I AM LEGEND
POSTED BY: reginaroadie
UPDATED: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 00:30
VIEWED: 6835
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Hey All
I wanted to post this on either the Buffy or Angel sections, but since this is more in general about vampires, as opposed to being specifically about either of those series, I figured it would be more appropriate to post in here about I AM LEGEND than those two places, even though the book does touch on themes that those two series touch on as well.
In anticipation for the movie, I went and bought the audiobook for I AM LEGEND to listen to. And after listening to the first half of the book, I completely agree with those who say that the book is up there with Bram Stoker's DRACULA as one of the best vampire books ever written. I think Richard Matheson is a bit of an unsung writer, since not only has he done this, but he's written like half of the TWILIGHT ZONE episodes that Rod Serling didn't get around to writing, as well as SOMEWHERE IN TIME and I guess a few other things I don't know about. This guy is a genius.
And part of that genius has to do with what the book is about. It's not just a guy trying to figure out a scientific way to cure this disease that has turned the world's population into vampiric-like creatures, but also about a guy trying to keep himself from losing his mind. About learning how to deal with the fact that he literally is the last man alive on Earth. There are a couple of times in the book where he goes on these drunken tirades against himself and the vampires where it seems like he'll finally crack and go insane. I haven't actually gotten to the end, so don't spoil it for me.
But I just think it's an awesome book, which actually makes me concerned about the movie. Because I can picture Vincent Price and Charleton Heston slowly going mad. I just can't really picture Will Smith slowly descending into madness. Desperation, yes. But not madness.
But hopefully this time it'll turn out great.
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"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."
Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack
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Quote:I'm betting Will will stretch with this one, plus the director's done crazy before well (Constantine).
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
I can picture Vincent Price and Charleton Heston slowly going mad. I just can't really picture Will Smith slowly descending into madness. Desperation, yes. But not madness.
If it has Matheson's name on it, read it is my motto, or it would be, if I, you know....
Fingers crossed Chrisisall
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Same here. And the book does make me think of BUFFY/ANGEL in that they're both deconstructions of the vampire myth. It's just that Dick Matheson focused more on the vampires from a scientific POV and the psychology of a person being the only human left in a world filled with monsters. As opposed to Whedon who focused more on the usual victim turned slayer and helped along the whole "vampire as pretty boy victim" movement in pop culture.
I dunno. Maybe I'm more into I AM LEGEND because it actually makes the vampires true creatures of the night. They're ugly, dirty, rat-like beings that no woman would want to fuck, unlike Bela Lugosi, Tom Cruise or David Boreanaz. And while Buffy might complain once in a while about her having to shoulder the burden of being a vampire slayer, she at least has a group of people to support her. Robert Neville literally is on his own.
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"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."
Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack
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Find and devour The Shrinking Man, Hell House, Bid Time Return, Shores Of Space, etc., god that guy's stuff is good.
TwilightZoneisall
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I have actually seen THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, and it is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. And while I wouldn't be against a re-make since the fx in that movie could be improved upon, just so long as Keenan Ivory Wayans is not anywhere near it, then I'll be good.
He also wrote the story that "Duel" was based on. And that, without a doubt, is the best TV movie ever made, although I have a personal fondness for RKO 281.
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"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."
Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack
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Legend Of Hell House is my favourite horror movie of all time, and I love Somewhere In Time and The Incredible Shrinking Man (all three HIS screenplays too)...I also have What Dreams May Come...he also wrote The Enemy Within on Star Trek.
I could go on...
As you see, I'll be there for Will's new flick! Chrisisall
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Quote:TV movies? I have a fondness for Kung- Fu, but as far as Matheson goes, he wrote Night Stalker (my god was that great), Night Strangler, Trillogy Of Terror, as well as Duel...
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
He also wrote the story that "Duel" was based on. And that, without a doubt, is the best TV movie ever made, although I have a personal fondness for RKO 281.
Chrisisall, fan
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I have a question regarding the circumstances in the book. If everyone is now vampire-like, and I'm assuming they crave blood, what is it that they are eating? Each other? There are only so many animals to be hunted down and killed especially with the story taking place in New York City.
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We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.
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Well, if you think about it a single human could play dinner to many vampires. Vampire one drains the blood of human. Vampire two drains vampire one’s blood. Vampire three drains vampire two’s blood…Vampire n drains vampire n-1’s blood. Since vampires are immortal, they can start over at one when get done.
Or maybe they’re just ordering out.
Seriously though, this is one of those movies I really want to see. And Will Smith has matured a lot as an actor in the last 10 years. In I,Robot, he played the cop on the edge pretty good, better then I think Heston would have. Charlton Heston was prone to rather dramatic overacting, but Smith is a much more composed actor. His restrained facial expression and defensive body language in I,Robot said as much as Heston’s dramatic “damn dirty apes” stuff, and then when Smith finally broke it was a loud and sudden outburst to a seemingly innocuous by-stander. That is the real way people crack. I think Smith is one of the best, least appreciated, actors in Hollywood.
Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.
Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.
-- Cicero
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I heard nothing about the film until I saw the trailer before watching Beowulf last month. I read the book last year, and as long as the film is faithful to it, it should be a great film. Hopefully they won't change the ending, anyone who's read the book to the end will know why I say that, so I won't spoil it any further.
I think Will Smith is more than capable of the role; he's certainly a much better actor than he is a musician.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
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