Richard mathesons 1954 novella i am legend is a seminal tale of a man facing a lonely and horrific existence, as a virus has not only wiped out much of humanity, but it has also turned them into. But i went into reading i am legend knowing the ending, knowing the twist. Another i am legend remake is coming, but will it be yet. This film is actually the third adaptation of richard mathesons novel of the same name from 1954. Published in 1954, acclaimed author richard mathesons novel i am legend is one of the most highly regarded works of apocalyptic fiction to date. It had several short stories at the end that were unrelated to the original book. Later remade as a 2nd movie with will smith minor cover creasing. There are two camps when it comes to discussing the issue of race in mathesons book. Quoting justraining63 this is the way its supposed to end. 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. Twodisc dvd or bluray for those unaware, let me explain the concept of richard mathesons book to. The two earlier films are the last man on earth 1964 and the omega man 1971.
The i am legend dvd with this alternate ending included is now available to buy on. As such, its no surprise that the book has been adapted for the big screen, in this case three different times. Thats where the title i am legend came from, nevilles realization at the end that the vampires were the good guys and that he was the monster of their legends, since he had been mindlessly driving stakes through their heart at every. The movie took all the intelligence out and just made it about the action.
The story stops annoyingly suddenly, as if the rest of it has been missed off. The i am legend quotes below are all either spoken by ben cortman or refer to ben cortman. Darkseekers are vampires in the 2007 film adaption, i am legend. Is there an i am legend movie that actually preserves.
Yesterday, some intrepid soul posted an alternate i am legend ending to youtube. 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. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that was influential in the modern development of zombie and. May 23, 2008 not only does the book end in a similar way, but it in fact was the entire freaking point of the book. I havent seen them, but i have heard the original movie adaptation i am legend is more faithful, while charleton hestons the omega man is not. Film column i did on the source material and the four films loosely inspired by it.
In the original i am legend ending, robert neville discovers that he had captured the significant other of one of the vampires leaders. I am legend is brilliant commentary and society and human relationships and, really, the very definition of humanity. With charlton heston, anthony zerbe, rosalind cash, paul koslo. A concise biography of richard matheson plus historical and literary context for i am legend. This man, our protagonist in both the book and film, is robert neville. I am legend study guide from litcharts the creators of. The first says, man, its just a badass vampire book. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson. The 2007 film was partially based on the 1971 film as well as the original source novel. The character of ben cortman in i am legend from litcharts. I am legend film analysis essay 1227 words bartleby. Youtube has the ending of the movie i am legend, as it was originally planned.
Its a full, polished ending, with complete special effects intact, so im assuming it was ripped from the special features on the imminent dvd. 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. It is not made clear on the front of the book, or anywhere that this is a collection of short stories, not a novel. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on richard mathesons i am legend. Is there an i am legend movie that actually preserves the. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson. Near fine in an excellent dust jacket that shows only light wear. Will smith film was not too bad but equally disconnected from original. Miles better than that horrible remake that has very little to do with the original source material. I am legend read online free from your pc or mobile. It was influential in the development of the zombievampire genre and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. A film of his novel what dreams may come 1978 was released in 1998, starring robin williams. Oct 02, 2014 theres nothing wrong with smiths i am legend other than criminal underuse of his wacky mannequin sidekicks, but its nowhere close to richard mathesons original work.
It all started with the book by richard matheson i am legend 1954. Lone survivor, doctor robert neville, struggles to create a cure for the plague that wiped out most of the human race while fighting the family, a savage luddite death cult formed by the zombielike infected to erase the past. I am legend was released on december 14, 2007, in the united states and canada, and opened to the largest ever box office not adjusted for inflation for a nonchristmas film released in the u. Sep 01, 2009 in 1954 richard matheson published i am legend, and since its original run it has been adapted for film a total of four times. Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, constantine director francis lawrences i am legend follows the last man on earth as he struggles to. The novel i am legend 1954, written by american author richard matheson, was adapted for the movie by screenwriters akiva goldsman and mark protosevich. I am legend isnt particularly long either, hardly even novel length. The rest of the book is a collection of short horror stories and not very good ones either. Another adaptation, i am omega 2007, was released direct to dvd. Oct 30, 2007 i am legend is very short, not novel length, only 159 pages long, out of the 312 pages in the book. I am legend director reveals he wished he had been. I am legend by richard matheson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This version of i am legend is the third movie adaptation of mathesons novel.
Every other man, woman, and child has become a vampire. First hardcover edition of the authors third novel, preceded by the paperback original. So i just finished i am legend by richard matheson. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville set in new york city after a virus, which was originally created to cure cancer, has wiped out most of mankind, leaving neville as the last human in new york. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides. I am legend 2007 the basics hopefully all of you know the basic story behind i am legend. Richard matheson 192620 was the new york times bestselling author of i am legend, hell house, somewhere in time, the incredible shrinking man, now you see it, and what dreams may come, among others. The 2007 film was partially based on the 1971 film as well. 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. About the author 1995 richard matheson 192620 was the new york times bestselling author of i am legend, hell house, somewhere in time, the incredible shrinking man, now you see it. The story is very much darker and deeper than the will smith film of the same name. The film, i am legend is a postapocalyptic science fiction film directed by francis lawrence and starring will smith.
While those infected with kv who survive it develop primal behaviour upon succumbing to the virus and becoming a darkseeker, they do retain enough of their higher intelligence to build and copy complex traps they have previously seen. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville. I am legend by matheson, first edition abebooks passion for books. We see manhattan three years after a deadly virus has killed every healthy human on the island, except one. Do you remember the original trailer for i am legend. Later adapted to film as the last man on earth in 1964, as the omega man in 1971, and as i am legend in 2007. In this postapocalyptic world of vampires, robert neville, as the only human who survives the plague, spends his lonely, monotonous days destroying the undead and endures nights of torment and near madness. He was named a grand master of horror by the world horror convention, and received the bram stoker award for lifetime achievement. Theres lessons to be learned about mob behavior and respect for minorities. I am legend originally had an ending closer to the books, but that was changed after negative reactions from test audiences. I am legend is a post apocalyptic vision by richard matheson, created in 1954 it tells the story of robert neville, the last surviving human in the world, surrounded by bloodthirsty vampires both living and undead. The opening scenes of i am legend have special effects so good that they just about compensate for some later special effects that are dicey. There are some strange twists in i am legends halfcentury of history after the jump.
I am legend is the 2007 film adaptation of richard mathesons 1954 novel of the same name, starring will smith and a bunch of cg zombie things called dark seekers. Mathesons original 1954 novel, robert neville, the main character, is a blondehaired boozing chainsmoker who listens to a lot of beethoven and brahms. As such, its no surprise that the book has been adapted for the big screen, in. 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. Mar 25, 2015 this feature is not available right now.
In 1954 richard matheson published i am legend, and since its original run it has been adapted for film a total of four times. Theres nothing wrong with smiths i am legend other than criminal underuse of his wacky mannequin sidekicks, but its nowhere close to. He then realizes that his attempts to cure the monsters looked less like medical. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am. I though the book was effectively i am legend and other short stories by richard matheeson. I am legend 2007 is an american postapocalyptic science fiction horror film directed by francis lawrence and starring will smith. In i am legend, a plague has decimated the world, and those unfortunate enough to survive are transformed into bloodthirsty creatures of the night. The streets are overgrown with weeds, cars are abandoned, the infrastructure is beginning to collapse.
I really liked that one, and i wrongly assumed that since they had used the original title from the book that. He put down his book and stared bleakly at the rug, hearing verklarte nacht play over the loudspeaker. I am legend is one of my favorite stories and to finally get all four issues in one graphic novel is the bees knees. Blogger adam katz sent me the link because of the book vs. 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. Now for a topic thats neither divisive nor prone to eliciting irrational anger and awkward discomfort.
Its a short story so i guess the author wanted to add some bulk to the book. 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. I have heard that the book and the first movies were different. The road is a great movie, and very faithful to the book, despite the incredibly depressing, bleak, and. I am legend is very short, not novel length, only 159 pages long, out of the 312 pages in the book. Someday ill get that bastard, he thought as he took a big swallow of the bitter drink. 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.
Richard mathesons 1954 novella i am legend is a seminal tale of a man facing a lonely and horrific existence, as a virus has not only wiped out much of. Film omega man with charlton heston, based on the classic novel i am legend. While those infected with kv who survive it develop primal behaviour upon succumbing to the virus and becoming a darkseeker, they do retain enough of their higher intelligence to build and copy. Not only does the book end in a similar way, but it in fact was the entire freaking point of the book. The last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, i am legend 2007. 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. Dec 30, 2014 adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, constantine director francis lawrences i am legend follows the last man on earth as he struggles to.
But when it comes down to it, is the book really better than the movie. I am legends biggest change from the book broke the movie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. There are some strange twists in i am legend s halfcentury of history after the jump. I am legend 1010 movie clip alternate ending 2007 hd. Discussion of themes and motifs in richard mathesons i am legend. I think its just a collection of short stories with the headliner being the most famous.