Comments on: I Am Legend Alternate Ending

By: egotrip

egotrip — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:14:01 +0000

Both endings were excellent. For starters the alternate ending is excellent for the reasons stated earlier about neville being the evill in their world killing off others. the alternate ending opened kneville to the world of darkseekers that he did not see.
But more importantly, the theatrical ending was outstanding in that it showed the world of neville through what he saw. Also, the ending is synonymous to the apocalypse whcih adds a touch of religion. It makes kneville be in a world of hell and he finally understands that the future is for the beleivers that have hope and been blessed with immunity, and that he was given the gift and oppurtunity to find a cure. Sacrificing himself for humanity makes for the title “I am legend” perfectly.

By: Varun Lella

Varun Lella — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:51:31 +0000

IMHO I disagree John-

1. This ending answers why the creatures have so much more motivation for this specific one.

2. It gives some sort of resolution to the “the are getting smarter/disobeying survival instincts” thing.

3. Slightly more poetic than him just blowing himself up.

4. Closer to the actual text

I would have actually liked I am Legend if it had this ending in theaters. It would have been less of a cop out and more of an actual ending.

By: probitionate

probitionate — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:38:46 +0000

From this screenwriter’s point of view: if you want to know why there are so many ‘bad’ films being made, if you want to know why there are so many ‘near-misses’ being made, if you’re wondering why remakes are put into production, so many sequels, yadda, yadda, yadda…don’t look to the scripts. Look to who’s making the decisions. There’s a reason why there’s so much more stable, so much more vibrant a tradition in storytelling (and let’s face it, that’s what this discussion is about, *storytelling*, not special effects, not star-power, not a director’s abilities) in novels than in film…because we’re talking about a singular vision being executed. (I’m not dismissing the collaborative aspect of film; I’d be a moron to deny that, and as my tattoo explains, ‘I may be dumb…but I’m not stupid.’) Films get made as business ventures. To make money. But until Hollywood adopts a tradition of genuinely appreciating the role of the writer…with more respect being proffered the act of creation on the part of the initial creator…then we’re going to continually see the same results on the screen…and you guys are going to be carping about them in just the same ways.

By: Ricci

Ricci — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:03:28 +0000

I think they’d have been better of not making the film at all seeing as they just fucked it all up.
reading these comments on here brings a whole new meaning to the film, a film I watched at the cinema and thought was very simple and straight forward now has some meaning.

I should have got that ‘meaning’ from watching film, not reading about it.

By: donyell

donyell — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 04:03:23 +0000

I must admit that I hated the original ending. However, this ending is exceeding worse. The voice over in the theatrical ending irked me. I felt it was Smith’s movie and he should have carried it home. But the voice over teamed with this weak ending (looking stupid while driving) is just too terrible. Yuck. ;-)

By: Ignatz

Ignatz — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:56:41 +0000

Sorry, but I respectfully disagree. I like this alternative ending better. The theatrical ending felt too disjointed from the rest of the film. The original ending damn near ruined what had been up until then a great movie.

I did read the novella only after having seen the movie, and I can see where this alternative ending gives a nod to it.

By: vader hater

vader hater — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:12:45 +0000

It’s not that bad of an ending, but I still profer the theatrical ending better.

By: Grundy

Grundy — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:06:42 +0000

I prefer it to the theatrical, it would’ve been better if Neville did the VO at the end though.

As a post-apocalyptic movie it’s a good one, as an adaptation of I Am Legend, well it’s better than The Omega Man.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:57:07 +0000

Yeah, the supposed heaviness is immediately shit on in the next shot of him riding out of the city with a shit-eating grin on his face.

By: spagett

spagett — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:39:39 +0000

both sucked. Dunno the book ending exactly. This ending made a little more logic with Smith’s character being “Legend” and basically going around murdering the vampires thinking they are just mindless animals.

Woulda been better if they mauled him at the end tho instead of letting him live.