Comments on: Alternate 'I Am Legend' ending hits the web, is it better? http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better Reviewing popular culture so you don't have to Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:47:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The Scourge of Web 2.0 | Ghostz-It.Com - SEO Tips - Internet Marketing - Blogging http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6146 The Scourge of Web 2.0 | Ghostz-It.Com - SEO Tips - Internet Marketing - Blogging Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:07:07 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6146 [...] Here is the current Top 10 listings on Google for “I Am Legend Movie Review“. [...] [...] Here is the current Top 10 listings on Google for “I Am Legend Movie Review“. [...]

]]> By: Eno Shravenko http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6145 Eno Shravenko Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:54:26 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6145 Thanks, Silv. So here I am, but not too sure what you wanted me to discuss. perhaps this isn't even the correct forum for it... any alt way to contact you? eno Thanks, Silv.
So here I am, but not too sure what you wanted me to discuss. perhaps this isn’t even the correct forum for it… any alt way to contact you?

eno

]]> By: What happend in the book or what happened in the movie? http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6144 What happend in the book or what happened in the movie? Thu, 25 Dec 2008 01:35:37 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6144 What happend in the book or what happened in the movie? I just read your entire analysis because it was interesting and 100% different from everything I read before. I don't know what happened because I neither read nor saw the book nor movie, respectively. Sometimes people who believe in God tend to see God in places that the originators of works didn't intend. Sometimes people who believe in God tend to see God in places that the originators did intend, but that people who do not believe in God do not see because the cannot. I think that, while knowing nothing, your mentioning of the poster and the butterfly shapes and their occurrences make me think that your interpretation may be exactly what the direct intended. Directors, writers, musicians are creative people (at least the good ones and the horridly bad ones--the rest are just in it for the money--automatons) are oft in hiding symbols and making connections that only those sensitive and very observant can notice. Like, I saw the 6th sense and never noticed the significance of the color red. Actually, I never noticed the color red at all. A relative of mine, who is EXTREMELY deep and has a blessed ability with uncovering the meaning of an artist (the below the surface more important meaning), and she got the red right off the bat. I still have not. But she is like that. I would like to know of your take on many things that I have not read, nor seen, and probably never will. This was a very well written forum on the part of all who participated. I actually read all postings but one I think in their entirety. I hope that you are able to reply, as it is Christmas Eve 2008 and I see that your post, unfortunately was in April of the same year. Oh well, thank you. You are am amazing thinker, Eno Shravenko. I don't know if I can attribute that to you or the Holy Spirit. I am not a decent person I don't think (at least not when no body is around--I do mean no body not nobody--this is one of those hidden meanings things that I stick in as a creative thinker and therefore a user of sybolism and metaphors, and just inside-storyism), but I do believe Jesus Christ is who He says He is. I do believe that the entire King James Version of the Holy Bible is correct for me to believe and follow (albeit I have not been a good follower of it in my heart). I think that the Holy Spirit illuminates hidden truths, and it is good to have been chosen by God to receive Him (The Holy Spirit). It is makes for a great eternity and for nice interpretations behind meanings of books and movies and such. Thank you for an enjoyable, good read, Shravenko, I was delighted by your argument and the strong support you followed up on it, especially. I hope that you will be obedient to God in all ways. -Silv B. What happend in the book or what happened in the movie?

I just read your entire analysis because it was interesting and 100% different from everything I read before. I don’t know what happened because I neither read nor saw the book nor movie, respectively. Sometimes people who believe in God tend to see God in places that the originators of works didn’t intend. Sometimes people who believe in God tend to see God in places that the originators did intend, but that people who do not believe in God do not see because the cannot.

I think that, while knowing nothing, your mentioning of the poster and the butterfly shapes and their occurrences make me think that your interpretation may be exactly what the direct intended. Directors, writers, musicians are creative people (at least the good ones and the horridly bad ones–the rest are just in it for the money–automatons) are oft in hiding symbols and making connections that only those sensitive and very observant can notice. Like, I saw the 6th sense and never noticed the significance of the color red. Actually, I never noticed the color red at all. A relative of mine, who is EXTREMELY deep and has a blessed ability with uncovering the meaning of an artist (the below the surface more important meaning), and she got the red right off the bat. I still have not. But she is like that.

I would like to know of your take on many things that I have not read, nor seen, and probably never will. This was a very well written forum on the part of all who participated. I actually read all postings but one I think in their entirety.

I hope that you are able to reply, as it is Christmas Eve 2008 and I see that your post, unfortunately was in April of the same year.

Oh well, thank you. You are am amazing thinker, Eno Shravenko. I don’t know if I can attribute that to you or the Holy Spirit.

I am not a decent person I don’t think (at least not when no body is around–I do mean no body not nobody–this is one of those hidden meanings things that I stick in as a creative thinker and therefore a user of sybolism and metaphors, and just inside-storyism), but I do believe Jesus Christ is who He says He is. I do believe that the entire King James Version of the Holy Bible is correct for me to believe and follow (albeit I have not been a good follower of it in my heart). I think that the Holy Spirit illuminates hidden truths, and it is good to have been chosen by God to receive Him (The Holy Spirit). It is makes for a great eternity and for nice interpretations behind meanings of books and movies and such.

Thank you for an enjoyable, good read, Shravenko, I was delighted by your argument and the strong support you followed up on it, especially. I hope that you will be obedient to God in all ways.

-Silv B.

]]> By: MMO Store » Blog Archive » The Scourge of Web 2.0 http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6143 MMO Store » Blog Archive » The Scourge of Web 2.0 Mon, 26 May 2008 17:10:21 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6143 [...] Here is the current Top 10 listings on Google for “I Am Legend Movie Review“. [...] [...] Here is the current Top 10 listings on Google for “I Am Legend Movie Review“. [...]

]]> By: Cap'n Schwartz http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6142 Cap'n Schwartz Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:21:01 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6142 so you're saying that with all the of the geo-political and social ramifications that the minute transactions of the corrilary theorems dont match up, and therefore, thus, transition into what we might call a really wordy synopsis that a sequel is needed......so say we all!! so you’re saying that with all the of the geo-political and social ramifications that the minute transactions of the corrilary theorems dont match up, and therefore, thus, transition into what we might call a really wordy synopsis that a sequel is needed……so say we all!!

]]> By: Mike http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6141 Mike Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:30:45 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6141 "In as few words as possible" - LOL! I will read this a bit later, nice in-depth analysis. “In as few words as possible” – LOL!

I will read this a bit later, nice in-depth analysis.

]]> By: Eno Shravenko http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6140 Eno Shravenko Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:56:52 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6140 The movie was nothing like the book - so I don't see any point in trying to make the ending match the book. That said, the movie is an excellent piece of work in my opinion and the theatrical ending is the better one (though I do agree that the alt ending does a MUCH better job of explaining the intelligence of the vampires and the motivation of the lead vampire in pursuit of his girl). Here's my analysis of the film: The theatrical version creates a new and much deeper context, which is basically the role of God in the story. I suppose some haters will automatically despise any mention of God and say that's the problem, but I think this theatrical version and the God role bring a whole lot to the story, which hasn't been done before in the book or previous film adaptations. Here's my take (in as few words as possible): 1. The butterfly. The butterfly is the underpinning of the entire movie. The butterfly is the symbol of God’s will or God’s intervention. Think about the occurrences: • Marley - If Robert had listened to her and not packed her and his wife on the chopper, they'd (possibly) be alive and with him. By not listening he lost his family to fate (not the disease) in a freak accident. In the small point where he was influenced by her (the handing off of the dog), there is salvation and Sam lives. • The tanks (nobody ever mentions this) - in the opening drive through the city, Neville corners hard to avoid some tanks. The camera pauses on the tanks and a poster with the Hand of God reaching to the hand of man and the slogan "God Still Loves Us, Do We Still Love Him?" One poster is torn in the shape of a butterfly, firmly establishing the God-Butterfly link. • Anna's neck (theatrical version)- the butterfly convinces Neville that Anna was in fact sent by God to help him save humanity. In the alt ending, the butterfly on the subjects neck convinces him that the vampires are not out to kill him, but rescue the girl. His “listeningâ€Â? is not just listening but in both versions it's clear he is choosing drop his despair and disbelief, along with his insistence that he is right and there is no god or plan and chooses to listen to and believe in God's will and purpose for him and chooses to follow that path. • There are a few more – a pillow in Marley’s room, and the butterfly while Neville is picking corn. For the corn incident in particular I am having trouble identifying the significance… anyone have any ideas? 2. The role of God. The entire movie is a commentary on the relationship between man and God. Briefly summarized: Man attempts to become god-like by defeating death (cancer) with disastrous consequences that result in the destruction and death of man and society. This is essentially the story of the Garden of Eden and man's fall. The resulting plague is "sin" which changes and kills everyone. Neville feels it is his responsibility to save mankind even though he didn't cause the fall. He doesn't have the disease and can't get infected... i.e. he has no sin in him. He offers to save mankind both from sin with his cure and directly from death via his radio broadcasts (come to me and I will give you salvation). Furthermore, the cure or salvation of man comes from his blood. In the theatrical version he has to die to give this gift to mankind. Could there be a more direct correlation to the story of Jesus dying to save man though his blood? Neville even spends 3 years working on his cure - about the same amount of time Jesus spent on earth actively preaching. There is more, but I’m sure you get the idea. 3. IF you accept the role of God and Neville as the Christ figure, there are very interesting questions around the meaning of the posters featured in the film. “God Still Loves Us, Do We Still Love Him?â€Â? Given the context of the film, who is God and who is Us? • Is God the biblical God and Us is all of mankind, which is going through the spread of disease and death at the time the poster was made? It would be unclear if man still loves God, although many feel that the community at the end of the film is religious, indicating that man does still love God. • Is God the biblical God and Us is the human survivors? In which case Neville does not love God, but is redeemed at the end and embraces God. • Is God Neville and Us is the vampire race? In which case God is trying to save Us, but Us doesn’t want to be saved, rejecting God’s salvation in favor of their current existence. • Or… If you go with the alt ending, you lose the Neville as Christ theme, and reduce God to merely fate and circumstance. The butterfly becomes for a symbol for Neville’s personal beliefs, and in the end he chooses simply to modify his view of the vampires rather than embrace the path of a higher power. It’s still a good story, but not quite as deep. I suppose it’s the preferred version for the atheists in the crowd. The movie was nothing like the book – so I don’t see any point in trying to make the ending match the book. That said, the movie is an excellent piece of work in my opinion and the theatrical ending is the better one (though I do agree that the alt ending does a MUCH better job of explaining the intelligence of the vampires and the motivation of the lead vampire in pursuit of his girl).
Here’s my analysis of the film:
The theatrical version creates a new and much deeper context, which is basically the role of God in the story. I suppose some haters will automatically despise any mention of God and say that’s the problem, but I think this theatrical version and the God role bring a whole lot to the story, which hasn’t been done before in the book or previous film adaptations.
Here’s my take (in as few words as possible):
1. The butterfly. The butterfly is the underpinning of the entire movie. The butterfly is the symbol of God’s will or God’s intervention. Think about the occurrences:
• Marley – If Robert had listened to her and not packed her and his wife on the chopper, they’d (possibly) be alive and with him. By not listening he lost his family to fate (not the disease) in a freak accident. In the small point where he was influenced by her (the handing off of the dog), there is salvation and Sam lives.
• The tanks (nobody ever mentions this) – in the opening drive through the city, Neville corners hard to avoid some tanks. The camera pauses on the tanks and a poster with the Hand of God reaching to the hand of man and the slogan “God Still Loves Us, Do We Still Love Him?” One poster is torn in the shape of a butterfly, firmly establishing the God-Butterfly link.
• Anna’s neck (theatrical version)- the butterfly convinces Neville that Anna was in fact sent by God to help him save humanity. In the alt ending, the butterfly on the subjects neck convinces him that the vampires are not out to kill him, but rescue the girl. His “listeningâ€Â? is not just listening but in both versions it’s clear he is choosing drop his despair and disbelief, along with his insistence that he is right and there is no god or plan and chooses to listen to and believe in God’s will and purpose for him and chooses to follow that path.
• There are a few more – a pillow in Marley’s room, and the butterfly while Neville is picking corn. For the corn incident in particular I am having trouble identifying the significance… anyone have any ideas?
2. The role of God. The entire movie is a commentary on the relationship between man and God. Briefly summarized: Man attempts to become god-like by defeating death (cancer) with disastrous consequences that result in the destruction and death of man and society. This is essentially the story of the Garden of Eden and man’s fall.
The resulting plague is “sin” which changes and kills everyone. Neville feels it is his responsibility to save mankind even though he didn’t cause the fall. He doesn’t have the disease and can’t get infected… i.e. he has no sin in him. He offers to save mankind both from sin with his cure and directly from death via his radio broadcasts (come to me and I will give you salvation). Furthermore, the cure or salvation of man comes from his blood. In the theatrical version he has to die to give this gift to mankind. Could there be a more direct correlation to the story of Jesus dying to save man though his blood? Neville even spends 3 years working on his cure – about the same amount of time Jesus spent on earth actively preaching.
There is more, but I’m sure you get the idea.
3. IF you accept the role of God and Neville as the Christ figure, there are very interesting questions around the meaning of the posters featured in the film.
“God Still Loves Us, Do We Still Love Him?�
Given the context of the film, who is God and who is Us?
• Is God the biblical God and Us is all of mankind, which is going through the spread of disease and death at the time the poster was made? It would be unclear if man still loves God, although many feel that the community at the end of the film is religious, indicating that man does still love God.
• Is God the biblical God and Us is the human survivors? In which case Neville does not love God, but is redeemed at the end and embraces God.
• Is God Neville and Us is the vampire race? In which case God is trying to save Us, but Us doesn’t want to be saved, rejecting God’s salvation in favor of their current existence.
• Or…

If you go with the alt ending, you lose the Neville as Christ theme, and reduce God to merely fate and circumstance. The butterfly becomes for a symbol for Neville’s personal beliefs, and in the end he chooses simply to modify his view of the vampires rather than embrace the path of a higher power. It’s still a good story, but not quite as deep. I suppose it’s the preferred version for the atheists in the crowd.

]]> By: Michael http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6139 Michael Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:00:21 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6139 Mike, I agree. It was a huge part of the ending in the book. They sent a spy to see what he was up to because they were scared that he would find a cure and turn them all back into humans... I think the movie was good, but not as good as the book. But if it was like the book, it would have been to depressing for movie goers.. I expect differnt things from books as I do from movies. Personally, I didnt like either ending in the movie. But if I had to pick, Id pick the first. Like said above, nothing in the movie showed that they had any human characterists left in them. I was expecting the entire time that the woman was a vimpire,haha... I think they should have made her one though and stick to the books ending kinda, maybe not have him killed, but to show that the race was evolving.. Would have added a bigger WOW at the end... I think the bob marley and the butterfly part was kinda stupid,haha... All in all, I really enjoyed the book and the movie and if I would have just seen the movie,I would have liked it even more than I already did. Mike, I agree. It was a huge part of the ending in the book. They sent a spy to see what he was up to because they were scared that he would find a cure and turn them all back into humans…

I think the movie was good, but not as good as the book. But if it was like the book, it would have been to depressing for movie goers.. I expect differnt things from books as I do from movies. Personally, I didnt like either ending in the movie. But if I had to pick, Id pick the first. Like said above, nothing in the movie showed that they had any human characterists left in them.

I was expecting the entire time that the woman was a vimpire,haha… I think they should have made her one though and stick to the books ending kinda, maybe not have him killed, but to show that the race was evolving.. Would have added a bigger WOW at the end…

I think the bob marley and the butterfly part was kinda stupid,haha…

All in all, I really enjoyed the book and the movie and if I would have just seen the movie,I would have liked it even more than I already did.

]]> By: Mike http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6138 Mike Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:33:58 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6138 I didn't think it was slow paced, I just think if you are going to name it I am Legend, then you ARE trying to make people think of the book. Honestly, I can judge it how I want...there had been two other versions of the book made into movies, and this was the third. I wanted to see one more faithful to the book and I didn't get it. That bummed me out. And what happens in the movie is fine, but it's nothing that new or exciting...it was just a decent little film. I didn’t think it was slow paced, I just think if you are going to name it I am Legend, then you ARE trying to make people think of the book.

Honestly, I can judge it how I want…there had been two other versions of the book made into movies, and this was the third. I wanted to see one more faithful to the book and I didn’t get it. That bummed me out.

And what happens in the movie is fine, but it’s nothing that new or exciting…it was just a decent little film.

]]> By: raithian25 http://popcritics.com/2008/03/06/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better#comment-6137 raithian25 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:24:12 +0000 http://www.popcritics.com/2008/03/alternate-i-am-legend-ending-hits-the-web-is-it-better/#comment-6137 oh please, you didnt like it cause the ending was different? you do understand the ONLY similarities between this movie and the book was the names "I AM LEGEND", and "ROBERT NEVILLE"; and the whole last-human-on-earth premise. not only was the ending different, but damn near the entire movie was different. the movie wasnt necessarily meant to be a video reincarnation of the book anyways, it was more of a remake of the movie "the omega man", that came out a long time ago, and was also loosely based on the book. i think this movie was amazing, mostly because i knew it wasnt meant to be like the book. heres some differences: vampires vs. "darkseekers" vampires that can TALK vs. grunts, roars, and mumbles neville was executed by vampires vs. heroic martyrdom suicide 1972 vs. 2012 vampires camp outside nevilles home nightly vs. hidden house dog lives for a week with neville vs. over 3 years neville was WHITE vs. neville was BLACK no other humans mentioned vs. 2 random survivors + colony so yeah, many things were different, and i dont think its fair to compare this movie to the book, when it was clear that the devs, producers, and writers were not trying to emulate the book i thought the movie was great, better than most. it wasnt meant to be a fast paced action film. and last time i checked, it was ok for films not to be fast paced and actiony. ur mention of cast away is exactly right: very popular, awards, still on tv years after its release. AND it was not discredited for it not having enough action. i simply think your judging this movie by the wrong criteria. oh please, you didnt like it cause the ending was different? you do understand the ONLY similarities between this movie and the book was the names “I AM LEGEND”, and “ROBERT NEVILLE”; and the whole last-human-on-earth premise. not only was the ending different, but damn near the entire movie was different. the movie wasnt necessarily meant to be a video reincarnation of the book anyways, it was more of a remake of the movie “the omega man”, that came out a long time ago, and was also loosely based on the book. i think this movie was amazing, mostly because i knew it wasnt meant to be like the book.

heres some differences:
vampires vs. “darkseekers”
vampires that can TALK vs. grunts, roars, and mumbles
neville was executed by vampires vs. heroic martyrdom suicide
1972 vs. 2012
vampires camp outside nevilles home nightly vs. hidden house
dog lives for a week with neville vs. over 3 years
neville was WHITE vs. neville was BLACK
no other humans mentioned vs. 2 random survivors + colony

so yeah, many things were different, and i dont think its fair to compare this movie to the book, when it was clear that the devs, producers, and writers were not trying to emulate the book

i thought the movie was great, better than most. it wasnt meant to be a fast paced action film. and last time i checked, it was ok for films not to be fast paced and actiony. ur mention of cast away is exactly right: very popular, awards, still on tv years after its release. AND it was not discredited for it not having enough action.

i simply think your judging this movie by the wrong criteria.

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