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DAY OF THE DEAD (2008)

Started by indianasmith, June 30, 2008, 12:43:44 AM

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indianasmith

After enjoying the remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD and the new Romero film, DIARY OF THE DEAD, I was pretty stoked about this remake of the 1985 zombie film.  I checked it out tonight and must say I was pretty disappointed.  There were some fairly solid performances, and Mena Suvari looks really cute in Army fatigues (and she stays IN them the whole time, sadly), but the movie just didn't work for me.

For one thing, the slow, shuffling Romero zombies we all know and love have been replaced by fast, vicious Rage-virus style zombies who can crawl on walls and ceilings and jump great distances.  They still go down with a head shot and are also highly flammable, but the attempt to fill in all the back-story stuff and give a REASON for the zombie outbreak kills the enjoyment of the movie.  One of the selling points of the early Dead Films was that the people in the movie never really knew what animated the zombies.  The sheer terror of NOT knowing was what made DIARY OF THE DEAD, as well as the early films, work so well.

Also, the endless CGI headshots and decapitations wear on the nerves after awhile.  Makes you miss the big zombie with the really tall head walking into the chopper blades in the original DAWN OF THE DEAD.  Anyone could see how that special effect was done, but it was still cool to watch.

Anyway, too bad this one didn't turn out better.  Oh well, there's always ZOMBIES ANONYMOUS which I haven't seen yet.
"I shall smite you in the nostrils with a rod of iron, and wax your spleen with Efferdent!!"

zombie no.one

yeah, I hear what you're saying.

next up should be FRANCHISE OF THE DEAD, starring all the producers/directors/crew throughout all the endless sequels...then at least it could end on a high note  :smile:

Sister Grace

This movie was aweful, I thought it would have been better but then again it starts out with Nick Cannon in the credits....
Society, exactly as it now exists is the ultimate expression of sadomasochism in action.<br />-boyd rice-<br />On the screen, there\\\'s a death and the rustle of cloth; and a sickly voice calling me handsome...<br />-Nick Cave-

HappyGilmore

A few people were upset because they saw Ving Rhames in the credits and thought it would've been a continuation of the remade Dawn, but turns out it's just a different character for a glorified cameo appearance.

Mena Suvari did give a good performance, despite the flaws with the script.
"The path to Heaven runs through miles of clouded Hell.

I love lamp.

wtffilm

After watching, I thought this one to be this generation's NIGHTMARE CITY [1980] or ZOMBI 3 [1988].  It's truly awful from almost all perspectives, but I can't deny the inane entertainment value offered by 'zombies' that leap tall buildings in a single bound, scramble across the ceiling, or dodge bullets.

And the explanation for the bullet dodging?  "That one's smarter than the others."  Pure idiocy, but fun just the same.

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Kevin P.
http://www.wtf-film.com

Neville

Pretty lousy movie, really. I expected a verbatim remake of the Romero film, but looks all they wanted is the name to cash in as much as they could. And if the script was bad (can't believe they used that idea of the vegan zombie), just add Steve Miner to the mix.

Alright, so the guy has been helming horror movies since the 80s, but this doesn't mean he knows how to do his job. I mean, what's his best movie, "Lake placid"?
Due to the horrifying nature of this film, no one will be admitted to the theatre.

the master

Quote from: depressed crack addict on June 30, 2008, 12:55:07 AM
yeah, I hear what you're saying.

next up should be FRANCHISE OF THE DEAD, starring all the producers/directors/crew throughout all the endless sequels...then at least it could end on a high note  :smile:
that would be funny
to see romero savini italian guy and rusco sp? all trying to survive in a abandoned movie studio

odinn7

I rented this one yesterday...it was horrible. I was quite annoyed at the whole thing and the dialog simply p**sed me off.

They already know they're being followed by zombies in one scene in the woods....they hear noises....one guy says, "What was that?".....Uh....I'll give you one f**king guess.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You're not the Devil...You're practice.

Sister Grace

Quote from: odinn7 on July 27, 2008, 09:18:30 PM
I rented this one yesterday...it was horrible. I was quite annoyed at the whole thing and the dialog simply p**sed me off.

They already know they're being followed by zombies in one scene in the woods....they hear noises....one guy says, "What was that?".....Uh....I'll give you one f**king guess.

Alot of the newer zombie movies just pi&* me off. Usually the main characters are so dumb that you can almost believe that the zombies have an unfair advantage intelluctually...
Society, exactly as it now exists is the ultimate expression of sadomasochism in action.<br />-boyd rice-<br />On the screen, there\\\'s a death and the rustle of cloth; and a sickly voice calling me handsome...<br />-Nick Cave-

TexasCharlie

Quote from: Neville on July 27, 2008, 04:53:18 PM
Pretty lousy movie, really. I expected a verbatim remake of the Romero film, but looks all they wanted is the name to cash in as much as they could. And if the script was bad (can't believe they used that idea of the vegan zombie), just add Steve Miner to the mix.


Are you serious?  That might be a deal breaker for me.

Doc Daneeka

Quote from: Neville on July 27, 2008, 04:53:18 PM
Pretty lousy movie, really. I expected a verbatim remake of the Romero film, but looks all they wanted is the name to cash in as much as they could. And if the script was bad (can't believe they used that idea of the vegan zombie), just add Steve Miner to the mix.

Alright, so the guy has been helming horror movies since the 80s, but this doesn't mean he knows how to do his job. I mean, what's his best movie, "Lake placid"?
According to the IMDB his official best movie is "Wild Hearts can't be Broken" with his best horror flick being "Warlock", personally I think it's "House" :smile: .

And what would have happened if life was fair, would be if one of Romero's true scores of fans among the horror industry employed the currently bit-part playing Tom Savini, along with other good old actors playing bit parts now because nu-Hollywood only wants beautiful young people, with a modern budget to help put George's original apocalyptic script to screen :P

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ToyMan

Quote from: wtffilm on July 01, 2008, 11:55:05 AM
After watching, I thought this one to be this generation's NIGHTMARE CITY...

you didn't like nightmare city?! man, actors with steaks tied to their faces make awesome atomic zombies, in my book.