Official I Am Legend Thread

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=18625

Tackling the apocaplyptic tale again
Source: Variety


In the mighty halls of Development Hell there are few filing cabinets as large or as bursting with unused scripts and yellowed casting sheets as I Am Legend.

So the news that Will Smith is having a second crack at starring in a version of Richard Matheson’s tale of an Earth ravaged by a blood disease that turns sufferers into, well, basically vampires, and the last man left alive who fights them, has us feeling distinctly sceptical.

That said, Warners Brothers is convinced it has the team in place at last: Smith is on a pay-or-play contract, which means the studio executives will be eager to get him to start work next year in New York (because they'll have to pay his fee even if the film never happens). And they’ve already attached Constantine director Francis Lawrence and Da Vinci Code writer Akiva Goldsman to the film.

The Hitch star previously tried to get the Legend adaptation up and running in 2002, when he was planning to star for his Bad Boys director Michael Bay. But that version collapsed. As did a long-running attempt in 1997, which would have seen Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ridley Scott shoot a $108 million budgeted epic. That one was scuttled by the mounting budget and the dual kick in Schwarzenegger’s career stomach from Batman & Robin and Jingle All The Way.

Goldsman is adapting a fresh script from Mark Protosevich’s original screenplay. Over the years, the likes of Gladiator’s John Logan have tried to turn it into a workable, affordable film, but to no avail. And let’s not forget that two cinematic versions of Matheson’s story have already been made: Vincent Price’s The Last Man On Earth and Chuck Heston’s The Omega Man.

Can it work again at last? That sound you hear is an office full of studio executives nervously twisting rosary beads or preparing to sacrifice interns to the great gods of Hollywood to ensure that it does...

 

[dpm07]

Done right this film could really be great. I think Will Smith will do a great job. It's just a matter of putting the story out that is really well done.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Will Smith?

 

[Movies205]

Will Smith's okay even if he plays the same character pretty much all the time. As for the director, Constantine as a movie by itself not counting how it raped the comic book was halfway decent. I mean hopefully this doesn't become another crappy Blade Rip-off since that essentially was what Constantine was.

 

[Mentok]

 

[tecnowraith]

My worries for the film: I hope it is not a comedy, which he does mostly. It better not be a "ghetto" type movie. I slo hope it does not become another Wild Wild West movie for disrespecting the character of Jim West.

 

[GoldGoblin]

Will Smith?

^Exactly,I can't stand him.This is a remake I have been wanting to see,and they put Will Smith in it

 

[deathshead2]

Oh man that sucks I didn't want Will in it. and isn't he supposed to fight Vamps?

 

[Mr. Credible]

cool... i like Francis Lawrences's work... i think he has a really rgeat visual style, and it'll be interesting to see what he can do with this.

 

[KenK]

My worries for the film: I hope it is not a comedy, which he does mostly.

I guess you haven't followed Robin Williams' career much, have you? Actually, Smith has been in more sci-fi films than anything else, so this wouldn't exactly be a stretch.

It better not be a "ghetto" type movie.

And the flat out ignorance just flows freely, doesn't it? Why is it every time it's announced that a character that's supposed to be white is being played by a black character, someone makes a dumbass comment like this?

 

[Movies205]

I guess you haven't followed Robin Williams' career much, have you? Actually, Smith has been in more sci-fi films than anything else, so this wouldn't exactly be a stretch.

Did you see I, Robot, Indepence Day, and MIB? They definately weren't played straight then, actually he made at least 50 one liners in each one.

 

[KenK]

Did you see I, Robot, Indepence Day, and MIB? They definately weren't played straight then, actually he made at least 50 one liners in each one.

MIB, I'll give you, but just because he has a few one-liners and jokes in the other two films doesn't make them comedies. I think most people would agree the tone overall was serious.

 

[DarKush]

I think Will Smith is an acceptable choice. Much better than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

After reading the story recently, the lead role will require someone with more evocative acting ability. I think Smith can pull that off. Smith can do action, drama, and comedy. And he has a long, largely successful track record in genre films (MIB/MIB2, ID4, I, Robot, The Wild, Wild West), actioners (Enemy of the State, Bad Boys/BB2), comedy (Hitch, Fresh Prince of Bel Air), drama (Ali, Six Degrees of Separation, Legend of Bagger Vance).

I wish that they were keeping vampires in the story though. Perhaps TPTB feel that vampires have played out, with the Blade, Underworld movies, Ultraviolet, and the Buffy, Angel, and now Blade TV shows. But to me, the vampire thing-and Matheson's unique take on them-is essential to the story.

Mutant freaks aren't all that original either. I doubt they could do better than the recent Hills Have Eyes in that department.

 

[green]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!


Lawerence
Smith

 

[ToddIsDead]

How about they get Charltan Heston back and make the Omega Man 2? That would rock.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

I'll take Omega Man, you can have Will Smith.

 

[OtepApe]

Hmmm, this dpes sound promisiing. I don't know about Smith. He has impressed me in some movies, and then some movies he has just been awful. I will keep my eyes out on more from this though.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

How about they get Charltan Heston back and make the Omega Man 2? That would rock.

You're cruel.

 

[matrix_ghost]

I agree with alot of you guys.

Francis Lawrence
Will Smith a definate

For a first time director , Lawrence has impressed me alot with Constantine.
Without judgiing it as an adaptation , i think Constantine as a standalone movie is awesome. Lawrence definately has a visual style that isn't annoying and the fact that he's a video clip director is further proof that he's a good director.
I mean usually music video directors are so lame ..there are exceptions but the majority are dumbasses.

Also the script being rewritten by Akiva Goldsman to fit Will's Style is also a worry for me.
I mean , wasn't this like one of the top ten greatest scripts floating in Hollywood that couldn't be filmed ??
It's really lame when a movie script is changed JUST to suit an actor.
ASIMOV must be rolling in his grave when I.ROBOT started with a stevie wonder song .
Plus this is Goldsman , who wrote Batman and Robin and said that Saving Private Ryan was a detestable piece of ****
On the plus side , he wrote Constantine which despite the changes i thought was a great movie. I have read the HellBlazer graphic novels and yes as a adaptation , Constantine pales in comparison.
As a standalone movie that is different.

Hopefully Smith can hold himself in and actually deliver a great performance.
And for the record , i don't have any think against black people. HEck if they wanted to cast an african american actor for the lead , they could've gone with Terrence Howard , Denzel Washington or even Jamie Foxx.
Those people know how to give a great performance without adding an african american touch.
I don't want to see this movie opening with Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye .


Now that i have that off my chest.

What do you guys think. Should this movie be R Rated or not ?
It's gonna be filmed in NEw York and especially when this is a apocalyptic movie , i think the budget is going to be really really high.
Smith may be a bankable star , but his biggest succeses come from PG rated movies.
Sure you have the Bad Boys flicks , but that's the combo of Bay's MTV hectic editing and BruckHeimer.
It's loaded with action and that is precisely what the audience want.Popcorn fun.
I AM LEGEND , really doesn't fit in that category ..i think.
So my guess is that the movie is going to be PG , just to bring down the costs

 

[Kent]

Will Smith's okay even if he plays the same character pretty much all the time.

Too bad the character he keeps playing over and over again is nothing like Robert Neville eh?

 

[KenK]

I agree with alot of you guys.

Francis Lawrence
Will Smith a definate

For a first time director , Lawrence has impressed me alot with Constantine.
Without judgiing it as an adaptation , i think Constantine as a standalone movie is awesome. Lawrence definately has a visual style that isn't annoying and the fact that he's a video clip director is further proof that he's a good director.
I mean usually music video directors are so lame ..there are exceptions but the majority are dumbasses.

Also the script being rewritten by Akiva Goldsman to fit Will's Style is also a worry for me.
I mean , wasn't this like one of the top ten greatest scripts floating in Hollywood that couldn't be filmed ??
It's really lame when a movie script is changed JUST to suit an actor.
ASIMOV must be rolling in his grave when I.ROBOT started with a stevie wonder song .
Plus this is Goldsman , who wrote Batman and Robin and said that Saving Private Ryan was a detestable piece of ****
On the plus side , he wrote Constantine which despite the changes i thought was a great movie. I have read the HellBlazer graphic novels and yes as a adaptation , Constantine pales in comparison.
As a standalone movie that is different.

Hopefully Smith can hold himself in and actually deliver a great performance.
And for the record , i don't have any think against black people. HEck if they wanted to cast an african american actor for the lead , they could've gone with Terrence Howard , Denzel Washington or even Jamie Foxx.
Those people know how to give a great performance without adding an african american touch.

You really don't know how to think before speaking, do you? "African American touch"? Mind you, I can't even stand the term "african-american", but the point is, you're basically saying these actors are good at playing roles and not making them too black. What's worse is your assumptions of what defines being black (or "African-American"). To assume that it's something that is turned on and off like a switch is pretty offensive to me as a person in general, let alone a black person.

Case in Point:

I don't want to see this movie opening with Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye .

What does that have to do with anything?!?! To say nothing of the fact that Stevie Wonder's one of the most prolific singer/songwriters of our time, why should you take offense of one of his or Marvin Gaye's songs is featured in this movie, or because of one being featured in I, Robot? Again, you're making assumptions on what being black is, and furthermore implying that "being black" is something that would devalue the film.

 

[matrix_ghost]

I didn't mean to offend anyone .
If i offended you i apologize for that.

For the record , i do tend to think before i type so don't make those assumptions about me.

You asked what a Stevie WOnder song or a Marvin Gaye song has do with this riight.
I assume you have seen I,ROBOT. To be honest , why the heck would I,ROBOT open with a stevie wonder song ?
Explain that to me.

Why the heck should i see Will SMith talking to his grandma and eating pie and such. Does it really have a point within the story ?

Sure african american or black actors will add a touch of their "culture or mannerisms that is typically associated with them " to a role. I think that all actord , which ever race they are , do that.
Look at Sam Jackson.He always has his trademark badass lines in almost all of his movies post Pul Fiction. Heck even Washington was doing that in Inside Man.
The point is that it isn't annoying . I't develops the character without being a "IN YOU"RE FACE" type of thing.
I don't mind it , if it's meant to be that way. Jackson is pulp fiction was meant to be that way. Smith in MIB , i guess was also meant that way . I dunno since i've never read the comics. Correct me if i'm wrong.
I hate the idea that you need to show an actor of different race other then white and have them do the typical things that are associated with that race.
I hate it when a hindu is on screen and he immediatly has to talk like APU from the simpsons or work in a 7/11 or be a cab driver.
I hate it when a chinese man is on screen and he immediatly must run somekind of restaurant.
For me as a moviegoeer , it's not fun to see this. It's like "oh look we have an actor/actress of different race, quick let them do the typical stuff otherwise the audience will get confused".

Smith tried to be a bit more serious in I,RBOT but still his mannerisms came out .
Good example in the movie was when he first met Bruce GreenWood

Lawrence Robertson: I know you're not snooping around as a police officer.
Detective Del Spooner: No, I'm just a 6'2", 200lb civilian... here to kick another civilian's ass.

Detective Del Spooner: Sugar.
Lawrence Robertson: Excuse me?
Detective Del Spooner: For the coffee. sugar?
Lawrence Robertson: Oh.
Detective Del Spooner: Oh, you thought I was calling YOU "Sugar". Hey, you're not that rich!

here even more lines :
Detective Del Spooner: [sneezes] ... Sorry, I'm allergic to bull****.

Detective Del Spooner: [to Dr. Lanning's cat] Look, I understand you have experienced a loss, but this relationship just can't work. I mean, you're a cat. I'm black. I'm not going to be hurt again.

And just to show that i'm not a Smith hater.
Here are the lines which i loved in the movie and i would've very much seen the entire movie being played this way :
Detective Del Spooner: Murder's a new trick for a robot, congratulations.

Sonny: I did not murder Dr. Lanning.
Detective Del Spooner: Wanna explain why you were hiding at the crime scene?
Sonny: I was frightened.
Detective Del Spooner: I think he tried to teach you to stimulate emotions, and things got out of control.
Sonny: I did not murder him.
Detective Del Spooner: Emotions don't seem to be a very useful simulation for a robot. I don't want my vacuum cleaner, or my toaster appearing emotional...
Sonny: [hits the table with his fists] I did not murder him!
Detective Del Spooner: [as Sonny observes the inflicted damage to the interrogation table] That one's called "anger." Ever simulate anger before?

Sonny: What does this action signify?
[winks]
Sonny: As you walked in the room, you did it to the other human. What does it mean?
[winks]
Detective Del Spooner: It's a sign of trust. It's a human thing. You wouldn't understand.

Detective Del Spooner: [to the head of USR] I don't usually do this, but since I'm here, I got a great idea for your next commercial. There's a carpenter, and he builds this beautiful chair. And then a robot comes along and builds a better chair twice as fast, and then it says: "USR. ****tin' on the little guy." Fade out.

Detective Del Spooner: You are a clever imitation of life... Can a robot write a symphony? Can a robot take a blank canvas and turn it into a masterpiece?
Sonny: Can you?

There are many more of those lines.


And this is what worries me with smith.
If he can quit goofing off and actually withhold his typical funny manners , then i think this movie can be great.
That was what i was implying with people like Denzel washington , Jamie Foxx and Terence Howard.
They don't make unnecessary jokes. They are serious in their performances.
You don't need to dumb down a script just to fit the actor.
For me , i enjoy it even more when an actor is out of his normal typical style.
Look at Tom Cruise in Collateral. It's Cruise as a baddie killing people.That's not how he usually is.

Again , i'm sorry if i offended you or any other person.
It really wasn't my intention to do so.

 

[Sava]

Smith is awesome, i'll watch this for sure

 

[TheSaintofKillers]

Love the book. Always had potential to make a great movie out of it, if the right people were attached to it.

"which would have seen Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ridley Scott shoot a $108 million budgeted epic."

Haha. I'm sorry, but even if Arnold is wrong, that would have kicked our 80's nostalgic ass.

But what we are getting smells like one of the worst ugly crap adaptation we can dare think of. Brrrrr.

 

[KenK]

I didn't mean to offend anyone .
If i offended you i apologize for that.


For the record , i do tend to think before i type so don't make those assumptions about me.

You asked what a Stevie WOnder song or a Marvin Gaye song has do with this riight.
I assume you have seen I,ROBOT. To be honest , why the heck would I,ROBOT open with a stevie wonder song ?
Explain that to me.

Daily routine. I've known and more importantly lived with people who started their days with a song. It's just a character building moment that's so brief, I can't imagine why it infuriates you so much. It's in no way detrimental to the film.

Why the heck should i see Will SMith talking to his grandma and eating pie and such. Does it really have a point within the story ?

Again, character moment. His character is driving the story, and his connection to humanity is important. What better connection than that of a family member? There has to be some casual moment between them to strengthen his character, given his feelings about robots.

And this is what worries me with smith.
If he can quit goofing off and actually withhold his typical funny manners , then i think this movie can be great.

He's done movies where he wasn't goofing off (Six Degrees of Separation, especially, Legend of Bagger Vance, Ali, in which any jokes or wisecracking he may have done was required given who he was playing), so I think given the tone of the film, he'll be serious if he has to be. He's the last man on earth, that's always gonna be depressing!

That was what i was implying with people like Denzel washington , Jamie Foxx and Terence Howard.
They don't make unnecessary jokes. They are serious in their performances.
You don't need to dumb down a script just to fit the actor.

Why is it dumbing down if a character makes a joke? If anything, making a joke or a wisecrack requires a certain degree if wit and intelligence.

Again , i'm sorry if i offended you or any other person.
It really wasn't my intention to do so.

Fair enough.