Has anyone seen "I am Legend"

[JCabranes]

And if you have would you recommend it?

[Belquar]

I enjoyed it. I hate poorly done CGI.

If they can make dinosaurs look realistic, then why can't they make other animals as well.

Other than that, I found the movie very entertaining.

[SNC1923]

I'll preface this response with the fact that this film is my all-time favorite genre, that is an end-of-the-world epic. I've read Matheson's novel, I am Legend three or four times. I've seen it's first film incarnation, The Last Man on Earth five or six times and its second incarnation, The Omega Man 15 times since 1971.

Having said all that, I'm probably the wrong person to ask, but I would recommend it and have, in fact, seen it twice myself.

Here's the bad news:

The script (http://www.horrorlair.com/scripts/legend.txt) for this movie has been roving the internet for five years or more. They hired a hack to change it and rumor has it they refilmed the ending to add an absurdly Hollywood action film finale. The antagonists are rather poor quality CG. You know they aren't real; therefore, they aren't scary. The movie only runs 100 minutes, a good 30 minutes shorter than it should have been.

The good news:

This film respects the audience's intelligence and doesn't over explain things. The production is amazing and an abandoned Manhattan after three years is an impressive and chilling sight. Will Smith (the absolute last person I would have cast in this role) does a really impressive job. Unlike Vincent Price or Charlton Heston, you really believe that his character has been alone for three years and it shows. I'm not much of an expert on acting, but he does a really impressive job of carrying 80% of this film on his own.

If you go in for the whole numbers thing, this film shattered the all-time December box office opening with more than 70 million in ticket sales. That was followed by 45 million the next week. People are paying to see something.

I'll see it again and buy the DVD the moment it's released. If the Warner Brothers is smart, they'll include the original ending as an alternative and lots of deleted scenes.

Would I recommend it? Hell yeah.

[bmwcliff]

In my opinion good visuals, average story that was done some time ago by Charlton Heston, see"The Omega Man". I thought the Charlton Heston version was better.:sick

[SNC1923]

. . . the Charlton Heston version was better.:sick

Oh, dear. . . .

The Omega Man stands the test of time in many ways. The dialogue was a bit absurd and Heston is at his overacting best. The plot was too politicized and affected by the times (read Manson family); however, the deserted LA in the Omega Man is actually deserted. It's a really impressive sight. They shot the film with massive parade permits on early morning Sundays and holidays to achieve this effect. In I am Legend the deserted Manhattan is all CGI. The scenery CGI is all really good as far as I can say (I'm no expert on this).

These are really thought-provoking "what if" films all of which came from Richard Matheson's seminal novel, the forbearer of all end-of-the-world films and zombie films. I suppose Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe might figure in there somewhere.

[darcym]

The kids behind me (young 20 -something men) thought it was such a "Resident Evil" rip off when the credits were rolling ... I wanted to strangle the ignorant twits.

I did enjoy the movie, I thought Will Smith did a terrific job.

Omega Man ... Charlton Heston ... too campy. That's just Heston's doing, I suppose.

[OUTBACKUFO]

Just got back from seeing it... had to go on a night my wife worked since she would not care to see it.. i do like the movies that get you a couple of times to jump out of your seat... though i have to agree with the CGI comments.... the first encounter with the Mutated humans was the best since the forms were from a distance (when they were standing around eating the deer in the black building...... but when close up they just looked a bit plastic/ rubberry....

it does have a good way of making you think about how humanity will or can easily destroy itself with over achveiment without weighing the risks with a level head... the whole "have the CURE" gets people to over optimistic before longer term results are acheived...

was good over all movie... Smith does get a bit crazy and brings it across in a strong way..

[mrich12000]

I liked the Mustang,the rest was a good epic end of the world movie.Will did a great acting, but the ending sucked:sick :banghead :bikes

[JCabranes]

Thanks for the input. Saw it yesterday and thought it was actually pretty good. Yeah, the monsters were a bit phony but that asn't too bad. The ending didn't work for me but that in reality that's just being nitpicky. Will Smith should (but probably won't) get an Oscar.

[sgtboring]

I loved it. But I also must admit that this genre is my favoright. Mad Max, Omega Man, Night of the Living Dead....A little Pandemic once in a while can be a good thing...for movies. I thought that the product placement was a bit over the top (FORD ahemm....) but otherwise nice job. The dark seekers were much better the the Albinos book burners of the Omega Man. :ear

[sumran]

I thought the acting was good. Special effects worked well for me and the director did a nice jump of creating suspense. I was very disappointed in the script. IMHO they missed a chance to make an enduring classic. The art of a well-told, complete story has largely disappeared in the movie industry.

[SNC1923]

IMHO they missed a chance to make an enduring classic. The art of a well-told, complete story has largely disappeared in the movie industry.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[adamceckhardt]

I was pleasantly surprised, even after reading some of the above! A big plus one on the phoney looking creatures. What was with everybody driving Fords? Something more exotic would have been cooler. Yes, the Shelby sounded nice echoing off the buildings, but didn't do much for me.

[rangepig]

I really need to go see it. I'm a big fan of Richard Matheson's work. He wrote some of the classic Twighlight Zone episodes, and "Duel", "Stir of Echoes", etc.

A bit of trivia: his son Chris wrote "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey". I took a screenwriting class from Chris at the NW Film Center in Portland.

[RICHO2006]

Wait for the DVD.


Richo