Careful... It's Not Like the Book

Rating: 6/10 (12 January 2008)

The movie was good but the entire time I was zeroed in on how different it was from the book.
1. The Setting: This really isn't an issue but the book is set in LA in like the 70's compared to futuristic NY.
2. The Disease: In the movie the disease is caused by a "cure" for cancer. Also the infected in the movie are awake during the day just as long as they're in the dark. In the book the vampires (This word was never used in the movie.)act like vampires (sleep during the day, afraid of garlic, mirrors, and religious items, etc). The major difference here is how Neville kills them; in the book he has to use stakes. Also the infected or vampires (whichever you want to call them) are not completely animalistic in the book.
3. Neville's Past: Neville is immune to the disease because while stationed in Panama he was bitten by a vampire bat. He is not currently part of the army nor is he asked to cure the disease. He's part of a middle class family. His wife and daughter are not killed while escaping from the disease but on two separate occasions. Virginia becomes infected and comes back to life so Robert has to kill her. Neville's daughter dies and her body is burned so she does not come back to life. Sam is completely movie related; there is a dog in the book but Neville never owns him.
These are just a few of the issues between the book and the movie. If you've read the book and want to see the movie I suggest one of the two earlier versions. (I personally think The Last Man on Earth is the best.) If you still must see this movie wait for it to come out on video or at least go in not expecting it to be like the book. If you have not read the book and just want to see the movie I suggest you watch it before reading the book. If you have seen the movie and thought it lacked back story I suggest you read the book.