Bleddyn Williams

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: I Am Legend

I just finished reading the novella on the train this morning. Paul's passion for the book and a curiosity about the original material made me want to read it.

I loved the book! Having seen both "Omega Man" and "I Am Legend," I can say that neither has really scratched the surface of despair that permeates the book. The "Legend" filmmakers obviously loved the setting, but have produced a film that is so different in tone and action that I wonder why they didn't just go with an original screenplay.

Having said that, "Legend" is a lot better than "The Omega Man." I saw that one as a kid and thought it awesome. Revisiting numerous old favorites on home video is often a treat to find a degree of depth that totally went over my head as a kid.

No such luck with "Omega." This clunky production was one of those films that had me shaking my head and laughing. I can see why I enjoyed it as a young one, but boy has it not aged well!

Paul Arnette

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: I Am Legend

Bleddyn, I'm glad to hear I turned on at least one person to the book, and I am even happier to know you enjoyed it so much. I think most people that read it will at least understand my disappointment with each movie adaption that has been done since its publication better, even if they don't necessarily share my exact same opinions of those movies.

You might want to consider watching The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price. For my money, it is the most successful adaptation of I Am Legend, but it is not without its flaws. Richard Matheson wrote the majority of the screenplay for that film, but some changes were made, particularly to the main character's name and the end, and Matheson wound up using a pen name because he wasn't completely happy.

Bleddyn Williams

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: I Am Legend

Thank you, Paul! I do understand your disappointment because the two versions that I have seen really have nothing of the despair evident throughout the whole book!


I'll certainly pick it up. I'm surprised I haven't seen it already, being a rabid Price fan in my youth! I'm going for the Midnight Movies version, with Panic in Year Zero on the other side.

Hard to believe that people could fight over the main character's name. Is Robert Neville that hard?

RickER

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: I Am Legend

I picked this disc up last year on sale. The Price movie is OK. It has a European feel to it, and was made in Rome if i recall. But of course its supposed to be the US. Cant really put my finger on what i dont like about it, but its rather dull and hard to sit through, for me anyway. Now Panic in the Year Zero was a surprise. I had never seen it. What a fine movie! I have never seen a movie from the early 60s touch on some of the things they did. They didnt pull any punches with the story. Of course it may seem quaint now to younger people. But, if you think about the era it was made, it was shocking! Hope you enjoy both movies Bleddyn, and let us know what you think!

Lou Sytsma

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: I Am Legend

Good to see some book love here. If only someone could make that version.

Every man is my superior, in that I may learn from him.

DeanR

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: I Am Legend

I saw the movie last night and preferred the Theatrical ending. I agree with previous posters that the film is good for the first two thirds and the last third was a dissapointment. The picture quality was really good but the CGI was bad, almost as bad as the CGI in Along Came a Spider. I was thinking about The Omega Man all throughout watching this film. After I finished watching the movie I went on the internet and read that Chuck Heston had passed away, RIP.