Dawn Of The Dead
So let me get to Snyder's effort, and why spending hard-earned coin on it isn't worth the effort.
"Dawn Of The Dead", the remake, is a modestly-budgeted flick. The technical aspects of it are noteworthy without being impressive. The screenplay, which is based loosely on the original, as credited to James Gunn, is tolerable, and the overall production, with credit going to Richard P. Rubinstein, who produced the original, is acceptable.
But, as noted, all the elements that made the original a cult favorite, are missing: The living dead no longer lurch around. They learn quickly and show no signs of mental or intellectual deterioration. And the mall, once a centerpiece of the story itself, is now just a plot point.
This is not to suggest this movie does not deliver on the goods. It does that. That is, when it is expected to do so, often accompanied by gore and visual shock. But when it has opportunity to surprise the moviegoer it flinches and fails.
A word or two, now, on the characters: There is Ana (Sarah Polley), who meets a young girl in the neighborhood where she lives. As the girl glides away on her in-line skates we know something Bad is coming. It does. But before this happens we come to learn Ana has a boyfriend. Who, not surprisingly, is attacked and becomes One Of Them. Ana barely escapes with her life, and gains safety in the local shopping mall.
Where much of the action should take place, but doesn't, for reasons already presented.
I wanted to like this flick. Any time anyone is willing to take on remaking a cult film or movie I want to see, on the silver screen, their motivations for why they committed time and energy. Is it, I wonder, a matter of ego, or is there something else at work? In the case of "Dawn Of The Dead" the explanation, for me, was apparent: Money. And politics. Snyder was obviously offered a pile of cash to do this. Romero was offered a hefty sum to sell the remake rights. And everyone involved was paid for doing what will no doubt become a black mark on their records.
As to the politics? Oh, well. That's easy enough to explain: The horror film or movie historically has provoked hysterics and has caused politicians to posture and pontificate on why such entertainment should be banned. Of course the makers of horror films and
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