I Am Legend - why, oh why, oh why!

[Donachiel]

Sheduled for a november 2007 release, I am legend is the film adaptation of the Richard Matheson novel of the same name. Has anyone read the book? Just out of interest.

For those who haven't I'll give you an idea... The population of the world appears to have been killed off by a mysterious virus, turning all those infected in to 'Vampire-like' creatures. Robert Neville, is the last human being. Living in a fortress of his old home, constantly hounded by the vampire spectres of the people he once knew. Absolute classic...

Why, oh why, do they insist on pissing on a classic? The reason why I ask is, this is not the first time this book has been made into a feature film. The most notable of these adaptations, which there has been two - to my knowledge - and an abandoned Ridley Scott version that would star Arnold Schwarzenegger, in 1990 - is the Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston.... Click me for more... But be sure to come back.

OK, back.... The Heston flick abandons all elements of vampirism and instead has Neville as a researcher who has survived a biological attack by injecting himself with serum. He remains hounded by the 'altered', mutant-like people who weren't quite killed. Still a classic... but not the same story... hence, a different name....

So they're doing a new film - after Ridley Scott's film became too expensive. helmed by director Francis Lawrence (who did comic adaptation Constantine last year) And it will be called 'I am Legend'.... however, who to play the role of Neville. Let's see, Arnold (the governer) Schwarzenegger is out of the question. What other action hero do we have. Will Smith - come on, serious suggestions only..... Oh, you were serious.....

Yes, Will Smith - the literary classic ruining, fresh prince of crap action blockbusters... What a joke - I can almost here the accompanying rap song that will get the kids in now.... Surly this must be a 12A cert film....

But at least this is I am Legend... Or is it... The IMDB plot write up says: "The lone healthy survivor of a biological war faces off against a new breed of nocturnal mutants" Check out the entry here... Sound familiar.... It will if you just read the Omega man plot. So is this I am Legend, or an Omega man remake... [scratch of head] I'm confused....

Those guys over at aint it cool also have a little insider info. where someone living in New York have been told they are filming near his house and give a plot to the locals...."Will Smith plays Robert Neville, an Army doctor who stays behind on the island on Manhattan, after a plague forces the evacuation of the island. He is immune, and has stayed behind to find a cure..." Read the full article here.... Why not call it the Omega man? Why, oh why lead us to believe we are finally getting an I am Legend film....?

Answers on a post card sent to the "Hollywood producers are wankers" competition, giving your age and your parents signature.

Alternatively post a reply here...

[Alpha]

i've not read the book and Will Smith was pretty good in Independance Day

i've not seen Omega Man either

[Ck]

Will you still watch it?

[Mr Morningstarr*]

The Omega Man is brilliant. I'd go and watch a remake of it, but perhaps not if it star's the fresh prince.

[Donachiel]

So we agree... This is not I am Legend, but a remake of Omega man...? It just seems like a cheap trick to remake a film, yet appear to be making a new one.

[Snapper]

Yeah not sure about Will Smith..... may be Matt Damon?

Like the Charley Heston film though intresting concept but the fact hollywood are thinking of doing yet another classic film/novel does it mean they are running out of ideas for definite?

[Mr Morningstarr*]

Till the next fad comes along.

[Snapper]

Here's Will Smith in a shot from the set:





Images courtesy of: worstpreviews.com (am sure that may make Donachiel feel better)

[Wycliffe]

HEY!

My New Yorker sister told me that she was downtown and saw Will Smith shooting a movie scene. The city was supposed to be deserted and he was running around all bloody with a gun and a woman and a kid. Off camera though, the opposite side of the street was jammed with thrilled tourists.

Shortly before, she saw him inside a building laughing his head off.

[Donachiel]

Yeah, I'm led to believe that the stroyline in the movie has been scaled down from world outbreak to just a Manhattan Island outbreak .

Not entirely sure why this is, but it sounds like it has almost nothing to do with the original novel. I mean, a woman and a child, please.... This is just another shameless money earner from the people who bored you with I Robot.

This is one of those sure-thing money earners at our cinema. You know full well the movie is crap, and everyone who watches it will forget about it before the next blockbuster comes out - usually within a couple of months - but they will watch it because the advertisement voice over guy told them to.

A "Fool and his money" springs to mind.