Film - Diary of the Dead
I've come a bit late to the party with this one. I had intended to see it on my birthday, but nothing really went right on my birthday this year :)
Diary of the Dead is the fifth zombie movie from George Romero, following on from Night of the Living, Dawn, Day and Land of the Dead. None have been strict sequels, no characters follow on, though some themes permeate them all.
George Romero at last got a new lease of cinema life after being kept in limbo for many years by film industry halfwits. Now perhaps the people who have grown up with Romero as a legendary figure, now have power and influence of their own, Romero can at last make films*. He is a many who can say whatever he wants about the world, as long as he does it using the now respected artistic medium of zombies.
Land of the Dead had a muted reaction from those expecting another die hard classic, and I confess I was no different initially, though I've since grown to really appreciate the movie. For looking back, when has Romero ever delivered the expected with his zombie movies? There are some great things about Land of the Dead, the comment on gated communities and the clinging to capitalism and showing zombies to be just another downtrodden class too. A sympathetic lead role for a pro-active zombie is a real first. I never got that excited about the mobile weapon 'Dead Reckoning', but it was probably a really clever metaphor for something! Let's say it's the American Military machine for example and move swiftly on.
Diary of the Dead is a handheld documentary style movie examples of which include Blair Witch Project and the recent Cloverfield. In it a team of film students, making their own horror movie, learn that the dead are returning to life and begin a difficult journey trying to reach their loved ones. It's a zombie road trip movie all filmed by the participants. It starts off feeling a little forced, but definitely grows as a movie as the journey progresses.
In the film Romero comments on the breakdown and divisions of society, the truth and how it's manipulated, as well as the global phenomenon of modern communications which gives everyone a voice, but makes it difficult to hear all but a few. But don't worry, he also gives us some novel and grotesque zombie deaths if you prefer to digest guts rather than brains. It's not what I expected, it'll take me another few watches to appreciate it fully I expect, and for that I salute George Romero.
* I stole this theory and take no credit for it.
The Night of the Living Dead competition is now closed, with 5 people receiving prizes of special edition DVD's. Shamble forth to receive your inedible prizes; Mathew Shepherd, Mark Woodland, Paul Glasswell, Ben Clark and David Dobbs.
Diary of the Dead is the fifth zombie movie from George Romero, following on from Night of the Living, Dawn, Day and Land of the Dead. None have been strict sequels, no characters follow on, though some themes permeate them all.
George Romero at last got a new lease of cinema life after being kept in limbo for many years by film industry halfwits. Now perhaps the people who have grown up with Romero as a legendary figure, now have power and influence of their own, Romero can at last make films*. He is a many who can say whatever he wants about the world, as long as he does it using the now respected artistic medium of zombies.
Land of the Dead had a muted reaction from those expecting another die hard classic, and I confess I was no different initially, though I've since grown to really appreciate the movie. For looking back, when has Romero ever delivered the expected with his zombie movies? There are some great things about Land of the Dead, the comment on gated communities and the clinging to capitalism and showing zombies to be just another downtrodden class too. A sympathetic lead role for a pro-active zombie is a real first. I never got that excited about the mobile weapon 'Dead Reckoning', but it was probably a really clever metaphor for something! Let's say it's the American Military machine for example and move swiftly on.
Diary of the Dead is a handheld documentary style movie examples of which include Blair Witch Project and the recent Cloverfield. In it a team of film students, making their own horror movie, learn that the dead are returning to life and begin a difficult journey trying to reach their loved ones. It's a zombie road trip movie all filmed by the participants. It starts off feeling a little forced, but definitely grows as a movie as the journey progresses.
In the film Romero comments on the breakdown and divisions of society, the truth and how it's manipulated, as well as the global phenomenon of modern communications which gives everyone a voice, but makes it difficult to hear all but a few. But don't worry, he also gives us some novel and grotesque zombie deaths if you prefer to digest guts rather than brains. It's not what I expected, it'll take me another few watches to appreciate it fully I expect, and for that I salute George Romero.
* I stole this theory and take no credit for it.
The Night of the Living Dead competition is now closed, with 5 people receiving prizes of special edition DVD's. Shamble forth to receive your inedible prizes; Mathew Shepherd, Mark Woodland, Paul Glasswell, Ben Clark and David Dobbs.
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posted by paulvonscott at 11:05 PM
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