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No, I haven’t read the 1954 science fiction book by the same name by Richard Matheson. The original story takes place over a period of time between 1976 and 1978 in Southern California. The novel opens with the monotony and horror of the daily life of the protagonist, Robert Neville. Neville is apparently the only survivor of an apocalypse caused by a pandemic of bacteria, the symptoms of which are very similar to vampirism. Well from that you can sort of figure where this is going. This iteration in which Will Smith plays the protagonist is the third adaptation to the big screen. The Last Man on Earth In 1964, Vincent Price starred as Dr. Robert Morgan (rather than “Neville”) in The Last Man on Earth. (An Italian production, the original title was L’Ultimo Uomo Della Terra). Matheson wrote the screenplay for this adaptation, but later rewrites were changed, because he did not wish his name to appear in the credits. As a result, Matheson is credited under the pseudonym “Logan Swanson.” Nevertheless, the film is the most faithful of all three film adaptations, and adheres fairly closely to the book. The Omega Man In 1971, a far different version appeared as The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston (as Robert Neville) and Anthony Zerbe. Matheson had no influence on the screenplay for this film; it deviates from the novel’s story in several ways, completely removing the vampirical elements. I am Legend WARNING: The following synopsis contains spoilers! Will Smith stars in the film directed by Francis Lawrence, released on December 14th, 2007. This adaptation of the film changes more elements of the book than the past adaptations. Some big departures from the book include heavily toning down Robert Neville’s vampire-hunting (in the film he captures them alive as laboratory subjects in his search for a cure). The manner of Neville’s death is altered to allow a relatively upbeat ending. The Ben Cortman character of the book is reduced into a nameless recurring vampire leader who does not speak. The Ruth character is completely altered from the book to be an uninfected and immune human. The film also changes the origin of Neville’s dog. The story is relocated from Los Angeles to New York City. It is ironic that this film adaptation retains the book’s title ‘I am Legend’; the film’s rationale for the title is the diametric opposite of the one presented in the book (where Neville becomes a legendary figure for bringing salvation to humanity by developing a cure for the Infected, rather than for hunting and killing them). For opening weekend, the Will Smith version grossed $77 million dollars, which goes to show you that he is quite the box office draw. As to the movie, it was pretty weak. It was supposed to draw on the psychological effects on being alone in a land of monsters and it didn’t succeed very well. This is just another zompire movie. Hideous creatures that only come out at night to feed or kill. Superstrength. Can’t communicate other than in gutteral bleating. You might have well been watching Night(s) of the Living Dead, The Hills Have Eyes and its sequels, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later. Same basic plot, same basic outcomes. Nothing socially redeeming and neither was this movie. In a word, it sucked, and we all were suckered to the theater thinking Will Smith could pull it off.