A post-holocaust caused by a virus, in a germ warfare , has been destroying most of mankind , the plague that causes the end of the world was unleashed as the result of a border war between China and Russia , in fact, China and Russia had some very serious border skirmishes during 1969 that had many world leaders concerned about the possibility of an all-out war between the Communist superpowers an U. S . As an Army scientist named Robert Neville (Charlton Heston) , who had immunized himself, is practically alone in the city of Los Angeles, except for a group of albino-like survivors . Army doctor Robert Neville struggles to create a cure for the plague that wiped out most of the human race . Neville is immune to the effects of a biologically engineered plague and fights those aren't , an army of mutants bent on destroying what's left of the world and constantly harass him . Neville uses a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) with an Infra-Red scope killing mutants . The pale-skinned men are led by sneering and creepy leaders (Anthony Zerbe, Lincoln Kilpatrick) , they want to eradicate what is left of mankind, but they feel is responsible for the disaster and this, of course, includes Neville. But Neville isn't the sole survivor , early appear a few survivors, an African-American woman named Lisa (Rosalind Cash). Pray for the last man alive. Because he's not alone. The World Is Dead. One Survivor. Then The Others. Crawling In Darkness. The Strangest Sect Of All. *Hunting The Last Man On Earth.*

Omega Man's spectacular adaptation with top-notch performance by Charlton Heston . Strong intrigue and suspense with considerable violence based on novel by Richard Matheson , which is also the basis for the film ¨The last Man on Earth¨ directed by Sidney Salkow , starred by Vincent Price and a modern version ¨I am legend¨ by Francis Lawrence with Will Smith and Alice Braga . This is a blockbuster production that manages to convey an eerie atmosphere to dismay . The film packs noisy action, tension , thrills , terror and entertaining enough. Good performance by Charlton ¨Chuck¨ Heston , usual actor of spectacular Sci-fi and epic movies . This movie marked the fourth teaming of producer Walter Seltzer with star Charlton Heston who worked together on 1973 ¨Soylent Green¨ , 1972 ¨Skyjacked¨ , 1969 ¨Number one¨ , 1968 ¨Will Penny¨, 1965 ¨The War Lord¨ , they would work together again on ¨The last hard man¨, their seventh and final movie together .Interesting screenplay by John and Joyce Corrington based on novel "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson , though he said that The Omega Man was so removed from his book that it didn't even bother him . Heston is well acccompanied by a good cast , such as : Rosalind Cash, Anthony Zerbe , Paul Koslo , Lincoln Kilpatrick and the teen Eric Laneuville

Atmospheric but rare musical score fitting to action and suspense by Ron Granier . Colorful and glimmering cinematography by Russell Metty . The production company wanted a locale that looked like an abandoned metropolitan area, but it was too costly to build , the producer drove through Downtown Los Angeles and majority of the movie's exteriors were shot there on weekends when shoppers were closed . The motion picture was professionally directed by Boris Sagal , a television series expert such as ¨Rich man, poor man¨, ¨Ike¨ , ¨Columbo¨, ¨Diary of Anne Frank¨ ,¨Masada¨. Rating : Above average and well worth watching .

What we got right here is a prime sampling of Charlton Heston's 1970s renaissance, that's what. Prime Chuck. The Hest. The MAN. In all his ageing, fading glory. From the very beginning we see a sweaty, swarthy and downright bad Chuck rollin' in his five-oh (a la Vanilla Ice, I suppose), scouring the streets of a skeletal near-future Los Angeles. And as the last man on earth, it's the least he can do. Only this is the future with a demonic hitch - Chuck must defend himself at every darkening turn from an evil cult of postwar mutants, led by the maniacal cool-as-ice Matthias. This aggrevated Luddite soul-brother crew's primary aim it seems, is to rid the world of Chuck - while they're not oozing cool and spouting kitschy new-age philosophies. In response, what we as viewers receive is Chuck at his absolute baddest (take that how you wish). In a film where Hest's teeth practically take second billing, we hear him say all the things Chuck was born to say: Damn, bastards, God, SOB and so on.

It's one hell of a ride, dated badly from the first moment we see Chuck pop a tape in the 8-Track. Thus, when you feel the need for cheese, simply mix in "The Omega Man" - and a little prime Chuck.

In 1977, the American scientist and colonel Dr. Robert Neville (Charlton Heston) is the last man on Earth. All the human race died or became mutants due to the use of biological weapons in a war. During the war, Dr. Neville was researching an experimental vaccine, and in a flight to a hospital to use his latest experiment, the pilot of his helicopter died and the helicopter crashed. Dr. Neville used the vaccine on himself and it worked, making him the last survivor of human race. The race of mutants self-calls 'The Family' and is leaded by the fanatic Matthias (Anthony Zerbe) in the middle-ages standards, without the use of any facility of the Twentieth Century. Dr. Neville finds some other survivors and intends to use the anti-corpus of his blood to prepare vaccines for them. The apocalyptic story has a tragic open end.

Yesterday I saw this movie maybe for the tenth time. In my opinion, it is one of the best Apocalyptic Sci-Fi movies of the 70's (together with 'Soylent Green'), when the world had the cold war to threaten and the population had a great fear of a biological weapons. In Brazil, 'The Omega Man' has not been released on VHS or DVD, and I have a VHS, recorded from the open Brazilian TV in the 80's, dubbed in Portuguese, with a terrible image, but what else can I do to see this movie if the distributors and the cable TV do not show interest to release it in my country? For persons of other native languages like me, I would like to explain the original title of the movie. In accordance with 'The Heritage Illustrated Dictionary', omega is not only the 24th and final letter in the Greek alphabet, but also means the ending, the last of anything. I hope that Tom Cruise does not spoil this magnificent story, since I heard he had the intention of preparing (or spoiling) a remake. Remake of good movies should be forbidden! My vote is nine.

Today (06 September 2006) I have watched "The Omega Man" again, now in the original language.

Title (Brazil): 'A Última Esperança da Terra' ('The Last Hope of the Earth')