Guest fireball Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I saw the film last week and really enjoyed it. I'm very interested in reading the book now, just to compare with how the story should have been told and how it should have ended. Lilywhite, did you see perchance the 'original' film version from 1964, staring the late and great Vincent Price. And a somewhat restrained acting on his part too...to his credit, and he wasn't half bad too.see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058700/ for details, and if it shows up on TV give it look, you might just be surprised by it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 I've finished reading I am Legend. I thought it was an excellent book; very good ending as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyRich Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Just seen the film which I found rather disturbing but also quite compelling and there were aspects I wanted to know more about that the film didn't go into that I would hope would come into the book. Therefore having read this thread I am going to put it onto my TBR list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggle not Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 You all have convinced me to give I Am Legend a try. I will check to see if our library has a copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottishbookworm Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I'm going to see it on my birthday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I'm offering my copy as a book ring, if anyone else wants to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I am glad to hear some of you have seen 'The Omega Man', it is one hilarious movie, which I know it was not intended to be, but some of the scenes do make me chuckle, it was the head mutant Matthias for me played by Anthony Zerbe (who very recently was in 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'The Matrix Revolutions', he played Councillor Hamann. Matthias was hilarious, very over the top character, but Charlton Heston who played Robert Neville was really over the top too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty_kitty Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I have started reading this as it is alot thinner than my other books ideal for bus journeys. I am really enjoying it and got into the story straight away even first thing in the morning too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddglenn Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 As someone who utterly loves the book - the simplicity of it and also at the time an utterly unique take on the vampire genre, I found the new version of the film to be lacking a little. I was disappointed that they changed so much of the story, but having said that I thought Will Smith was excellent as Robert Neville - his desperately lonely portrayal of a man slipping towards madness was a career best I think. As well as The Omega Man, the first adaption of the book was Vincent Price's The Last Man on Earth - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058700/. For me, that remains the most faithful adaption. As has already been said, Heston's Omega Man was a little laughable and again very different from the book. Will Smith's was more a remake of Omega Man than a faithful adaption of the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggle not Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 I got a copy of I Am Legend today from the library and started reading it tonight. I am only 50 pages nto the book but am enjoying it very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Jenkins Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 hi everyone picked this up the other day after spending a long time in Foyles wandering the racks as you do and looking at their brilliant collection of obscure foreign authors etc before settling for I Am Legend and feeling slightly ashamed of myself because I don't buy film tie-in books never mind ones with Will Smith on the cover (Is he a snob, or what? you ask - yes I am, possibly) - pleased to say that up to p62 I'm enjoying it - also good to see that Hollywood got their casting right with good ol' Will since the novel's 'hero' has blue eyes and is of 'English-German stock'...think I'll give that a miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyRich Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Hi Slim - welcome to the forum. I saw the film first then read the book and the two should really be taken as seperate entities in my opinion. I enjoyed the book more which is excellent sci-fi/fantasy/horror writing and very compulsive. So much is different in the film you would probably find it really annoying unless you were prepared to accept them as different - e.g. the film is set in Manhatten, New York! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
literarisch Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I attempted to read this book once while I was at a pretty low point in my life and didn't make it very far in before pretty much having a panic-attack. It sounds so silly now, but I think it was the descriptions of his lonliness and longing that got to me. I still want to read it, but its definitely not at the top of my list.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babe*With*Brains Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 (edited) Title: I am Legend Author: Richard Matheson published: 1954/1995 my views: I completely loved this book! I wasn't actually made aware that it was a book until a few months back after the film was released. I adored the film, but reading the book was equally as interesting and possibly even more fun. I was expecting it to be almost identical to the film, although it actually only seems to have the same underlying base-story. It's definately worth a read if you're in to sci-fi/horror and is a really good light read. It conatins only around 300 pages. I couldn't put this book down. It was one which just gripped my attention and refused to let go. I wouldn't usually go for books which contained vampires as I've never got on with them, but this book handles them in such a different non run-of-the-mill way that I found it really enjoyable. Plot: Robert Neville is supposedly the last man on earth. A bacteria had caused the illness and death of the majority of the poulation, including Nevilles wife and child. But unless burnt, the dead don't stay dead for long. They soon turn into light hating vampires. Although, there's 2 types of vampires: the dead and the semi-living. Neville kills off both kinds, thinking he is doing his bit to rid the world of this evil. We see his emotions rise and fall throughout and witness his high points aswell as his low points. He decides to do some research in an attempt to find a cure for this illness the bacteria has caused, yet never manages to find one. He eventually gets killed by a new society-the semi dead have found a way to live relatively normally with the use of a tablet. They feel threatened by the last true, living man on earth and so, heis executed. marks out of ten: 9.5 best points: Personally, i loved the creepier parts, such as when his dead wife (who he refused to burn) appears on his doorstep. I also find the part with the dog really heart wrenching. worst points: It's wrong to say 'worst' points, since I found it all good, but there were a few not so good parts.I didn't like the way in which his past friend was presented-it was a little confusing since he was supposed to be one of the only half dead and only seemed capable of limited speech, yet when one of the half dead attempts to befriend Neville she is 100% capable of speech and normal human movement. If everyone was either dead or half dead how did they develop a pill? perhaps that's over analysing, but it did make me wonder if he'd thought it through! I hope you all give it a go and have a read. In my opinion it's well worth it =) Edited August 5, 2008 by Michelle merged with existing thread, please take a few minutes to search.. thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babe*With*Brains Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 yeah, the film and book are so different from each other. literarisch, i understand what you mean. The way he brings across isolation and desperation are quite intense. You should definately try it again though (if you feel up for it) it's a good easy read =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Has anyone seen the film? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Yeah, its different from the book. Its an alright movie, but its different from the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Is it? How differant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJ Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 It's the ending really that's different and I think the ending in the book is a lot better ( won't spoil it for you). Film is ok but prefer the book even though it's quite a short read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Great book this; I read it a few years back and really should read it again. For those who are interested, there is a rumour doing the rounds that Hollywood is planning a prequel to last year's film (still haven't seen that myself!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukeozade100 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Have just finished this off last night, and it really is a superb book, I saw the Will Smith movie when it came out and thought it was pretty good, but i'm again proved right that a movie is never anything on the book (The English Patient being the exception that proves the rule! ). This is only my second ever adult 'vampire novel' the first being Dracula, which I only finished on Saturday and I must say, if your someone who thinks 'oh its some sci-fi/horror novel I won't read it.' This is the book to change your mind. The storys been gone over fairly well in this thread, but I will add that some points are just amazing especially towards the end, and the last page-ish is some of the best writing ever, especially the last line, 'tis wonderful! (Now on to Mary Shelleys' The Last Man... (If I point out that my book before Dracula was Frankenstein, can you see a recent pattern in my reading :lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WW2artist Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Not my type of book but the comments have made me want to read it now! It's on my wish list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpack Comics Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 My First post! I actually loved this story. I had my doubts before I read it because of how old it is, didn't think it would hold up, but it does. It's leaps and bounds better than any of the incarnations of movies they have done. The intensity at some points was just surprising. Matheson paints an amazing picture here. If you haven't read it, you should! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Richard Matheson dies, aged 87. Good authors seem to be dropping like flies this year . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timstar Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I just heard... very sad news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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