Tuesday 15 January 2008

I am Legend


This, and let’s call it what it is, a vampire movie(!), had me salivating at the mouth, in anticipation of a sci fi thriller. That there would be the pondering of the question, what if you were the last man on earth question and presenting very interesting possibilities.

I was looking forward to seeing this one especially after Heartwarmer said she had seen it twice because it was so amazing.

I suppose I just need to get it into my head that me and Heartwarmer just do not have the same taste, she can warm my heart anytime but I would be a Brokensword if she had to choose movies for me. I think on the odd occasion we would agree, like Driving lessons, I thought it was great too, and Hannibal rising we agree was shyte! But most times, eish.

So, I am Legend was great effects and all and it was shit scary. But I hate it when a movie is weakly dressed up as something else. This is a vampire movie with a different beginning. That’s it that’s all.

Having gotten that off my chest, I think it was pretty good and scary and more could have been done. There must be other things that are more interesting that would emanate from being left alone too long would there not be? Like no need for clothes?J. But I suppose reciting the dialogue of Shrek was funny.

The vampires were great! Will is also looking very well cut. And the crying thing, man… I don’t know.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Err, I have not seen it --- a friend said it was shyte --- but he told me the story --- I'll wait for it to come on mnet (at least I'm not waiting for sabc1 to show it ;-)

Alas --- about being the last person on earth. I think Hollywood messed up a great opportunity to delve into a state of being.

Imagine being the last person on earth --- that was exactly what got me interested --- imagine that for a moment --- imagine you are the last person --- trying to find reason --- talking to yourself (and I mean no dog either) --- thinking to yourself --- eat what you want (until it all rots), drive all you want --- wear what you want --- or not --- masturbate in public (hmm, it's not public if nobody is watching, huh?)

I think, there was more to the idea of being the last person on earth. What would you do? Where would you go? Without competition, without affirmation, would you be driven? for what reason? to prove what? isn't true that something can only be proved if it can affirmed?

It's that silly-limerick: the worst punishment for a golfer is to have them hit a hole in one, but with not witnesses.

I mean, aren't all the things we do in this planet because of somebody else --- to prove to, to affirm, to love, to hate, to show off, to share, to discuss, to socialise --- yes, society is built on the fabric that we do interact,,,

phew --- short after the long --- is that, Hollywood wanted closure from the flick, they could have explored the human condition (as it changes) of being the last person on earth.

(okay, there is more)

I mean, there is the first phase of feeling free do to whatever you want --- then there is the settling feeling of realising you are alone --- then not needing to do anything --- then what? what's the point of thought? of dreams? of doing? of living? would you commit suicide and if you did, would you leave a note?

I hope, I make sense --- I'm getting carried away.

Brokensword said...

Konichiwa, Yamutsi Yoshikawa

I wanted to go on that tangent of what they could have done with the premise of ‘the last man on earth’ thing. The psychological stuff, morality (which would not exist) and all the other things that you mention. Great, great opportunity to make assumptions about the human condition.

And then I thought further about it… and if they went that way this would be an extreme art house movie. So I kind of understand why they chose the way they went. One thing that they could have included however was for Will not to be so cold towards the female vampire that he captures, if the cure is inside him them there are other ways of delivering the medicine? Or at least struggle with the thought a little bit. The result of this could be a new specis for mother earth. Maybe they will put this in the sequel and they can name it Blade 6?

But ja, this is an action movie which needs mass appeal and no questions raised.

Anonymous said...

oh brokensword. I loved it because I didn't anticipate any of what happened.
Too often I can tell you what's going to happen in a movie before it happens. I hate that.
So what I look for nowadays, is something I can't completely predict.
And that's what I am Legend did for me.
The other thing ofcourse is that I loved that it was bloody scary. I hate scary movies, but I loved this one. I loved it because I didn't anticipate that it was going to be scary so I was completely caught by surprise.
Your so called vampires were also just bloody amazing.

As for Will. Yes, the crying...you know I had an discussion about his acting with the lover. Much like Denzel's character in American Ganster...and even his award winnign performance in that other movie where he plays a cop (I just can't seem to remember it now).
I just don't think they sell it all very well. But I love Will S, and I love Denzel, so I'd never admit to their inability to pull off some parts.
So Will in this movie was fine up until he started crying. I laughed at him.
I dunno, he just can't sell it to me. The lover says maybe its because I'm so used to him trying to be funny...that it's all in my head...that I can't by his crying because I can't possibly see him as a cryer because I developed my own idea of what Will can and can't do - so the same goes for Denzel he says.
Anyways...

Yamutsi - the idea of having a story where we really have the last man on earth...living alone...no dog. I think might just be boring.
I remember for the first couple of minutes of I AM Legend, where he was often just alone and chasing lions with his dog. I found that incredibly boring. Oh, so boring.
And I remember feeling the same way about that movie ya Tom Hanks - where he gets lost, and he starts talking to a basketball/soccer ball. And he started finding the fact that he could create fire exciting and a break through. *yawn. I hated it.

So - I can't imagine a movie like that working.
Ofcourse people can get very creative with these kinds of things.
Maybe put in imaginery people. But my point is, a one man movie...I'm not sure about - he/she would have to have multipersonalities or something.

Brokensword said...

Heartwarmer, I am not sure about comparing Denzel with Will. Although I do have respek for both of them I just think they are different actors for different audiences?
I don't know but oh lord, the cryin. You feel for poor will because you cam see how much he is trying to concentrate on that one moment in life when he shed a tear and try and relive it on screen to make himself cry. It looks like it is such hard work for him and certainly does not come easy. And it just does not work.

Oprah interviewed Denzel recently and he is just such an awesome guy. At least, what I saw of him on the show. He is funny too and just such a nice guy! But they also talked about that one tear when he was being whipped in Glory and Oprah was saying how great it was and all and all and asked him 'oh Denzel how do you do it? What was going through your mind at that moment', yet another stupid question from my friend.

We should never know what that person is thinking about when delivering a performance we should just enjoy and let it be and appreciate the performance. Once they reveal what they were thinking about it just takes away from the movie we are suppose to enjoy for its own merit. It is not Denzel crying it is the character cryin’ damn it! It is like asking Heath Ledger what he was thinking about when he kissed Jake Gylinthal (sp) in Brokeback Mountain. He was thinking and should be thinking about Jack!!! That’s it that’s all!

I forgot what my point was.

Oh, yes, one needs to be the character and when will started crying in I am Legend you could see straight though that he was crying about som’nelse!

Have you noticed how his ears come out more out of his hear when he cries? And his eyes, he tries to not focus them on anything (so he does not get distracted from his memory) so he gets this far away look?

But I like Will, he did Six Degrees and that is all he needs to get my respek! Now if only Denzel could play the real life story of James Baldwin.