January 15, 2008
The movie adaptation of ‘I Am Legend’ based on the novel by Richard Matheson was good in parts but I think really missed the mark with the ending.
I read ‘I Am Legend’ in 1999 and it was one of the most memorable stories I have come across. I remember being engrossed in Robert Neville’s plight as he struggled as the sole survivor of a virus that had turned humans into ‘vampire’ like creatures. What really made this story memorable for me is the way that Richard Matheson ended ‘I Am Legend’ and made the reader question their ideas of normality. I think that the ending in the novel added so much more meaning to the title compared to the movie. That being said I thought Will Smith did a pretty good job portraying Neville’s character.
I guess most people would prefer a ‘Hollywood ending’ but in this case it really loses the significance and central message of the novel.If you get the chance to read the novel, you won’t be disappointed.
