• io9
  • science
  • overmind
  • kotaku
  • gizmodo
  • Profile logout login

#iamlegend

io9

Share Cancel
   
Upload an image | Add an image URL
×

logging in
  • FAQ. Include # before tag:
  • #observationdeck,
  • #tips,
  • #calendar,
  • etc.

San Francisco, 12:55 AM
Sat Nov 28
17 posts in the last 24 hours

Team

Tip your editors: tips@io9.com

Editor-in-Chief:
Annalee Newitz | Email

News Editor:
Charlie Jane Anders | Email

Associate Editor:
Meredith Woerner | Email

Assistant Editor:
Lauren Davis | Email

Weekend Editor:
Graeme McMillan | Email

Contributors:
Joshua Glenn
Stephen Goldmeier | Email
Ed Grabianowski | Email
Austin Grossman
Paul Hogan | Email
Lauren Davis | Email
Chris Hsiang | Email
Lynn Peril | Email
Ann VanderMeer
Alasdair Wilkins | Email

Graphic Designer:
Stephanie Fox | Email

Interns:
Tim Barribeau | Email
Julia Carusillo | Email
Alex Eichler | Email
Cyriaque Lamar | Email
Caitlin Petrakovitz | Email
Mary Ratliff | Email
Josh Snyder | Email

More:
io9 on Facebook
follow io9 on Twitter

SUBSCRIBE TO io9 RSS

New: Breaking news and daily top stories via email
1428 Subscribers
io9
  • posts about #iamlegend more →

    Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters

    War Is Less Hell In The Future Of Sgt. Rock

    Great News: An Andrew Niccol Script Replaces I Am Legend Prequel

    Akiva "I Am Legend" Goldsman Takes On U.S. Version Of Primeval

    What If Uwe Boll Directed I Am Legend?

    The World Without Us Is Legend?

    The Future Now: Science Fiction Set in 2009

    I Am Still Legend: Yet Another Crazy Sequel On The Way

    I Am Legend 2 (But Not Really Two Cause It Takes Place Before) Is Totally Happening

    Does Anybody Really Need This Much I Am Legend Crap?
  • Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.
    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of korybing korybing
    11/23/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    I enjoyed I Am Legend (the first half at least, I thought it did a good job portraying the desolate loneliness of the world) until I actually read the short story. I would have loved to see a movie that was actually based on I Am Legend. They've tried how many times now and failed to get it right?

    If you like a story enough to make it into a movie, why change it so much that it's barely recognizable to the source material? Movies do this all the time and I'll never understand it.
     Reply
    korybing was starred korybing was unstarred
    Image of HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H. HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.
    11/23/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    I didn't mind Ozymandias. I thought his accent was kind of silly, but other than that, he was pretty spot on.

    I liked the more stoic demeanor in the film's climax, to be honest. I always thought Veidt's "YES! I DID IT!" was unfitting for a man who always knew he would succeed, not to mention for a man who knew the world had paid a heavy price for its peace.
     Reply
    HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H. was starred HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H. was unstarred
    Image of Adam Whitehead Adam Whitehead
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    No THE POSTMAN? The original novel by David Brin was pretty good. The movie is astonishingly awful.
     Reply
    Adam Whitehead was starred Adam Whitehead was unstarred
    Image of NerD: Blattella NerD: Blattella
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    Ozymandias was a no win situation. There isn't an actor who could really embody everything he was supposed to be (natural athelete; smartest man in the world).

    The only real life person I can think of who embodies that is Dolph Lundgren, and now that I've written that, I will be pissed that they didn't get him. Although Dolph isn't the greatest actor in the world.

    Thank god for the relative anonymity of the internet.
     Reply
    NerD: Blattella was starred NerD: Blattella was unstarred
    Image of Diziet_Sma Diziet_Sma
    11/21/09

    @NerD: Blattella: Daniel Craig?
     Reply
    Diziet_Sma was starred Diziet_Sma was unstarred
    Image of Captain_Tripps Captain_Tripps
    11/21/09

    @NerD: Blattella: I'd have a hard time thinking of Dolph as the smartest man in the world, but he definitely has the look. Right age, right physique, he even some what resembles the images from the comics.
     Reply
    Annalee Newitz promoted this comment Captain_Tripps was starred Captain_Tripps was unstarred
    Image of laddibugg laddibugg
    11/21/09

    @Captain_Tripps: he's pretty damn smart, though. Fulbright Scholar smart.
     Reply
    Annalee Newitz promoted this comment laddibugg was starred laddibugg was unstarred
    Image of Karmacoma Karmacoma
    11/22/09

    @Diziet_Sma: Hey, you´re right!! He would have been an excellent choice!
     Reply
    NerD: Blattella promoted this comment Karmacoma was starred Karmacoma was unstarred
    Image of Annalee Newitz Annalee Newitz
    11/22/09

    @NerD: Blattella: No way. I vote Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - he looks badass, and manages to play smart unexpectedly well. Unlike Dolph, who may be a brainfarm in real life, but always seems dumb as a post when he's acting.
     Reply
    Edited by Annalee Newitz at 11/22/09 5:38 PM Annalee Newitz was starred Annalee Newitz was unstarred
    Image of NerD: Blattella NerD: Blattella
    11/22/09

    @Annalee Newitz: Hmm, I am torn between inspired casting, and the fear you may need to share my shack in the woods hiding from Mr. Lundgren.
     Reply
    NerD: Blattella was starred NerD: Blattella was unstarred
    Image of M.C.-Action M.C.-Action
    11/23/09

    @NerD: Blattella: I don´t know why they took this boy instead of a real man to play Ozzy!?
     Reply
    NerD: Blattella promoted this comment M.C.-Action was starred M.C.-Action was unstarred
    Image of Wookie1972 Wookie1972
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    I realize it barely counts as sci-fi, but Altman's Popeye had some of the best and worst casting. Robin Williams was not a good popeye, but Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl.
     Reply
    Wookie1972 was starred Wookie1972 was unstarred
    Image of Wookie1972 Wookie1972
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    Is it too early to say Sherlock Holmes?
     Reply
    Wookie1972 was starred Wookie1972 was unstarred
    Image of Diziet_Sma Diziet_Sma
    11/21/09

    @Wookie1972: Absolutely not. RDJ? Fuck off.
     Reply
    Diziet_Sma was starred Diziet_Sma was unstarred
    Image of Captain_Tripps Captain_Tripps
    11/21/09

    @Diziet_Sma: Let's not pretend the man has spent his career turning out cinematic cold, hmm kay?
     Reply
    Diziet_Sma promoted this comment Captain_Tripps was starred Captain_Tripps was unstarred
    Image of Diziet_Sma Diziet_Sma
    11/22/09

    @Captain_Tripps: Oh honey, I love him; but Sherlock Holmes? Nah.
     Reply
    Diziet_Sma was starred Diziet_Sma was unstarred
    Image of Gothamite88 Gothamite88
    11/23/09

    @Wookie1972: There've been worse versions of Holmes and its not like there aren't also dozens of other true-to-text interpretations of the character. It isn't like this one movie is going to erase all that.
     Reply
    Wookie1972 promoted this comment Gothamite88 was starred Gothamite88 was unstarred
    Image of Wookie1972 Wookie1972
    11/23/09

    @Gothamite88: Mebbe not, but for some this could be the first exposure to the character. I dread the idea that kids will put down the original stories because they don't have enough explosions.
     Reply
    Wookie1972 was starred Wookie1972 was unstarred
    Image of AmishJohn AmishJohn
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters

    "We're making a movie; and all we're gonna use from the book is the character names, and perhaps 3 lines of backstory..."
     Reply
    AmishJohn was starred AmishJohn was unstarred
    Image of B1663R B1663R
    11/21/09

    @AmishJohn: yeah but you gotta admit it was a pretty good movie... surprised no one mentioned that John Travolta movie
     Reply
    B1663R was starred B1663R was unstarred
    Image of AmishJohn AmishJohn
    11/21/09

    @B1663R: Um, no. For someone who read the book a great many years ago, it is most defenitely not a 'good' movie. Unless 'good' is the new slang for 'kick in the junk'. Juan is supposed to be Philipino, Carl is a scientist (who dies in the raid on Pluto), not a psionic SS goon, AND THERE'S NO FRIGGIN' DROP CAPSULES OR POWERED ARMOR! I won't even get into the overall tone of the movie. This movie had all the faithfulness of 'I, Robot'.

    And we don't discuss that Travolta... thing... before people have had a chance for their breakfast Scotch.
     Reply
    Edited by AmishJohn at 11/21/09 8:29 AM AmishJohn was starred AmishJohn was unstarred
    Image of tetracycloide tetracycloide
    11/21/09

    @AmishJohn: i don't want to be 'that guy' (ok fine it's like crack to me), but you're watching it wrong. the movie intentionally takes the characters and general situation of the original novel and thrusts them into the futuristic caricature of a fascist military state as a commentary on the book.

    granted you do have a good point about the powered armor.
     Reply
    tetracycloide was starred tetracycloide was unstarred
    Image of AmishJohn AmishJohn
    11/21/09

    @tetracycloide: That makes it, in my book (pun intended) a crappy adaptation. Call it something else; it sure isn't ST.
    Also, in the book, it didn't matter what form your service took; clerks and janitors were just as much citizens as soldiers. And "Non- Citizens" weren't exactly second class; the only thing they could not do was vote. And even the soldiers could, at any time, say 'enough', and resign.
     Reply
    Edited by AmishJohn at 11/21/09 11:11 AM AmishJohn was starred AmishJohn was unstarred
    Image of lorq lorq
    11/21/09

    @AmishJohn: Can't vote = second-class citizen.
     Reply
    lorq was starred lorq was unstarred
    Image of AmishJohn AmishJohn
    11/21/09

    @lorq: Everyone voting on everything = the California Budget Meltdown. Demanding bread & circuses, but not willing to pay.
     Reply
    AmishJohn was starred AmishJohn was unstarred
    Image of lorq lorq
    11/21/09

    @AmishJohn: No, what you were supposed to say was, "You're right -- if an individual isn't entitled to vote while others are, he or she is indeed a second-class citizen."
     Reply
    lorq was starred lorq was unstarred
    Image of Bill-Lee Bill-Lee
    11/21/09

    @AmishJohn: Not to be too nit-picky but it's spelled Filipino.
     Reply
    Bill-Lee was starred Bill-Lee was unstarred
    Image of Adam Whitehead Adam Whitehead
    11/21/09

    @AmishJohn: My take would be, good movie, bad adaptation of the book. If it wasn't called 'STARSHIP TROOPERS' it wouldn't have gotten half the criticism it's gotten over the years. Taken on its own merits, in full knowledge of how twisted Verhoeven is, it's actually a pretty decent flick. Especially casting Doogie Howser as a fascist telepath.
     Reply
    Adam Whitehead was starred Adam Whitehead was unstarred
    Image of Hungus Hungus
    11/21/09

    @tetracycloide: You say it was an intentional take on the book, but Verhoeven admits in the director's commentary that he never bothered reading the book. How do you make a commentary on a book you have never read? You are giving Verhoeven more credit than he deserves.
     Reply
    AmishJohn promoted this comment Hungus was starred Hungus was unstarred
    Image of AmishJohn AmishJohn
    11/22/09

    @Bill-Lee: My Spell-Fu powers are weak.
     Reply
    AmishJohn was starred AmishJohn was unstarred
    Image of Dirk Anger Dirk Anger
    11/22/09

    @tetracycloide: I didn't read the movies, but when I watched it (I might have been 13 or 14) I laughed my ass off and I saw it as a parody of military movies. Then I read the critics saying it was a fascist movie and I laughed even more.
     Reply
    Dirk Anger was starred Dirk Anger was unstarred
    Image of tetracycloide tetracycloide
    11/23/09

    @Hungus: i think neumeier wrote it that way and verhoeven just directed the movie he saw in the script.

    @dirk anger: it's absolutely a parody of violent, military films. i don't see how anyone could possibly come to any other conclusion to be honest.
     Reply
    tetracycloide was starred tetracycloide was unstarred
    Image of Hungus Hungus
    11/23/09

    @tetracycloide: Verhoeven talks about his vision though throughout the commentary. Meh the simple issue is that Starship Troopers is a travesty.
     Reply
    Hungus was starred Hungus was unstarred
    Image of Whitworthian Whitworthian
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    Who thought, "Greek assassin? Let's get Jennifer Garner!"

    I remember reading that someone involved with the production was trying to get Lucy Liu into the part, as she'd just finished some other action film and was fully trained. As terrible casting as it was, it could have been much, much worse.
     Reply
    Whitworthian was starred Whitworthian was unstarred
    Image of Bootknife-Jackson Bootknife-Jackson
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    say what you will Io9, i love Bicentennial Man!
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson was starred Bootknife-Jackson was unstarred
    Image of Alizarin Alizarin
    11/21/09

    @Bootknife-Jackson: Yea. It was a tad too painfully goofy at parts (I hated the skating girl robot) but it was rather sad and lovely.
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson promoted this comment Alizarin was starred Alizarin was unstarred
    Image of ag_the_king ag_the_king
    11/21/09

    @Bootknife-Jackson: Me to. One of my favorite films. I haven't read the book but i don't think that matters. The movie is incredible as is even thou it might not be the same thing as the book.
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson promoted this comment ag_the_king was starred ag_the_king was unstarred
    Image of Slappy_san Slappy_san
    11/21/09

    @Bootknife-Jackson: Same here. Thing is...I never read the novella.
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson promoted this comment Slappy_san was starred Slappy_san was unstarred
    Image of Bootknife-Jackson Bootknife-Jackson
    11/21/09

    @Slappy_san: i'm in the same boat, neither have i. and i think it cites two works of his as basis. i'd like to read em both though.

    #calendar
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson was starred Bootknife-Jackson was unstarred
    Image of Bootknife-Jackson Bootknife-Jackson
    11/21/09

    @Alizarin: it was painfuly goofy, but i think that was on purpose, as it was painfully silly to Andrew as well.

    #calendar
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson was starred Bootknife-Jackson was unstarred
    Image of Communist Pope Communist Pope
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    No Chris O'Donnell as Robin, "the Full Grown Adult Wonder?" Oh well. I do like how '70s TV Cap was so glaringly wrong that he doesn't get a write-up.
     Reply
    Communist Pope was starred Communist Pope was unstarred
    Image of Bongoes Bongoes
    11/22/09

    @Communist Pope: I don't know why but whenever Batman Forever is on TV I watch it. I love laughing at it and then crying when I realize it's a real movie. And then I cry again when I realize that it's being played on TV. And one more tear for the one person I know who likes it.
     Reply
    Communist Pope promoted this comment Bongoes was starred Bongoes was unstarred
    Image of Makidian Makidian
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    Why would you even bother to put Emma Frost in here? If you picked any character from Wolverine it should have been the Weapon 11/Deadpool crap.

    I like Bicentennial Man, wasn't to awful and Daredevil was okay. The question that should be asked is why they decided to make Elektra it's own movie after Daredevil was shit on by everyone and their brother, her character included. I don't think Jennifer Garner should be in action movie, she is far too annoying.
     Reply
    Makidian was starred Makidian was unstarred
    Image of Super_fly Super_fly
    11/21/09

    @Makidian: yeah they definatly messed up with deadpool. "lets put the most smartass/funny character and make him mute". right there they shoulda stopped
     Reply
    Makidian promoted this comment Super_fly was starred Super_fly was unstarred
    Image of mauramcallister mauramcallister
    11/21/09

    @Makidian: How they destroyed Wade Wilson/Deadpool angered me for WEEKS. What was that awful Weapon XI they came up with? I mean, Ryan Reynolds brings the snark soo well and then to do THAT... what a waste.
     Reply
    Makidian promoted this comment mauramcallister was starred mauramcallister was unstarred
    Image of Roklimber Roklimber
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    Like others before me here, I like Bicentennial Man. The only "defect" I see with that movie is that it raised several interesting questions but didn't really answer them. Instead, it became a love story. Even then, however, it's a good movie and Williams did a great job, in my view.

    Perhaps you (people in charge) should start a poll to see how many people like the movie, just for kicks. :)
     Reply
    Roklimber was starred Roklimber was unstarred
    Image of Communist Pope Communist Pope
    11/21/09

    @Roklimber: Don't bother. River Tam will win.
     Reply
    Communist Pope was starred Communist Pope was unstarred
    Image of Roklimber Roklimber
    11/21/09

    @Communist Pope: Indeed!
     Reply
    Roklimber was starred Roklimber was unstarred
    Image of Lassus Lassus
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    This thread has convinced me to see Bicentennial Man.

    YOU LOSE THIS BATTLE, MEREDITH! BWAH HA HA HA HA!!!!
     Reply
    Lassus was starred Lassus was unstarred
    Image of Jrsy Devil's Advocate® Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
    11/21/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    Why didn't Judge Dredd make that list?

    Meredith, how about a follow up article on Live-Action versions of video games? I vote Street Fighter as number 1 on that list.
     Reply
    Jrsy Devil's Advocate® was starred Jrsy Devil's Advocate® was unstarred
    Image of Jassen Jassen
    11/21/09

    @Jrsy Devil's Advocate®: Do you mean the classic Van Damme flick from 1994 that also starred Raul Julia, Ming Na & Kylie Minogue or that one they made this year with that chick who isn't as hot as she thinks ?
     Reply
    Jassen was starred Jassen was unstarred
    Image of OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
    11/21/09

    @Jrsy Devil's Advocate®: They were paid off in Bison Dollars.
     Reply
    Edited by OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear at 11/21/09 5:11 AM OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was starred OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was unstarred
    Image of Jrsy Devil's Advocate® Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
    11/21/09

    @Jassen: Classic isn't the word I would use to describe it..
     Reply
    Jrsy Devil's Advocate® was starred Jrsy Devil's Advocate® was unstarred
    Image of Jassen Jassen
    11/21/09

    @Jrsy Devil's Advocate®: ahh but see, it' s not just a "classic" flick it's a "classic van damme" flick and as such you can only compare it to other classic van damme flicks like Universal Soldier.
     Reply
    Jassen was starred Jassen was unstarred
    Image of Pessimippopotamus Pessimippopotamus
    11/20/09

    In reply to Page-To-Screen Fail: The Worst Live-Action Versions Of Book Characters
    Awwwwww. Jennifer Garner isn't so bad. She kicked ass in Alias.

    You know who else kicked ass in Alias?

    Isabella Rossellini.
     Reply
    Pessimippopotamus was starred Pessimippopotamus was unstarred
    Image of ctuley ctuley
    11/21/09

    @Pessimippopotamus: Lena Olin was the biggest ass-kicker by far in Alias.
     Reply
    Pessimippopotamus promoted this comment ctuley was starred ctuley was unstarred
    Image of Pessimippopotamus Pessimippopotamus
    11/21/09

    @ctuley: Yea, but she was too crazy to be truly kick ass.
     Reply
    Pessimippopotamus was starred Pessimippopotamus was unstarred
    Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

Login

Enter your username and password.

Please enter a username.
Please enter your password.
logging in
Login via Facebook | Sign Up | Forgot Password?

Reset Password

Please enter your email address to have your password reset.

Please enter your email address.
Please enter a valid email address.
requesting password reset

Register

Registering will give you a user profile and the ability to add other users as friends. To become a commenter, however, you need to audition.

Want to know more? Consult the Comment FAQ and legal terms.

Please enter a username.
Please enter a password.
Please confirm your password.
Passwords are not identical.
Please enter a valid email address.
registration sent, waiting for reply

Submit Your Comment

You don't need to login to comment. Just enter your email address below.

See how your address will be displayed in the Comment FAQ.

Please enter a valid email address.
Please enter a valid email address.
logging in

Login with your Facebook or io9 account.

Sign up here.



  • Archives
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Legal
  • Help
  • Report a Bug
  • FAQ
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.