Just got back from an 11:30 Matinee.

A couple of things, first:

I’ve mentioned that I’m a freak for the Matheson book, “I am Legend,” and continually pissed that nobody seems to be able to do a film faithful to the original, and

I’ve got to give credit where credit is due. This new version is a good movie.

As a remake of “Omega Man.”

Not “I am Legend.”

Closest to the original story remains Last Man on Earth, which completely sucked as a movie.

So. Disappointed in yet another poor film attempt to nail the story,(guessing there probably wasn’t even an attempt) but it’s a pretty good action flick. Smith makes an OK Bob Neville.
From “Omega Man,” not “I am Legend.”

Not really much of a Will Smith fan me…it’s always Will Smith being Will Smith…I’ll just say Will Smith once again for balance…

Agreed to an extent, Rat. Although, Smith is one of my more favorite actors these days, and he does alright in this flick. Hell, when you think about it, most actors really just play themselves.

Tell ya what, though- acting talent of Sam the dog? Impressive.
I’m serious. I’ve had dogs die in my arms. How the hell you train a perfectly healthy dog to act that is beyond me.

It’s a character actor dog…likely has a good agent…Really though…too many Yank actors are part of the old “Star System” in that they play themselves…Tom Cruise is essentially always Tom Cruise in any staring role,and it must always be a staring role once reaches a certain level…Many British and other world actors don’t seem to have a problem loosing themselves in the role…or taking a small but interesting part…

I dunno, Broham. Hey, I love Cary Grant, but, let’s face it, he’s always Cary Grant. Same can be said of a lot of actors, Brit, Yank, or other. Today or back then.

Way back…the Star System was everthing…

So, anyone else seen this flick, and think it worth commentary?

Curious, not so much because of the movie itself (which was a pretty poor effort) but because this entire forum is supposed to be a marketing effort for this movie, and has actually become something pretty socially significant, while, at the same time, being a pretty abject failure, at least as far as a film marketing attempt. The TW boys who set this up probably have gotten their asses handed to them, or should have.

So. We’ve got a lot of participants here. Anyone actually seen the movie? Comments?

Sorry, when it comes to movies, I’m usually 2 to 3 years behind. Last movie i saw IN a theater was 3rd Lord of the Rings movie. I waited for video on the first two movies. I figure, all things come to my home video system eventually somehow, so who cares? My boy is not that way, nor my other roommate. If they think they will like it, they try to hit it in the theater during the first week. But look at it this way, if you want to tell me about a movie you’ve seen recently, I’ll listen attentively, because chances are I haven’t seen it. For movies that I really like, I’ll re-watch them at least once or twice a year. So, tell me about this one, you all! The comment seems kinda thumbs down so far??

Alright, I’ll give “I am Legend” some credit because as a movie it was pretty good. I haven’t read any books or seen any other movies relating to it, so I really can’t talk about how accurate it was, but I was entertained the entire time.

But the truth is, the base of what this movie was about could become a reality, and no one cares. I saw the movie with a bunch of my family members and when it was over all they could talk about was how good it was or how will smith did a good job or how it was scary. Doesn’t anybody see the point? The point is that this movie could be our FUTURE. Not one of the people I saw it with stopped and said “what if that happened for real?” or “What can we do to keep that from happening to us?” or “What is this movie saying about god?”

It’s not the movie that disapointed me, it’s the fact that the people who see the movie can’t think past what they were just looking at to what is really important.

Good point sordid… I have always been disappointed with people’s naive perception of our reality, their lack of ability to think outside the box, and the apathetic approach taken to serious situations…

But the truth is, the base of what this movie was about could become a reality, and no one cares.

Well, no, Sordid, not really.
I mean….OK…”could become a reality.” We develop a “cure for cancer,” inject it, and people become vampires/ zombies. Eating people, killing dogs, blah, blah.

No. You’re missing the point. It’s social commentary. That’s the problem with taking some of the really heavy writing that happened in the late- 40’s through about the late 80’s- when, for some reason, we completely forgot what poetic license was all about- and started literalizing it.

Great story, shitty movie. Well, no a good movie, really, if your gauge is graphics and thrill potential, but the original point remains thus- the latest movie doesn’t deliver the social message of the story. Movies rarely do.

More’s the pity, for this generation, which is unused to stretching the brain, and understanding social commentary. It’s less about, “this could happen,” than “this is what is, allegorically.“

BTW, since we’re talking about a movie remake of a Matheson story, anybody seen Legend of Hell House? Early 70’s, starring Roddy McDowell.

Based on Matheson’s Hell House, and the lead character is based, I’m convinced, on Alistair Crowley.
Freak extrordianaire.
Discuss, if you’re not too squeamish to deal with Uncle Al. If you are too squeamish, hide your head under your pillow- life is weirder than you think it is. I’d hate to frighten you.

Sounds tres creepy from the google…must see if it’s available from Netflix…Life IS weirder than one might think…My own family comes to mind…

Satolkin wrote: No. You’re missing the point. It’s social commentary. That’s the problem with taking some of the really heavy writing that happened in the late 40’s through about the late 80’s and literalizing it.

Yes. Many people have tried doing that with alot of the more complex manga. (Japanese comics.)

Originally, much of it involved abstract thinking, was aimed toward teens and adults, and often involved mucho blood and gore, but when they were translated into english, they were simplified – dumbed down – for american audiances.

And then, when the animes’ (cartoons’) first came to america, all of the blood and gore that was so appearent in the manga was completely removed and the shows were re-aimed toward children!

The result? Parents thought that these stories were for children, and upon discovering that they were based on comics, they bought these gorey, violent and way-too-complicated-for-a-child-to-understand-them books for their children without actually bothering to look at the content.

Satolkin wrote: the original point remains thus- the latest movie doesn’t deliver the social message of the story. Movies rarely do. More’s the pity, for this generation, which is unused to stretching the brain, and understanding social commentary.

Indeed. it’s a problem.

I enjoyed the movie, but I think they could have had a different ending, it just seemed too abrupt, perhaps? I didn’t see it so much as a social commentary, or a horror flick, or even an action movie, but more like one man’s search for meaning in life in the face of extreme loss. As such it’s all about Will Smith’s character, and I think he did a good job.

To tie it back to GSLU, I liked how they had a good balance of religious belief and lack thereof, and how it all comes together. One thing I got from the movie was that no matter what our belief, everyone needs faith in something to keep us going on.

One thing I got from the movie was that no matter what our belief, everyone needs faith in something to keep us going on.

Hmm… I don’t really have one, actually… No faith… But I have a strong ideal, does that count for anything?

FiNiX wrote:
>>One thing I got from the movie was that no matter what our belief, everyone needs faith in something to keep us going on.

Hmm… I don’t really have one, actually… No faith… But I have a strong ideal, does that count for anything?

Yes,FiNiX…an ideal,a perspective on your life and life in general are tres important…