I Am Legend and Other Stories discussion

Great book. Movie was not as good.

Which movie? There are at least three (not all of which are called I Am Legend).

I thought the movie was better than the book. Seems like the main character in the book was really odd and Will Smith was a better main character. (I am Legend)

Movie would've been good had it been completely unrelated to the book, OR had the theatrical release featured the alternate ending, which was more in line with the dark irony of the book.

That's Hollywood for you.

The book is better than any of the movies, but if I had to choose one, it would be The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price. Out of all the movies it was the one that was as closest to the book.

Will Smith actually did a very good job IMO BUt the Book is way better. The movie is actally watered down.

I am Legend movie. I agree that if it wasn't affiliated with the book it would have been better.

Andrew wrote: "I am Legend movie. I agree that if it wasn't affiliated with the book it would have been better."

I agree, other than the title and the name of Will Smith's character, the book and movie had nothing in common.

I liked the I am Legend movie better than the Omega Man where Charlton Heston played Neville. But nevertheless, I missed the actual story and the irony of the books ending.

As a scientist... the book definitely. The movie is entertaining, but Neville isn't a genius in the book. The reader goes along with him in his journey to discover the cure (library, trials and errors, etc.). We're also in his mind more, so you experience his solitude. The 'vampires' are also given personality. Finally, the book ending was better than the movie ending, in my opinion and it revealed to the reader why the novella is called "I Am Legend".

I have only seen the film with Will Smith. I thought it was pretty good but the CGI zombies annoyed me. I liked how the film was reminiscent of the book without being the same as it.

The movie with Will Smith was decent.. if it had been an entirely separate entity. Though, I didn't like either endings.

book. Couldn't stand the film... you mean the Will Smith one right?

The movie completely butchered the books and missed the entire point of the story by changing the ending. The book is a classic and the movie is a disgrace.

I think the movie with Will Smith really captured how alone the character was. I really felt the isolation and horror of being one of the last people left on the planet. That being said, the book is awesome! One I read and reread. (I actually wish it was longer so there was more to enjoy). The ending is fantastically ironic, although I find it sad.

movie did not portray the book well at all.

Definitely the book is better. The movie with Will Smith is only good for the first half when he is all alone. However, it is nothing like the book. The movie with Vincent Price is closer to the book, but also a little more boring.

I loved the movie and saw it a long time before I read the book (which I only read recently and in fact coincidently started it on the day Matheson died) and I really enjoyed it. I also loved the book. I think perhaps if I had read the book first I may not have enjoyed the movie as much as it was changed quite a lot, but I still do really like the movie and think they did a great version.


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If you take the fantastic story that is Richard Matheson's I Am Legend, and remove everything that made it one of the top five horror tales ever written. What you have left is the movie version.

The Last Man On Earth is at least the correct story, but it is very watered down. Modern movie making could capture the grim despair of Neville, but no one has the guts to gamble on a moving drama anymore. They wanted to cash in on zombie-mania.