Official I Am Legend Thread

[Tyrinus]

That's why it's called an adaptation.

Just because it's an adaption, doesn't mean it can't suck. To me, there were too many problems with it to be enjoyable, and that's a shame because there is an interesting story there(in the book) that would make a great movie.

 

[T'Jai]

Just because it's an adaption, doesn't mean it can't suck. To me, there were too many problems with it to be enjoyable, and that's a shame because there is an interesting story there(in the book) that would make a great movie.

plot holes?? extrapolate if you will?

 

[chaseter]

Just saw it and here is my quick and dirty:

Great suspense, Will Smith is a great actor in this, huge amount of emotion, I knew the dog would die...just a matter of when, I have to say that Will Smith is great again, the monsters look stupid, he has lived there for 3 years and hasn't chosen a better place or re-inforced his house enough to withstand an attack, the [BLACKOUT]lady finding him [/BLACKOUT]was too convenient, the cure or the virus and why he or certain animals are immune was not explained much, and him dragging himself to his truck while the vampire dogs barked away was stupid and it got his [BLACKOUT]dog killed.[/BLACKOUT]

Overall, a good movie with a lot of emotion and suspense. 7.5/10. I would go see it but it won't withstand this weekend with heavy hitters like National Treasure 2, Sweeney Todd, and Dewey Cox.

 

[mathhater]

I expected changes to the story when I went to see the movie. One of the main reasons I watch movies based off books I've read is to see exactly how they decided to adapt it. But they really dropped the ball here. I mean they completely changed the reason he is 'Legend.' The book had a far more interesting, less cliche, premise as to why Neville was a legend. I've no problem with Smith's performance, it's the story that fell short, especially with the plot holes.

I agree with this 100%. I was unfamiliar with the story until a couple of months ago, when someone gave me a very spoiler filled synopsis of the book. After that, even though I was told how it would all pan out, I was really excited to see it on the big screen. But after watching it, I was really, really let down. I was left thinking "So he's a 'legend' because of that?!" "Where's that great twist from the book??" I was really disappointed in this movie because it became a pretty typical post-apocalyptic story with MUCH less originality than I was hoping for. The book's story was far better and this was a pretty poor adaptation.

 

[chaseter]

Another big thing that got me was how Robert said the monsters were dumb, playing off their basic survival instincts when there was clearly a leader, one got mad he trapped another, it held the vampire dogs with a collar and lead them out, and one even pushed around others in the basement. It was just played off and it shouldn't have been. They should have either been smart like in the book as people have mentioned or just brainless zombies like they played them on to be.

 

[Star]

i don't think i'll be reading the book any time soon at least, would someone tell me why he was a ''legend'' in the book?

as for the movie... I was slightly dissapointed. A lot of people told me that it was really scary, and I scare extremely easily... but I wasn't scared.

Another thing...

Spoiler

how the hell did those monsters set up that damn trap for him? I honestly can't find it in myself to believe that they actually formulated a plan to capture him like that.

 

[mathhater]

i don't think i'll be reading the book any time soon at least, would someone tell me why he was a ''legend'' in the book?

as for the movie... I was slightly dissapointed. A lot of people told me that it was really scary, and I scare extremely easily... but I wasn't scared.

Another thing...

Spoiler

how the hell did those monsters set up that damn trap for him? I honestly can't find it in myself to believe that they actually formulated a plan to capture him like that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Legend

This is a pretty good link that tells the original plot of the book...and personally, I think this brief synopsis is better than the film.

 

[Warhammer]

Just because it's an adaption, doesn't mean it can't suck. To me, there were too many problems with it to be enjoyable, and that's a shame because there is an interesting story there(in the book) that would make a great movie.

There you go. That is your unbiased opinion of the film, not the opinion of a reader. More power to you because these films are mostly meant to the general audience. For a film like this, the fans of Matheson's book are clearly the minority.

 

[snap-hiss]

especially with the plot holes.

I didn't notice any plot holes. What did I miss?

!snap

 

[snap-hiss]

Another big thing that got me was how Robert said the monsters were dumb, playing off their basic survival instincts when there was clearly a leader, one got mad he trapped another, it held the vampire dogs with a collar and lead them out, and one even pushed around others in the basement. It was just played off and it shouldn't have been. They should have either been smart like in the book as people have mentioned or just brainless zombies like they played them on to be.

The point the film was showing was that Neville underestimated them. As the film went on it became more and more clear that the infected were not mindless animals like Neville things, but are intelligent and have formed a community.

!snap

 

[YsoSerious]

I think the film would have been better if they didnt CGI the zombies.CGI works good for backgrounds but not so well for humans and animals

 

[bell110]

The thing with CGing the monsters is that they couldn't have done the things the monsters do with regular people. They run faster and jump higher then normal people. You could do it with wires, but then THAT would look fake as well. As for the CGed animals, it's easier to get CGed animals do what you want then real ones.

 

[the a1ant]

the [blackout]lady finding him [/blackout]was too convenient

Spoiler

The woman said she and the boy heard his radio message and waited at the spot but he didn't come (because we was hanging upside down at the time). She and the kid prob just stayed around the area to see if he would show up.

and him dragging himself to his truck while the vampire dogs barked away was stupid and it got his [blackout]dog killed.[/blackout]

Spoiler

He had to drag himself, since he didn't want to pull the knife out of his leg and let a trail of blood lead the bad guys to him. He prob thought he could make it in time.

Another thing...

Spoiler

how the hell did those monsters set up that damn trap for him? I honestly can't find it in myself to believe that they actually formulated a plan to capture him like that.

Spoiler

I had thought that Smith's character created that trap. A similar trap was seen when he caught that female zombie-thing. He was screaming and going crazy at that moment, so maybe he forgot about a trap he had set? Or maybe the monsters did make it and it was a homage to how more intelligent they were in the book? Not sure...

 

[Taiwarriorz21]

I wish Will Smith didn't die in the end. That kind of lowered the morale.

 

[snap-hiss]

Spoiler

I had thought that Smith's character created that trap. A similar trap was seen when he caught that female zombie-thing. He was screaming and going crazy at that moment, so maybe he forgot about a trap he had set? Or maybe the monsters did make it and it was a homage to how more intelligent they were in the book? Not sure...

I think it was pretty clear that the alpha male set the trap to get to Neville. I feel this is just part of how it was being shown that Neville was underestimating the infected. He viewed them as mindless animals, but they were more. He says himself that he didn't understand why the male intentionally exposed himself to sunlight, Neville didn't understand they were an organized community.

!snap

 

[matthooper]

edit

 

[shapeshifter]

the whole movie just seemed a little under written and honestly rushed.
they dragged out the stuff that had little importance, and sped through the points that made the story.
What the hell was with the ending? That really was the **** flavored icing on the cow flop cake.

 

[tekken]

to my knowledge, there'll be an alternate ending on the dvd when it comes out. so i'll be looking forward to that...if there is one. if not, then i must have mistaken a rumor for fact.

anyway..i still think the movie was good. will did a good job in making the only man in new york city not boring.

 

[DV8]

I've never read the book, but reading the spoliery synopsis, it looks like they lost a lot in translation . . .

but as a movie standing on its own, I thought it was very well done; the acting and directing was pretty good . . . but the creatures looked fake; terrible CGI, in my opinion . . . if the CGI was better and they stuck to the roots of the book, would pry have had much more impact as a film . . . you could tell that they didn't put much time into the special effects; like they built the creatures out of CGI from the ground up whereas they should have used a combination of motion capture, prosthetics, then CGI

but as an entertaining popcorn flick, I liked it . . . I really enjoyed the whole premise and atmosphere of a big city being taken over by nature again . . . and again, Will Smith did a great job carrying this film on his back alone . . . didn't really think he would be able to pull it off as well . . .

 

[alexm]

Hey guys quick random question, just started reading this thread so not sure if it was asked already...

What was it that Will Smith sprayed on his front porch before entering his house before it got dark?

 

[alexm]

Hey guys quick random question, just started reading this thread so not sure if it was asked already...

What was it that Will Smith sprayed on his front porch before entering his house before it got dark?

 

[alexm]

double post sorry

 

[Figs]

Hey guys quick random question, just started reading this thread so not sure if it was asked already...

What was it that Will Smith sprayed on his front porch before entering his house before it got dark?

I think it was gasoline in case they started to come at the house, he could set the steps on fire.

 

[T'Jai]

Hey guys quick random question, just started reading this thread so not sure if it was asked already...

What was it that Will Smith sprayed on his front porch before entering his house before it got dark?

a disinfectant to mask his scent so they would have trouble finding him...

 

[snap-hiss]

Hey guys quick random question, just started reading this thread so not sure if it was asked already...

What was it that Will Smith sprayed on his front porch before entering his house before it got dark?

At first I thought it was something flammable as a defense measure, but then I thought of it being something to mask the scent. When he is shown doing this was it when he was returning with the captured female darkseeker? If so he could have been worried about the other infected being able to follow her scent.

!snap