The product combines the REMAKE of Dawn of the Dead with the Romero ORIGINAL Land of the Dead. Chances are, you love one and hate the other. Add the fact that you can buy (the same versions of) both movies for less, and there is no good reason for this product to exist--other than to trick people.For example, the video preview on the product page (as I write) is of the original Dawn of the Dead, which is NOT a part of this set. It's disgusting deceptive marketing. The producers of this product must believe their customers are brain dead!
If you don't read the package carefully and know which versions you are getting, you will be disappointed. The movies individually would rate more stars, but the set should receive less than zero stars. In fact, if you're a purist, you'll recognize that this set represents what Romero was mocking in the original Dawn of the Dead!
Don't soil your shoes by stepping in this thick irony.
Dawn of the Dead finds Sarah Polley as the lead character,playing a nurse who comes home from a hard day at the hospital.The next morning the world has turned upside down as many of the populace have become walking zombies and she must flee for her life.She ends up in an accident in transit but meets up with policeman Ving Rhames.Together they follow some other folks to the local mall.They are only safe for a little while on the main floor and eventually are forced to make their way up to the second level.There some security guards have already taken control,and it takes some time for them to acquiesce to let them in.Once in they go about making their surroundings more secure and even allow the entry of a truck load of survivors from the outside.
Eventually they formulate a plan to cross the city to a marina and commandeer one of the occupants boats to sail to an island offshore.Things do not go smoothly(do they ever?)as they have to stalk up on ammunition,which sits in a gun shop across from the mall.The owner of the shop has been on the roof and in contact with them since almost the beginning.He however has gotten very hungry.To alleviate his discomfort they send a dog with food in packs over to the store.The owner lets the dog in through a small opening but neglects to secure it.The zombies follow in and take care of him.One of the survivors takes a truck and goes over to rescue her dog but gets trapped herself.It is now up to the group to rescue her,which they do.They stock up on their ammo and leave in two large mall buses,maxed out with heavy reinforced siding and other steel product.Alot of ups and downs for the group later,they finally arrive at the marina and leave on the boat.The end credits show us that their journey and arrival to the island is not as idyllic a happy ending as any of them would have wanted.
This film has quite the plot gaps throughout and one must assume and/or accept certain situations in situ,sometimes too much.For instance,among the group there is a couple,and the woman is pregnant.Most the way through she is fine but suddenly somewhere along the line she has been turned into a zombie;with no explanation as to the how and why of her turning,as no zombies ever reached the 2nd level.In another scene,one of the buses transporting part of the group to the marina,overturns.During that time one of the passengers is brandishing a chain saw which is on.As the bus flips we see him cutting into a woman,and presumably killing her.When we next see him he is dead also.Did the saw kill him too or was it just the bus flip? However it happened,it seemed like a very contrived way of disposing of two characters.On top of all this,one must explain how in the world the group trapped in the mall managed to come up with all of the equipment and armour they attached to those mall buses.AND with razor wire to boot!!? What mall sells that kind of hardware and razor wire? The plot is,speaking of wire,razor thin.The film just never seems to find its Zen and pull us into its realm to any great length.However it was nice to see Canadian actors Matt Frewer and Jayne Eastwood,a pair I hadn't seen for quite some time.Only 2 1/2 to maybe three stars,at best.
Land of the Dead has at the helm the zombie meister himself,legendary George Romero.This plot finds a city at siege with zombies(surprise).One Mr Kaufmann,played by Dennis Hopper,lives in a city high rise and has surrounded a certain area outside the tower with fencing/barricades to keep the zombies at bay and out.Only the elite,ie.those with power and money,get to reside IN the tower,called Fiddlers Green.The rest of the rabble live outside the tower and inside the barricades.One Riley Denbo,played by Simon Baker,works for Kaufmann and heads up a special group that drives the heavily armoured Dead Reckoning,which keeps the surviving citizenry safe,fed and with medical supplies as needed.However the zombies in this film have gotten smart and one in particular,a gas attendant,teaches and leads the hordes to not only fight back,but leads an armed rebellion and siege on the city and the tower.
In the meantime Denbo's second in command,Cholo,played by John Leguizamo,has decided its time to retire and asks Kaufmann not only for his back pay but a suite in the tower.When Kaufmann rejects his requests Cholo highjacks the Dead Reckoing and intends to level the tower if he isn't paid his money.Kaufmann directs Denbo to recover the vehicle,but the zombies by this time have reached the city limits and are storming the tower.By the time Denbo finally gets the truck in hand the zombies have entered the tower and are in the process of getting to and killing Kaufmann.Denbo rushes back and while it is too late for his old boss,he has saved the lives of a good many friends and assorted citizenry.The zombies,job done,leave the city to the living.Denbo and the surviving group head north to Canada.
This film,along with having the Romero"touch" has alot better actors/acting going for it than the other film in this set along with a more compelling plot.The plot here is given a nice twist with the zombies getting "educated".There are also a few funny/campy moments,such as a shot of three lone zombie musicians in a gazebo,still holding their instruments,and in fact one still blowing his tuba!Another where patrons get to take pictures with two tied up zombies.And watch closely at those two zombies,as they are none other than Simon Pegg and his Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright!! It seems George Romero so liked Pegg's movie he invited them both over to Toronto to have a cameo role in his!With Romero at the helm this movie couldn't miss and though not perfect,I rate it around the 3 1/2-4 star mark.
Technically speaking both films are in a w/s a/r of 2:35:1,and both are clear and crisp.The list of extras on each disc is too long to even begin to list.Both contain featurettes on their making,special effects,deleted scenes,director commentaries,etc,etc.In other words enough to please the most discriminating of fans.
In conclusion while Dawn of the Dead I found a bit slow and which never hit its mark,and saddled with a dodgy plot,I found Land of the Dead to be much better and more highly engaging and with a better cast of actors.The price is a good one for both.Recommended.... but just.
Buy Dawn of the Dead / George A. Romero's Land of the Dead Double Feature (2004) Now
i got both of these movies at a great price it was a no brainer! i had wanted them for a year since my ex took them on the split.....I had put off buying both the remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD and Romero's LAND OF THE DEAD because I'd already seen them and figured I could wait. Well, this double-feature was impossible to pass up! Both movies are great, uncut, and complete w/ extras! I love the original DAWN, but the remake is so completely different and exhilerating that I had to have it! LAND is the lesser of Romero'a DEAD films, yet it still has that classic feel. Highly recommended...Want Dawn of the Dead / George A. Romero's Land of the Dead Double Feature (2004) Discount?
These two movies were really good, especially Land Of The Dead. These would make a great addition to your collection.Save 25% Off
No comments:
Post a Comment