Ko0K on 3/1/2008 at 10:19
The lead character isn't convincing. Seeing how the plot of the movie is such a tired concept, the character had to lift more than its own weight. Since I don't know if it's Smith who didn't digest the role or if it was just sloppy direction (probably both), I'm just going to say that the movie didn't deliver the character I expected. It had a few entertaining moments, but overall a solid 'meh.'
Kuuso on 3/1/2008 at 15:21
Quote Posted by Rug Burn Junky
I suppose, but he specifically says that they "followed" them home. So then how come they never had before, like when he was dragging Sam's bleeding, soon-to-be-zombie-dog, sorry-ass carcass back to the house with a ripped open thigh?
Besides, then why would it matter if it was still dark the night before when she brought him home? Maybe the scent was still fresh, but why did they turn around and leave, instead of just attacking?
It doesn't matter, it's the bacon thing that really bothers me. The world's last remaining bacon is worth killing over.
I thought that the zombies followed him/they home that time cause he had angered the zombies full on this time. I reckon they had live in some sort of a peace before that, but when he met the leader and used the trap, they got annoyed. Slaughtering them with his car was the last straw.
catbarf on 4/1/2008 at 02:06
Quote Posted by Ko0K
The lead character isn't convincing. Seeing how the plot of the movie is such a tired concept, the character had to lift more than its own weight. Since I don't know if it's Smith who didn't digest the role or if it was just sloppy direction (probably both), I'm just going to say that the movie didn't deliver the character I expected. It had a few entertaining moments, but overall a solid 'meh.'
This is two parts:
A. Will Smith is Will Smith. He's always the same damn character, whether it's Men in Black, I, Robot or I Am Legend. He always acts the same. Fucking. Way.
B. Both The Omega Man and I Am Legend made the mistake of making Neville a superhero-type guy. Starting with The Last Man on Earth, Neville was changed from a plant worker to a doctor/military specialist (so he could be researching a cure). In the original, he was just the average guy. In both of these versions, he's a soldier and kicks ass twelve different ways.
Angel Dust on 5/1/2008 at 01:20
Quote Posted by catbarf
A. Will Smith is Will Smith. He's always the same damn character, whether it's Men in Black, I, Robot or I Am Legend. He always acts the same. Fucking. Way.
Have you seen "Six Degrees of Seperation", "The Pursuit of Happiness" or "Ali" (which in fact could have used more of the 'Will Smith' we know since his portrayal was a bit
too restrained and moody)? Sure he's not a great actor but he isn't
that bad.
catbarf on 5/1/2008 at 01:53
Not bad so much as... the same. He can act, but his characters always seem to be given a slight twist. Maybe it's his body language, or tone of voice, or facial expressions- but he often seems to be playing the same character, just juxtaposed into whatever movie he's in.
Spaztick on 5/1/2008 at 01:56
Iiiiiiiinnnnnnn West Philadelphia born and raised...
catbarf on 5/1/2008 at 02:53
Quote Posted by Spaztick
Iiiiiiiinnnnnnn West Philadelphia born and raised...
What?
Scots Taffer on 5/1/2008 at 03:07
Opening line from Fresh Prince.
Anyway, this movie should be called I Am Boring, or at the very least I Am Will Smith. This movie is long periods of suck punctuated by short periods of bleh. I'm about 1hr4m into the 1hr36m film and all that's happened so far is the trite and predictable zombie dog scenario we all knew was coming. Even that was a let down, sure the zombie/vampire guys setting a trap was kind of cool but it's a little drab when they only send 3 zombie hounds to get him and after the sunlight was gone, they didn't rush out themselves to attack? Now I'm at the stage where generic Eurotrash female shows up with a UV-ray-of-doom at the nick of time... so far, so predictable and ultimately, so very, very boring.
As for Smith, the problem with him is that he has such a wide range as an actor that he never knows where to stand between his polarities of cocky black guy with an attitude and solemn clenched-jaw determined black man (but without the racist-oppression overtones), in this movie it's mostly solemn clenched-jaw determined black man but occasionally when in an action scene or having a tender moment with the family the cocky black guy with an attitude rises and it really throws you off. This inconsistency really kills his shot at the Oscars this year, I reckon.
Edit: God, that was a terrible, terrible movie. Jesus.
Angel Dust on 5/1/2008 at 04:30
Quote Posted by catbarf
Not
bad so much as... the same. He can act, but his characters always seem to be given a slight twist. Maybe it's his body language, or tone of voice, or facial expressions- but he often seems to be playing the same character, just juxtaposed into whatever movie he's in.
Many many actors are quite similar in approach, even greats like Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino and Denzel Washington. Alot of their characters are very similar on the surface but the situations and emotions required are different. Smith does the same thing although ofcourse to not as higher standard as those guys. I see him improving with age though and alot of critics have remarked that his 'I Am Legend' performance is actually really good. Not Oscar worthy ofcourse but of a much higher standard than you usually get in this kind of film.
I haven't seen it myself yet (only opened a few days ago here) but it seems like a bit of a wasted oppurtunity. The opening stuff sounds compelling and is undoubtedly what attracted Smith to the project but it sounds like it degenrates into standard sci-fi action fare.
And everyone should check out 'The Quiet Earth'. It's a New Zealand film that uses the old 'last man on earth' plot but it is quite good.
