The trailer for the upcoming Christmas movie I Am Legend is online. Here’s the thing: It actually looks pretty good as far as post-apoc thrillers go—especially for New Yorkers; That shot of him driving golf balls off the back of the SR-71 on the carrier was great—but it doesn’t look anything like the original Matheson setting, which should be in the suburbs of Reno or something. Also, it’s odd that Smith’s character hasn’t seen anybody on the island for three years. Part of the original story is how he dealt with the influx of vampires/zombies as everyone around him slowly turned. The image from the story of one of his now-undead neighbors trying to lure him out of his fortress-home by waggling her crotch at him and taunting his loneliness endures, but won’t be in the movie at all.
I Am Legend started the modern zombie mythos, which would make it appropriate that this latest film adaptation could cap the latest run of Hollywood zombie flicks. After IAL, I hope they take a break from zombies for a while.
I Am Legend Trailer [Apple.com]
The original setting was LA.
You mean “Night of the Comet” wasn’t the inspiration for all Post-Apoc films? I have to rethink my life.
I thought the trailer looked good, but by just watching it you’d really have no idea it had anything to do with zombies. There’s only that hint at the end that he’s not alone, and that could really be anything.
Check it:
http://bp0.blogger.com/_a7jkcMVp5Vg/Rl1heoSft4I/AAAAAAAAA6c/L1P1ZS023Ys/s400/zombie.jpg
Gotta love post secret.
i wonder if itll be better than the omega man adaption
It was also adapted into “Last Man on Earth” with Vincent Price. Better than Omega Man, IMHO, but still not Matheson by a long stretch.
But Will Smith? I dunno. Better than when they were considering Arnie many moons ago, but still.
Sounds like a cool book. The premise reminds me a bit of the NYC scene from the Shining (Extended version, if that matters), minus the undead, where the protagonist is trying to get out of a mostly dead, vehicle-choked NYC.
Carlos: I think you mean the Stand?
Also, the trailer actually makes it look good, but then I’m a sucker for desolate crumbling urban shots.
I’m torn on reading the book first, though: I’ve heard it’s awesome, almost certainly better than the movie, but I don’t want to watch the movie and sit there the whole time thinking about how the book was better.
Movie first, then book, I think.
28 days later? Sounds almost exactly the same with some minor differences. Still looks like a good movie though.
Greg - oops, yes :)
I read the “Complete and Uncut Version”, so I’m not totally sure if what I read existed in part or whole in the original edition 10 years earlier.
The Wikipedia entry says it’s only 160 pages, so I may try to read it soon
Movie first. Book second. ALWAYS.
That way you’re never disappointed.
Definitely read the book. It’s a classic in all the good ways.
Darrell, we are talking major differences here.
1) I Am Legend dealt with Vampires.
2) The entire world is taken over, not just one stretch of land
3) The Vampires are not evil per say. They are evil from our POV, but from theirs the main character is the evil one (the “Legend” of the story)
4) They are not mindless
This has completely caught me by surprise; I’d never bothered with the novel, for reasons that I’ve completely forgotten about. Post-apocalyptica is fast becoming my favorite genre in movies, but it’s all for whorish eye-candy reasons.
I think I’d like to see a Post-Ap story about when civilization has successfully begun rebuilding itself, giving evil people are real chance to shine instead of being limited to biker gangs.
Related amusing tidbit: a dominatrix pal of mine has had regular visits from the Assistant Director of this picture for some years. He’s into being pissed upon, spanked, and likes a good strap-on session.
My friend is a huge fan of the original book, and she was apparently given some modicum of authority in approving the script.
“Related amusing tidbit: a dominatrix pal of mine has had regular visits from the Assistant Director of this picture for some years. He’s into being pissed upon, spanked, and likes a good strap-on session.
My friend is a huge fan of the original book, and she was apparently given some modicum of authority in approving the script.”
It would seem safe to say that that nicely sums up every lousy element about how films are made in Hollywood. This film project was strangled right in it’s goddamned cradle.