I am legend

1177 Words3 Pages

Once in a while everyone has had the thought of what it would feel like to be the last man or woman on Earth. Having the world and everything in it for yourself with no one around to bother you as u enjoy the luxuries you never had. What people fail to realize is the loneliness, despair and darkness of the so called utopia that they imagine. Richard Matheson, the author of I Am Legend, brings this dark idea into life by writing a story narrating Robert Neville’s life as the last human on earth. I Am Legend is often connected with the actor Will Smith, and his incredible representation of Robert Neville, the protagonist in the novel. However, most people don’t give enough recognition to Richard Matheson for creating the storyline and being the writer of the original novel. Both, Richard Matheson’s post-apocalyptic science fiction novel, and Francis Lawrence’s post-apocalyptic science fiction movie have many similarities and differences. The movie once again like many others fails to live up to the novel, mainly because of too many alterations in the characters, and story that leaves readers disappointed.
In the movie adaptation, Robert Neville is a scientist who’s not successful is stopping a man-made incurable virus. He is the last human living in a world filled with mutant victims who are infected and are known as Darkseekers. However, in the novel he is last human surviving an epidemic that destroyed humanity turning them into vampires. Everyone that he was ever in contact with either were turned or killed by a vampire. These plot differences in turn effect the portrayal of Robert Neville’s character. In the movie, Robert has himself well together, he hunts for food, works out, eats meals regularly and is generally healthy. In c...

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...and leaned against the wall while he swallowed the pills. Full circle, he thought while the final lethargy crept into his limbs. Full circle. A new terror born in death, a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever. I am legend.” ( ). It’s as the saying goes, he truly lived long enough to see himself become a villain.
The movie adaption isn’t very similar to the novel at all. The concept is made out to be another plain doomsday movie, even if it does have some excellent cinematic effects which are accompanied by Will Smith’s terrific acting skills portraying Robert Neville. The movie misses key elements and components of the plot that make up the world and characters that Richard Matheson had in mind when writing the original book. Although the movie is great in the sense of entertainment, nothing is quite like the novel when it comes down to it.

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