Thursday, April 17, 2008

Seriously Peeved

I just watched I Am Legend...

I knew better. Really I did, but I just couldn't help myself. I knew from the moment I saw the first preview before it was even released that my viewing this movie could really tick me off. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

Now you may be thinking, it wasn't the best movie but what's there to be peeved about? The fact that other than the title and the name of the main character the movie bares no relation whatsoever to the actual novel. Really. None. Read the book. It won't take you long, it's only a few hundred pages.

You'll be struck immediately by the fact that in the novel Robert Neville is not a doctor, he's actually a blue collar guy who lives in a suburban area (in Kansas if I remember correctly). And while he is looking for a cure, he's winging it from stuff he's picked up in library books. Oh, and the monsters are actually vampires who have all there cognitive functions... not mindless zombies. There is actual interaction between him and the vampires, in particular his former coworker/neighbor.

I don't want to give away the whole plot, but the book is an excellent study of isolation & morality. The ending is brilliant. It actually gives you something to think about and discuss. Not the sappy movie ending "he saved us all" crap.

(sigh) Perhaps Beowulf will be better...

4 comments:

Bea said...

I'm with you on this. If they are going to make a movie why can't it have the same plot as the book and not just be named after it?? That happens way too often.

Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn said...

Ok, so note to self..read the book..don't bother with movie!

Turtle said...

I have not read the book and my in laws dropped off the movie to us this last weekend, have yet to watch it though. They did not care for it and didn't even read the book. There is nothing more frustrating than reading a great book then having the movie ruin it!

freddyknits said...

Don't even get me started on Children of Men!