I am Legend...

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Saw it with my wife this evening. She liked it..I give it an "almost great...but mostly just OK" rating.

Being a huge fan of the book...I was disappointed that they chickened out in the third act. The first 2/3rds of the film were a decent "updated" version of Matheson's story...but after the dog dies and Neville decides to quit...the movie went off the rails and lost me.

The CGI was junk...I'm tired of (and not scared by) computer generated monsters. I would have taken make-up wearing baddies any day of the week. CGI is great for add ons...but even at its best it still can't help but look "fake."

The product placement was ridiculous. Everyone drives a Ford in the I Am Legend SHTF apocalypse...and the dog only likes Barilla pasta sauce...and Neville only watches JVC electronics...etc.

They had a powerful film on their hands if they had stayed within the bounds laid out by the book. They did a great job with the flashbacks, the dog attachment (never like it when they kill the mutts), and the futility of it all.

But I wanted more. Explore the isolation, explore the out with the old/in with the new theme (boring homo-saps replaced by post-viral blood sucking saps), explore the progressive breakdown of Neville's mental state. Additionally...rather than the Mustang-deer chasing scene...how about Neville busting up a hive to add some action and fill some minutes?

I've always felt that the original book was a two-fingered jab at both race relations in the US and Cold War fear of the "others" prevalent during the 50's.

Etc., etc., etc....

Keeping it gun related...Ole Painless would have been helpful.
 
I saw the movie yesterday. I liked it. But I have a question: did the main character even once hit something with his m4? Pretty pathetic for a soldier
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LOL. Actually pretty common for a soldier, sorry.

When I was in Afghanistan we ended up doing a test fire with SEALS and Army Special Forces.

For the life of them the Army guy's couldn't get their .50 cal machine gun to fire in full auto. They had to rack back the handle for every shot. We went over to help them out. Found out the selector switch was on SINGLE SHOT.

Man, that's why you have test fires for. Army "Special Forces" = Special Olympics.

LOL. J/K. Had to say it.
 
I saw it and I can say it was, OK. I personally like The Omega Man better. This version left a lot of little things asked but unanswered in my mind. Also, NEVER KILL THE DOG. I am a dog lover and do not like to see them hurt in movies. I decided that years ago as a kid when I saw Old Yeller. In the Omega Man Heston was trying to kill the creatures, he would hunt them by day. I didn't seem to get that from this version, he was just trying to cure them. It seemed senseless to try and make these mindless creatures understand this to me.
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Had to kill the dog. No choice.

I was thinking about a way that the dog could survive. Like the dog doesn't get bit, and even though Will blows himself up, the dog stays with the gal and kid and goes to Maryland with them.

................... However, they tried to show how close the relationship between Will and the dog was, and if the dog survived and lived with them, it would make that close relationship not have that much poignancy and power.

It would make the dog look like a sell-out and not a loyal companion.

Also, a good owner knows when to put their dog down. I think so many people keep pets alive, when their better off put down. I think people keep pets alive to long for their own reasons, not what's best for the pet.
 
Just saw this movie tonight. I had been wanting to see it for a week or two now. I have to say that i really liked it. I dont nit pick too much on stuff in movies because they are just that... movies. I watch them to be entertained, even if sometimes it is a little far-fetched.

I just wished that after his dog was infected, that he would have put his dog in a cage or something in his lab and maybe tried that one vaccine on his dog and maybe hopefully cured her. It seemed to work for that one lab rat. Maybe she wouldnt have had to die :(

Yeah some scenes were ridiculous from a practical, survival common-sense stand point, but i liked the opening scene. Yeah, not practical, but it makes the movie seem cool :)
 
Way I saw it, he did try the serum on the dog. Just didn't work.
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Yeah, i saw that he injected the dog with the vaccine, but the effects were slow from what i gathered. Slow on the woman darkseeker, slow on the lab rats (from what i gathered i think he went back in the next day or later that day to study the effects on the rats in the cages). I was just wondering why he wouldnt have locked his dog up. If nothing else, he knew she would turn violent anyway if the vaccine didn't work. Oh well. :)
 
Saw it this past weekend, and liked it.

Regarding the CGI dark seekers--the Wikipedia article on the movie explains why they made that choice. They initially went with live actors, but actors couldn't maintain the hyper-adrenal intensity, hyperventilating, etc. that they wanted, so they went with CGI instead. I thought they were believable.

The crown jewel CGI in this movie was the city itself, though. Most of those wide-pan city shots, aerial shots, etc. were shot during busy New York City days, with cars and people digitally removed and weeds/etc. added in. Nicely done.

Regarding vehicle choice--remember that his main defense against the dark seekers during the day was the sun, and at night it was that they didn't know where he lived. When out at night, he would always drive around until the sun was up before returning home (he says that in the movie, after the woman rescues him).

That means, his vehicles needed to not look out of place when parked in his neighborhood. A Bradley IFV parked in front of his house at night would have made it a little obvious where he lived; he needed to keep a low profile. An SUV with some off-road lights was a good choice, and were I in that situation, I'd probably choose the same.

About him being so unhinged by the dog's death...remember that in the movie, that was his daughter's dog. The last surviving member of his family besides himself, and his only companion on the planet, as far as he knew.
 
Just saw it this evening. Okay, felt like it was rushed. The woman and kid come in late and events just seem to 'race' to the ending. It lacked some action and continunity. Yes, I know, it was for entertainment. And it was entertaining. I wish I would have seen more weapons, like a S&W 500 or something cool.

Overall, not too bad.
 
Saw it 2 night ago. I was very pleased. I was curious why he didn't consider carrying some flares with him. They might prove useful as grenades of sorts whilst inside dark buildings. And for a soldier surviving the apocalypse, his lack of carrying a sidearm at all times was pretty stupid. A pistol 40 yards away in the vehicle doesn't cut it.

I am pretty glad they didn't make it a gun-fest. Guns played an important role, but they stayed just one aspect of the story. That's what I like. Seeing Smith jump on top of a Bradley and fire a Mk 19 at hordes of zombies would be kinda goofy.
 
I saw it the other day..

I have to say it was good but the ending about when he got the girl was very very rushed. ALSO I think there'd be a bit more gunplay/offense done on his part. I'm surprised he did not have backup weapons on his person at all times I know I'd be carring a couple of sidearms along with a long arm that's for sure.

The ending was very... disappointing I'd have to say.

Honestly, it felt out of whack compared to the book itself.. But hey they did waht they do turning it into a movie, I think I'll have to watch it again just to give it a fair chance.
 
I really enjoyed the movie inspite of the holes in the story, and the glaring gaps in both his preperation and in carry/defense. I felt that WS was the perfect actor for the role, and that his balance between introspection and action is definitely a great blend. I like him in the role, and can't think of anyone else that I would have liked to have watched.
 
Awesome

The movie was excellent

Made me keep checkin the dog to see that all the hair was still there (and the girlfriend but don't tell her that):scrutiny::uhoh:

The zombies weren't real great lookin but they got the point across that u wouldn't them over for dinner.

Def recommend it!
 
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