Say what you will about Stephen King's book-a-minute pace, he still finds ways to make evil interesting.
I'm reading his new novel, "Duma Key," which won't be out until later in the month. I'll have a review in print and online.
But I mention King because I was late to the party for "I Am Legend," the Will Smith movie that's doing explosive business at the box-office. I've criticized some of King's work for the same rap I'm about to lay on "Legend": It's tediously derivative.
In King's case, it's almost as if he hits a streak every now and then where he feels compelled to crib from his own work. In the case of "Legend," it seems as if director Francis Lawrence and screenwriters Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman are cribbing from the "28 Days/28 Weeks Later" franchise.
There are differences, to be sure, and certainly "Legend" is cinematically slick and features a fine performance from Smith. But a virus that afflicts humans is at the core of both films and makes them seem duplicative, regardless of the vampire/zombie subtext.
"Legend" would have benefited from a closer adherence to Richard Matheson's novel, not that it strays all that far. And it's superior to previous movie versions -- most notably "The Omega Man," with Charlton Heston.
But in the end, what might have been best is a longer gap between "28 Weeks Later" and "Legend."
Of course, what do I know? It's not as if Will Smith and crew are going bankrupt anytime soon.
DVD PARADE, PART ONE: Speaking of the "28 Days/Weeks" franchise, director Danny Boyle (he did the first) has his sci-fi epic "Sunshine" in stores today on DVD. I'll have mini-reviews of that as well as George Ratliff's creepy "Joshua" in Thursday's Weekend Mag section (and online).
Early hint: B-o-r-i-n-g.
PART TWO: The zombie horror flick "Automaton Transfusion" has been given a DVD release date of March 4. The plot synopsis goes like this: The United States Army began developing a procedure to bring back the dead with the purpose of having them fight instead of the living. The testing takes a horrific turn and an experimental town quickly becomes overtaken by zombies. Three desperate high school students decide to fight back in a battle for survival.
I'm there ...
First Published: January 7, 2008, 8:45 p.m.