In the process, he empowers himself and gives himself a new purpose in life. A brilliant scientist who raced to discover a cure for the manmade virus as humanity. Whether is it has something to do with aliens or the world ending. Hes virtually alone in this scifi thriller, with a dog albeit a talented one as his only foil. All these books, he thought, the residue of a planets intellect, the scrapings of futile minds, the leftovers, the potpourri of artifacts that had no power to save men from perishing. Of particular salience in i am legend are the motifs of being isolated, sexually frustrated, and preyed upon. Dec 14, 2007 enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing i am legend near you. He stood there for a moment looking around the silent room, shaking his head slowly.
This was actually the third time it had been made into a movie. Dec 14, 2007 i am legend a oneman american metaphor on the surface, the scifi blockbuster is about will smith battling an army of lightphobic zombies. Robert is trying to find a cure to the plague which originally was supposed to be the cure for cancer. I am legend summary i am legend is a novel by richard matheson in which robert neville struggles to survive as the sole remaining human in a world overrun by vampires. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that was influential in the modern development of zombie and vampire literature and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. There are stretches when he literally talks to himself, and hes able to hold the audiences gaze throughout.
Still, you cant fault i am legend for trying to be different from the typical action thriller. After their deaths, the worlds human beings rise from the grave and become vampires. The best study guide to i am legend on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. Living alone in new york city, robert neville smith, a former lieutenant and us army virologist, tasks himself with finding a cure to the plague. But npr movie critic bob mondello says that the film. Camera angles this angle gives a deserted abandoned feeling to the audience again duethethe starts with an establishing shot of to film presence of only one moving car new york city, this shows a lifeless run instead of a crowded avenue. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing i am legend near you. The opening scene is particularly relevant in the way it creates the dystopian feeling of the movie. This film is actually the third adaptation of richard mathesons novel of the same name from 1954. Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am. Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into. If he had been more analytical, he might have calculated the approximate time of their arrival.
This is a spoof on will smith of his portrayal of robert neville in the movie i am legend 2007. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville set in new york city after a virus, which was originally created to cure cancer, has wiped out most of mankind, leaving neville as the last human in new york, other than. I am legend archive, sur the austin chronicle, 14 decembre 2007. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. Get the entire i am legend litchart as a printable. Throughout the book, robert neville studies the science of vampirism. After a quick quip from harley, deadshot says, hey flag, this dude better cure cancer after all this shit. I am legend is atypical for the horror genre in that the monsters take a back seat to the psychological horror of the protagonist. The camera focuses most on this by cutting to shots of the zombies getting closer.
Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, constantine director francis lawrences i am legend follows the last man on earth as he struggles to survive while fending off the infected survivors of a devastating vampire plague. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am legend. Insofar as i am legend is a window into his psyche, he was afraid of nuclear war, of predation, of being all alone in a dangerous world. The year is 1976one year after a deadly plague sweeps the world, killing virtually all human beings. I really liked that one, and i wrongly assumed that since they had used the original title from the book that both movies were based on, that it stayed closer to the original source material. Lu was an art director for a video game company before turning to writing, and her attention to crisp, futuristic settings and cold military villains hearkens back to video game imagery.
The film, i am legend is a postapocalyptic science fiction film directed by francis lawrence and starring will smith. I am legend summary from litcharts the creators of. In the beginning, hes watching his family from afar they think hes dead and he sees. It is the third movie to be made from the novel and mathesons writings have modernized the vampire, in todays culture. Plot summary for i am legend 2007, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. While roberts isolation becomes the core issue of the novel, it would be foolish to forget that subhuman creatures hunt neville on a nightly basis. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Robert neville is supposedly the only survivor on earth of a pandemic that causes its victims to have vampire. Day is a criminal on the run for stealing from the republic and making the government look foolish. In this scene the most important and focused on element is the zombies trying to get in the house. How is the dystopian universe created in i am legend.
I am legend was released on december 14, 2007, in the united states and canada, and opened to the largest ever box office not adjusted for inflation for a nonchristmas film released in the u. I am legend is a novel by richard matheson in which robert neville struggles to survive as the sole remaining human in a world overrun by. I promised a friend i would say hello to you today. I am legend is a novel by richard matheson in which robert neville struggles to survive as the sole remaining human in a world overrun by vampires robert neville is the only. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am. Richard mathesons i am legend has been made into several movies, including the recent will smith movie, and the. I am legend themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes.
Though he has lost his fear of the vampires, these are afraid of him and want him dead. January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he. Another important theme of i am legend is the powerboth benevolent and maliciousof science. Day, a renegade from the streets, and june, an elite student at drake university and the republics shining prodigy. January, 1976 i am legend opens with robert neville inspecting his house on a cloudy day. I am legend narrative, representation of race, class and. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of shakespeare.
Marie lus legend is the first in a trilogy of dystopian young adult fiction, and boy does it set the reader up for a thrill ride. Immediately download the i am legend summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching i am legend. I am legend study guide from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. It was influential in the development of the zombievampire genre and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The i am legend community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author. The streets are overgrown with weeds, cars are abandoned. Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, this movie follows the last man on earth as he struggles to survive. The city turned to a jungle, showing a chaotic vision of the future.
I am legend focuses on lieutenant colonel robert neville will smith, a doctor fighting a virus that has seemingly wiped out all of the human race except him. Legend is told from the perspective of two leading characters. A virus was created using the measles in order to cure cancer. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville set in new york city after a virus, which was originally created to cure cancer, has wiped out most of mankind, leaving neville as the last human in new york.
Taking on such themes as mankinds need for companionship, the fight for survival, and the existence of god, it at least succeeds in making us think. That is the main focus of the scene and with out that element then there would be nothing going on. A concise biography of richard matheson plus historical and literary context for i am legend. The i am legend community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography. Dr analysis of the classic horror novel, i am legend, by richard matheson. Aug 04, 2016 i remember enjoying the movie the omega man with charlton heston when i was young. I am legend quotes check out these i am legend quotes and the end of the world seems an interesting place, thanks to will smiths character.
Afterwards, he drinks heavily and falls into depression. Three years later, new york city is overgrown and abandoned and the only person that is seemingly alive is robert neville. Differences between i am legend book vs movie page 1. Legend is a 2011 young adult novel by chineseamerican author marie lu. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on richard mathesons i am legend. They are cannibalistic zombies who have an aversion to light. I am legend summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. I remember enjoying the movie the omega man with charlton heston when i was young. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides.
I am legend the movie is based on richard mathesons novel of the same name. I am legend is a dystopian story very loosely based upon a book of the same name. The movie i am legend directed by francis lawrence is dystopian movie. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson. We see manhattan three years after a deadly virus has killed every healthy human on the island, except one. Test your knowledge of macbeth with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on the context and background and links to the best resources around the web. The first time was in 1964 with the last man on earth featuring vincent price, and then in 1971 with the omega man with charlton heston. The area is being cleaned up before an evening shoot of the movie. He wants people to think of him as a man who does what he has to do to survive and that is why the quote is so significant to the theme. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of legend by marie lu. If anyone had any doubts left that will smith could carry a movie, i am legend will banish them forever.
Francis lawrences i am legend is a 2007 sciencefiction thrillerdrama starring will smith as the lone survivor of a devastating virus that has wiped out 90% of the population of humanity. I am legend key scenes analysis by stuart grenville. I am legend study guide from litcharts the creators of. January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he could get back. After a virus kills most of the earths population and turn the rest into animalistic bloodthirsty creatures called darkseekers, robert himself is the only one he knows to be immune and have survived. Dec, 2007 the opening scenes of i am legend have special effects so good that they just about compensate for some later special effects that are dicey. Check out these i am legend quotes and the end of the world seems an interesting place, thanks to will smiths character. Themes of transformation, spirituality, and mans struggle with isolation come up throughout i am legend. Neville narrowly manages to return to his house alive. The streets are overgrown with weeds, cars are abandoned, the infrastructure is beginning to collapse. During the day, neville hunts and gathers among the ghost town. After the announcement of a good new, we discover new york in a total mess. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson. Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, constantine director francis lawrences i am legend follows the last man on earth as he struggles to survive while fending off the infected survivors of a devastating vampiric plague.
I am legend film analysis essay 1227 words bartleby. During the invasion of nevilles house the leader stands outside while the rest of the horde rushes in, showing much of higher status. The opening scenes of i am legend have special effects so good that they just about compensate for some later special effects that are dicey. Roberts mission is to destroy the others before they can infect him. A brilliant scientist who raced to discover a cure for. Alice krippen develops a natural mutating virus that cures cancer.
Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am legend. In the end, he confirms that he is the last man of his race, and at his death, he will be a legend, as vampires are now. Robert is trying to find a cure to the plague which. We depend on other people not just for re production and survival, but for psychological and. I am legend a oneman american metaphor on the surface, the scifi blockbuster is about will smith battling an army of lightphobic zombies. The i am legend community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. While the first fear is a highly contextdependent one, the second two generalize across cultures and times. The novels main character, robert neville, is the last human being left on eartheveryone else has been turned into a vampire. The first time was in 1964 with the last man on earth featuring vincent price, and then in 1971. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of i am legend by richard matheson. I am legend contains a surprising amount of psychological insight about grief, loneliness, and depression. Although there is no direct dialect in the film one of the zombie members shows authority over the others through his actions.