I Am Legend - Movie release Dec 14

I am legemd .com ^ | 11.11.07 | Perdogg

[Perdogg]

The Richard Matheson's 1954 book will be released, for the second time, as a movie staring Will Smith in the lead role. The first movie was released in 1971 as "The Omega Man" staring Charleston Heston in the lead role.

I am wondering why they felt they need to remake this movie. The book is actually pretty good so far

[Perdogg]

Sci-Fi ping

[BigBlueJon]

Looks awesome.....I can’t wait to see it.

[BigBlueJon]

http://iamlegend.warnerbros.com/

[Old Sarge]

The first movie was released in 1971 as "The Omega Man" staring Charleston Heston in the lead role.

The first movie was released in 1964 as "The Last Man On Earth", starring Vincent Price in the lead role

[Perdogg]

Fair enough. I am wondering why they are doing the movie a third time. However, in the Omega man. Charleston Heston has the same character as the character in the novel.

[Argus]

The novel is a classic that’s been stolen from a lot (”Night of the Living Dead”, etc.). WB has been trying to do a big-budget version for years. For a long time Ahnuld was attached. But Will Smith got the movie made. The script was okay, I’m curious about this one.

[Dante3]

Hollywood is redoing movies because they do not feel like doing something original or lack the ability. So much easier to do a remake. It can also be an opportunity to push political correctness like in the horrible remake of “The Manchurian Candidate.”

[Perdogg]

I like WS, but he was miscasted in the “Wild,Wild West”.

[Argus]

Yeah, that was a horrible movie. I thought the whole cast was miscast, including Kline and Branagh. I think Branagh is absurdly overrated anyway. But just a really bad movie.

[Rocko]

Actually, from the trailers, it looks like it might actually be good. Closest version to the book of the three versions. I might just dig out my old copy and reread it.

[Perdogg]

Do you have one with the original cover art? I got mine this weekend with the 1997 cover art.

[vetvetdoug]

I'd like to see a remake and a well done version of A Boy And His Dog.

[Fairview]

The Omega Man terrified me. I have no desire to see the new version--I'm not good at this sort of movie at all. In fact, I don't even want to think about it!

[Perdogg]

The Don Johnson movie with the talking dog?

[vetvetdoug]

The original movie was low budget and could have been spruced up and done with better continuity. The premise and the story was good. I liked where the presidents went Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy....it could go Bush..Clinton...Bush...Clinton...Bush....in a remake....

[EveningStar]

Ellison apparently liked the movie. I thought it sucked.

[MarkL]

I'd like to see a remake and a well done version of A Boy And His Dog.

The ending was something of an unhappy surprise for those of us who had read the short story. Though I loved the opening scenes!

Mark

[Welsh Rabbit]

Hollywood is redoing movies because they do not feel like doing something original or lack the ability. So much easier to do a remake.

True, but I blame the movie-going public for supporting the overabundance of remakes with their wallets more than I blame Hollywood. Since a large enough audience has demonstrated a willingness to pay for a movie that's already been made, why take a chance on an original film that might flop? Might as well rehash an old movie that proved successful in the past if most viewers have no interest in the original anyways. I'm one of those film snobs* that refuses to watch a remake. However, I accept that everyone has different reasons for watching movies.

I know a lot of people who have an aversion to watching old movies, regardless of quality and substance, because they don't like the look and feel of older films. They want to see modern special effects and the latest hot movie stars that they follow in entertainment news. A shallow attitude, imo, but people like what they like. It's this crowd that makes up a large portion of the remake audience. Also, there is a built-in audience for any remake of a film that has cult status. Hardcore fans of the original will go at least once, if only to confirm that the remake is an abomination. Then there's people like my best friend, who watches nearly every new movie that comes out, with an open mind and without expectations.

* Not really. I enjoy a lot of mindless screwball comedies and cheesy action flicks, dislike many of the great classics that are universally considered by film scholars to be among the best films ever made, and hate analyzing movies too deeply. I just don't see the point of remakes; I detest the idea of having a favorite classic reinterpreted in the context of contemporary sensibilities, nor would I bother to watch a newer version of a movie I didn't like much the first time.

[napscoordinator]

I am wondering why they are doing the movie a third time.

Could it be that nobody saw the first two installments since they came out when more were not even born yet. I believe that this is good business because you will have a completely new audience to see the movie. Of course it could bust but that has nothing to do with making the movie, but that the movie stunk.