I'm posting early (Thursday instead of my usual Friday) because I've been ill lately and want to take tomorrow to rest. I have some energy now so... here goes!
In the past year or two one of my growing favorite science fiction authors has been Richard Matheson. His credits include scripts for The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and, his most famous and perhaps most influential work, the novel I Am Legend.
I Am Legend has once again been adapted for the silver screen and will be released into theaters tomorrow.
The previous film renditions of I Am Legend include The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price and The Omega Man starring Charlton Heston.
Why is Matheson worthy of my praise? The power and epic nature of his writing. His tales, while generally decent narratives, almost always takes on a meditative nature that looks into the reality of life and an individual's place in the universe. And I do mean the universe. Yeah, he can be that epic.
Not all of his writings are worthy of praise, however. He also wrote the novel that the Robin Williams movie What Dreams May Comes was based on. It was a very slow tale and more of a Jean-Luc Godard-style talking-heads piece than a real story. It didn't work for me.
He also scripted *ulp* Jaws 3-D. If you've not seen it, don't. It's not exactly the best movie in the franchise.
I'm hoping the new I Am Legend starring Will Smith will at least be decent. I can't say it will be. While Will Smith's movies have always done well financially, I find them generally far from the best science fiction ever made for film. I don't think I Am Legend will be bad, but I don't think I can expect it to carry the weight of the novel. Maybe I'll be surprised... maybe it will. One can only hope. And I'm willing to give it a shot.
Here's some stuff from off YouTube about Richard Matheson and I Am Legend.
A PIECE DISCUSSING RICHARD MATHESON:
THE OMEGA MAN TRAILER:
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH TRAILER:
THE NEW I AM LEGEND STARRING WILL SMITH (TRAILER):
RICHARD MATHESON ON DARK DREAMERS SPEAKING ABOUT HIS WORK:
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
[The following is paid for by the friends of P.O.G]
In a chaotic world full of war and strife, one man has indeed made the difference .His talent and charisma have been proof enough that the world is indeed still a great place to be in. He has also been the guiding light to many pwbites and podcast listeners alike.He should thus be made PWBite of the year without question.
He is P.O.G.(!!!!!!!!!)
Your contribution to the campaign would be highly appreciated,Thank you Lordshen.
I just finished reviewing a book called "He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson" that had contributions from everyone from Steven King to Whitley Streiber. They wrote short stories based on Matheson's novels and stories. Quite a good read.
-Pete
Post a Comment