February 8, 2008
The Last Man on Earth
I have yet to see I Am Legend (and I suspect it will be a while before I get around to it), but for some reason I've always had a soft spot for The Omega Man. (Both are loosely based on the same Richard Matheson novel.) I'm not sure why. The Omega Man is pretty awful. The confused message, the mediocre effects, the influence of early '70s blaxploitation films, the fake blood, Charlton Heston wandering around shooting anything that moves ... well, actually, I can see why it's strangely enjoyable. In fact, if you've never seen it, rent a copy and have fun. (Pay attention to the motorcycle scene where the stunt double barely resembles Heston... heh.)
I recently learned of an earlier film adaptation of Matheson's novel, from 1964. It's called The Last Man on Earth and stars Vincent Price. It has entered the public domain, which means you can download a free copy from the The Internet Archive (a site I've mentioned before).
I just watched it and... I dunno. It's completely different from 'The Omega Man'. In some respects this could be considered a good thing, and the film does have its moments. But unless you like Vincent Price or enjoy old low-budget horror flicks (neither of which apply to me), it probably won't be your cup of tea.
(Do rent 'The Omega Man', though. And let me know if I should bother with 'I Am Legend'.)
08 Feb 23:33 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment