Dawn of the Dead - Go see it.

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2004-03-20 02:44am

I just came back from seeing the new Dawn of the Dead movie, written by the guy who did Scooby Doo, and I'm having a hard time writing now that I'm on damn near my 5th beer.

At any rate, all I have to really say is this: Don't try to compare it with the original.

The two are almost completely different movies outside of the fact that:
1) The world gets fucked.
2) Zombies are aplenty.
3) Most of the movie takes place in a mall.

While there are certain hommages done of course to the original movie, mere head noddery, if you will, they're really two different movies.

So how does the new DOTD stack up as a movie by itself? Pretty damn good. You know you're in for a good movie when you see the world go to hell on CNN to the tune of Johnny Cash. And boy, it's really hard to type let alone remain coherent right now as I finish this beer off.

Within the first few minutes you get jugular ripping, head explosions and etc, and still it manages to remain a rated R movie, I think Saving Private Ryan really raised the bar. But I hear the DVD will be very gory, so yay for us!

Plot wise, there's nothing much new in this. You get a bunch of zombies, and the world goes to hell. Which brings us to the fast moving zombies. At first I was a bit scared which is understandable being a hardcore Romero fan. But I think I understand why they chose to go for fast zombies.

I think, unless they were specifically aiming for a social metaphor or whatnot, if they didn't have these "Super" zombies, the audience these days have trouble with suspension of disbelief. Most people will have a hard time swallowing that slow shambling zombies can destroy the world. But fast moving, fast re-animating zombies, now there is something that can pretty much make the world go to hell in a handbasket pretty quick.

As for the zombies themselves, Mr. Savini outdid himself this time. They really look great, even en masse. I enjoyed seeing them kill, be killed, runned over, etc... Wonderful zombie stuff.

As for the main characters. Yes, I thought they were pretty stereotypical and outside of the few main main characters, I thought the rest needed to die.. slowly, painfully.. and I wasn't let down.

In summary: Go see it.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2004-03-20 04:26am

I've had a choice between seing it today, or seing Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind. I chose eternal sunshine. I don't regret the choice, either.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2004-03-20 06:17am

pfff... You saw Jim Carrey over bloodthirsty zombies? What's wrong with you, man?

Yes, this movie kicked ass. Very fucking good, even great. I loved it. It was probably one of the most gory movies I have ever seen.

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2004-03-20 08:23am

I want someone to make a really *good* zombie movie that doesn't feature graphic depictions of organs being removed. I like scary stories. I think they're fun to watch. But I don't like gallons of blood and the visceral dismemberment of people on-screen - scare me, don't repulse me.

And this from a member of the biological sciences community, so don't think it's because I can't handle staring at blood and guts.

SCRawl · Post by **SCRawl** » 2004-03-20 08:41am

I actually got to be on the set of that movie for a couple of days. The company I work for built and installed the light covers you see in the mall hallways -- the ones that run the length of the ceilings. If I go and see the movie, that's all I'll be looking at, I bet

.

For that reason, I figure I'll be waiting for the DVD.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-03-20 12:37pm

Lagmonster wrote:I want someone to make a really *good* zombie movie that doesn't feature graphic depictions of organs being removed. I like scary stories. I think they're fun to watch. But I don't like gallons of blood and the visceral dismemberment of people on-screen - scare me, don't repulse me.

And this from a member of the biological sciences community, so don't think it's because I can't handle staring at blood and guts.

I have to agree. While I don't doubt that DOTD is a truly scary movie, it makes you wonder if they're having to throw in gratuitous gore to "scare" people to make up for a lack of actual scariness. And I can take gore, too, seeing as though preparing an animal after hunting it is pretty messy business.

That being said, I'll probably have to see DOTD, just because of the great reviews it is getting.

Demiurge · Post by **Demiurge** » 2004-03-20 12:48pm

Scooby Doo? That's not making me want to see it.

Seele · Post by **Seele** » 2004-03-20 02:56pm

Demiurge wrote:Scooby Doo? That's not making me want to see it.

While true that James Gunn wrote Scooby Doo and the upcoming sequel, he used to work for Troma and he wrote Terror Firmer & Tromeo and Juliet for them. He even co-directed both movies.

As for DotD remake. Damn good amd suprisingly uber:violent. I really can't wait for the DVD which they promise is filled with stuff that didn't make the R rated cut.

Hobot · Post by **Hobot** » 2004-03-20 06:53pm

OOOh! DOTD was awesome! It was really funny too, cars+zombies = hilarity!

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2004-03-22 04:36pm

saw this last night.

My feelings: Its good--not great. But at least its good.

The original is still about a million times better, but then thats to be expected i guess. However, i really liked the ending to this one. the escape-from-the-mall sequence was astounding, very 28 Days Later-ish, which i guess was purposeful.

What i found was that the movie got better as it went on. The opening sucked. Really really cheesy, and the mall scenes were pretty lame as well. Around the point where they're living in the mall i was thinking "dammit--this movie sucks!". I mean the zombie-fetus--that was just goofy.
But as the film went on it got better and better. Andy the gunshop owner was a terrific addition, and the celebrity shooting match was downright hilarious. By the time they leave the mall the film was in full throttle and it didnt let up till the end credits. i only wish the film could have been this consistant throughout.

What surprised me was how much they changed--in fact the mall itself is only a minor setting really, it only takes up about forty minutes of the film. The biker gangs are gone, the SWAT scenes were reduced to news footage, and the whole road trip to the mall is eliminated.
It was interesting to see how they altered things as well, taking bits and pieces from the original--the pregnant woman, the police officer, that guy from The Game who takes over the role of Roger from the original film, the scenes with the trucks, the rooftop scenes.
S
I also enjoyed the various references to other Romero films, intentional or not. Interestingly the film ends exactly the way Romero's original script to Day of the Dead began, with the shootout at the marina. Seems like a big coincidence to me. And Tom Savini's cameo was badass!

All in all, a good film, but far from perfect. The first half was as lame as the Texas Chainsaw Remake--good photography, lots of action, but short on intelligence, character or anything memorable--but right when Andy the gunshop owner is introduced the film slowly gets better and better until the absolutly stunning ending. I'd like to see them remake Day of the Dead using Romero's original script--the film is already set up that way! Hmmm...one can only hope.

And BTW--not even the power of christ is enough to stop Dawn fans. Passion of the Christ has been dethroned! Where's your messiah now?

justifier · Post by **justifier** » 2004-03-22 05:01pm

zombie84 wrote: And BTW--not even the power of christ is enough to stop Dawn fans. Passion of the Christ has been dethroned! Where's your messiah now?

Well Christ did die at the end of Passion Of The Christ.
*Zombie Jesus shambles forward*
BRAAAAAINS, I BRING SALVATION FOR YOUR BRAAAAAAINS!

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2004-03-22 09:14pm

I dunno, it sounds to me like just another "28 days later" thing, and I wasnt very impressed with that movie, how do the two compare? I like the fast moving Zombies idea, but if the characters act as stupidly as they do in 28 days later than its not worth my time.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-03-23 02:07am

justifier wrote:
zombie84 wrote: And BTW--not even the power of christ is enough to stop Dawn fans. Passion of the Christ has been dethroned! Where's your messiah now?

Well Christ did die at the end of Passion Of The Christ.
*Zombie Jesus shambles forward*
BRAAAAAINS, I BRING SALVATION FOR YOUR BRAAAAAAINS!

FUQ!

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-03-23 02:12am

Both Dawn of the Dead and Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind are playing at the Campus 3 cinema at the mall. I'm going to see DotD on Thursday this week, because it won the coin toss.

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2004-03-23 02:47am

Get up, come on get down with the Sickness /Lounge Singer

Must.. buy.. Lounge Against the Machine CD..

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2004-03-23 08:34pm

http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=dawn_rules

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2004-03-23 09:13pm

http://www.capalert.com/capreports/dawnofthedead.htm

"When there is no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth." Hell will never be too full.

resurrection from death due to bites throughout

cannibalism

*cough*hypocrisy*cough*

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2004-03-23 09:24pm

Rye wrote:
resurrection from death due to bites throughout

He consideres becoming a zombie resurrection? Shit, if that's what resurrection is then I vote to stay dead.

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2004-03-24 12:55am

gotta say... I saw the original DOTD and the new DOTD and the new one kicks the zombie poo out of the old one. the old one is too slow for today and while it may have been great back in the 70's the remake is just what is needs to be for todays zombie thriller fans.
go see it.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-03-24 01:00am

I think you might want to revise that first sentence.

justifier · Post by **justifier** » 2004-03-24 01:09am

Death from the Sea wrote:gotta say I say the original DOTD and the the DOTD and the new one kicks the zombie poo out of the old one. the old one is too slow for today and while it may have been great back in the 70's the remake is just what is needs to be for todays zombie thriller fans.
go see it.

There is a difference between horror and action with cheap shocks thrown in

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2004-03-24 01:12am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:I think you might want to revise that first sentence.

fixed it, thanks Spanky. I think it is time for me to go get some sleep.

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2004-03-24 01:49am

Death from the Sea wrote:gotta say... I saw the original DOTD and the new DOTD and the new one kicks the zombie poo out of the old one. the old one is too slow for today and while it may have been great back in the 70's the remake is just what is needs to be for todays zombie thriller fans.
go see it.

no fucking way.

Theres no way that anything made today has to be "louder, faster and more expensive"--i mean the original film was very action-oriented as it was, but it revolved around characters rather than set pieces. Its a shame that some people demand that anything appealing to modern audienes must be non-stop action.

But anyway, the two films are very different in tone and style.
The best analogy i have come across is this: the original DOTD is to the remake as Interview with the Vampire is to Dusk Till Dawn. Two great films, but very different in tone and approach (incidentally i prefer Interview with the Vampire).

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-03-24 01:53am

YT300000 wrote:http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=dawn_rules

That's like the second movie that Maddox has actually liked with the first being Army of Darkness. I may go see it after all.