Alright, I admit it. I'm a sucker for a zombie movie. I LOVE them. So, it goes without saying that the summer movie I was most excited for is George Romero's Land of the Dead. It's the only movie I've seen this summer (I just can't bring myself to pay $9 for Star Wars) and I thought it was a worthy companion piece to the previous trilogy.
The right-wing film critics are going to make a lot of noise about all the Marxist themes. Yeah, they're there. There's more consumer culture stuff, too. But, at the end of the day, it's a ZOMBIE MOVIE and that's what I loved about it. Cool effects, great zombies, lots of gross action. And, given that Romero did it for roughly a third of the budget of the remake of Dawn of the Dead, I'm impressed.
There's a cool little half-hour documentary on the making of this one, and Romero's body of work in general, running on IFC recently.
Anybody else into the living dead?
Posts: 3875 | Location: ATL, GA | Registered: 25 May 2004
I understand he did the original zombie movies, but nowadays there are so many terrible zombie movies coming out like once every 2 months. I had no idea in seeing the previews for Land of the Dead that it would get as high a metascore as it did. I guess I might get myself to go around and see it but what really makes it that much different from all the other zombie movies?
Posts: 635 | Location: California | Registered: 24 August 2004
I thought it was a decent film, better than most of the imitators for sure, but I still wanted more from it. What sets his films apart from the rest of the zombie pack is social commentary. It changes and makes a slightly different point in each of the four in the set. This one involves evolution, and has a central "zombie jesus" character. This is where I wanted more, I felt that aspect should have either been explored in more depth, or been just a minor thing. The other aspect of this film is social class, with rich vs poor as an allegory to man vs zombie. Dennis Hopper excels in his role as wealthy leader of the city, and the lower class roles are all filled well. I did however feel that Leguizamo's character was a little underused. As PE said, a worthy companion piece to the previous trilogy!
"If it were beneficial, their father would produce children already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become profitable in every respect." -Jesus, from the Gospel Of Thomas
Originally posted by philosopherEric: Alright, I admit it. I'm a sucker for a zombie movie. I LOVE them. So, it goes without saying that the summer movie I was most excited for is George Romero's Land of the Dead. It's the only movie I've seen this summer (I just can't bring myself to pay $9 for Star Wars) and I thought it was a worthy companion piece to the previous trilogy.
The right-wing film critics are going to make a lot of noise about all the Marxist themes. Yeah, they're there. There's more consumer culture stuff, too. But, at the end of the day, it's a ZOMBIE MOVIE and that's what I loved about it. Cool effects, great zombies, lots of gross action. And, given that Romero did it for roughly a third of the budget of the remake of Dawn of the Dead, I'm impressed.
There's a cool little half-hour documentary on the making of this one, and Romero's body of work in general, running on IFC recently.
Zombies learning to care for each other? Come on! The "Leader" trying to push his fellow zombies out of the way of the gunfire was ridiculous! He even screamed in pain when he failed to save them. Yet, at the point when he somehow has the mental capacity to get fire to add to the gasoline, he didn't seem to mind it when another zombie was "killed" by the blast.
It also had the most unintentionally funny line at the end: They finally have a chance to kill most, if not all, of the zombies as they are crossing a bridge. The lead actor stops the gunner & says,"They're only looking for a place to go." What? Go where & do what? To eat other people? I am in the understanding that Romero likes to make "social commentaries" but, zombies are not a minority that deserve to have a place in the world. Have we become so politically correct that now even zombies have a right to "live"?
"I can't live the buttoned down life like all of you! I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles! Sure, I might offend a few of the blue-noses with my cocky stride and musky odor - oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called 'City Fathers' who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about what's to be done with this Monkey_Boy?!"
Posts: 2433 | Location: Springfield, Oh! Hi ya, Maude! | Registered: 01 January 2007
I love this movie! I am a huge zombie fan! and Romero is the GOD of zombie movies. I love how he shows the evolution of zombies through out all of his films. I mean take a look at Day of the dead at BUB. He even learns to speak.
"Breaking down the world one piece of film at a time." ~Myself
Posts: 7 | Location: The movies | Registered: 11 May 2007
I was let down with this one. I can't put my finger on why I didn't like either. I think because it felt like more of an action movie than a well thought out horror movie. The pacing was just too fast. And the characters weren't drawn out. The first three Dead movies didn't feel rushed to get to the action and gore.
