I am the Last Omega Legend

Spoiler alert!

Richard Matheson's 1954 novel I am Legend has been given three film adaptations as of 2007. In the past two years I have read the book and seen all three movies. I'd like to apply some grade school compare and contrast tactics to these four pieces of work.

I'll start where I started. I saw I am Legend (film, 2007) when it was in theatres. At the time I thought it was great. I really enjoyed the post-apocalyptic feel and the special effects. As a huge fan of Will Smith, I knew I would enjoy a movie which featured him as the only man on a desolate version of Manhattan.

Many of my friends had already read Matheson's book, and though I hadn't, I had enough confidence in the film after seeing it to recommend it to them. I know now that this was ill-advised.


Richard Matheson

Matheson's book is the tale of Robert Neville, seemingly the last survivor of a viral outbreak that turns people into vampires. The novel does a fantastic job with the themes of desolation and loneliness. Although it is told in the third-person, it really puts the reader in Neville's lonely, desperate world. Neville in the book is a man with some serious flaws, not the least of which is an on and off problem with alcohol. None of the three films seem to portray the main character this way, instead opting for a more stoic leading man.

After reading the book, I checked out The Omega Man (1971), featuring Charlton Heston. Out of all three films this version strays the furthest away from the book. Rather than vampires, a majority of the population has become part of "the family," a cult of albinos who chase Neville around downtown Los Angeles (the book was based in Los Angeles, as were the first two film adaptations). Although it is somewhat unclear what made "the family" the way they are, it can be inferred that they have suffered some kind of radiation poisoning from a nuclear weapon. Their mission is to destroy all technology, especially military technology. I guess this change from book to film was a reflection of the time in which is was the film was made.




One thing I am Legend 2007 and The Omega Man both got totally wrong is the ending. In the novel, Neville is in fact the last man on Earth. The novel ends when he is captured and killed by a militant group of what some vampire enthusiasts would call "half-breeds." These are infected humans keeping the viral side effects at bay with medications. They see Neville, the uninfected (and immune) man as a threat and so they dispose of him. It is a sad and great ending to a great story. The human race is no more, hence I am Legend.

I think the makers of both I am Legend 2007 and The Omega Man thought the book was called I am LegendARY because they both give Neville a heroic, schmaltzy Hollywood ending. In both these films Neville is killed at the end, but not before saving the human race with a vaccine he had devised and passed along to another survivor.

This change to the ending on the part of both films was a massive miss. One of the main points of Matheson's novel is that the human race is over. The whole book has a desolate yet claustrophobic feeling, capped off with the back breaker of Neville actually dying. Making Neville the savior of the human race completely throws this breathtaking concept right out the window.

So, does The Last Man on Earth (1964), featuring Vincent Price as Neville and with a screenplay written by Matheson himself, get any of these major themes correct? I think so.




Although Matheson was not happy with how the film came out, it played out pretty much how I imagined while I was reading the book. First of all, it got the ending right, albeit with some major dramatic points changed around. Also I felt the scenery in the film, being much more suburban than the other two films, matched the book quite well. I expected Vincent Price to play the part like a weirdo, but he handled it very well with very little cheesiness. I would consider this to be hands down the best film adaptation of the book, but I wonder if I would think so if I saw this movie before reading the book.

I am glad my friends encouraged me to read Matheson's book. Thank you John, for giving it to me for my birthday last year. I would recommend all three films to any fan of the book, but only as an exploration of the many different ways a literary work can be adapted to film, and in particular, over a pretty long period of time for a modern work.

The First Cut is the Deepest

The following post contains photos and accounts which may be disturbing to some readers.

I have been working part-time in an animal pound for over five years. In that time I have seen the aftermaths of some terrible injuries inflicted on both cats and dogs. However, my experience in treating animals only extends as far as removing ticks and administering medications. In my tenure at the pound, any major medical issues have been handled by animal medical care professionals.

On Saturday, my wife received a phone call from my mother. My parents' cat Patch had an abscess on his head and they didn't know what to do. An abscess forms when the skin is wounded and infected by a foreign object. At times, the foreign object is absorbed by abscess. The abscess fills with fluid and swells with great pressure, causing pain and discomfort to the victim. Left untreated, this fluid can poison the bloodstream, leading to death.

I called a more experienced colleague of mine for advice. What I was told was to take the cat to the veterinarian, where the vet would lance and then drain the abscess. Jokingly I asked if I could simply sterilize a razor blade and perform this procedure myself. This idea became less of a joke when it dawned on us that is was the weekend, and even if my parents wanted to go to the vet, it would prove difficult and costly (and hugely inconvenient, as my sister's birthday party was being thrown later that afternoon).

We arrived at my parents house with a syringe and antibiotic ointment. I was shocked when I first saw Patch. I was expecting something like a large pimple or wart on his face, but it looked as if someone had cut a baseball in half and implanted it in the side of his head. The abscess surrounded the area under his ear all the way down to below his jaw and all the way back to the top of his neck.

In my parents' bathroom about fifteen minutes before the party was to begin, we prepped for surgery by cleaning the cat and sterilizing a single edge razor blade with alcohol and heat. My mother, wife and I were in the room, my mother holding the cat and my wife assisting me, about to make the incision. When I was about to start, before the blade had even touched his flesh, the cat let out a wail. This was, no doubt, due to the fact that he was wrapped in a towel (which served to incapacitate him), held upside-down and in great pain to begin with. The cry gave my mom (whose head was already turned away) a shudder, and she voiced her second thoughts. I asked her to leave the room because I knew she wouldn't be able to handle what was about to take place.

Eileen took over holding Patch in place and I was ready (as I ever would be) to make the incision. I was naively expecting the blade to penetrate the skin as a knife would a hot dog, but to my chagrin his leathery skin was about an eighth of an inch thick, which required a tiny sawing motion to get through. Below is a picture of the incision, which I have marked from end to end with blue dots. I apologize for the poor quality as all the photos in this post were taken with my cell phone.




When I finally broke all the way down through the flesh, the pressure of the swelling caused the abscess to drain, very quickly. This was easily the most difficult part of the procedure to handle because despite what I had been told and all the mental preparation I had done, I was not ready for this disgusting deluge. Instead of a creamy white pus (a la pimples) what we got was a muddy, grayish-brown, foul-smelling swill flowing in an urgent, all-of-a-sudden matter.

We moved the cat into the shower and began to massage the fluid out from all points where abscess had swelled. All told, there was probably about a cup and a half of this slurry when all was said and done. When we were satisfied that he was drained, we cleaned him and ourselves up and put patch in a makeshift recovery room (it's the laundry room, pictured below).



Draining the abscess was only step one. If any material from the abscess remains under the skin it can attach itself to the inside of the flesh, causing the abscess to reform. To prevent this, the wound must be irrigated (IE flushed out) with an antibiotic solution. We used a 50/50 solution of Betadine and water.

Later in the evening we began the first irrigation. By this time the initial shock of the first round of surgery had worn off and it felt like business as usual. Using a syringe, I injected about 3cc of the Betadine solution into the incision I had previously made. I massaged the solution around underneath the flesh, then extracted it with the syringe. After repeating this process we returned Patch to the recovery room.

A day went past and yesterday we carried out the irrigation procedure yet another time (we later found out this was unnecessary but will not do any harm).

We brought Patch some sausage and he ate it out of my hand, which is a promising sign. We wish Patchy the best of a speedy recovery but the hard part is definitely over.

24: So good it gives me nightmares.

About a month ago I wrote a post claiming that 'Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)' is the best song ever written. The skeptical reader might wonder how long I thought about staking this claim. I can assure you I had been thinking about it for years; challenging myself and other people to name a better song based on the case I had presented. So it goes with 24. I didn't pull this out of my hat. I didn't just get bored one afternoon and decide to proclaim 24 the best show ever broadcast. So it is after great deliberation that I present my case that 24 is the best show ever shown on tv (this includes both cable and broadcast programming).

The show is about Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and his exploits as a government agent specializing in preventing terrorism. He has an on-and-off relationship with The Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU). The gimmick (and the source of the shows title) is that the events of each episode elapse in one hour, in real time. Therefore each season is one twenty four hour day from start to finish.


Don't shoot! I'm on your side Jack!

24 is shot mostly with handheld cameras, which helps to add to the suspense in the same way it would in a horror film. It also updates the spy-movie cliche of having multiple scenes, in frames, on the screen at once. The trademark of the show is the digital clock which appears on screen before and after commercials, and at the end of each episode. The ticking of this clock is more iconic (and way more important) than Law & Order's gavel drop (also known and the "donk-donk").

I have to admit I was late to the party as far as 24 is concerned. During late weeknights with my housemates during season five I really started to get hooked. To be honest, depending on what day of the week it was, it could have been a toss-up between 'Lost' and 24. I ended up being drawn to 24. I'm lucky it was during season five because this is widely regarded (including by me) to be the show's best season to date. I can remember yelling "RUDY! RUDY!" at the screen with my housemates whenever Sean Astin was on the screen, but little did I know that the seed was planted, and I was soon to be the ultimate 24 fanatic.


I named one of our cats Chloe O'Brian. She rules.

In short order I purchased seasons 1-4 on DVD and watched them with great frequency just to get all caught up. I decided to rewatch season five ("RUDY! RUDY!") via the Internet and it was at about this time I realized the 24 universe was invading my life a little too much...

One night, before Eileen and I were married, we were slumbering together in my apartment in my full-sized bed. In the middle of the night I sprang from a deep sleep and grabbed my future wife by the throat with my left hand (I'm right handed). It all happened in an instant, and I realized what was happening before she even woke up. There was no going back. I was a CTU agent.

After season six, something really bad happened: the writer's strike. To many fans, season six was underwhelming, and although I thought it was up to par with some past seasons, I was worried that a long break would be detrimental to the show in general. So far, halfway into season seven, I can happily say that I was wrong.

Season seven opened with Jack being questioned by a senate committee for his questionable tactics while on the job. As it has always been, the show is again on the cutting edge of the cultural zeitgeist. As our real-life president plans to shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and recently stated that "America does not torture," in the 24 universe the once untouchable Bauer is about to face the music for doing what was necessary to keep the country safe. Lucky for us, he is pulled out of the hearing by FBI agent Renee Walker, and the action begins.

It didn't take long for 24 to start affecting my sleep again. Last week I had terrible nightmares for three nights after the show aired. I rarely have dreams of being chased, in my nightmares I am the killer. So far I haven't tried to choke my wife to death, and I might miss anyway since we have a kingsized bed now.

For anyone into tactical special-agent type action with some political intrigue mixed in, this show is for you. If you like suspense by any measure, this show is for you. If you have eyes and ears, this show is for you.

If anyone sucessfully uses the 24 defense for attempted murder on his/her husband/wife, let me know.

Game Informer Top Five

Each month I receive Game Informer. A one year subscription of this mediocre video game magazine, which is nowhere near as good as Electronic Gaming Monthly, comes with membership to the Gamestop Edge. The Edge card costs twenty dollars, is good for one year, and can be used for a ten percent discount on used games. It can also be used to store trade-in credit. Even though I never trade in my games, the card usually pays for itself via frequent use of the ten percent discount.

As I mentioned, the Game Informer (GI) magazine is pretty lame. Among other things it features a section profiling the top players of particular games, because one should absolutely give two shits about the top jackass playing "Mirror's Edge." It is also rife with pointless lists, for example: Top 10 Video Game Bromances. I guess this is supposed to be funny. Above this list is a clever caption "Lists...Everybody Loves Lists..." Well perhaps not as much as your editors, GI.

The list I love the most is the "Top Fives" list. "Favorites From Industry Pros and GI Readers." Again, I really care so much about this stuff. Thank you GI for letting me in on what some no-name freshman coder and some zero of a reader consider their top five games.

There are no criteria given for these lists. Favorite games of all time? Favorite games right now? Favorite games to play while eating a cheeseburger? Who knows?

I'm so excited about the mystery and potential of these lists that I've decided to submit my own. As you will see, I've put a lot of thought into this list, which you can only read here (the magazine simply prints the titles and the platform they are on). I'm going to take the practical route and put together a list of my top five favorite games of all time. I really hope I get printed so the other readers of GI can see my stupid face and scoff at the games I love. Here we go.

5. Starfox 64 - Nintendo 64. I really loved the first Starfox game on the SNES, but this one was leaps and bounds over the original. Let's first point out that this game came with the rumble pak! Vibrating controllers have been a standard feature with almost all consoles since, and we mostly have Starfox 64 to thank for it. The game itself features pretty good graphics, a barely-there story line, and linear gameplay (it's a 3-D shooter). Where the game excels and becomes infinitely replayable is in the gameplay itself. The controls are perfect, the levels are action packed, and the scenery and objectives change frequently enough to keep the player interested. The thing I love the most about this game is that I can turn it on and beat it in about an hour, that is if I want to. Through the choose your own route level system, the game can be as difficult or easy as the player wants it to be.


If you say so, rabbit.

4. Kirby's Adventure - NES. No 2-D platformer is as much fun. This game was released near the end of the NES' life and for this it is somewhat overlooked. The game couldn't be simpler. You are Kirby, and pink cream puff with the power to fly and swallow your enemies to take on their powers. Though it is known for being childish and colorful, I actually think it could have been even more colorful, even for the NES. There are a lot of pale colors, but this does not take away from the experience.

3. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition - SNES. There were actually a few old SNES sports titles that could have made the list for their ability to facilitate camaraderie between friends. Madden '94 and NHL '95 came to mind, but NBA Jam: TE edges them out for its presentation value. Everybody knows this game, and as I discovered about two weeks ago, playing it is like riding a bike. Finding the hotspots and powerups is like a reflex, so is screaming "Pass it to me! I'm on fire!!"


"BOOMSHACKALACKA!"

2. Resident Evil 4 - Gamecube and 1. Metal Gear: Solid - PS1. These games are actually very similar, though each superior in its own way so I'll take them on at once. MGS was the first game of the 3-D generation which I played all the way through, and it was such a rewarding experience. By today's standards it is a very short game, but I remember countless long nights plodding through the plot heavy story just trying to see what would happen next. The sequels that have come out continue the saga in a satisfying way, but nothing can compare to the original experience.


That guy is fucked.

Seven years later, Resident Evil 4 was unleashed on the world. For fans of the series such as myself, this game was the ultimate gift. Capcom fixed every problem long time players had been suffering through for years. The slide show-like screen changes were replaced with full 3-D scenery, and the infamous "tank" controls were replaced with an over the shoulder third person view, making aiming way more intuitive.


DAAAMMMNNNN!!!

As stated above, MGS and RE4 share many similarities. Both games feature inventory systems which must be carefully utilized. Both boast excellent and engaging story lines with likable characters. Both encourage replay through the game by rewarding the player with weapons and upgrades after each completion. I have played through both of these games a few times each. The main difference of course, is that MGS encourages nonviolent stealth tactics, while RE4 encourages shooting the shit out of everything. In the end, they both rule.

If Game Informer actually has the sense to publish this incredible list, I will post a scan here on Half Of A Wing.

The Wrestler

I had initially seen only one commercial for this movie and went into it with an open mind and certain level of trust in Darren Aronofsky's work. The Wrestler is a gritty look into the lifestyle of a has-been wrestler from the 80's called Randy "The Ram" Robinson. The movie plays somewhat like a documentary. The audience follows The Ram (Mickey Rourke) through a lot of behind-the-scenes scenarios which open your eyes to what these guys put themselves through, both emotionally and physically, to make an entertaining performance for wrestling fans. It's shown like it is and it can be cringingly brutal at times.

The raw, handheld camerawork does a good job of almost fooling you into thinking you're watching a real biographical documentary even though it's fiction. You learn that The Ram previously had a successful career and is struggling years later with what little he has left in terms of money, health, and relationships. There are some things about Randy that are quite likable and respectable, and then other aspects of him that are very tragic and disgusting. Mickey Rourke does an excellent job in playing such a multidimensional character. I'm not entirely knowledgeable on Rourke's past experiences but I've heard that this story loosely parallels elements of his personal life and career.

Overall it left me feeling enlightened, moved, and a bit depressed. It's not nearly as morose as Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, but will probably be just as memorable and talked about. I don't feel you have to be a wrestling fan to appreciate it either. I haven't even seen a single wrestling match in my life...unless you count watching friends battling in the ring on Super Nintendo.

Bring the Spring

Shawn here. For the last few weeks, especially when it was extremely cold the past few days, I have been obsessively looking forward to the springtime. Constantly daydreaming, longing for those days when a t-shirt is just enough in the daytime and a nice light sweater is perfect for the evening.

Everything I do is in preparation for the upcoming season change. Clean the basement so we can get the grill out. Fix the screen doors. Wash the patio furniture. Pick up some citronella candles. Find a lefty baseball mitt for Eileen. Tune up the mongoose.

It surely is possible that I go through this every year, but I don't remember it ever being this intense. Perhaps that is because last year we didn't even use our grill. Perhaps it is simply that I hate the winter in every way (seasonal affective disorder? no such thing).

I know the spring is a while away, but I'm determined to keep a positive attitude.

Sorry, we usually try to stay away from "dear diary" type posts, but this is really all I can think about lately.

All I Ever Wanted

Hello, this is Bryan speaking/typing. As Shawn mentioned I am now a part of Half of a Wing and hope to put in my two cents on a somewhat regular basis. For my first entry I wanted to talk about an album I received from both Shawn and his wife Eileen for Christmas. Throughout the past several months they've been mentioning to me how much I would appreciate Depeche Mode, and that Violator is their best album by far. I've heard a good portion of the band's radio hits, but never a complete album until now.

Some related info on my personal music-listening history: My first real favorite band was Nine Inch Nails. Early on in high school I didn't know anybody and I wore a lot of black (I often blame the prior 9 years of catholic grade school), so NIN was absolutely perfect for the "Mr. Self Destruct" kid that I once was. I still love Trent Reznor's music, however the anger behind most of the songs hasn't stuck with me over the years.

As I currently listen to Depeche Mode's seventh album Violator, it becomes evident that most of NIN's material holds some definite sonic similarities. In general they're both dark and synth-heavy. They both have material produced by Flood. They're both cool to listen to while driving at night. However, the main difference between this and NIN is it's more pop/melody and less insanity...which is something that appeals to me more nowadays.

This album makes me feel like I'm being transported to another dimension. It's dark, dancey, beautiful, and retro-catchy. It has a certain dated cheesiness to it which I feel only adds to how good it is. The passionate vocals are loaded with reverb. The synthesized instrumentation ties the whole album together but is different enough from song to song where it never gets boring. I immediately recognized the radio hits like Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, and Policy of Truth. The other album tracks are easily welcomed upon the first listen. Some of the lyrics can be a bit melodramatic and cheesy (Takes me completely / Touches so sweetly / Reaches so deeply / I know that nothing can stop me), but you accept it for how original the overall production is and for how easily the songs will loop around in your head throughout the day.

If you have even the smallest bit of curiosity about Depeche Mode you'll probably appreciate Violator. It has been playing in my car regularly since receiving it for Christmas. The only gift that would have been able to top it is a Texas Instruments A-100 calculator (see previous entry).