# I Am Legend - AKA 28 Days Later with a Budget **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502 "2007-10-29T21:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EsotericEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@EsotericEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EsotericEnigma)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/21 "2007-10-30T22:45:15Z")
Of course, maybe not so much smugness and the rabid, slobbering compulsion to stick it to someone for not being aware of something, being born too early, etc. Wait… why was it that I don’t post here very often again… I just can’t remember. > [@](#): > > Learn your history, son. > [@](#): > > Of course it rips off of 28 Days Later, which is itself a completely original film. And those Lord of the Rings movies rip off of Warcraft. > [@](#): > > Is this the thread where I bitch about Queen TOTALLY ripping off Vanilla Ice’s completely original work? Geez… why can’t I remember?! It’s right on the tip of my tongue! ---
**Author:** ![Baine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Baine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baine)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/22 "2007-10-30T22:50:45Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] So formerly Atheist vampires fear atoms or nothing? 😉 [/QUOTE] I believe Atheist vampires are stopped by logical paradoxes. Or maybe that’s robots, I forget. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/23 "2007-10-30T22:56:12Z")
[QUOTE=EsotericEnigma] This is why I post here, I had absolutely no idea I am Legend is a remake of a remake of a book of a scroll of a cave drawing. Thanks everyone! [/QUOTE] Well, it is a rip off of 28 Days Later in the sense that 28 Days Later was a zombie movie and people liked it and it made money and studios notice that sort of thing so of course we’re in for a bunch of zombie movies until the studios think we’re tired of them again. But the real reason I’m here. Did anyone watch the trailer for the new Rambo movie on the same page linked to in the OP? OMG, must we? Nevermind, don’t want to hijack this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dunawake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dunawake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunawake)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/24 "2007-10-30T23:05:52Z")
[QUOTE=EsotericEnigma] Geez… why can’t I remember?! It’s right on the tip of my tongue! [/QUOTE] It’s because we’re so congenial, welcoming, and completely lacking in sarcasm, isn’t it? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/25 "2007-10-30T23:21:01Z")
[QUOTE=EsotericEnigma] Of course, maybe not so much smugness and the rabid, slobbering compulsion to stick it to someone for not being aware of something, being born too early, etc. Wait… why was it that I don’t post here very often again… I just can’t remember. Geez… why can’t I remember?! It’s right on the tip of my tongue! [/QUOTE] They are all just jealous. You get to appreciate this movie as a fresh, new experience, without the need to judge it by the earlier versions starring Vincent Price or Charlton Heston.\* \*These men were famous actors back in the early days of film. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/26 "2007-10-31T12:49:54Z")
This board is about fighting ignorance. Thinking that _28 Days Later_ was original, and that _I am Legend_ is an imitation of it, indicates some cinematic ignorance. That’s not an insult, just an observation; it can be fixed, and you’ll have fun fixing it. First, order a copy of Richard Matheson’s [novel](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780312865047&itm=2). (The edition I’ve linked to has some other great stories, too.) Read it, reflect on the fact that it was written over half a century ago, and think about how many stories and movies since show its influence. Then, start educating yourself about the history of fantasy, science fiction and horror in the cinema. There are any number of books on the subject; I’m sure a lot of folks here can recommend some good ones. One of my favorites is _Science Fiction Movies_ by Phillip Strick (only goes up to the 1970’s, but it’s great). Also get the big, thick (but fun) reference works _The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction_ and _The Encyclopedia of Fantasy_. (I think those may be available as interactive CD-ROMs as well.) Anyway, have fun with it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/27 "2007-10-31T13:48:23Z")
Yeah, speaking only for myself the > [@](#): > > Learn your history, son. remark was meant to be a playful jab. But you can’t see my smiling, winking face on the internet, so maybe I should have used one of these: 😉🙂🆒😛😃 :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/28 "2007-10-31T13:55:14Z")
I lent my copy of I am Legend to one of my workstudies this summer who has an interest in fantastic literature but had never read a horror novel. I did this because I’m trying to mold him into my image. It is a fantastic (short) novel. EsotericEnigma: Read it. And I hope the movie doesn’t suck. I really do. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/29 "2007-10-31T14:16:25Z")
Here’s a link to the 1971 screenplay. [http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/i\_am\_legend\_6\_26\_70.html](http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/i_am_legend_6_26_70.html) In fact there are perhaps a 100 or so screenplays at [dailyscript.com](http://dailyscript.com) ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/30 "2007-10-31T14:42:20Z")
I’m a little concerned by the OP’s assertion that the main character cures the virus in this version. That’s not true is it? He is mistaken? Please? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/31 "2007-10-31T14:55:41Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] The first film version was the cheapo Italian-made B-movie \*\*The Last Man on Earth \*\* [1964], starring Vincent Price. That one makes \*\*The Omega Man \*\* look like a Hollywood blockbuster by comparison. [/QUOTE] It has been a very long time since I saw \*The Last Man on Earth \* but I seem to remember that it followed the book very closely, in tone and plot. I thought it was one of Vincent Price’s best movies. I think the movie was made for about $4.23 and it shows but still a pretty good movie. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/32 "2007-10-31T15:03:04Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] I’m a little concerned by the OP’s assertion that the main character cures the virus in this version. That’s not true is it? He is mistaken? Please? [/QUOTE] In the novel, he doesn’t find a cure, and he doesn’t find a cure in the first film version (_The Last Man on Earth_). In _The Omega Man_, the second film version of the novel, he does find a cure … … but dies in the end after saving the human race. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/33 "2007-10-31T15:15:03Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] It has been a very long time since I saw \*The Last Man on Earth \* but I seem to remember that it followed the book very closely, in tone and plot. I thought it was one of Vincent Price’s best movies. I think the movie was made for about $4.23 and it shows but still a pretty good movie. [/QUOTE] I remember catching it on late-night TV once and being surprised at how good it was (given budgetary constraints, and given that Vincent Price wasn’t really the man for the part). An Italian production, wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/34 "2007-10-31T15:34:41Z")
After watching the trailer I’m probably going to put off seeing the movie until I find out what happens to the dog. It looks like the dog gets killed. I hate that. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/35 "2007-10-31T17:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] This board is about fighting ignorance. Thinking that _28 Days Later_ was original, and that _I am Legend_ is an imitation of it, indicates some cinematic ignorance. That’s not an insult, just an observation; it can be fixed, and you’ll have fun fixing it. First, order a copy of Richard Matheson’s [novel](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780312865047&itm=2). (The edition I’ve linked to has some other great stories, too.) Read it, reflect on the fact that it was written over half a century ago, and think about how many stories and movies since show its influence. Then, start educating yourself about the history of fantasy, science fiction and horror in the cinema. There are any number of books on the subject; I’m sure a lot of folks here can recommend some good ones. One of my favorites is _Science Fiction Movies_ by Phillip Strick (only goes up to the 1970’s, but it’s great). Also get the big, thick (but fun) reference works _The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction_ and _The Encyclopedia of Fantasy_. (I think those may be available as interactive CD-ROMs as well.) Anyway, have fun with it. [/QUOTE] I read \* I am Legend \* because Stephen King listed it as a major influence and I think wrote Salem’s Lot as an homage. I enjoyed it very much ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/36 "2007-10-31T19:05:14Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] In the novel, he doesn’t find a cure, and he doesn’t find a cure in the first film version (_The Last Man on Earth_). [/QUOTE] I’m pretty sure he does, but he doesn’t get a chance to use it (if you’re referring to the Vincent Price version). His own blood provides immunity and works as a cure on the woman with him - forgot her name. But they are both killed before he can explain it to the others. It may be that this version goes the same way. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/37 "2007-10-31T19:34:14Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Even then, I _still_ can’t figure out how the OP thought _28 Days Later_ was original in any way. [/QUOTE] I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and I’ve come up with one way. It’s also the main reason I find _28 Days Later_ very interesting: [spoiler]Jim, the bike messenger who is the central character of the movie, never kills any of the Infected! He only kills healthy people! That’s the message behind the film: there are worse people in this world than the hordes of mindless hate-filled zombies that want to beat you to death with their bare hands. In fact, some of the worst people will go out of their way to convince you that they’re going to be your best friend right before they turn on you. Jim _never_ kills any zombies. Even when the young girl’s father is infected by a drop of blood that splashes into his eye, Jim can’t bring himself to turn on his former traveling companion before the Rage virus takes over and ends up needing to be saved by one of the soldiers. I waffled back and forth about whether the boy at the gas station was infected, but we know by listening to the army commander’s soliloquy that the Infected are unable to speak intelligibly, so the boy must have somehow avoided being infected and thus attacked Jim purely of his own malice and/or desperation! Everyone else that Jim kills (namely, the soldiers at the army post) is someone who could have been his ally, holding out for hope against wave after wave of zombies, but instead they lure his party to the post solely to take advantage of them.[/spoiler] I probably won’t make it to see _I Am Legend_ at the theater because I have two small children, but maybe **Kelliebeans** and I can watch it on DVD after we get _The Omega Man_ from Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/38 "2007-10-31T19:43:21Z")
[QUOTE=Poysyn] I read \* I am Legend \* because Stephen King listed it as a major influence and I think wrote Salem’s Lot as an homage. I enjoyed it very much [/QUOTE] I thought I am Legend is a remake of The Stand which is a remake of Resident Evil? 😃 Ahh who cares. I just want to see Will Smith fighting something other than aliens and irobots. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/39 "2007-10-31T19:57:33Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] I thought I am Legend is a remake of The Stand which is a remake of Resident Evil? 😃 Ahh who cares. I just want to see Will Smith fighting something other than aliens and irobots. [/QUOTE] 😃 Thanks for that. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502/40 "2007-10-31T20:07:31Z")
[QUOTE=EsotericEnigma] This is why I post here, I had absolutely no idea I am Legend is a remake of a remake of a book of a scroll of a cave drawing. Thanks everyone! [/QUOTE] Don’t bother with the cave drawing, it didn’t age well. The pottery shard was way better. And as far as I’m concerned, the fresco version never happened. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-legend-aka-28-days-later-with-a-budget/424502.md?page=3)