I Am Legend
by subacati
I have watched two separate movies based on this book. Both movies are a travesty! :awww: …
Last night, after reading this comment over on Mik's WordPress blog, it occurred to me that I had yet to read the book. It just hadn't dawned on me that there had been a book to begin with! 😮
So, I found an epub copy and downloaded it. No sooner had I downloaded it and the lights went out! 🙄
Fortunately, my laptop was fully charged, so I began reading! :yes: .
The story revolves around a man who, by some weird twist of fate, is immune to a plague that has ravished the rest of the human population. Out of a desperate bit to survive, though seemingly lacking the will to, he spends his days destroying both the 'undead' and still living, but infected!
At first, this does seem like a classic 'zombie apocalypse' story. (although the 'undead' are said to be vampires rather than 'zombies')
At the end of the book, in the last lines, the story resolves and reveals the deeper meaning in the title. A true classic of genius level! :hat: .
:star::star::star::star::star::star::star::star::star::star:
Yes, 10/10 for this book! :yes:
I really can't elaborate further on the book without ruining it, but please, do read it to the end! :hat:
title: I Am Legend
Author: Richard Matheson
Now, about those movies! 😡
I watched the movie I Am Legend, which stars Will Smith, quite a while back. The movie could have done with some re-editing. The last scene should have been shown at the start of the movie, and some of the 'dramatic' scenes and the 'comic relief' scene (quote: "I was saving that bacon") should have been left on the editing floor! 🙄 .
I would probably have given that movie a 6/10 back then. However, having read the book, I would say it's not even worth 1/10 :irked: The movie completely ignores the basic premise of the book and the whole point of the title! 🙄 .
At a later point, I watched the 1964 movie, The Last Man On Earth
While this movie does not keep the title of the book, that is in keeping with the fact that it also does not include what would have been the title scene. 🙄 .
Despite this, it follows the story quite faithfully, although deviating here and there and leaving out a few crucial elements. :irked: .
It must get a 3/10 for effort though. 🙄 It's both better than the Will Smith version, for actually trying to follow the story, and worse for it's rather sloppy attempt to create visuals to match the book. (but that was the Sixties, movies weren't meant to be realistic back then! :p )
However, by biggest criticism of both movies is that the great epiphany that that the main character has in the book, which provides the book's title, is completely ignored by both movies! :eyes: .
The true genius of the author's masterpiece is that final realisation, without which, this would just be another cheap 'zombies take over the world' story. :awww: .
Perhaps some movie maker will still make a movie about this book, but it hasn't happened yet! 🙄 .
subacati 
😆 compassionate
Good thing He changed His mind later and sent His son to walk among us, and die in the most terrible way imaginable to redeem the human race. They say God moves in mysterious ways, and I think it's pretty obvious that His concept of how to get things done is slightly different from what most people would find reasonable.For the record: I am perfectly aware that my latest remarks might seem controversal and even offensive to certain people, but I happen to be brought up and educated in a society where it is acceptable to discuss religious questions without sentimental caution.Whithout any shyness…
What better place than here? Communication without recrimination is a rare thing to find
Originally posted by darkesthour:
How dare you?Take that back, at once!!!!:mad:
This is why its rare :awww:
So I just finished watching the Will Smith version on telly. It's not much of a film by any standard. :down:
Nope. Oddly, the alternative ending on the DVD is better. Even sillier, but more satisfying.And even further from the book, which they obviously didn't consult at any point during the making of the film.
Originally posted by Deke:
Sure they did, they read the dust-cover! :whistle: .
Originally posted by Aqualion:
Which were mistranslated and misunderstood throughout history. Proof that he exists!!!:sst: Does this mean I have to declare war on everyone of a different skin colour and belief system now? :left:
Originally posted by Deke:
Depending on the movie I agree. There are some that you need the original soundtrack to pick up the nuances of the performance. You may not understand the words, but a "fuck you" attitude transcends the language barrier and can change an entire scene around.However, there are some (usually bad movies if I'm honest) where dubbing adds so much more. These movies tend to have awful dubbing too. The noir police drama where the grouchy Japanese detective is dubbed by an overly enthusiastic Yorkshire man, still makes me chuckle.
Originally posted by Furie:
I'll never forget a scene in a Hong Kong action film. A bad guy gets stabbed through the palm, pinning him to a wooden crate. He screams something in Chinese, while the subtitles read.
I've been to Poland a couple of times. Turning on the television there is quite a laugh. Everything is dubbed by this one guy who delivers the voice-over in a very authorical and formal way, be it a Discovery documentary or Rambo. It's quite hilarious.
Originally posted by Furie:
That would be the normal thing to do, but, honestly, this concept is getting a tad boring, don't you think? There must be another way… But then again, expecting imagination and creativity from religious fanatics is sort of like expecting a piano to do a pole dance.
Originally posted by Aqualion:
Now that would be funny 😆
And opposable thumbs
It would have to be a Polish piano to do a Pole dance … with some degree of polish, too.
Originally posted by Furie:
I'm firmly of the opinion that God thought that He'd given us intelligence.So God can be wrong sometimes.Or maybe we're just an experiment. That would explain a lot…
Originally posted by Mickeyjoe-Irl:
Apparently there is a box you can get that disables the speech track on movies and reads out the subtitles using the same voices as screen readers. That "Oh, my hand." would be really dramatic in a Stephen Hawking voice, I reckon. Add in a sex scene and any movie becomes a horror movie. :devil:Originally posted by Aqualion:
Having seen the ways that almost any fact can be twisted to become proof of a loving and giving magic man in the sky, I'd say their imaginations are being used in other ways. There may well be one (I don't believe myself, but I may be wrong – has to happen once in my lifetime eh?), but some of the twists they make are ridiculous and blatantly begging reality to prove them right or their entire worldview will go down the drain.
@MikI'm not denying there might be a God. I've had a few experiences that some may call 'religious' so I am not in absolute denial. However, I truely and honestly without any shed of doubt believe in reason and common sense. And what I see when these religious revisionists wave their flags has no reason at all. In my opinion, based on my personal experiences with life as such. Unless of course you define 'reason' as 'whatever it takes to keep people paying' – know what I mean? 😉
Yep. I've said for years that the first cave man who managed to convince his fellows (and let's be charitable: probably himself) that he was in a position to intercede for the tribe with a greater power, and they would pay him with whatever currency was in vogue at the time, so he didn't have to work, discovered a gold mine.Hence, when I see TV appeals for donations to "save the children", or some such lofty idea, I always say "Sell the gold." All these organisations need gold this and that, including buildings … I'm sure that a ceramic cup would hold wine (or whatever) and ceramic, even wooden, holders would support plain wax candles, etc., etc. ad infinitum, perfectly well. They don't need to be gold.
I can't argue with that because, at least on some level, you're spot on! 😆
Originally posted by Aqualion:
Most religious people would rather have a house of faith.
Religion and reason is not necessarily in opposition. My wife is member of the local Methodist congregation, and I have come to know several of the other members as friends. They practice faith within reason. No expulsion of people who think differently, accpetion of diversity ('our' reverent, who happens to be a personal friend of mine, says he would with no hesitation wed homosexual couples if ever some asked him) and, last but certainly not least, they don't preach. I can discuss relgious issues with them without any sentiments, and none of them carries an urge to convert me.I go to their church as a heathen and leave as a heathen – with no problem. I like that. Religion within reason.
Originally posted by Aqualion:
:yes: :up: Interesting!!!…hello Martin good to see you pls don't be shy hahaha!…:) :yes: nice blog!