Thread: I Am Legend

Originally Posted by tsurara

And yet, the church has done everything in their power to ensure that films like that are maligned and churchgoers are warned while those of us who are athiests or non-Christians walk into crap this this and get whacked upside the head with bibles.

True, very true. The church would always try to get their hands on non-believers

Originally Posted by tsurara

The message to me was that Science, however well-intentioned, is evil and will ultimately lead to our destruction. The only way to save ourselves is by turning to the Christian God, who undeniably exists and trusting completely in a higher power to make everything okay.

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In the end we are treated to a rather disturbing parallel of a suicide bombing AFTER the film has suggested (and the book has made completely clear) the fact that these "zombies" retain human qualities and have formed a society which is being threatened by OUR existance. Apparently killing those different from us by blowing ourselves up alongside intentional Jesus Christ/martyr imagery is "heroic"...

Personally, I find that message as offensive as a Christian would find the message: "God doesn't exist and the church lies to you."

And yet, the church has done everything in their power to ensure that films like that are maligned and churchgoers are warned while those of us who are athiests or non-Christians walk into crap this this and get whacked upside the head with bibles.

No thanks.

I'm not annoyed by the content as much as I am the gross double-standard in our society toward differing faiths and belief systems that it illustrates.

And I find the ending's COMPLETE reversal of the the entire point of the original novel disturbing.

I thought that the movie was great. Good action good story, decent ending. Creepy zompie like things. Overall i think that it was a great movie. Though i personal dont get where you get the whole christian aspect out of it. I mean i know they mention a god but they didnt say anything bout christ. I mean Just because they mention god and nothing else about the religion gives it a universal thing it could fit into many religions.

I myself loved the movie. I loved its story and action. I will say that it was sad and a couple of parts scared me a little. Im fine with the religious ending. I know many of you didn't like it, but then maybe you shouldn't have watched it or read the book first so you would have known.

Originally Posted by Billum256

I know many of you didn't like it, but then maybe you shouldn't have watched it or read the book first so you would have known.

uh... maybe you should take your own advice. If you'd actually read the novel, you'd know the film was nothing remotely like it for the last 40 minutes or so.

 click to show spoiler

in the original there are no other "Survivors" only zombies (actually more like vampires) that haven't completely turned. They've formed a civilization which he terrorizes in his daily hunts and leads them to send a female spy to get close to him and discover how much of a threat he poses. She succeeds and eventually betrays him to the others who capture him and sentence him to death by public execution. The title "I am Legend" refers to his own final realization that humanity is now the "legend" and vampires the reality: he has degenerated into a night-stalking terror in the eyes of the new default populace (ie. the vampires). The religious mumbo jumbo, the suicide bombing, the survivor colony and the Shrek advertisements are all changes/additions from the screenwriters. And I think they stink >_<

As for where I get the Christian aspects:

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perhaps a shining crucifix being the first thing he sees after his life is miraculously saved? The notion that he sacrifices himself to atone for the sins of humanity and give the "survivors" a chance (becoming a Christ figure)? The idea that there is one almighty father figure who speaks in whispers to strange hispanic boat women and gives them directions to survivors colonies?

Christianity isn't universal I'm afraid... nor is monotheism or religion in general...

How would you feel being a black person going to a film that pops out in its final third with a not-so-subtle white supremacist message? Or a homosexual going to see a film that features an effeminate gay villain and a handful of insensitive gay jokes? Or Jerry Fallwell in RENT? Because I'm pretty sure that's how quite a few atheists felt in "I Am Legend"... a wee bit uncomfortable.

Originally Posted by tsurara

uh... maybe you should take your own advice. If you'd actually read the novel, you'd know the film was nothing remotely like it for the last 40 minutes or so.

 click to show spoiler

in the original there are no other "Survivors" only zombies (actually more like vampires) that haven't completely turned. They've formed a civilization which he terrorizes in his daily hunts and leads them to send a female spy to get close to him and discover how much of a threat he poses. She succeeds and eventually betrays him to the others who capture him and sentence him to death by public execution. The title "I am Legend" refers to his own final realization that humanity is now the "legend" and vampires the reality: he has degenerated into a night-stalking terror in the eyes of the new default populace (ie. the vampires). The religious mumbo jumbo, the suicide bombing, the survivor colony and the Shrek advertisements are all changes/additions from the screenwriters. And I think they stink >_<

As for where I get the Christian aspects:

 click to show spoiler

perhaps a shining crucifix being the first thing he sees after his life is miraculously saved? The notion that he sacrifices himself to atone for the sins of humanity and give the "survivors" a chance (becoming a Christ figure)? The idea that there is one almighty father figure who speaks in whispers to strange hispanic boat women and gives them directions to survivors colonies?

Christianity isn't universal I'm afraid... nor is monotheism or religion in general...

How would you like being a black person going to a film that pops out in its final third with a not-so-subtle white supremacist message? Because I'm pretty sure that's how quite a few atheists felt in "I Am Legend"...

I'm not the one complaining about it now am I. I didn't read the book, didn't want to because I'd already heard of the movie and I hate it when people just read a book because a movie of it is coming out.

I can see where you get the Christain aspect if you look at it that way, but the only people who look for that kinda stuff are those who have something against it. Everyone else can just enjoy the movie for what it is.

i can really see where tsurara is comming from. i remember the jesmus things, and the suicidal imecilism. the first part of the movie was really good, right up to

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when poor Sam died. i knew it was going to happen, but damn..

after that, the movie was off for me, as well as the rest of the evening. well, berserking them in his car was ok, but after that i think they could have done better.

anybody think of this?-

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how did he know anyone whould know what to do with the cured zombie's blood? he was probably the only one who knew how to make a proper antidote, but he had to go and blow himself up. for nothing.

i belive its b/c directors think that most americans want that kind of ending, so they feel that they can live their entire lives doing bad things, but at the last moment be saved. and the shrek placement sickened me.

as for my personal religion, i dont think you could call me any particular one.

i really thought it was pretty awesome. most of the story line was indifferent to most movies. but i agree the ending could have been better. the ending didnt RUIN the movie but i dont think id watch it again. i love the thought of isolation and the acting was great.. i guess it was really just the ending that was a bit off