The Fresh Prince Gets Buff (and Grey).
I am a little obsessed with Apocalyptic Film and Literature (better known as Sci-Fi, although I’d never call it that - too many negative connotations). So, I figured I should go and see I Am Legend, a film based on Richard Matheson’s first novel of the same name. I have not read the book, but the plot summary on Wikipedia already reads far more exciting than the film turned out to be.
The marketing team did an awesome job in selling this film. The images on the trailer of fighter jets blowing up Brooklyn Bridge so Manhattan can be quarantined were so promising, but compared to 28 Weeks Later (a film of very similar narrative, but on a waaayyy lower budget) the film was lacking. On another note, does anyone else think it would be handy to have Will Smith around when the real apocalypse comes? He is so convincing when he’s saving the world.
Anyway, in my despair I have devised a hot and not list for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Film and Literature:
HOT:
George Orwell - 1984
28 Weeks Later
Heroes - Season One (In this ‘hot’ I will also include the Days of Future Past Uncanny X-Men storyline, since it is totally ripped off towards the end of the season, but Peter Petrelli does it so much better).
Children Of Men
Steven King’s The Stand (Cheesy, but awesome)
Return To Oz (Walter Murch’s first and only film)
The New Battlestar Gallactica
War Of The Worlds (H.G.Wells)
Akira
NOT:
Apocalypto (this is even worse than I Am Legend)
The X-Files (how frustrating was it towards the end!)
The Matrix 2 and 3 (bah)
The Day After Tomorrow
War Of The Worlds (Steven Spielberg Styles)
And now, for your viewing pleasure:
Tags: apocalyptic, films, literature, mads, peter, petrelli
January 11th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Peter Petrelli is not better than Kitty Pryde. Not even Hiro comes close.
January 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
One of the better post-apocalyptic tales is Earth Abides by George R. Stewart. It’s another one along the lines of ‘mysterious disease wipes everyone out’ and charts the life of a small group of survivors looking to try and rebuild something.
As with most book-to-film translations I try and see them as separate entities as otherwise I’m sorely disappointed. I’d have rather something closer to Matheson’s fabulous book, but I am Legends is a passable movie (once the last 5 minutes or so are forgotten). A fantastically realised ruined New York, the obvious decent into loneliness induced madness and a giant Batman/Superman film poster near the start kept me entertained through out.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
You make the best posts. Peter Petrelli AND Chris Taylor. You’re true friends. I told you I Am Legend was unbelivably shitty. Will Smith is the most unconvincing scientist since Tara Reid in Alone in the Dark. Yeah, I said it. It had to be said. Nothing was good in this movie. Everything was forced and awkward and the thing that really got my goat was that it had such potential. I give it 5 HATEFUL Middle fingers.