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Tagline: When theres no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.<br>Id like to start this review by committing horror movie blasphemy. Ready? Here goes. George Romeros initial three Dead films are exaggerated (Im not even going to talk about the train wreck which is Land of the Dead). While entertaining, they are also low-budget flicks with average acting and pacing about as slow as the shambling zombies depicted therein. Barely the holy trinity which theyve been constructed out to be.
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Dawn of the Dead (2004 ) Tagline: When theres say goodbye to room in hell, the dead will stroll the earth. Id like to begin this review by dedicating horror film blasphemy. Ready? Here goes. George Romeros original 3 Dead movies are exaggerated (Im not even going to comment on the train wreck which is Land of the Dead). While amusing, they are likewise low-budget flicks with typical acting and pacing about as sluggish as the shambling zombies portrayed therein. Barely the holy trinity which theyve been constructed out to be. And lets not forget the much-lauded social criticism. Racism? Widespread consumerism? Its all managed with the subtlety of a hammer to the back of the head. Listen, if I want social commentary in a movie, Ill watch Extra resources Gandhi or Norma Rae. When I sit down for a zombie movie, I desire non-stop action and buckets of gore. Duration. Anything else is simply a bloody cherry on top of my horror sundae. Its for these reasons (and others, which Ill detail later on) that I discover the 2004 variation of Dawn of the Dead to be more gratifying than the initial. Adjusted by James Gunn (Scooby Doo) from the initial 1978 George A. Romero movie script, Dawn of the Dead opens by permitting us to get briefly familiarized with the films central protagonist, a pretty young nurse called Ana (Sarah Polley). But her safe suburban lifestyle is short lived, and a strange epidemic makes sure that Ana is leaving from ravenous zombies before the movie even hits the 10 minute mark. She quickly meets Kenneth (Ving Rhames), a tough-as-nails police, and minutes later they stumble upon Michael (Jake Weber), a soft-spoken but natural leader, Andre (Mekhi Phifer), a man with a questionable past, and Luda (Inna Korobkina), Andres pregnant sweetheart. They take sanctuary in a sprawling mall, but rapidly contravene of the less-than-hospitable security guards C.J. (Michael Kelly), Bart (Michael Barry), and Terry (Kevin Zegers). More characters are added later on, especially Steve (Ty Burrell), a smart-ass nouveau riche, and Andy (Bruce Bohne), the owner of a nearby gun shop. As the awful infection spreads around the world, and the scenario ends up being significantly desperate, the characters pertain to recognize that no aid is coming from the outside. If they are to survive, they should take matters into their own hands. Thankfully for us, that involves chainsaws, armor-reinforced parking shuttle bus, and lp tanks rigged into makeshift bombs. The action comes quick and furious throughout, and director Zack Snyder (helming his first function film) does a great task of pacing and getting us right into the thick of things. He does tend to overuse the slow-motion impact whenever theres an explosion or cartridge ejected from a gun, but this can be forgiven because (a) its his freshman effort, and (b) it does not truly remove from this specific story. Were also treated to some strong camera work, modifying which maintains a fast lane but doesn't confuse the audience, and
excellent unique effects with plenty of brains and blood to walk around. The soundtrack likewise plays an essential part in the film, including an extra measurement to several essential scenes. From Johnny Cashs When the Male Comes Around throughout the opening credits sequence (which, by the method, is much better than numerous full-length zombie films), to Individuals Who Died by The Jim Carroll Band and a lounge variation of Down With the Illness by Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Device, its beyond me why the studio picked not to release this soundtrack. The performing is very strong for a film of this category, and Jake Weber and Sarah Polley are especially outstanding in the functions of Michael and Ana. They both handle to bring a peaceful genuineness to their functions, something not easily accomplished in a motion picture dominated by flesh-hungry evil spirits and burping shotguns. The cast is much larger than the original, but each character is given a few moments to shine and let the audience relate to them. Real, nobody is fleshed out to the degree of, state, George C. Scotts Patton or Denzels Malcolm X, however what do you expect from a horror motion picture? This isn't Bio, folks. Fans of the initial Dawn will be happy to see cameos by Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, and Sex Machine Tom Savini. There are a number of other nods to the initial film scattered throughout, and one gets the sense that the filmmakers had a great love for their predecessor. But make no mistake, this film stands on its own with a various cast of characters, various climax, and totally various ending. Comparisons between the 2 are inevitable, however eventually unjust to both pictures. Its like comparing the initial Atari to the Xbox. Both are a blast, but one is just hopelessly outdated when held up to modern standards. It should also be noted that the movie continues through the end credits, so do not run off as soon as the lights begin to come up. If you do, youll most likely leave the theater with a much different concept of what occurred than those who remained behind. Dawn of the Dead updates a classic and improves upon it along the method. The action is much faster, the zombies are faster, and the total product simply looks better. Its a zombie film for the modern generation and well worth the cost of admission.
