"I Am Legend"

[SynthLord]

Just got back from the theater ... all in all, pretty good.

If you live under a rock, the movie is about a biologist who's (conveniently) the only survivor of a virus that has killed 90% of the world's population, and turned the other 10% into cannibalistic zombies. He lives alone in NYC, "ground zero" for the viral outbreak, where he continues to search for a cure while keeping a strict schedule (to escape madness), and avoiding cannibal zombies (to avoid dying).

This isn't like other Will Smith sci-fi movies that are fast-paced adventure flicks. Legend takes its time to develop. If the intent was to draw in audiences, making everyone examine what life would be like as the last person alive, it succeeded.

The shots of New York City - which I recently visited for the first time after a lifetime of wanting to go - were eerie. Times Square, Broadway, Central Park, all empty, quiet, overgrown. Pretty spooky given such fresh memories of being amongst 8 million people living in close quarters.

- - -

It didn't hurt that a full trailer for the next Batman movie, The Dark Knight, preceded Legend. It looks to me like Knight is going to be as much - if not more - of a badass movie as Batman Begins is.

Heath Ledger looks twisted as Joker, who seems more like a sick, sociopathic terrorist than the cartoonish, likeable prankster he's often portrayed as. I can tell already that this is one villain I'll be happy to see crushed. Good - I'm tired of the bad guy being more interesting and likable than the good guy.

Morgan Freeman, Michael Cane, Gary Oldman, and (of course) Christian Bale are back, and the whole writing/production/direction team from Begins are back. The only casting change was to cast Maggie Gyllenhall (rawr) as DA Rachel Dawes instead of Katie Holmes. (Rumor has it Tom Cruise talked Katie out of the sequel. Good. Freaks.)

I can't wait!!

[shredhead7]

I saw it yesterday. Overall I liked it, though it was a little tedious at times. I also felt that Will Smith was a little mis-cast as Neville. It was still a good movie and worth watching. It deveated from the book a lot, but still retained the general frame of the story, so that was interesting.

As for the Batman trailer, I'm on the fence. I don't care for Comic Book movies any more, though I liked them until I was about 25 or so. I was bored one night and bought the PPV of Batman Begins and was very plesantly surprised at the fact that it was more "realistic" and darker than other comic flicks (Ie. Spiderman, Superman, Hulk, et all). Having said all of that, the trailer looked like it was going back to a more comic book type movie, meaning the realism is getting blown out of proportion again. Heath also looked like he watched the original batman movie 1000 times and has copied Jacks performance. I will wait to see what others say before I spend money.

[BlueHeaven]

This is the only movie that has come out in a long time that has drawn my attention. But, since I never go the movies, I'll have to wait for a good quality Bootleg to come out :) (I have one already, but don't watch to watch it thru in such bad quality). Really disappointed with the CAM quality on the one currently circulating. They usually do a much better job than that.

[Thumper]

It's on my short list of movies to see over the Christmas break.

[BlueHeaven]

Finally found and watch a good quality version of it.
Started out good, but then just turned into the same old Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, Resident Evil type movies.
Really could have done with out it and been more original.
Still a good see though.

[Todzilla]

Sounds more like "The Omega Man" than Romero stuff...

[Mosby]

Sounds more like "The Omega Man" than Romero stuff...

Might be because it is a remake of the Omega man.

[webmastermarty]

I went to see it and i was dissapointed. I don't think it lived up the hype, as most things don't... My cinema was totally packed out!

[sabriel9v]

It's a pretty good flick. I thought it was kinda depressing, but not bad overall. Very good apocalyptic film.

[StratMonster]

I saw it over the holidays. I thought it was well done. The look of the film was fantastic. Will Smith pulled it off well. All in all, I'd give it an 8 1/2.

[GloomGenerator]

Liked the movie, hated the ending. Come on...it didn't have to end that way. It defied common sense, IMO.

[Marshall Jeffer]

Might be because it is a remake of the Omega man.

Omega Man was a remake of The Last Man On Earth, which was based on the Sci Fi Novel I Am Legend By Richard Matheson.

Any similarities between the Romero Movies and I am Legend is because Romero lifted quite a bit from Matheson's original book and even admitted he did: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Legend

Started out good, but then just turned into the same old Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, Resident Evil type movies.
Really could have done with out it and been more original.
Still a good see though.

Funny because the movie sticks to the original story more faithfully than the other 2 versions instead of trying to change things for the masses. If you think of it in the context that all those movies you mentioned are actually a derivative of this original story you may appreciate it more. The mistake a lot of people are making is thinking this is just some Romero ripoff, when it's actually the other way around.

[Dr.Innovation]

This is the only movie that has come out in a long time that has drawn my attention. But, since I never go the movies, I'll have to wait for a good quality Bootleg to come out :) (I have one already, but don't watch to watch it thru in such bad quality). Really disappointed with the CAM quality on the one currently circulating. They usually do a much better job than that.

I have a copy, of the ACTUAL DVD rip that was made right after it showed up in theatres.......It's out there, so is National Treasure 2...But I have seen both in Theatres twice because the quality of the big screen and the sound is worth 10 bucks to me

[Dr.Innovation]

As for the Batman trailer, I'm on the fence. I don't care for Comic Book movies any more, though I liked them until I was about 25 or so.That explains it....
Jack played the Joker with his own twist, a more comical approach.
Heath's been No doubt reading the Comics and taking direction to be true to the REAL JOKER, which is Dark.
I was bored one night and bought the PPV of Batman Begins and was very plesantly surprised at the fact that it was more "realistic" and darker than other comic flicks (Ie. Spiderman, Superman, Hulk, et all). Having said all of that, the trailer looked like it was going back to a more comic book type movie, meaning the realism is getting blown out of proportion again. Heath also looked like he watched the original batman movie 1000 times and has copied Jacks performance. I will wait to see what others say before I spend money.
I disagree.

What is realism? This is Hollywood. Did you complain about Die hard 4, when BRuce takes out the chopper with his, oh I don't know CAR?!!?

Or more realistic is a White man, the head of a secret Ninja society names Raz Al Gul? Ok man.:poke:

[cheeky_m0nkeys]

Personally I really enjoyed the movie overall. Will Smith's performance is incredible when you consider that he isn't playing off anyone except a dog for almost half the movie. That is definitely something commendable.
My one major vice were the graphics. Im not really sure what the intent of making them look so...cruddy...but animation studios for kids movies have produced characters more decent looking.

As for the Dark Knight trailer...I cannot wait. I was on the fence for Heath Ledger when I heard tell that he would be playing Joker, but seeing him in action, criminey, I think he's going to bring a great perspective on the character. Even his face, how its so gloomy, twisted, messed and uneven...that seems so much more belieavble to how Id imagine he might look in real life. I cant wait to see him or Aaron Eckharts portrayal of Harvey. This movie is going to be sick.

[ChromaLord]

I thought this was going to be a great film- the first 3rd was very compelling, serious, deliberate, and real but then it turned into a implausible grade B monster movie and nothing more.

[elle08]

nice one. the soundtrack is catching, Bob Marley fans would surely adore this movie... :)

[lewey]

i love any movie that involved unfriendly environment, loneliness and lurking danger that sends shivers down your spine :thu:

[krzyk]

For me it was a great movie, the scenes with playing golf on a jet (on a carrier) was superb. also the one when Neville sleeps in the bathroom and there are horrifing sounds outside was great.
Some people say that the monsters look too much computer generated, but I didn't even notice it, while watching the movie I thought that they are just actors characterized.

[Marc G]

I am Legend was a great movie.....actualy.... it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.....

[ElDuderotomy]

Sounds more like "The Omega Man" than Romero stuff...

Omega Man was a remake of a Vincent Price movie. I can't recall the title though.


Anybody ever seen "The World, The Flesh and The Devil"?
That stared Harry Belefonte and Inger Stevens

[infragreen]

I thought it was awesome. I totally got lost in it, surprisingly.
I thought the graphics and effects were fine, I don't know what the complaints are about here.

I normally don't care for Will Smith, but he really works in this.
Definitely worth a rent.

[RockingRick]

I have a copy, of the ACTUAL DVD rip that was made right after it showed up in theatres.......It's out there, so is National Treasure 2...But I have seen both in Theatres twice because the quality of the big screen and the sound is worth 10 bucks to me

It's called a screener , and you're not the only one. Anyways the movie I will honestly say was not very entertaining. I honestly can say I dozed off in a few parts ( I was more sleepy then bored ). And the previews made it look so good.