So, out of curiosity, I bought the 2-disc I AM LEGEND DVD. Disc 1 is the theatrical version of the movie. Disc 2 is an alternate version with a differenmt ending. This version runs 4 minutes longer than the version on disc 1.
Anyway, without giving away too many details, I thought the alternate version's ending was absolutely awful. It is such a drastic, unbelievable, and out-of-place turn of events that it hits you in the face like a shovel. The direction of the movie just stops suddenly and goes off on a tangent that even your "suspension of disbelief" won't be able to handle. This is a classic example of a sequence that "just doesn't work." I didn't think the theatrical version's ending was particuilarly strong, either. But the alternate ending will leave you sitting in stunned amazement saying, "What?"
I was reading a book about writing, and it mentioned something quite interesting: By the end of chapter one, there's only one possible ending for the book. In order to have a satisfying entertainment experience, the characters set up at the beginning must follow a natural story arc to a fulfilling conclusion, and you can't just stick something out of left field in there and expect people to buy it.
Quote from: Jack on March 19, 2008, 10:45:41 AM
I was reading a book about writing, and it mentioned something quite interesting: By the end of chapter one, there's only one possible ending for the book. In order to have a satisfying entertainment experience, the characters set up at the beginning must follow a natural story arc to a fulfilling conclusion, and you can't just stick something out of left field in there and expect people to buy it.
But characters can go through dramatic change depending on the tone the author wishes to set for the story. If readers/viewers keep an open mind, then they should be prepared to follow the author through to a number of endings. A book/film can have a happy beginning, then a tragic middle and a funny ending (Steel Magnolias immediately comes to mind :P), the author may do that to prove a point.
On topic; even if it comes out of left field, I hope that the alt. end is more like Matheson's book. I might be tempted to watch it then :tongueout:, and heck, it might be better than the version with Price.
Quote from: Jack on March 19, 2008, 10:45:41 AM
I was reading a book about writing, and it mentioned something quite interesting: By the end of chapter one, there's only one possible ending for the book. In order to have a satisfying entertainment experience, the characters set up at the beginning must follow a natural story arc to a fulfilling conclusion, and you can't just stick something out of left field in there and expect people to buy it.
What's the name of this book? I think we should pitch in and buy a couple copies for some key WGA members.
It could only help.
Quote from: Mr. Briggs Inc. on March 19, 2008, 10:52:58 AM
On topic; even if it comes out of left field, I hope that the alt. end is more like Matheson's book. I might be tempted to watch it then :tongueout:, and heck, it might be better than the version with Price.
Matheson would vomit if he saw the alternate ending of this movie.
Quote from: Mr. Briggs Inc. on March 19, 2008, 10:52:58 AM
On topic; even if it comes out of left field, I hope that the alt. end is more like Matheson's book. I might be tempted to watch it then :tongueout:, and heck, it might be better than the version with Price.
NO WAY!
I thought that the 1st half of I Am Legend was great but the 2nd half was pretty bad. I can't stand movies that set up specific rules and then just jettison them midway through.
Also, I thought that the alternate ending was better and much more interesting than the theatrical one though even the alternate ending has some problems.
I rented I Am Legend the other night but didn't get a chance to check out the alternate ending.
Could someone please PM me and tell me what happens in the alternate ending?
For me,at least,this movie is beyond saving. A number of reasons...
The monsters/vampires are computer cartoons. Having human beings instead of playstion charecters as the infected insane population would have given the film a much more intimate and scarier atmosphere than Will and his dog running around a video game . But...being as movie makers think we're all a bunch of pimple faced teen agers out here ...and that's the market horror films go for nowadays,instead of trying to reach a more mature crowd-it's understandable. But films like this don't hold the charm of past decades 'teen-market' horror films. Low budget slashers in the 80's releyed on lotsa boobs and blood.The seventies incorporated black humor,boobs and blood. The 50's and sixties-rock and roll,and rubber monsters. Nowadays it's all done very seriously...no boobs...but lotsa video game graphics and action.Because Many teen horror fans are also video game fans. And Hollywood is lazy-out for a buck. Put Will Smith in a video game of Resident Evil= $$$$.
Fooey.
Quote from: The Burgomaster on March 19, 2008, 11:21:01 AM
Quote from: Mr. Briggs Inc. on March 19, 2008, 10:52:58 AM
On topic; even if it comes out of left field, I hope that the alt. end is more like Matheson's book. I might be tempted to watch it then :tongueout:, and heck, it might be better than the version with Price.
Matheson would vomit if he saw the alternate ending of this movie.
Have you actually read the book? Both endings completely miss the entire point of the book (although the alt ending was closer than the theatrical). The title of the book is basically the entire premise of the message in the book, and makes little to no sense without the proper ending.
Warning: Spoilers to the book In the book, Neville discovers that some of the vampires are intelligent and have their own society. They consider him a monster. He realizes that human kind is over, but that civilization will continue. He commits suicide (not in a heroic fashion) , his last thoughts being "I am Legend".
This was taken from David Wong over at the Cracked forums (I post over there under the same name) , I liked the way he put it:
"I mean, the was the whole point of the title "I am Legend." Like vampires are legend to us today, that was the whole idea. It was the entire point of the book, that you were supposed to look back at the traditional monsters, the vampires and werewolves and Swamp Things and see them for what they are; last, desperate, scared, isolated survivors of their species. So the whole point of the book was to turn that on its head by putting the hero in the monster's shoes. There was no doubt that the world belonged to the vampires now and he had simply become a legend, a scary story they would tell their children generations later, about this primitive thing that used to come out in the day and kill them by the dozen. "