The Omega Man (1971)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

So much average

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Robert Neville (Charlton Heston) stars in an adaptation of Richard Matheson's science fiction novel, I Am Legend.Set in an apocalyptic world after germ warfare between China and Russia, Neville is the last man on earth after receiving a serum that enabled him to survive.He roams desolate Los Angeles by day, talking to himself. At night bloodthirsty mutants emerge who Neville is intent on killing. The mutants are led by Matthias (Anthony Zerbe), a former television newscaster now in charge of his own cult that has declared war on modern society and what Neville, a doctor and scientist stands for.Neville finds out that he is not the last man on earth as he comes across a group of young people lead by Lisa (Rosalind Cash) who he forms an emotional bond with.Director Boris Sagal managed to do well to show a deserted LA but apart from that his directions lacks flair and instead comes across as cheesy with leader of the mutants dressed as monks in sunglasses, black characters talking in jive. Heston plays his character in stoic manner, it is funny to see him chuckling to himself while watching footage of Woodstock. It is also worth noting that a man who marched alongside with Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement takes part in an interracial romance even though by that time his politics had moved to the right.

OK, this movie can be entertaining because of Heston. The writing is crap. The cinematography is crap. Just plain awful. The acting was fine. But not great. I saw this movie last year on recommendation that it was good. It's not. It can be entertaining like watching the old TV batman shows. But seriously. It's like a student film. I remember seeing The Last Man on Earth with Vicent Price years ago and that's why I saw this mess. Then I got a copy of The Last Man on Earth, amazing. The dread was there from the beginning to the ending church death scene. That is a great movie. Then I read the book "I am Legend", a great book. Last Man on Earth is close to the book. Then I saw I Am Will Smith, the worst pile of garbage, right along side Fart Wars 7, the Farce Awakens, and Avengers, Thor, and any # of new so called films. I'm not even going to see the Dark Tower, because apparently it has nothing to do with the books, it just takes the names and a few characteristics.So, now onto the Omega Man. Charlton Heston was a fine actor. But he should have had veto power. If you like 60's TV and can forgive the camera work and the garbage writing and just want to see some wild scenes then you may be able to enjoy this. There are some decent scenes here and that is why it's not getting a 1. If I rate it compared to Last Man or the book it would be a negative. I am Will Smith basically takes Hestons Omega Man and builds into some more modern day cartoon show. That is pure crap.Omega Man, rating D, or 3 stars, for some eerie scenes, but mostly boring amateur crap. Better to read the book, or watch Last Man on Earth (disregard the B/W and funky dubbing, the dread is there)

This is one of three cinematic versions of the "I am Legend" book Richard Matheson wrote, it's the second one to be more specific. This adaptation stars Charlton Heston as potentially the last man on earth after Russia and China destroyed mankind during a global chemical war. Prior to finding himself alone he was a scientist working on a cure before the virus wiped everybody out, but he was too late. Now he spends his time wandering the city, avoiding groups of mutated undead family members, and chess with a mannequin. Surely he can't be the last person alive? Sit back and find out. The acting is decent and while the film looks dated it still stands up as one of Heston's better films.

In 1975, a Sino-Russian global biological war breaks out and military doctor Robert Neville (Charlton Heston) tries an experimental vaccine on himself. He survives a helicopter crash and the plague. He could be the last man on earth. He's barricaded inside his home during the night while the albino mutants roam. The mutants are led by Matthias who is trying to kill him as the last symbol of the scientific past that brought about the disaster. He is captured by Matthias and then rescued by Dutch and Lisa. They belong to a community of young survivors.This movie has two great aspects. First there is the interracial love story which is edgy for its time. Second is the empty streets of L.A. Of course, there was no CGI back then and the streets needed to be emptied for real. As a movie, it's rather slow moving and boring. The acting is a little stiff which Heston does sometimes. It's cheesy without being that much fun. The good stuff isn't enough to overcome its deficiencies.