Welcome to the future. Biological war has decimated life on Earth. Los Angeles is a windswept ghost town where Robert Neville tools his convertible through sunlit streets foraging for supplies. And makes damn sure he gets undercover before sundown, when other "inhabitants" emerge. The Omega Man adapts Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend into a high-impact, high-tension saga of a fate not far removed from reality. Charlton Heston is Neville, fending off attacks by The Family, sinister neopeople spawned by the plague. He also becomes a man with a mission after meeting Lisa (Rosalind Cash), another unifected survivor - and guardian of some healthy children representing our species' hope. Year: 1971 Sound: ENG, FR; Subtitles: ENG, FR Screen Format: Side A: Standard; Side B: Wiedescreen
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Story characters not just special effects:
It does show its age, but it has characters, personalities not just special effects. There is an explaination of how the situation arose and why he survived. There is also some imagery, annalogies about the situation and the omerga man.
The music is ok but dated.
The main point is that it shows you what film making was about till mindlessness and profit took over. Yes you actually have something to think about. God forbid!
I could say a lot more, but I'll leave it at that. See it and... more info
A Fantastic Classic:
If you own "I Am Legend" with Will Smith, get this one. They are both based on the same original story, but instead of mutes that barely resemble humans, the plague victims not only speak but form a society of their own based on a post-apocolyptic philosophy. The leader of the this group functions as a antagonist to Charlton Heston's character, making for a much more satisfying and exciting story. Heston's love interest (the lady he tries to cure) also has a younger brother, and the two siblings both figure... more info
The original "I Am Legend".:
This original version is slightly different in details but both "Omega Man" and "I Am Legend" follow almost exactly the same story line down to the names of the characters.
Another Chuckston foray into Sci-Fi land:
Made with a bigger budget and based on the same Richard Matheson novel as the Vincent Price film THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, THE OMEGA MAN eschews the original vampire concept in exchange for germ warefare zombies with really bad skin and white hair to match. Besides Chuck the cast includes Rosalind Cash, Paul Koslo and Anthony Zerbe. Heston acquits himself well. The ending is probably one of the more controversial of the 1970's. Weirdly enough, the recent Will Smith outing is based less on the Matheson novel... more info
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The Last Man on Earth from American International Pictures (AIP) (DVD) - Usually ships in 24 hours
