Universal Pictures
Written by James Gunn & Scott Frank
Directed by Zack Snyder
Starring Ving Rhames, Sarah Polley, Mekhi Phifer, Michael Barry, Lindy Booth, Jane Eastwood, Matt Frewer
“When there is no more room in Hell, the dead shall walk the Earth….”
Ah…..I love the smell of fresh zombies in the morning. I have been waiting for this remake for a very long time now, ever since I heard the first rumors of it after Night of the Living Dead was remade back in 1990. When Dawn of the Dead was released into theaters in March 2004, I did not see it because I am typically not one for the movie complexes anymore. Too many distractions, too many kids, too many brain dead parents bringing babies into rated R movies with them because they couldn’t find a babysitter and cannot accept that their lives have changed after having kids (but that’s a rant for another day, dear readers….). Hence, I resigned myself to wait ever so patiently for the DVD release. I was not disappointed.
Purists may decry this remake as lacking when compared to the original. Well, each “original” has its fanatical following. Don’t get me wrong; the original DOTD was great. George Romero’s sense of humor and style were at an all-time high when he made it. But let’s face the brutal facts, kiddies: times have a-changed. Our expectations of horror films have grown. We need more meat. DOTD version 2.0 delivers this in great abundance.
Looking for Oscar-caliber performances? Get real. This is a horror film in its natural beauty, reveling in puddles of blood and gore. This isn’t to say the actors don’t do a good job. It simply isn’t the focus (and if it is, I feel quite sad for you…..). This movie is not scary so much as it is intense. It moves quickly, not wasting time leading into too much character development, leaving that to occur over the course of the film as each character is introduced. The effects, while relatively simple overall, are effective. I am drawn at this moment to commending the special effects team for providing us with some of the most realistic kill scenes (there is a whole section in the Special Features that details how the team was able to come up with such great shots and effects of zombies being shot in the head, heads blowing apart, zombies and living alike getting plowed over by vehicles….you know, the expected standard ultra-violence….heh heh heh….). I have yet to explore all of the Special Features and I am looking forward to it.
Overall, DOTD v2.0 stays fairly close to the version 1.0, placing the main action/storyline inside of a local mall where survivors from the outlying area have gathered after the zombie infestation begins. I recall laughing quite a bit while watching version 1.0 – infused with visual commentary from Romero about America’s overwhelming gluttony of consumerism and commercialism (setting the movie in a mall because that is where the zombies recall being “happy”, watching zombies ride the escalators once they get in and tripping over themselves because, well, they’re dead, etc.). DOTD v2.0 does not attempt to be light-hearted. Be warned that there are some really intense scenes and some that may shock. But that’s the point. Enjoy the ride.
For horror aficionados, this is great movie, exhibiting all of the elements sought: intensity, nearly hopeless chase scenes, around the corner “boo!” scenes, and enough blood and guts to keep everyone happy. I give Dawn of the Dead two devil horns, way up. Check it out. If you dare (insert Sean’s trademarked “Evil Laugh” right...about....here)……….
Everyone who knows me knows how much Duran Duran has been apart of my life for the last 22 years. I am a real fan, one that has stuck by them through line-up changes and incredibly horrible albums. Astronaut is the album long time fans have been dreaming of as it marks the reunion of the orginal "Fab Five" is it what I've been waiting for? Not exactly..
Astronaut is their strongest album since the 1980's and is far more consistent than their last "hit" record "The Wedding Album" released in 1993. But it sounds like an album made by a band that needed to guarantee it was ready for mass consumption by baby boomers than it does an album made by a band ready to re-explore their roots and see how they can update them for a new era. Here's the rundown,
1. (Reach Up For the) Sunrise - This is Duran Duran at their worst and best. It has a soaring chorus that you can't stop from singing and Simon's knack for simplifying a message into terms even a child can understand. But it sounds like it was written from a formula. The breakdown has John's Taylor's classic bass up against Roger Taylor's roto-tom fills just like "Girls On Film" or "Careless Memories" only the rest of the song has no edge at all.
2. Want You More! - This is more like it. Nick's signature synth noodling launches the band in to what it does best. This song is paranoia and sex mixed with drive and energy. Great pop songs are always more than they appear.
3. What Happens Tomorrow - Ever since "Ordinary World" was such a huge success every album since has had a song that retreads it's grandness and thoughtful lyrics. It's an extremely well written song, but it's also generic.
4. Astronaut - Like "Want You More" this song has that energy Duran is known for. It feautres Andy's amazing knack for playing rock and funk guitar simultaneously. Simon likes sex and he likes to sing about it and I like it all the more when he does.
5. Bedroom Toys - This album lyrics show that Simon has only two things on his mind. The state of the world and sex. I far prefer it when he sticks to sex. This song is slinky and fun and shows that Simon's lyrics are much more palatable when he sticks to sex.
6. Nice - Vocoder, Rock Guitar, stacked up vocals.. Early on in a magazine interview Simon said that the album sounded like Kraftwerk meets the Mamas and the Papas. This must have been the song they were working on.
7. Taste the Summer - the worst .. This song speaks to what I think is one of the biggest problem with this album. Overall most of Nick synth work is stuck in early 90's techno. He's stuck filling in the space with pads and filler or he's programming in filter sweeps. This album would have been far better if he had updated his use of arpeggiations and rhythmic jabs. More than anything it's his work that seems to leave this album in the middle of the road. The melody of this song sounds like something from Liberty. ugh At this point the album heads of into a slow slumber.
8. Finest Hour - Like "Taste of Summer" this song owes a lot to melody lines Simon has already written and sung on other albums. and Nick manages to play one staccato note through just about the entire song like a telegraph beacon.
9. Chains - by this point you start to feel sleepy. I don't think people are interested in one slow song after another.
10. One Of Those Days - Before the boredom sets in they attempt to pick it back up again. But fail. When Duran is in doubt they go back to the Beatles. It's middle of the road.
11. Point of No Return - The CD started off with such energy but slowly it all fades away. All the songs start sounding the same and do we really need Duran Duran giving us a song about the world post 9/11? They've gone from talking about girls and sex to talking about lessons to be learned. The biggest problem with that is that Simon still says Duran Duran is for people who want to have a good time and escape.
12. Still Breathing - am I? it's hard to tell because I've fallen asleep.
Overall the album has some great melody and hooky choruses. But over half of the album is filled with same sounding, middle of the road, sleep inducing, slop. If these 12 are honestly the best of the reported 35 songs they wrote they are in big trouble. They need to look to their past and listen to those who have stuck with them. Their early albums typically had no more than 2 mid-tempo or ballad like songs. They use to purposely avoid them in favour of songs that would play better in clubs or live. If they had stuck with the types of songs that fill the first half of the album they could have possibly released their best album since RIO.