By Empress Eve
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Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 at 6:33 am
The DVD for I Am Legend will be released March 18, 2008, and will include an alternative ending.
The alternate ending was leaked onto YouTube, so watch it here below while you can and let us know what you think:
Is this alternate ending any better than the theatrical version?
I’m gonna say NO, but honestly, I’m really surprised that the filmmakers didn’t go with the alternate ending. It’s much more a typical Hollywood ending, all wrapped up nicely and definitely leaving room for a sequel. Neither ending is any good, really. I don’t want to say much more here and spoil it for those of you who’ve never seen the movie, but for those of you who have, take a look at the alternate ending here below.
I disagree with your opinion about the ending. I honestly thought this one was far, far superior to the one in theaters. I wrote a lengthy explanation over at FirstShowing.net as to why and primarily how this better portrayed the concept from Richard Matheson’s book.
I really think this one was much more emotional and powerful. It really deserved to be on the theatrical release instead. The one that they showed in theaters was way too “Hollywood”, trying to play to a commercial crowd. I wouldn’t even call this one controversial – I think it’s just a better ending to the story.
That made me cry. If that was how the film ended when I saw it, I would have wrote a VERY different review. It’s amazing how much of a difference those seven minutes would have made on my perception of the entire film.
They were BOTH “Hollywood” ending except one’s typical and one’s the Armageddeon one. I see major flaws with both. The alternate ending at least shows more depth to the vampires, which is more even with the book. There’s only one reason why I think the alternate version: I think the vampires would have killed him anyway. They show them looking at all the polaroids of Neville’s hundreds of victims. I don’t think they would have let him live, even if they did want something from him (the return of the female vampire). Either way, I can’t stand the voiceover at the very end, shut that bitch up! It’s bad enough she [in my opinion] ruined the movie, she shouldn’t have the final word of the film.
I agree that the perfect ending would have been the infected looking at all the polaroids and dragging him away, but then I also understand a certain need for sympathy on their part. There’s a certain reaction you trigger in the audience when the hero, who has been fucking up the entire movie, finally realizes his mistake.
He gave the girl back. Punishing him afterwards would be like punishing the audience for making the realization with him. Was there a way to end the movie perfectly? I think so… I think that Anna and the little boy should have been left out and that the third act of the movie should have been his patient waking up. That could have allowed it to go where it needed to go.
As it stands, though? As unfaithful as the happier ending is it, it still delivers the final message of the book. The *intended* message of the book. Not the bullshit revamp the theatrical ending gave us. I personally think that that, plus actually seeing the infected show a surprising (and well-animated!) range of emotion… makes this the far superior ending.
I’ve found the “I Am Legend” alternate ending which is available and working here: http://hottrendsreview.com/2008/03/05/i-am-legend-alternate-ending-available. This video is no longer available on youtube due to a copyright claim by Warner Bros, BayTSP
Wow that alternative ending was pretty weird. I thought the movie was awesome. Definitely one of Will Smith’s best. He did look a little bit old in it though.
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The DVD for 
I disagree with your opinion about the ending. I honestly thought this one was far, far superior to the one in theaters. I wrote a lengthy explanation over at FirstShowing.net as to why and primarily how this better portrayed the concept from Richard Matheson’s book.
I really think this one was much more emotional and powerful. It really deserved to be on the theatrical release instead. The one that they showed in theaters was way too “Hollywood”, trying to play to a commercial crowd. I wouldn’t even call this one controversial – I think it’s just a better ending to the story.
Comment by Alex (FirstShowing.net) — March 5, 2008 @ 6:51 am
That made me cry. If that was how the film ended when I saw it, I would have wrote a VERY different review. It’s amazing how much of a difference those seven minutes would have made on my perception of the entire film.
Comment by Dave3 — March 5, 2008 @ 9:21 am
They were BOTH “Hollywood” ending except one’s typical and one’s the Armageddeon one. I see major flaws with both. The alternate ending at least shows more depth to the vampires, which is more even with the book. There’s only one reason why I think the alternate version: I think the vampires would have killed him anyway. They show them looking at all the polaroids of Neville’s hundreds of victims. I don’t think they would have let him live, even if they did want something from him (the return of the female vampire). Either way, I can’t stand the voiceover at the very end, shut that bitch up! It’s bad enough she [in my opinion] ruined the movie, she shouldn’t have the final word of the film.
Comment by Empress Eve — March 5, 2008 @ 9:58 am
I agree that the perfect ending would have been the infected looking at all the polaroids and dragging him away, but then I also understand a certain need for sympathy on their part. There’s a certain reaction you trigger in the audience when the hero, who has been fucking up the entire movie, finally realizes his mistake.
He gave the girl back. Punishing him afterwards would be like punishing the audience for making the realization with him. Was there a way to end the movie perfectly? I think so… I think that Anna and the little boy should have been left out and that the third act of the movie should have been his patient waking up. That could have allowed it to go where it needed to go.
As it stands, though? As unfaithful as the happier ending is it, it still delivers the final message of the book. The *intended* message of the book. Not the bullshit revamp the theatrical ending gave us. I personally think that that, plus actually seeing the infected show a surprising (and well-animated!) range of emotion… makes this the far superior ending.
Comment by NeverWanderer — March 5, 2008 @ 11:40 am
I’ve found the “I Am Legend” alternate ending which is available and working here: http://hottrendsreview.com/2008/03/05/i-am-legend-alternate-ending-available. This video is no longer available on youtube due to a copyright claim by Warner Bros, BayTSP
Comment by Ana — March 5, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
It still feels like the ending of Damnation Alley at the very end.
Not sure if this is any better.
Comment by Jerry — March 5, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Wow that alternative ending was pretty weird. I thought the movie was awesome. Definitely one of Will Smith’s best. He did look a little bit old in it though.
Comment by Carl — March 11, 2008 @ 12:31 am