Author Topic: I Am Legend>Transformers (Read 2682 times)

Phoenix Dark · « **on:** March 30, 2008, 05:37:06 PM »

I like Will Smith but I've never denied the obvious: he's not a great actor. His emotional range consists of being sarcastic, yelling really loud, and trying to cry. He does all three in I Am Legend, which wasn't as bad as I expected but was still rather forgettable.

As the last man on earth, Smith has to carry the movie for an hour or so by himself, and fails miserably. Some people are gonna say "bubub wut about SAM, the lovable dog?" And I say there was nothing spectacular about the dog. Toto set a precedent for all canine actors - be cute, be funny, and above all do some shit. Sam does nothing but listen to Will Smith pretend to be a scientist and talk to mannequins ("Sam, I dunno if I can ask her out, what if she says no lol").

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I almost laughed when he died, mainly due to Smith looking like he was about to pass a kidney stone

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You'd expect a movie with a $150milly production budget to at least get the visual aspect right, correct? Nope. Here lies the worse CGI I've seen in ages. Like much of the movie it just felt lazy. The monsters would have been so much more compelling if actual actors were used to a certain degree.

In terms of plot I'll give the movie props for not being cliche. I liked the whole reversal of protagonist/antagonist roles...

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we're used to seeing the good guy run off and try to save his damsel in distress from the clutches of the evil madman, but here there's an interesting reversal which is unexpected and impressive.

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I went into the movie knowing the gist of the "spoiler" and still was surprised. If anyone has read the book, uh what really happened, and how unfaithful was this?

6.5/10

demi · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2008, 05:38:10 PM »

Did you watch the alternate ending? Apparently it's supposed to be better

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2008, 05:39:10 PM »

All it does is spoon feed the plot to the audience, at least from what I've heard. I'll watch it later today

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2008, 05:45:11 PM »

I thought the alt ending

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only makes the love aspect blatantly obvious (ie the alpha male trying to get his girl back), and Will Smith lives?

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rodi · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2008, 05:59:36 PM »

I don't like either ending. The movie sucks.

The Sceneman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2008, 06:30:14 PM »

I Am Legend and Transformers both suck azz

go and watch some real movies, like Big Bully and Spy Kids

The Sceneman · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2008, 06:53:07 PM »

Quote from: Forgotten Ancient on March 30, 2008, 06:50:54 PM

Spy Kids was great...Big Bully...I think I remember that being absolutely horrific.

yeah I was taking the piss

Tom Arnold

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2008, 11:32:05 PM »

I Am Legend was crap, but yes it was still better than Transformers.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:15:35 AM »

Alternate ending sucked as well because it wasn't congruent with the rest of the film.

I am Legend is one small step for negroes and one giant leap backwards for sci-fi.

Bloodwake · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2008, 01:01:32 AM »

A LOT of movies are better than Transformers.

I thought I Am Legend was okay until the end... which makes me curious to see the alternate ending with the rest of the film.

The Sceneman · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2008, 04:14:37 AM »

I Am Legend would have been much better if it wasnt for the awful, unecessary, awful, gross, awful, CG.

especially the big mouth roaring zombies

How shit was that

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2008, 04:19:10 AM »

There's an I Am Legend graphic novel as well as the book itself which > the movie. Im fine with movies being adapted from the book, but unless youre gonna follow it all the way, dont fucking call it I Am Legend.

Eric P · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2008, 08:16:46 AM »

Quote from: You know.. on March 31, 2008, 04:19:10 AM

There's an I Am Legend graphic novel as well as the book itself which > the movie. Im fine with movies being adapted from the book, but unless youre gonna follow it all the way, dont fucking call it I Am Legend.

"i don't see why hollywood keeps buying the rights to my book if they're never going to make my book" -Richard Matheson

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:16:12 PM »

Yeah the inclusion of the kid and his sister was pretty underwhelming. I thought they were advanced zombies or something, which would have been a better twist

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:26:01 PM »

Eric the difference with other movies that have adapted the book is that they didnt call themselves "I Am Legend" until now. The title of the book itself is central to the theme of the original story. The fact that they used that same title for a movie that afaik doesnt represent that at all is completely baffling.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:30:12 PM »

To be fair, it's an adaption of a book, not the book on film - most Hollywood films are very liberal with their adaption content. The movie basically explains why it's called I Am Legend, and I'm guessing it wasn't very accurate in terms of the novel's original idea; could you explain why the book is called I Am Legend?

I thought the script was pretty meh. They wanted Smith to hold down the film for an hour, but they just didn't give him much of anything to do but try to act

Eric P · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:51:45 PM »

Quote from: You know.. on March 31, 2008, 12:26:01 PM

Eric the difference with other movies that have adapted the book is that they didnt call themselves "I Am Legend" until now. The title of the book itself is central to the theme of the original story. The fact that they used that same title for a movie that afaik doesnt represent that at all is completely baffling.

i know

i just love the quote

i'm a matheson fan boy

bud · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:56:19 PM »

i am legend was pretty good, i thought, up until he meets the chick and the little boy--it all went downhill after that. the ending is rofl, and even though the alternate ending is better, it's still not satisfying. and will smith did a pretty good job carrying the movie.

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sam :'(

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MrAngryFace · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2008, 01:19:08 PM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on March 31, 2008, 12:30:12 PM

To be fair, it's an adaption of a book, not the book on film - most Hollywood films are very liberal with their adaption content. The movie basically explains why it's called I Am Legend, and I'm guessing it wasn't very accurate in terms of the novel's original idea; could you explain why the book is called I Am Legend?

I thought the script was pretty meh. They wanted Smith to hold down the film for an hour, but they just didn't give him much of anything to do but try to act

To be fair they called it I AM LEGEND. Other movies have adapted the story with different titles. You stupid fuck.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2008, 01:21:41 PM »

personal attacks FTL dude. Defend your argument, don't throw a bitch fest when Prole isn't here to defend your ass

You've failed to even demonstrate why it shouldn't be called I Am Legend. It's not even a big deal to me, I'm just curious as to why it's such a no no in your book. I didn't like the movie, but it DID tie the title into the movie at the end

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2008, 01:26:07 PM »

It tied in the with the title in a distinguished mentally-challenged way that had nothing to do with the book. It would be like if Peter Jackson made a movie about a jeweler trying to build the largest collection of rings in the world, and at the end of the movie the guy was like "Look at all these rings I have! I am THE LORD OF THE RINGS!"

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2008, 01:27:37 PM »

That's a horrible argument considering the film is STILL based on the book, whether it was adapted fully or not. Your analogy doesn't work because it's a movie that has nothing to do with LOTR. I Am Legend still is based on the premise of the book in terms of the last person on earth, fighting vampire thingies, etc

jeez

Robo · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2008, 02:42:29 PM »

As an adaptation, it's on equal terms with the similarly horrible I, Robot and the Asimov source.

Eric P · « **Reply #23 on:** March 31, 2008, 02:46:57 PM »

i still think that will smith should do a fantasy film to annoy the nerd trifecta of sci-fi horror and fantasy

maybe the hobbit

"welcome to middle-earf!"

Mupepe · « **Reply #24 on:** March 31, 2008, 02:48:38 PM »

Quote from: Eric P on March 31, 2008, 02:46:57 PM

i still think that will smith should do a fantasy film to annoy the nerd trifecta of sci-fi horror and fantasy

maybe the hobbit

"welcome to middle-earf!"

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #25 on:** March 31, 2008, 10:43:05 PM »

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2008, 10:47:52 PM »

My friend liked the movie more than the book.

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The one that bought Transformers on HD-DVD over Bourne.

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Eric P · « **Reply #27 on:** April 01, 2008, 12:32:03 PM »

Quote

could you explain why the book is called I Am Legend?

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in the book he's finally overpowered and caught. they take him to the "city" they've constructed underground and everyone is awed that he's been caught. to him, he had become a legend who kills in daylight, unstoppable, unkillable. a kind of old hat now, but at the time it was rather breath taking to have the "hero" of the book be completely transposed with what would traditionally be the villian of the story.

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from wiki: He is portrayed as a man struggling between his humanity and the pragmatic, often brutal aspects of survival in his new world. As Neville learns more about his nocturnal foes, his views on their nature begin to change. Are they the monsters of legend, or something more? The end is coming for Neville, and as it approaches, the consequences of his actions become clear. Society has begun rebuilding itself, and Neville is not a part of it. At the end of the book Neville realizes that he does not belong to the new people of earth. A revelation is made: with the new world order in place, a role reversal has occurred. Neville has become the "monster in the day" to the new people of earth, becoming to them what Vampires once were to humanity. Neville becomes a new legend in and of himself, hence the title.

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Eric P · « **Reply #28 on:** April 01, 2008, 12:47:48 PM »

i was inspired by this thread to read up on the film version

The next night a group of infected — who have followed Anna and Neville and are led by the alpha male — attack the house, overrunning its defenses. Neville, Anna, and Ethan retreat into the basement laboratory, sealing themselves in with the infected woman Neville has been treating. Discovering that the last treatment has been successful, Neville draws a vial of the alpha female's blood and gives it to Anna. He pushes Anna and Ethan into an old coal chute, and then sacrifices himself to save their lives, using a grenade to kill himself and the attacking infected.

Anna and Ethan escape to Vermont, and locate the survivors' colony, where Anna hands over the cure. In the closing voice-over, she states that Neville's cure enabled humanity to survive and rebuild, establishing his "legend."

that's ridiculously lame.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #29 on:** April 01, 2008, 12:53:04 PM »

NO WAY SEE ITS LIKE AN ADAPTATION BUT IT USES THE REAL TITLE OF THE BOOK TO SUGGEST ITS LEGIT WHEN IN FACT ITS STEAMING FECES!

Jesus christ almighty.

Mupepe · « **Reply #30 on:** April 01, 2008, 12:56:16 PM »

It's "Jesus Christo"

get it right or pay the price

Eric P · « **Reply #31 on:** April 01, 2008, 12:57:53 PM »

Quote from: Mupepe on April 01, 2008, 12:56:16 PM

It's "Jesus Christo"

get it right or pay the price

in PRAYSOS, the official currency of the roman catholic church in mexico

Mupepe · « **Reply #32 on:** April 01, 2008, 12:58:19 PM »

Powerslave · « **Reply #33 on:** April 01, 2008, 01:06:28 PM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov on March 31, 2008, 01:26:07 PM

It tied in the with the title in a distinguished mentally-challenged way that had nothing to do with the book. It would be like if Peter Jackson made a movie about a jeweler trying to build the largest collection of rings in the world, and at the end of the movie the guy was like "Look at all these rings I have! I am THE LORD OF THE RINGS!"

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #34 on:** April 01, 2008, 01:56:28 PM »

Based on the books description it's clear the movie does indeed mirror that, to a certain degree. As I said in the OP, the film does have a reversal in terms of the roles of protagonist and antagonist. Throughout most of the film you think Will Smith is the good guy but really, he's

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"the bad guy" from the vampire perspective considering he stole the Alpha Male's queen

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That's Hollywood for ya. They take the essence in tact (for the most part) and fuck everything else up with filler

Mupepe · « **Reply #35 on:** April 01, 2008, 02:04:36 PM »

i dunno. they didn't demonstrate that as the point at all. the last half of the movie was soooo terrible and I actually love the first half :'(

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #36 on:** April 01, 2008, 03:54:33 PM »

Oh PD, the movie didn't reflect the books ending at all. Ha ha ha. youre bad at film!

Robo · « **Reply #37 on:** April 01, 2008, 04:22:36 PM »

That's an incredibly basic interpretation of the final bit. Isn't the "protagonist" always the BAD guy from the antagonist's perspective? Particularly with the theatrical ending, where there's

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apparently still an entire colony of normal human beings surviving. Will Smith and his little supposed kidnapping nonsense is child's play, and something that works out for the greater good, in a certain perspective. In the original story, Neville is the very last of his kind, and murders hundreds, possibly thousands, of "alive" vampires during the daytime to little end.

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Mupepe · « **Reply #38 on:** April 01, 2008, 04:57:55 PM »

Quote from: RoboJ on April 01, 2008, 04:22:36 PM

That's an incredibly basic interpretation of the final bit. Isn't the "protagonist" always the BAD guy from the antagonist's perspective? Particularly with the theatrical ending, where there's

spoiler (click to show/hide)
apparently still an entire colony of normal human beings surviving. Will Smith and his little supposed kidnapping nonsense is child's play, and something that works out for the greater good, in a certain perspective. In the original story, Neville is the very last of his kind, and murders hundreds, possibly thousands, of "alive" vampires during the daytime to little end.
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Pretty much. None of that is touched on... AT ALL. Instead they take the cheap route and try to tie it into the name.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #39 on:** April 01, 2008, 05:28:38 PM »

Quote from: You know.. on April 01, 2008, 03:54:33 PM

Oh PD, the movie didn't reflect the books ending at all. Ha ha ha. youre bad at film!

I haven't read the book, so my curiosity was nothing but that, curiosity; all I'm saying is that I can see how the film "adapted" the novel in the typical Hollywood blockbuster fashion. Get off your period dude, seriously

And with respect to the interpretation being "basic", I'm sorry but that's what the fucking movie is about.

Robo · « **Reply #40 on:** April 01, 2008, 05:47:33 PM »

I meant to convey that you're sort of reaching to draw a "protaganist turned on its head" angle out of the film in order to make a parallel (however slight) with the book, not to insult. My bad. $:-\$

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #41 on:** April 01, 2008, 05:53:08 PM »

No probo Robo

I dunno, I went into the film not knowing anything about the book, but knowing the spoiler of Will Smith being the

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badguy or whatever

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so when he captured the female vampire and the Alpha Male yelled at him in anguish, I was like "ah, I see where this is going lol." I guess my point about protagonist/antagonist stuff is that usually the perspective of "lover trying to get his chick back" is that of the protagonist, whereas here it's the protagonist who steals the lover away instead. I guess it might be a slight parallel but it's what I perceived from the movie

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #42 on:** May 11, 2008, 02:53:36 AM »

Quote

I am Legend is one small step for negroes and one giant leap backwards for sci-fi.

Wow, that's pretty racist.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #43 on:** May 11, 2008, 03:08:36 AM »

it's true though

Vizzys · « **Reply #44 on:** May 11, 2008, 03:09:54 AM »

highly disagree with the title

transformers is bad, but its at least entertaining

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Author Topic: I Am Legend>Transformers (Read 2682 times)