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Post by nicolecushing on Mar 5, 2013 8:08:38 GMT -5
I FINALLY got around to reading Richard Matheson's I AM LEGEND.
Wow! Phenomenal book. It's a page-turner, but also not without some powerful, moving writing. I'm convinced that this book is influenced by Matheson's experience as an infantry sergeant in WWII -- from page one, Robert Neville is a traumatized man, killing to avoid being killed.
I should point out that the ending of the book is a little darker than either of the two movie versions I've seen. (I've seen the Vincent Price version, which as far as I'm concerned, is the definitive screen adaptation; I've also seen the Will Smith version...which I just want to purge from my memory...UGH!...What a stupid Hollywood-Happy ending they tacked on there! Haven't yet seen the Charlton Heston "Omega Man" version).
So, what do y'all think. How many of y'all have read the book AND seen more than one version of the movie? What did you think about the adaptation?
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Post by gurumatt on Mar 5, 2013 14:14:56 GMT -5
I agree that the Last Man on Earth is closest to the book, but I don't think its a very strong film. The omega man is a guilty pleasure for me. The film I Am Legend is terrible and basically wipes its arse with the book. Forget the films, read the book as you could do it in a day, it's fantastic and I can't recommend it enough. The book really is something.
I find Matheson's books to be superior to all the film adaptations, well at least for those I've read/seen. For me the Legend of Hell House works a lot better as a book, the film is also good. The book of Stir of Echoes is also good and quite different from the film, which is okay. He seems like an unsung champion of the horror genera, with his excellent Twilight Zone episodes, Poe adaptations etc. Well worth a spotlight episode on the podcast if you ask me.
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Post by bishop746 on Mar 5, 2013 16:36:09 GMT -5
Great Topic
Richard Roeper called Matheson's great novel "unfilmable" and I have to agree with him outside of a multi-part mini-series. The incredible details that Matheson adds about why the vampires hate crucifixes or garlic are so well thought out and just brilliant. The final realization by the narrator that he has become a monster in the eyes of the "normal people" is one of the best moments in horror fiction.
I find it interesting that each film gets the novel correct in its own way but no one has been able to put it all into one package. Omega gets the vampires correct in that they are thinking creatures but turns them into Dominican monks for some reason and then introduces a whole crew of other characters so there goes the whole "last man on earth". I Am Legend gets the enviorment right but everything and I do mean EVERYTHING else wrong. I agree that LMOE comes about the closest. You have inspired me to revisit that novel soon.
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Post by nicolecushing on Mar 5, 2013 17:48:06 GMT -5
Just stumbled onto this over at Goodreads...holy crap, looks interesting! Includes a screenplay Matheson, himself, wrote for a proposed HAMMER (!) version of I AM LEGEND -- obviously, never got made. I may have to pick this up, at some point. www.goodreads.com/book/show/6599284-visions-deferred |
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Post by nicolecushing on Mar 15, 2013 0:10:47 GMT -5
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Post by xtrialbyfirex on Mar 15, 2013 12:23:14 GMT -5
I think it's weird that people complain about the CG in the Will Smith version, when the effects in the Vincent Price version are embarrassingly bad.
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Post by nicolecushing on Mar 18, 2013 9:39:48 GMT -5
I think it's weird that people complain about the CG in the Will Smith version, when the effects in the Vincent Price version are embarrassingly bad. I don't know...When I think about the Price version, I honestly don't even think of "effects", you know? I think it's a movie pretty much without effects, and -- for me -- that works. It's really just about the story. I much prefer movies in which effects are minimal and story is the most important feature. While by no means perfect, I think the Price version captures the main theme of the book -- that the roles have been reversed at the Robert Neville (or, in the Price version, Robert Morgan) has become the monster and the vampires have become the norm. |
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bigmac
Revolting Revenant
You mean the movie lied!?!?!?
Posts: 1,508
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Post by bigmac on Mar 22, 2013 19:45:02 GMT -5
I have to admit, The Omega Man is a lot of silly fun and a great film for a rainy day.
That set, the novel is superior to any film version. Last Man on Earth was close, but just didn't work. As for I Am Legend.....
Damn, just noticed the site doesn't have a vomiting smilie. When discussing movies like that, it seems too appropriate.
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Post by hammerhead on Mar 23, 2013 15:26:02 GMT -5
Academic question, given that another remake is off the table for another generation, but do you think a filmmaker will ever have the balls to go with Matheson's original ending?
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bigmac
Revolting Revenant
You mean the movie lied!?!?!?
Posts: 1,508
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Post by bigmac on Mar 24, 2013 12:08:16 GMT -5
I don't think it's a filmmaker's lack of balls, but rather the studio's desire to market the story to the widest audience possible in order to recoup their investment. The filmmaker could have a script that follows the original story, captures the themes of the novel and stays true to the author's intent, but the studio will start making demands to change everything to make the film sell. That's why we got Will Smith fighting CGI things, along with a happy ending to the movie.
Price's version is closest because it wasn't subjected to the demands of a studio to create a tentpole film. At least that's my opinion.
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cdb
Creeping Corpse
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Post by cdb on Mar 26, 2013 11:57:38 GMT -5
I think it's weird that people complain about the CG in the Will Smith version, when the effects in the Vincent Price version are embarrassingly bad. The effects in the Will Smith version struck me as the part of the film that deserved the least criticism and hate. Both he and Braga are good actors too, so I see it as a major screwed up opportunity on the part of the studio and director. |
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