So, I started watching I AM LEGEND yesterday. As far as post-apotolyptic zombie - world has been overcome by a horrible virus go, its decent. Actually, it is more than decent, it is a great movie, I just can't understand why it didn't do as well as it could have.

Perhaps audiences do not have the patience nowadays to keep their attention focused on one man. Most of the movie just follows Will Smith's character and his dog. I do think the actor does an amazing job of sucking you in, and realizing his slowly forming madness due to isolation. Some of his acting in this movie is astonishing.

Anyways, the movie is decent, and you should watch if it you get a chance. It's not really the gorey kind of zombie horror movie people may be used to. Most fight scenes involve jumps and attacking, but no ripping of flesh. (Obviously, since there is only one primary character in the movie, can't kill him.) The story is told through a series of flashbacks, although just when you think you will be told all the information on what happened...you aren't.

Btw, Emma Thompson creating a virus that ends up destroying the world - fantastic.

When I was learning about the movie, I was pleased to learn that this movie is based on a book (by the same name) written in the 1950s. What's even more interesting, is that the book itself is said to be the primary influence of all modern vampire & zombie mythos and culture as we see it through the media. It is also argueably the influence for the concept of a post apcotolyptic destroyed world - according to wikipedia. However, I don't think the book can take entire credit for the latter, since with the creation of the Atom Bomb and major cold war scare, this concept of the world being destroyed in mere moments was on everyone's minds in the 50s.

I must pick up a copy of the book now, because I'm intrigued about the whole zombie horror genre from a psychological standpoint. That is also why I'm a HUGE fan of the Zombie Tales comic book stories.

A cool feature of the 'normal' DVD is that included on it are four animated prequel comics to the movie. None of them show Will Smith's character, instead, they tell the stories of other people (and places) in the world and how they are coping with the viral outbreak. These kinds of 'pocket stories' always intrigue interest me. Even if the main story itself may be poor, I find that these smaller suplimental stories (that are growing ever popular) help fill in the gaps and pull us into the overall world even more. I almost wish they would have done a story concerning survivors on a Red Cross Ship (like they mentioned in the movie) that would have also been pretty cool!


Shelter - Possibly the BEST of all four, (and a concept I've seen used on an old Twilight Zone episode). This story takes place in India, about a girl, her family, the man she loves, and a bunker.

Death is a gift - my personal favourite. The animation on this story is simple, subtle, but strikingly beautiful. The ending, sad and powerful. The story takes place in Hong Kong.

Sacrifice the few for the many - Taking place in central America, this story shows pretty much the basic 'survival of the fittest' mentality...and even then sometimes it doesn't always work. (The curious part of me wonders if this is how the virus became airborne in the movies).

Isolation - not really the best story. I like the angle they used here, but it just didn't feel like it was making sense or clearly thought out. I do however like how the protagonist is sketched out and coloured.

So, there you go! Horror comics, beautifully drawn and animated! Check them out! I just wish these had took off more and more had been created, they're pretty poignant in their messages.

Laurean Leigh was spirited away at 4:24 AM

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