Dawn of the Dead (1978) - OUT OF PRINT

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Giant Machine

For the record, the Dawn of the Dead remake is straight up garbage, in my book.

Personally I quite like it. It's not as good as the original film but it's not terrible imo.

[Ruemorgue10]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

The main problem I have with that film is that it's overloaded with characters and therefore has little time to develop them or their stories.

My biggest issue with it as well. The original only had four principal characters but each of their roles and personalities were well established. It also helped they were all very likable which made it heart wrenching when

[Show spoiler] some of the them die

. The remake has too many throwaway characters who only serve the purpose of being killed off.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

It's still Zach Snyder's best movie!!

I wouldn't quite go that far and say it's Zach Snyder's only not completely horrible movie !

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

It might have some rather eyerollingly EXTREME bits in it, particularly the unbelievably terrible post-ending ending, but I was a bit impressed by how far it was willing to go at times with other aspects. Particularly the

[Show spoiler]baby.

I saw it in the theater and was very surprised by how potent it was. It's nowhere near as good as the original, but it's not even trying to play in the same ballpark, which I appreciate. It's not one of those garbagey remakes that copies the original almost exactly while adding extra gore and jump scares. There are too many characters and most of them suck, but some scenes are quite good and the general tone works well. I like the opening and the celebrity sniping scenes in particular. Sarah Polley is wasted, but still a good person to more-or-less base the movie around. And yes, it most definitely doesn't feel like a TV movie.

It's still Zach Snyder's best movie!!

Agreed on all counts. It's not the original but it doesn't try to be, and it does what it does with Snyder's usual aplomb.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

It might have some rather eyerollingly EXTREME bits in it, particularly the unbelievably terrible post-ending ending, but I was a bit impressed by how far it was willing to go at times with other aspects. Particularly the

[Show spoiler]baby.

I saw it in the theater and was very surprised by how potent it was. It's nowhere near as good as the original, but it's not even trying to play in the same ballpark, which I appreciate. It's not one of those garbagey remakes that copies the original almost exactly while adding extra gore and jump scares. There are too many characters and most of them suck, but some scenes are quite good and the general tone works well. I like the opening and the celebrity sniping scenes in particular. Sarah Polley is wasted, but still a good person to more-or-less base the movie around. And yes, it most definitely doesn't feel like a TV movie.

It's still Zach Snyder's best movie!!

The girl and the dog is the scene that annoys me. It's the typical bonehead thing you see bimbo's do in horror movies.

Yes, the characters aren't full developed, but it's an action/horror movie. It wasn't trying to be the horror film of the decade. It tried to be a fun movie and that's just what it is.

[darkness2918]

TBH I don't like the original Night of the Living Dead at all (or the remake for that matter after watching it again). Also don't care for the original Dawn of the Dead. Of Romero's original Dead trilogy the only one I really like is Day of the Dead. I tried rewatching Dawn (78) a few months back & struggled to finish it. The remake to Dawn I did enjoy however.

[Markgway]

Dawn 78 >> Night 90 >> Night 68 >> Dawn 04

[starman15317]

I liked the remake of DOTD (though I do understand why others would hate it), but NOTLD '90 is garbage IMO.

[rocknblues81]

Opinions really are varying in this thread.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

TBH I don't like the original Night of the Living Dead at all (or the remake for that matter after watching it again). Also don't care for the original Dawn of the Dead. Of Romero's original Dead trilogy the only one I really like is Day of the Dead. I tried rewatching Dawn (78) a few months back & struggled to finish it. The remake to Dawn I did enjoy however.

Day is probably the one I hate the most. Way too much talking and very little action.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Agreed on all counts. It's not the original but it doesn't try to be, and it does what it does with Snyder's usual aplomb.

Yeah. I would take the original over it, but as a very different kind of film it's a winner too. Honestly the best way to do a remake in my opinion is to make it different and make it your own. You should only tackle a remake if you have a different take on the material. That is what Snyder did both with Dawn of the Dead and Superman, and I was happy with both for being different and interesting on their own.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by prkchopexpress

i also completely do not understand this idea that is more prevalent is that people will always say something newer is better than older for no real reason that it is newer.

Ignoring the rest of your post's "YOU ARE WRONG" stuff as good-natured passion, this line stands out as a WTF line. I said the opposite in the post your replying to, my preference for the remake has nothing to do with age. I would say overall I tend to like older versions of movies, but this is an exception. My issues with it are in writing, performance and direction. It feels like the amateur movie it was when I watch it. Unlike many others, I can't see past that when I watch it.

I can respect what an important movie it was at the time but still not really love it, just like with Gone With the Wind or Avatar. Your post makes a huge deal of what an important movie NotLD was, and I totally agree, but that doesn't make it enjoyable for everyone. I got my wife to sit down and watch Wrath of Khan finally a few weeks ago, telling her what an important and classic film it is, and she thought it was boring as shit. Is she some kind of idiot? Mentally handicapped in some way? No, she just has different taste and priorities than me and a ton of others do. I'm really big on visual imagery, music mixed well with that imagery, and a snappy, well-written script. Those are my cinematic priorities that color every movie I love. NotLD does not excel in those areas for me.

[Bladerunner5375]

Wow. I don't get the hate and vitriol for the 90 NOTLD remake. I'm a big Romero/Zombie fan, and I truly love the original, but I REALLY dig the 1990 version. But, to each his own. I once brought the DVD of the 1990 version into work to show it to my co-workers(most of whom were at least 10 years younger than I) and they HATED it! They LAUGHED at it! LOL. I didn't understand why they trashed it, but whatever.

I guess everyone has their opinions, right? For example, I thought "DIARY OF THE DEAD" was Romero's BEST since Dawn(for the record, I'm not a big DAY fan, although I appreciate the film), but many friends of mine thought it was dog feces. Bottom line, I don't see the sense in lashing out at someone for his opinion, but it's perfectly fine to disagree with said opinion.

BTW, if they could've filmed WORLD WAR Z exactly the way it was written in the book, that would've been HANDS DOWN the BEST Zombie flick EVER IMO.

[wesslan]

Seems like Koch (german label) is showing this on festivals in a brand new 4K transfer with Dario Argento involved among others. Maybe a new blu-ray from Koch soon...

[Marv Inc.]

Only Argentos cut so far though.

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/184...miere-details/

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by Bladerunner5375

Wow. I don't get the hate and vitriol for the 90 NOTLD remake. I'm a big Romero/Zombie fan, and I truly love the original, but I REALLY dig the 1990 version. But, to each his own. I once brought the DVD of the 1990 version into work to show it to my co-workers(most of whom were at least 10 years younger than I) and they HATED it! They LAUGHED at it! LOL. I didn't understand why they trashed it, but whatever..

I don't hate it and I don't think most people do. I'd give it a 6.5/10 or so. It's perfectly watchable... Just not as good as the original.

[HonestJohn]

Originally Posted by Giant Machine

For the record, the Dawn of the Dead remake is straight up garbage, in my book.

For the record I love them both for different reasons. Although I tend to watch Dawn '78 a lot more than '04. Different strokes ....
.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Ignoring the rest of your post's "YOU ARE WRONG" stuff as good-natured passion, this line stands out as a WTF line. I said the opposite in the post your replying to, my preference for the remake has nothing to do with age. I would say overall I tend to like older versions of movies, but this is an exception. My issues with it are in writing, performance and direction. It feels like the amateur movie it was when I watch it. Unlike many others, I can't see past that when I watch it.

Maybe he was thinking of this!

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Agree with all this a lot. People rage when I say this but most people are a product of their generation and their tastes reflect that. I definitely like a good number of pre-70's movies, but in general I prefer the style of 70's and up because I am an 80's kid and that's just more in my wheelhouse. The original NOTLD was a seminal movie and has a lot to admire, but watching it for the first time in the 90's, as a teen who had seen many other zombie movies before that, it was far from amazing. The amateur acting and sort of pre-"New Hollywood" style is just not my thing, same for a ton of other pre-70's films.

So, that wasn't "no real reason," it was "because you grew up then."

He didn't quote you and I thought only his first line was actually directed at that particular post he followed up on.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

But you know what? I don't need to have every one of my zombie movies say something profoundly important.

I think all movies should have something to say... it can be profound, it can be simple, it can be honest... but it should be about something. Just "hey lookit dis!" don't cut it for an hour and a half for me.

Besides, horror movies, and horror short stories and novels, have always been parables commenting on something real. It's the same about sci-fi. If you don't have anything to say, don't say anything at all.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

So, that wasn't "no real reason," it was "because you grew up then."

He didn't quote you and I thought only his first line was actually directed at that particular post he followed up on.

Too lazy to re-read it all, but I like plenty of pre-70's movies, especially from the 60's. I just tend to prefer 70's through the early 90's. Also I like NotLD, I just don't love it and prefer the remake.