Land of the Dead

[Rigs11]

Anyone check out this movie yet? I went and saw it today. Great movie. George Romero is still the master of the zombie genre. Better than any zombie movie in awhile, and gory as sh!t too!



http://ffmedia.ign.com/filmforce/image/article/628/628642/john-leguizamo-20050623001148054.jpg

[Mr. Trout]

Might have to check it out...I really liked the newest Dawn of the Dead.

[-Slap-]

I bugged out of work a few hours early to check it out today. 20 years since Romero made a zombie movie and 27 years since he made a good zombie movie, so I wanted to be there on opening day.

The critics really loved this film. (http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/landofthedead) LOTD got very positive reviews from the LA Times, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, among others.

Personally, I wasn't disappointed, although, it wasn't exactly the movie I envisioned, either. Romero made certifiable movie classics on shoestring budgets with the seminal Night of the Living Dead and the extremely influential Dawn of the Dead. Only with Day of the Dead did Romero's lack of money really show.

The success of recent imitators convinced Universal to finally give Romero a decent, though, hardly extravagant $18 million budget. The strings attached to that money came in the form of higher profile actors - Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo in key roles - where I probably would have preferred no-name actors in those parts. Two of the biggest hams in Hollywood, Romero coaxed measured, even understated performances out of both of them.

You can see where the extra money went this time around. The zombie effects are first rate. The kills gruesome, the ghouls diverse and convincing. Lots of actual flesh-eating in this one, something conspicuously absent from a lot of recent zombie movies. Kind of funny that these modern film makers get squeamish about that part. You are making a zombie movie, right? You can't puss out when its time to show some entrails getting pulled out and consumed as the screaming victim watches in horror.

Romero had to work under the constraints of an R rating for this movie, whereas his previous films were released unrated. Another concession to the big funds available from working with a big production company, but the ratings board seemed to go easy on the old boy. There's plenty of gore in this film, although, I would say it didn't seem gratuitous - I wouldn't have minded if it became a little gratuitous - but at around 93 minutes, this movie was pretty lean all the way around.

I was happy to read in a recent interview that Romero "already has ideas" for a fifth installment. I hope we won't have to go hungry for two decades betweens films again.

http://www.moviereporter.net/pictures/land_dead_2.jpg
Here's the only spoiler, the requisite Tom Savini cameo

[Clockwork Orange]

I tried to talk my son into going to see Land Of the Dead today but he insisted on Batman Begins.

Damn 9 year olds....... :nono:

[Rigs11]

Might have to check it out...I really liked the newest Dawn of the Dead.

Have you ever seen the original Dawn of the Dead by Romero? It's awesome. As for Land of the Dead I was really impressed. Yeah it's not a big budget film, and yet none of Romero's movies ever were.

[DivineLegion]

I saw it I thought it was pretty good I graded it about a B...Honestly I dont know how that got a PG-13 rating though...I was happy because I forgot my ID but still that was not only grusome it also revealed somethings I dident know were allowed in a PG-13 Movie...But who the hell cares good movie.

[Rock Chalk]

I bugged out of work a few hours early to check it out today. 20 years since Romero made a zombie movie and 27 years since he made a good zombie movie, so I wanted to be there on opening day.

The critics really loved this film. (http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/landofthedead) LOTD got very positive reviews from the LA Times, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, among others.

Personally, I wasn't disappointed, although, it wasn't exactly the movie I envisioned, either. Romero made certifiable movie classics on shoestring budgets with the seminal Night of the Living Dead and the extremely influential Dawn of the Dead. Only with Day of the Dead did Romero's lack of money really show.

The success of recent imitators convinced Universal to finally give Romero a decent, though, hardly extravagant $18 million budget. The strings attached to that money came in the form of higher profile actors - Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo in key roles - where I probably would have preferred no-name actors in those parts. Two of the biggest hams in Hollywood, Romero coaxed measured, even understated performances out of both of them.

You can see where the extra money went this time around. The zombie effects are first rate. The kills gruesome, the ghouls diverse and convincing. Lots of actual flesh-eating in this one, something conspicuously absent from a lot of recent zombie movies. Kind of funny that these modern film makers get squeamish about that part. You are making a zombie movie, right? You can't puss out when its time to show some entrails getting pulled out and consumed as the screaming victim watches in horror.

Romero had to work under the constraints of an R rating for this movie, whereas his previous films were released unrated. Another concession to the big funds available from working with a big production company, but the ratings board seemed to go easy on the old boy. There's plenty of gore in this film, although, I would say it didn't seem gratuitous - I wouldn't have minded if it became a little gratuitous - but at around 93 minutes, this movie was pretty lean all the way around.

I was happy to read in a recent interview that Romero "already has ideas" for a fifth installment. I hope we won't have to go hungry for two decades betweens films again.

http://www.moviereporter.net/pictures/land_dead_2.jpg
Here's the only spoiler, the requisite Tom Savini cameo


Never took you for a zombie fan Slappy. Always figured you were into chic flicks for some reason.

[Rigs11]

I saw it I thought it was pretty good I graded it about a B...Honestly I dont know how that got a PG-13 rating though...I was happy because I forgot my ID but still that was not only grusome it also revealed somethings I dident know were allowed in a PG-13 Movie...But who the hell cares good movie.

It was rated R.

[DivineLegion]

It was rated R.

Realy

They had it posted as PG-13

[-Slap-]

Never took you for a zombie fan Slappy. Always figured you were into chic flicks for some reason.
I'm a man of many moods, Alec. Truthfully, I have to be forced into seeing chick flicks.

I think zombie movies should have their own category at the Academy Awards, which might be about the only way I would ever consider watching the Academy Awards...

I like most kinds of horror films, except slasher films.

[Clockwork Orange]

I like most kinds of horror films, except slasher films.

Sadly, it's getting harder and harder to find anything resembling a good horror movie with each passing year.

[Northman]

Im so stoked to see this film no doubt about it. :)

[Rock Chalk]

I'm a man of many moods, Alec. Truthfully, I have to be forced into seeing chick flicks.

I think zombie movies should have their own category at the Academy Awards, which might be about the only way I would ever consider watching the Academy Awards...


I like most kinds of horror films, except slasher films.

Dont be shy, some chic flicks are pretty good. Pretty Woman for example. Yes, I watched Steel Magnolias yes, I liked it.

Dont get me wrong, Im not going to go buy or even download a chic flick, but I will watch them...except Under the Tuscon Sun...Step warned me about that waste of time.

Ive never been into the horror genre much. Mostly because they are all lacking in horror and way too heavy on the comedy. Im more of a sci-fi guy but I dig war movies (specifically those about WWII) and I love assassin/hitman/spook type movies.

I really wish they would ressurrect the film noir genre. Those Private Eye movies, with the rain and the black and white and the quiet narration in the beginning. Those are cool movies.

[Crushaholic]

My feeling on horror movies is why go to a movie to be scared when real life is scary enough? Unless, of course, you're with a date and want her to jump in your lap... :wiggle:

The only "dead" movie I've ever seen is the original Night of the Living Dead. I enjoyed that tremendously, so maybe I'll give this one a look...

[-Slap-]

Dont be shy, some chic flicks are pretty good. Pretty Woman for example. Yes, I watched Steel Magnolias yes, I liked it.

Dont get me wrong, Im not going to go buy or even download a chic flick, but I will watch them...except Under the Tuscon Sun...Step warned me about that waste of time.
Not me. 95% of chick flicks suck. Closer was a perfect example. What a piece of crap. I love the scene where the guy breaks down crying in the office of his romantic rival. Like that would happen in a million years. Good lord.

Ive never been into the horror genre much. Mostly because they are all lacking in horror and way too heavy on the comedy. Im more of a sci-fi guy but I dig war movies (specifically those about WWII) and I love assassin/hitman/spook type movies.
I think the ones that are full of comedy are the imbecilic slasher films, pitched to teenagers, like Scream or I Saw You Beat Your Meat Last Summer.

I really wish they would ressurrect the film noir genre. Those Private Eye movies, with the rain and the black and white and the quiet narration in the beginning. Those are cool movies.
Sin City was an attempt to go this route, but I didn't get around to seeing it.

I guess the thing that's appealing about Romero's take on zombies is the sub text of the material. Dawn of the Dead was about rampant consumerism, Land of the Dead is about class warfare. There's a lot of subtle (and some not so subtle) messages under all the viscera.

[Rigs11]

Sadly, it's getting harder and harder to find anything resembling a good horror movie with each passing year.

Did you check out Boogeyman? I thought that movie was pretty good. Had some freaky moments in it which is hard to find nowadays.

[Foot2balls]

Nice summary, Slap. I'm a huge fan of zombie movies and would have loved to see this in theaters, but I rarely get the opportunity because my wife doesn't like horror movies. I was dissappointed with the newest "Dawn of the Dead" movie until I read that it was based loosely on the original, so it wasn't really a remake. Anyway, after watching a few trailers with the zombie "band" and the scene where the human fights with the zombie in the ring, I lost major interest.

[BroncoInferno]

I bugged out of work a few hours early to check it out today. 20 years since Romero made a zombie movie and 27 years since he made a good zombie movie

Man, I really disagree with you here. I think Day of the Dead stands up well with the first two movies. I think a lot of people were disappointed with it because the zombie action wasn't coming as fast and furious as with Dawn, a little too much yapping in their opinion. I thought it was a natural progression from the first two. The idea of the humans bringing about there own downfall. You also see the beginnings of zombie evolution, which led to the events in Land. Plus, it has a freakin' mad scientist. I mean, you can't go wrong if you put a mad scientist in your movie!

Only with Day of the Dead did Romero's lack of money really show.

Again, I disagree. I think the zombies look the best in Day, and that's including Land (don't care much for CGI effects). In Dawn, they had that unintentional blue look, and in Night there were only crude make-up effects to make use of. I think Savini really hit his peak in Day.

Where we agree, though, is that Land kicks ass! I was a little worried because of the involement of a meddling major studio, plus the fact that Romero stormed off the set on the last day of shooting. But my fears were for naught. I was stunned at how much gore made it past the censors. Can't wait for the director's cut to come out on DVD!

For people who like this film, I'd also like to recommend Romero's criminally unnoticed vampire flick, Martin. Probably the most original vampire movie ever made. It subverts pretty much every convention of the vampire genre. Romero leaves it ambiguous as to whether or not Martin is really a vampire or just a disturbed kid whose superstitious family warped his mind. The sunlight only bothers him a little. He doesn't bite into his victims with vangs, but uses syringes to drug them, then cuts them with a razor to get to the blood. Reall good stuff in this movie.

[Popps]

Just saw it last night. If you haven't seen it yet, don't read any further.... don't want to taint your experience....

..but....

Very disappointing... but that could have been because I was expecting something a bit different. This was basically like watching The A Team fighting zombies. It was much more of a "summer movie" than I thought it would be going in. It may as well have been Bruce Willis in the lead role.

I loved the original DOTD and even the remake had at least some good suspense. Never once in this movie did it feel suspenseful. You pretty much knew where things were going and even the zombie attacks were highly telegraphed. The acting blew, but it's a zombie flick so that's something that can be overlooked. All of that, and throw in a horribly predictable socio-political message for cappers. (Yes, social messages in a zombie flick.)

This movie was at best... fun, but not good. It doesn't hold a candle to 28 Days Later and isn't in the same universe as the original Dawn. Hell, I liked Shawn of the Dead better than this one. Anyone see that? Pretty damned funny, and actually.... fairly suspenseful for a movie that was largely a spoof.

On the plus side, the effects were good. Zombies looked cool and they shot the whole thing in film (or it appeared so) ... so you didn't get that digital video headache that the new DOTD gave you by the end.

Anyway, just my two pennies.

[Old Dude]

I view this whole thing as a bargaining chip.

See, my wife hates zombie movies.

So I can use this film as a chip next time she wants me to take her to a chik flik.

"Oh, sure, I'll be happy to take you to Lonesome Hearts in Miserable, Stultifying Anguish, Texas, dear, so long as we can see the Romero zombie movie tomorrow."

[MT-Tdawg]

Cool, im actually looking forward to seeing it now. My fiance is making me go watch it this weekend (she loves horror movies) so knowing that it's not terrible is a good thing.

[bronco militia]

Did you check out Boogeyman? I thought that movie was pretty good. Had some freaky moments in it which is hard to find nowadays.


ugh! don't waste your time...and be sure to skip Cursed.

[-Slap-]

ugh! don't waste your time...and be sure to skip Cursed.

Be sure to skip the rest of Wes Craven's career for that matter.

[-Slap-]

Anyway, after watching a few trailers with the zombie "band" and the scene where the human fights with the zombie in the ring, I lost major interest.

The zombie band was consistent with Romero's premise that zombies will return to things that they found important in life.

Zombies being used in different forms of exploitive entertainment - such as the ones in the ring - are territory that's been covered before, most recently in the final scenes of Shaun of the Dead. Joe Lansdale - writer of the terrific Bubba Ho-Tep - also mined that vein extensively years ago with some short stories on the genre.

The woman was a prostitute who was thrown into the ring with zombies by a vengeful club owner for some reason they never divulged in the film. I did find that scene quite unrealistic because I can't believe anyone would become so jaded that they would want to see a zombie kill a human.

[Foot2balls]

The zombie band was consistent with Romero's premise that zombies will return to things that they found important in life.

Zombies being used in different forms of exploitive entertainment - such as the ones in the ring - are territory that's been covered before, most recently in the final scenes of Shaun of the Dead. Joe Lansdale - writer of the terrific Bubba Ho-Tep - also mined that vein extensively years ago with some short stories on the genre.

The woman was a prostitute who was thrown into the ring with zombies by a vengeful club owner for some reason they never divulged in the film. I did find that scene quite unrealistic because I can't believe anyone would become so jaded that they would want to see a zombie kill a human.

I understood about the zombies going back to familiar places, as stated in the original "Dawn of the Dead" (returning to the mall thing), but there seemed to be a comical spin on that scene and I guess I just didn't find it funny.

Now, I have a question. In "Day of the Dead" the nutty professor appeared to be communicating with one of the zombies, but was killed when others found out he was feeding him with bodies of dead soldiers. Does Romero continue with this in the new movie? I saw a clip of that big black zombie shooting a gun, so that sparked a bit of excitement for me.

[Rigs11]

I understood about the zombies going back to familiar places, as stated in the original "Dawn of the Dead" (returning to the mall thing), but there seemed to be a comical spin on that scene and I guess I just didn't find it funny.

Now, I have a question. In "Day of the Dead" the nutty professor appeared to be communicating with one of the zombies, but was killed when others found out he was feeding him with bodies of dead soldiers. Does Romero continue with this in the new movie? I saw a clip of that big black zombie shooting a gun, so that sparked a bit of excitement for me.

He did continue with the notion that the dead were getting smatter. In Day the professor's star pupil,"Bub" I think his name was, was remembering the things he did when he was alive. In Land this continues, with the zombies evolving further.

[rbackfactory80]

Very disappointing, did not care for it at all. The best part for me was when I fell asleep with 20 minutes or so left. I felt great when I awoke and luckily I had a friend with me to tell me how it ended. If you r going to a movie I liked cinderella man much better. That was a pretty good flick.