in both the book and film, is robert neville. First i saw will smith blow up the joint with the zombies then i saw one where the male zombie picked his gf, kissed will smith and went away. Fortunately, this never happened but producer and writer akiva goldsman was happy to. Right, i just saw i am legend, and dont get the end. My thoughts on i am legend, both with the 1954 book written by richard matheson and the 2007 film directed by francis lawrence. The books characters realization of their perspective is the whole point of the book.
Its a full, polished ending, with complete special effects intact, so im assuming it was ripped from the special features on the imminent dvd. I am legend is a novel by richard matheson in which robert neville struggles to survive as the sole remaining human in a world overrun by. If you like the original film then you have to watch this alternative. I assume you are referring to the 2007 film starring will smith and the controversial original ending special feature on the dvd release. You may have a collection of stories that happens to include i am legend.
I though the book was effectively i am legend and other short stories by richard matheeson. There have been rumors that the ending to i am legend wasnt the only way theyd planned for the movie to turn out. Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in new york city struggles valiantly to find a cure. The infected people attack nevilles lab and he hands over the infected female hes been working on to the leader a. Differences between i am legend book vs movie page 2. The alternate ending to i am legend where they respect him and growl at him in an acknowledging way is odd and feels out of place. All these books, he thought, the residue of a planets intellect, the scrapings of futile minds, the leftovers, the potpourri of artifacts that had no power to save men from perishing. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that was influential in the modern development of zombie and vampire literature and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. Ending spoiler for i am legend 2007, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Alternate i am legend ending is far superior screen rant.
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