My thoughts on i am legend, both with the 1954 book written by richard matheson and the 2007 film directed by francis lawrence. Changing i am legend s creatures which were created by the virus outbreak in the movie made adapting the books ending impossible, as the darkseekers showed almost no signs of heightened intelligence earlier in the movie. I am legend changed the vampires of the novel to the mindless darkseekers, a big change that made the original ending not work at all. Richard mathesons i am legend is a masterpiece of horror that has. Another big part of the i am legend book thats never been adapted faithfully is its ending, which sees neville commit suicide rather than be executed for his apparent crimes. This man, our protagonist in both the book and film, is robert neville. The creatures in logans version were similar to the darkseekers of the finished film in their animalistic, barbaric nature. Instead of blowing himself and the hemocytes up with a grenade, neville discovers that the hemocytes actually came for the female he captured earlier in the movie. As the final lethargy engulfs him, he thinks, i am legend. I am legend originally had an ending closer to the books, but that was changed after negative reactions from test. Differences between i am legend book vs movie page 4. The rest of the book is a collection of short horror stories and not very good ones either. This version of i am legend is the third movie adaptation of mathesons novel.
The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am legend 2007. But when it comes down to it, is the book really better than the movie. Jun 04, 2011 but when it comes down to it, is the book really better than the movie. It is the third film adaptation of richard mathesons novel i am legend 1954, following the last man on earth 1964 and the omega man 1971. The books characters realization of their perspective is the whole point of the book. Neville kills himself with poison after being captured by the human like vampires. Will smiths 2007 box office hit i am legend had an ending that divided audiences, but an alternate ending exists that does more justice to the book. Youtube has the ending of the movie i am legend, as it was originally planned. The infected people attack nevilles lab and he hands over the infected female hes been working on to the leader a. I am legend 2007 the basics hopefully all of you know the basic story behind i am legend.
The ending in the book is completly diffrent the movie because they are diffrent stories. The coronavirus outbreak feels like something out of a science fiction or horror novel. The book ends with june and day together, running from the law and planning to go to the waterfront to pick up eden before crossing the border and going into colonies territory, which signifies a fresh start for all the characters. I am legend is named vampire novel of the century this article is more than 8 years old richard mathesons 1954 novel bats off competition from anne rices interview with. In the original i am legend ending, robert neville discovers that he had captured the significant other of one of the vampires leaders.
This has made him a mythical figure much like the vampires themselves once were. I am legend is about a zombielike horde wiping out much of humanity, but its confusing ending becomes clear if you understand the personal journey of its hero. Day lives with his friend tess in the poor lake sector. All the completely insane ideas hollywood dreamed up for i am legend 2. Putting all of that in a movie might not be possible or might not make a good movie, but the alternate ending for this one goes just about as far as it could in one scene. Or perhaps the film simply doesnt have the same nuances as the richard matheson book on which its based. At the end of the novel, neville finally sees things from his enemies point of view.
They are cannibalistic zombies who have an aversion to light. Sep 06, 2012 last night i finished reading i am legend. The first time was in 1964 with the last man on earth featuring vincent price, and then in 1971 with the omega man with charlton heston. The most wanted criminal in this society is fifteenyearold day, a homeless boy who steals to survive and to help the poor, and undermines the republics war effort against the colonies through vandalism. The i am legend dvd with this alternate ending included is now available to buy on. Differences between i am legend book vs movie page 1. January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he could get back. I am legend is named vampire novel of the century books. The two earlier films are the last man on earth 1964 and the omega man 1971. Need help with chapter 17 in richard mathesons i am legend.
Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. The story stops annoyingly suddenly, as if the rest of it has been missed off. I am legends alternate ending wrapped things up way better. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville. Jun 12, 2016 my thoughts on i am legend, both with the 1954 book written by richard matheson and the 2007 film directed by francis lawrence.
If he had been more analytical, he might have calculated the approximate time of their arrival. Film column i did on the source material and the four films loosely inspired by it. At the end of the story, he realizes that, as the only human left in a world of vampires, he is now the monster. I am legend 1010 movie clip alternate ending 2007 hd. Instead of thinking that he is protecting the only remains of the human race, which is himself, he understands that the world has moved on.
Still, you cant fault i am legend for trying to be different from the typical action thriller. So i just finished i am legend by richard matheson. Ending spoiler for i am legend 2007, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. I am legend 2007 is an american postapocalyptic science fiction horror film directed by francis lawrence and starring will smith. Close to the ending of the book, robert clearly changes his though process. The alternate ending to i am legend where they respect him and growl at him in an acknowledging way is odd and feels out of place. The scottlogan version of i am legend was a mix of scifi and psychological thriller, without dialogue in the first hour and with a sombre ending. Why does robert conclude that i am legend at the ending of the book. I think its just a collection of short stories with the headliner being the most famous. The movie took all the intelligence out and just made it about the action.
Whats the difference between i am legend the book and i am legend the movie. The novel i am legend 1954, written by american author richard matheson, was adapted for the movie by screenwriters akiva goldsman and mark protosevich. Then it goes into a story about a man winning a carnival game, then a women getting attacked by haunted doll etc. I picked it up mostly because i read about the alternate ending of the will smith movie, which some criticized for not following the spirit of the book. I am legend i am legend 2 movies books exclusive akiva goldsman.
Twodisc dvd or bluray for those unaware, let me explain the concept of richard mathesons book to. Another big part of the i am legend book thats never been adapted faithfully is its ending, which sees neville commit suicide rather than be. You may have a collection of stories that happens to include i am legend. Neville sacrificed himself for humanity and that because of his cure humanity was able to rebuild, establishing his legend. He is a legend because he is the source of the cure. End of movie spoiler warningat the end of the film. I am legend is brilliant commentary and society and human relationships and, really, the very definition of humanity. Coronavirus feels like something out of a scifi novel. The ending to the alternate theatrical version varies from the original ending. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Neville discovers his dog after humanity has been wiped out. I am legend is very short, not novel length, only 159 pages long, out of the 312 pages in the book. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson.
It was also an inspiration behind night of the living dead. I am legend originally had an ending closer to the books, but that was changed after negative reactions from test audiences. The will smith i am legend once again fails to replicate this ending, but its alternate conclusion is much closer to the books message. Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, constantine director francis lawrences i am legend. I am legend isnt particularly long either, hardly even novel length. In the book nevellie is given pills so he doesnt feel pain when executed by the infected who are fighting the infection to understand more go to read the plot and it will explain the whole book. All the completely insane ideas hollywood dreamed up for i.
While richard mathesons postapocalyptic science fiction book, i am legend, and francis lawrences postapocalyptic science fiction movie, i am legend, both have similarities and differences, in the end, the original book version prevails mainly because the movie version alters the original storyline too much. He relieves her of the cure and returns her to the hemocytes. It turns out those changed into vampirelike creatures by the plague have formed their own society and are still mostly intelligent, and view neville as a monster, a kind of boogeyman they fear and loathe due to his killing of their species. The 2007 film was partially based on the 1971 film as well as the original source. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that. But i went into reading i am legend knowing the ending, knowing the twist. Her brief outro completely ruins the darkly clever play of the book s original plot that neville is a legend, hated. All the completely insane ideas hollywood dreamed up for i am.
I am legend is a dystopian story very loosely based upon a book of the same name. I nearly chose i am legend for a confession, but ive read it before however little i remembered beyond the ending. Made with the folio societys usual quality binding and eye for detail, it. If, like this writer, you already own a wellthumbed paperback of i am legend, this deluxe edition is a worthy upgrade. I though the book was effectively i am legend and other short stories by. I though the book was effectively i am legend and other short stories by richard matheeson. Indeed, novelists have been imagining scenarios like this for centuries. The ending of the film was also altered to portray neville as sacrificing his life to save humanity, rather than being executed for crimes against the. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth, the omega man, and i am legend. The book ends with june and day together, running from the law and planning to go to the waterfront to pick up eden before crossing the border and going into colonies territory, which signifies a fresh.
Before science had caught up with the legend, the legend had swallowed science and everything. Complete with garlic aversioni guess vinegar was the substitute, eh. It should be noted that both versions of i am legend are pretty much the same, up to one crucial sequence. Throughout the novel, hes operated under the assumption that humans are right and vampires are wrongand, therefore, that hes morally justified in killing vampires in their sleep. He is a legend among the vampires, because he is the only human left and he hunts and kills so many vampires during the day. Yesterday, some intrepid soul posted an alternate i am legend ending to youtube. Legend study guide contains a biography of marie lu, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Years ago, you see, my husband had wanted to talk about the book, probably when the most recent adaptation to movie form had come out, and i am well known for not reading horror, so it wasnt an unreasonable assumption that i would never read this. Dec 14, 2017 i am legend is about a zombielike horde wiping out much of humanity, but its confusing ending becomes clear if you understand the personal journey of its hero. I am legends biggest change from the book broke the movie. Its as if the screenwriters or director, or producer ran out of ways to wrap it up. There have been rumors that the ending to i am legend wasnt the only way theyd planned for the movie to turn out.
Theres lessons to be learned about mob behavior and respect for minorities. Through his perspective, i am legend is a story of hope wrapped in a layer of postapocalyptic turmoil with religious overtones. Its a full, polished ending, with complete special effects intact, so im assuming it was ripped from the special features on the imminent dvd. As a result, major, specific spoilers for both versions abound, often including dissection of how they end. Blogger adam katz sent me the link because of the book vs. In fact, the movie went through massive reshoots before finally being. I am legends alternate ending explained in the theatrical cut of i am legend, nevilles house is stormed by the vampires, right as he finally discovers a cure for their condition. Ask anything you want to know, or answer other people. He stalks the earth during the day and kills the vampires as they sleep. Throughout the novel, hes operated under the assumption that humans are right and vampires are wrongand, therefore, that hes morally justified in killing vampires in.
I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that was influential in the modern development of zombie and vampire literature and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. I am legend is a novel by richard matheson in which robert neville struggles to survive as the sole remaining human in a world overrun by vampires robert neville is the only. This was actually the third time it had been made into a movie. Dec 20, 2007 the ending in the book is completly diffrent the movie because they are diffrent stories.