I am Legend

Saw I am Legend yesterday. Apart from a bout of diarrhoea I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is the third film based on the book I am Legend by Richard Matheson (which I've read and have a copy of). The other film adaptations were Last Man on Earth (which I got a copy of for $2 last week) and The Omega Man.

I rather liked both the other films, but for different reasons. The first is a more or less faithful adaptation of the book, the second is such a "mod" update of it and very particular for the 70s. This adaptation is certainly influenced by the second but seems much more "realistic".

The main thrust of this film isn't the "vampires" as such (they're not really Zombies) but the immense sense of isolation felt by the main character, whose only friend (pictured here) seems to be his only link with sanity.

Won't go too much into the plot much, but what impressed me the most was the convincing depiction of a derelict, overgrown New York. I know it involved some form of 3D modelling but I just couldn't see the seems. I noticed all the credits for the Coast Guard - just what did they do?

But the thing is, this is a truly great "Warehouse Earth" film. Others include The Quiet Earth, and The World, the Flesh and the Devil. In such films we see a stark contrast between between the world we know, and what happens when all of sudden we're no longer sharing it like we used to. That accent is on what's missing, rather than what it.

What's missing is a lot of dialogue. Most of what we here is in flashbacks and on recorded videos and news casts. Neville (the main character) talks to his dog Samantha a lot, and her fate disturbed me a great deal.

A film well done.

How to build a TASER

As I expected, it's very hard to keep this technology restricted to Police and Security only.

For more videos see these search results.

The Two-Hour Star Wars Holiday Special in only Five Minutes!

Hard to Believe this was 'Official'

I remember watching this and thinking how cheap it all looked.

Kinsey

I've had the TV on in the background while checking my email and LJ. It's been playing the film Kinsey. This is such a funny film.

H.R. Puff'n'stuff

Gasp - the ABC are showing the pilot of H.R. Pufnstuf, now!

This was one year afterThe Banana Spilts - I remember them both well (especially Danger Island - "uh oh, Chongo!"). The weird thing about "Living Island" is that this came on just as I started a Second Life Session. Very hard to take either seriously now!

 

 

 

 

,,,argh - Dr Blinky!

The Difference Song from H.R. PuffnStuff

You'll have to listen to the lyrics of this one...

( The Lyrics )

...but I think there's a lesson for for any LGBT folk out there.

I love the fact that the witches are routed by "Good Fairies"!

Phoenix Five

So, does anyone else have any memories of this show? There was another 70s Aussie SF show too, called "Delta (something or other)" which was about a group of scientists who'd explore "the unknown" in the Australian outback. Only lasted 6 shows and repeated once, though I've NEVER seen Phoenix Five ever repeated (with good reason).

The tribute vid to 70s Aussie TV might put this in context: