The movie i am legend directed by francis lawrence is dystopian movie. I am legend dystopian movies always have a big change in the society. Apr 18, 2020 in fact, without the original ending, the movie s title of i am legend doesnt actually make much sense. Book vs movie i am legend electronic media collective. The i am legend community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you.
Film omega man with charlton heston, based on the classic novel i am legend. Richard mathesons i am legend has been made into several movies, including the recent will smith movie, and the last man on earth, starring vincent price. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville set in new york city after a virus, which was originally created to cure cancer, has wiped out most of mankind, leaving neville as the last human in new york, other than. Everything wrong with i am legend in 12 minutes or less duration. Mar 25, 2015 everything wrong with i am legend in 12 minutes or less duration. Alice krippin is interviewed about her great discovery, she has changed the measles so that it attacks cancerous cells.
If anyone had any doubts left that will smith could carry a movie, i am legend will banish them forever. Stephen king considered this an important book in his development as a writer, and the use of a hero trapped indoors fending off the undead inspired george a. Despite the books popularity in hollywood, neither those first two adaptations nor this most recent one have been completely faithful to mathesons novel. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of i am legend by richard matheson. I am legend changed the vampires of the novel to the mindless darkseekers, a big change that made the original ending not work at all. I am legends book ending is different to both versions of the movie, but skews closer to the controversial alternate ending of the film. Robert neville, as he searches for a cure to a vicious, manmade disease. Later remade as a 2nd movie with will smith minor cover creasing. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Richard matheson 192620 was the new york times bestselling author of i am legend, hell house, somewhere in time, the incredible shrinking man, now you see it, and what dreams may come, among others. If he had been more analytical, he might have calculated the approximate time of their arrival. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson.
The 2007 film was partially based on the 1971 film as well as the original source. Of particular salience in i am legend are the motifs of being isolated, sexually frustrated, and preyed upon. But i went into reading i am legend knowing the ending, knowing the twist. I am legend by richard matheson plot summary litcharts. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson. He was named a grand master of horror by the world horror convention, and received the bram stoker award for lifetime achievement.
Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in new york city struggles valiantly to find a cure in this postapocalyptic action thriller. Smith does a great job as robert neville, the protagonist, and despite some completely unnecessary cgi characters that looked old after a couple of years, its quite a pretty and w. Set in 1970s southern california, the novel is about the life of robert neville, the seemingly only survivor of a worldwide pandemic. Its as if the screenwriters or director, or producer ran out of ways to wrap it up. The film had been in development for ten years before it was finally produced with will smith in the lead. How i am legends ending is different in the book screen. January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he could get back. Book vs movie i am legend the richard matheson novel vs.
Another important theme of i am legend is the powerboth benevolent and maliciousof science. Jun 04, 2011 sometimes the book is betterones imagination can surely be more entertaining than what hollywood tosses out, right. A few days ago i received an email notification that my bff just finished reading i am. Matheson actually cowrote an early script, but was. Had the i am legend movie portrayed the darkseekers more like the vampires of the book, this would have been a much easier idea for audiences to go along with. While using the title of richard mathesons novel suggested that it would be a more faithful adaptation than previous versions 1964s the last man on earth and 1971s the omega man changing the creatures completely altered the. Throughout the book, robert neville studies the science of vampirism. Much better than the film versions, the omega man with charlton heston, i am legend with will smith, and last man on earth with vincent price.
The streets are overgrown with weeds, cars are abandoned, the infrastructure is beginning to collapse. There are also occasions where the big wigs in hollywood outdo the imagination and give us a masterpiece. They are cannibalistic zombies who have an aversion to light. I am legend is a post apocalyptic vision by richard matheson, created in 1954 it tells the story of robert neville, the last surviving human in the world, surrounded by bloodthirsty vampires both living and undead. Richard mathesons i am legend is a masterpiece of horror that has spawned three film adaptations, none of which have quite captured the essence of what makes this. There are two camps when it comes to discussing the issue of race in mathesons book. Robert neville is an average, casually but not completely racist white american.
There are stretches when he literally talks to himself, and hes. The novel i am legend 1954, written by american author richard matheson, was adapted for the movie by screenwriters akiva goldsman and mark protosevich. I really liked that one, and i wrongly assumed that since they had used the original title from the book that both movies were based on, that it stayed closer to the original source material. Differences between i am legend book vs movie page 4. But when it comes down to it, is the book really better than the movie. The book has inspired at least two other films, the last man on earth starring vincent price and the omega man starring charlton heston.
The thing is, i am legend isnt supposed to refer to him being a legend for the remaining humans, as the final cut shows, but rather to him being a legend to the darkseeker, being the monster that haunts their nightmares. Neither movie was anything like this book and this book was bad. How i am legends ending is different in the book screen rant. Whether is it has something to do with aliens or the world ending. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that was influential in the modern development of zombie and vampire literature and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. I am legend is brilliant commentary and society and human relationships and, really, the very definition of humanity. Hes virtually alone in this scifi thriller, with a dog albeit a talented one as his only foil.
It definitely sparks everyones curiosity to know how one looks after a 12 year period, particularly touching on the movie i am legend which. I am legend is based on a 1954 richard matheson scifi novel of the same name. Spoilers its not a bad movie, and it does have a certain charm. After their deaths, the worlds human beings rise from the grave and become vampires. The movie stars will smith as virologist robert neville, the apparent sole uninfected survivor in a postapocalyptic version of new york city where most people are dead, and. Dec 14, 2007 while i am legend, the latest in a series of film versions of a novel by richard matheson, fits comfortably within the conventions of the scifi horror genre here come those zombies. I am legends biggest change from the book broke the movie. This book is nothing like the movie and yet i can see the blood of this novel deep throughout the film. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am legend 2007. With i am legend we have an intriguing opportunity to compare book and film.
Sometimes the book is betterones imagination can surely be more entertaining than what hollywood tosses out, right. The last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, i am legend 2007. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am. Theres lessons to be learned about mob behavior and respect for minorities. Dec, 2007 the opening scenes of i am legend have special effects so good that they just about compensate for some later special effects that are dicey. My thoughts on i am legend, both with the 1954 book written by richard matheson and the 2007 film directed by francis lawrence. The year is 1976one year after a deadly plague sweeps the world, killing virtually all human beings. In 1954 richard matheson published i am legend, and since its original run it has been adapted for film a total of four times. Mathesons original 1954 novel, robert neville, the main character, is a blondehaired boozing chainsmoker who listens to a lot of beethoven and brahms. Still, you cant fault i am legend for trying to be different from the typical action thriller.
This version of i am legend is the third movie adaptation of mathesons novel. Robert neville is a scientist who was unable to stop the spread of the terrible virus that was incurable and manmade. It was influential in the development of the zombievampire genre and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. The book is important historically, though without the 2007.
I am legend contains a surprising amount of psychological insight about grief, loneliness, and depression. In the process, he empowers himself and gives himself a new purpose in life. Now for a topic thats neither divisive nor prone to eliciting irrational anger and awkward discomfort. Released at the height of the holiday movie season, i am legend went on to become one the top ten grossing films released in 2007. Oct 24, 20 richard mathesons i am legend is a masterpiece of horror that has spawned three film adaptations, none of which have quite captured the essence of what makes this book so great. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing i am legend near you. Although there is no direct dialect in the film one of the zombie members shows authority over the others through his actions. The successes and failures in adapting i am legend film. Jun 12, 2016 my thoughts on i am legend, both with the 1954 book written by richard matheson and the 2007 film directed by francis lawrence.
The movie took all the intelligence out and just made it about the action. Immune, neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of new york city and perhaps the world. Sep 01, 2009 in 1954 richard matheson published i am legend, and since its original run it has been adapted for film a total of four times. The novels main character, robert neville, is the last human being left on eartheveryone else has been turned into a vampire. The two earlier films are the last man on earth 1964 and the omega man 1971. Francis lawrences 2007 film i am legend had not one but two endings, and while both are different from what happens in the original novel by richard matheson, the alternate ending not shown in theaters is a lot closer. The successes and failures in adapting i am legend film inquiry.
Or perhaps the film simply doesnt have the same nuances as the richard matheson book on which its based. I am legend narrative, representation of race, class and. Its incredible, a survival story of one lonely man against. The first says, man, its just a badass vampire book. Years ago, you see, my husband had wanted to talk about the book, probably when the most recent adaptation to movie form had come out, and i am well known for not reading horror, so it wasnt an unreasonable assumption that i would never read this. The film was released to theaters on friday, december 14, 2007. Differences between i am legend book vs movie page 1. Set in 1970s southern california, the novel is about the life of robert neville, the seemingly only survivor of a worldwide pandemic which causes people to turn. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic action thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson.
I am legend was released on december 14, 2007, in the united states and canada, and opened to the largest ever box office not adjusted for inflation for a nonchristmas film released in the u. With will smith, alice braga, charlie tahan, salli richardsonwhitfield. Set in 1970s southern california, the novel is about the life of robert neville, the seemingly only survivor of a worldwide. We see manhattan three years after a deadly virus has killed every healthy human on the island, except one. Apr 14, 2019 book vs movie i am legend the richard matheson novel vs. Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am legend. Play in new window book vs movie i am legend the richard matheson novel vs. In the book, i am legend are the final words that robert thinks on his deathbed, as he realizes that in death he will become a terrifying legend just like vampires once were. I picked it up mostly because i read about the alternate ending of the will smith movie, which some criticized for not following the spirit of the book.
During the invasion of nevilles house the leader stands outside while the rest of the horde rushes in, showing much of higher status. We depend on other people not just for re production and survival, but for psychological and emotional growth. January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he. The opening scenes of i am legend have special effects so good that they just about compensate for some later special effects that are dicey. While richard mathesons postapocalyptic science fiction book, i am legend, and francis lawrences postapocalyptic science fiction movie, i am legend, both have similarities and differences, in the end, the original book version prevails mainly because the movie version alters the original storyline too much. I am legend is a 2007 film adaption of the novel of the same name.
Cinema had its first crack at mathesons book with vincent prices the last man on earth. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The movie stars will smith as virologist robert neville, the apparent sole uninfected survivor in a postapocalyptic version of new york city where most people are dead, and the. While i am legend, the latest in a series of film versions of a novel by richard matheson, fits comfortably within the conventions of the scifi horror genre here come those zombies. Bff claims i am legend is the same as the movie dear rbooks. Film is a column comparing books to the film adaptations they spawn, often discussing them on a. The opposite is true, actually, because i am legend is mathesons condemnation of a white power structure that facilitated racial subjugation in america in the first place. The margos are back and ready to get a little postapocalyptic with the 1954 classic novella i am legend from prolific storyteller richard matheson.