Okay, so I went to see this movie yesterday. Let me start-out by saying that I am a selectively-squeemish guy; I can watch a wrestling match where two guys bleed without blinking, I can watch Conan and see sword wounds that send showers of crimson into the air, but when I see people biting others, I get queezy.
So, after the first 10 minutes of the movie I had to go to the bathroom to, um, settle-down (the little girl creating a gusher of blood really set my tummy to roiling). 15 minutes later I returned to the movie. What I saw was okay, although, in classic slasher-movie form, you couldn't help but shout "Don't do that!" to the characters.
One thing I nit-picked about was the setting. It's in Wisconsin, and yet the subdivision looks like none I have ever seen - people in Wisconsin do NOT have in-ground swimming pools (the ground freezes here). Another thing - the people are trapped in a HUGE mall...in Wisconsin...and yet they run low on ammo? What - is this the least Wisconsin mall out there? There should be at least one store with guns, guns, and more guns (and bows, arrows, etc.).
Finally, I am sorry I stuck-around to watch the credits. I was so pleased to see the people make it to safety. But, after the credits, I just am left to think "So why did I bother with the movie? They all just die, anyway." It's a minor thing, but something that I didn't like (I guess I'm a sucker for happy endings).
Anyways, what are everyone else's nits-to-pick/favorite bits?
P.S. The less said about the zombie baby, the better. Although I was convinced the thing would have clawed its way out of the womb and bitten the dad.
We'd like to discuss a few points you made in your previous post.
I thought it was pretty good. Great use of Johnny Cash and Richard Cheese songs. Gore was good.
The ending, I thought, was a strong point. Zombie movies are supposed to end badly, especially Romero zombie movies. I'll agree that there are some parts where the characters act like morons. They are way more concerned about who can and cannot raise from the dead than I would be, I would put a bullet in all of them.
A worthy successor, but lacking the social commentary and in-depth characters of the original. I enjoyed the zombie baby, but it did remind me of the far superior baby in Dead Alive.
And I will show you something different from either Your shadow at morning striding behind you Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you; I will show you fear in a handful of dust.
...And where is a modern suburban mall built right across the street from a slummy row of old buildings and a gun shop anyway?
Some of the effects were actually kind of impressive looking, yet incredibly cheesy at the same time. The action scenes at the beginning and the big explosion near the end looked like CGI pasted into still shots.
I liked the ending (during the credits). That NEVER happens.
Aw, it was fun. I laughed a lot and enjoyed myself.
E! News Online was really classless with their report of it beating "Passion" though..."And after the third week, the zombies rose from the dead and knocked off Jesus."
Originally posted by ScreamingHeadGuy It's in Wisconsin, and yet the subdivision looks like none I have ever seen - people in Wisconsin do NOT have in-ground swimming pools (the ground freezes here).
Isn't it in some made-up town? Too bad...they could've used Weyauwega in '96 when the propane-filled tanker cars de-railed. Instant special effects...just add boom!
And hey, my neighbors across the street growing up DID have an in-ground swimming pool. Of course, they were in a very tiny minority...and they filled it in a few years later.
Star wipe, and...we're out. Thrillin' ain't easy.
THE THRILL ACW-NWA Wisconsin Home Video Technical Director...& A2NWO 4 Life! (Click the big G or here to hear the Packers Fight Song in RealAudio...or try .AU, .WAV or .MIDI!)
I loved the flick. I thought it was a great mix of cheese, some actual horror, and good ole fashioned gore.
Why does everyone think the zombie baby should have bitten anyone? I've seen this assertation a couple of times now. It's a newborn...No teeth. What's it going to do, gum you to death?
Ving Rhames could play a big billy bad ass in every movie and I would be a happy man.
You could tell they had fun making this movie and I had fun watching it.
"Are you kidding me? A soda with MY name on it? Now more than ever, SODAS RULE!" - Edge to Christian Smackdown Sept 7th 2000
Originally posted by ThreepMe Why does everyone think the zombie baby should have bitten anyone? I've seen this assertation a couple of times now. It's a newborn...No teeth. What's it going to do, gum you to death
Well, it IS a zombie movie. So, if we can suspend disbelief enough to ignore the whole "walking-dead" thing, why can't a baby (a zombie baby, no less) have teeth?
Originally posted by ThreepMe Why does everyone think the zombie baby should have bitten anyone? I've seen this assertation a couple of times now. It's a newborn...No teeth. What's it going to do, gum you to death
Well, it IS a zombie movie. So, if we can suspend disbelief enough to ignore the whole "walking-dead" thing, why can't a baby (a zombie baby, no less) have teeth?
Ok...You got a point there...
Maybe they should have found it chewing on Mekhi's dead body (he was still fresh and not infected when he died), then capped it.
"Are you kidding me? A soda with MY name on it? Now more than ever, SODAS RULE!" - Edge to Christian Smackdown Sept 7th 2000
"Finally, I am sorry I stuck-around to watch the credits."
Oh man I hated that. So very gay. Although the whole movie I was expecting a last second Ving zombie turn since he got cut and fell into the water with zombie blood. But then it never happened so I was happy. But then came the credits and I was like hey fuck you.
The movie was too intense with its zombies and their killings and the blood. It freaked me right out.
But what is worse, ZOMBIE BABY or ZOMBIE LITTLE GIRL. A horrifying question for our times.
Maybe I'm being nitpicky, but did anyone care to explain how the zombies came about in the first place? I'm not accepting "When there's no more room in Hell, the dead shall walk the Earth", because then how do you explain ZOMBIE LITTLE GIRL (tm Shapiro)? She must have been Lizzie Borden 2K4 or something.
Maybe I AM thinking too much. Zombie movies should be one of those genres where you turn your brain and sense of logic OFF. I don't think I did it this time and it killed my experience because of it.
Thumbs down for me.
Paul: Ok Brock, you've just been handed the ball! What are you gonna do with it? Brock: I'm gonna score a TOUCHDOWN!!! Paul: YEAH! Wait...what?
What sold this movie for me was the dialogue and jokes. Seriously, almost everything the short haired guy who actually owned the boat (Steve I think) said was funny as hell. I was rooting for him because of this.
The character development was also tons better than any horror movie usually is. The transformation of CJ was pretty cool to watch, and I actually kinda cared for Ana. The only person who I really wanted to see dead was the daughter of Matt Frewer. You know, the one who took the truck out of the mall to chase after that damn dog! I was definitely glad when she (SPOILER...oh come on, you know what happened) died.
All in all, it was a fun popcorn flick, and I need a muzak version of "All By Myself" playing in my house 24/7.
Originally posted by It's Falsehow do you explain ZOMBIE LITTLE GIRL (tm Shapiro)?
She was probably bitten by another zombie that they never bothered showing.
Originally posted by It's FalseMaybe I AM thinking too much.
Ditto.
This was high comedy, and it was your standard horror flick that defies all possible logic (ie, "once we're in the mall, let's all go separate ways to see what danger we can encounter on our own and just hope we don't die!"). But in any case, I still enjoyed it, and CJ's face turn was a pleasant surprise for me.
Originally posted by It's FalseMaybe I'm being nitpicky, but did anyone care to explain how the zombies came about in the first place? I'm not accepting "When there's no more room in Hell, the dead shall walk the Earth", because then how do you explain ZOMBIE LITTLE GIRL (tm Shapiro)? She must have been Lizzie Borden 2K4 or something.
They never explained the zombie hordes in the original trilogy either. I think it's part of the fun... you never know WHY this horror is taking place, it just IS. It sort of helps to get into the roles of the characters, who're helplessly caught in something waaaay over their heads.
I always liked the implication in the Return of the Living Dead movies, though... that the zombies came from some kind of government-engineered disease gone awry. Yeah, yeah, I know it's a whole different series of movies, but the original zombie in the first Return was a specimen left over from "the original outbreak, years ago"...
Kansas-born and deeply ashamed The last living La Parka Marka
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin
Originally posted by It's FalseMaybe I'm being nitpicky, but did anyone care to explain how the zombies came about in the first place? I'm not accepting "When there's no more room in Hell, the dead shall walk the Earth", because then how do you explain ZOMBIE LITTLE GIRL (tm Shapiro)?
Well, according to Night of the Living Dead (the movie Dawn is a sequel to) a space probe was returning from its exploration of the planet Venus. It mysteriously exploded before entering the atmosphere spreading some kind of space bourne virus over the entire world.
Originally posted by JMShapiro"Finally, I am sorry I stuck-around to watch the credits."
Oh man I hated that. So very gay. Although the whole movie I was expecting a last second Ving zombie turn since he got cut and fell into the water with zombie blood. But then it never happened so I was happy. But then came the credits and I was like hey fuck you.
The movie was too intense with its zombies and their killings and the blood. It freaked me right out.
But what is worse, ZOMBIE BABY or ZOMBIE LITTLE GIRL. A horrifying question for our times.
(edited by JMShapiro on 22.3.04 1142)
And predictable too. I was hoping the island would be filled with women. Hot women. Without clothes. Nothing in the movie is more disturbing than that dancing fat kid in astrobstrd's av.
I'd tell you to kiss my ass, but I don't want to get it infected.
Thread ahead: "It will not break! It will not...it broke." Next thread: Jim Carey to play Steve Austin Previous thread: And The Simpsons Has Jumped The Shark!
Man, I just don't know what to say on this one. It just gets better and better. http://keithschofield.com/pi/hard-n-phirm-pi.mov (you need quicktime to watch)