Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead (Netflix's zombie heist movie)

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

My main complaint? The plentiful blurry shots of a short focus point were overused, resulting in way too many blurry shots of things or character in the background. It was a bit distracting IMO. I get that it's stylized, but it was taking away too much visual interest for things I wanted to see. I'm not kidding, literally every few shots were filmed to focus on nothing with blurry focus, or one character and everything else blurred completely out.

Man, I really love that narrow focus aesthetic. I think that's why even the titles are spaced so far apart, leaving the middle empty. I think it's Snyder saying that the enormity of the film is fun and all, but really focus on what Scott is going through internally and his attempt at repairing his relationship with his daughter and trying to create a future for himself with both of them in it.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

oh it was never disturbing, but you know the MPA has come a long way when you look at say Tom Savini's remake of 'Night of the Living Dead' and the little bits of gore that didn't sit well with the MPAA then and think, that could easily have got an R without any cuts, "now".

Take out the nudity and the F13 films would barely be TV-MA these days.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I noticed that too, and it did somewhat distract like it was a theatre projector flaw, but thankfully that effect wasn't used too much.

Thanks. Yeah, they got the focus right during action scenes thankfully. Cool you got to see it also Dubstar.



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Cinemark still required masks, which was no problem. When you're eating, you can take your mask off (or it'd be tough to eat). Once it's off, I keep it off as there's no one nearby anyway. Until you leave.

There was a small crowd but it was still early in the day. Later at night it'll pick up with patrons.

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Take out the nudity and the F13 films would barely be TV-MA these days.

Walking Dead covers this kind of gore often, that's true. The goriest here is the tiger scene with its play toy

[Show spoiler]being torn apart

. That was very gory at the end there but nicely done.

But yeah, surprisingly no Romero style zombies tearing people's innards apart scenes.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Thanks. Yeah, they got the focus right during action scenes thankfully. Cool you got to see it also Dubstar.



---------
Cinemark still required masks, which was no problem. When you're eating, you can take your mask off (or it'd be tough to eat). Once it's off, I keep it off as there's no one nearby anyway. Until you leave.

There was a small crowd but it was still early in the day. Later at night it'll pick up with patrons.



Walking Dead covers this kind of gore often, that's true. The goriest here is the tiger scene with its play toy

[Show spoiler]being torn apart

. That was very gory at the end there but nicely done.

But yeah, surprisingly no Romero style zombies tearing people's innards apart scenes.

that was a great premise

[Show spoiler]that the "leader' made his minions turn folk into his army, thus not tearing/eating them. The idea and notion of hibernating zombies was also 'new' and interesting

Walking Dead maybe gory, but I think and find 'American Horror Story' series taking it's blend of violence/gore/sex to wonderful extremes, that the MPA would balk at.

[Zivouhr]

The victim got their arms bit and then the zombie shamblers dived in on the body, but then the camera zoomed out as to not show the aftermath, but they were most certainly tearing the victim apart.

But yeah, the super powered zombie freakers (like from Days Gone) didn't eat at all really. Just bit to infect.

I'm going to rewatch Resident Evil 3 Extinction, also set in a "Vegas" like setting with Milla. This was a better film IMO but I'll have to watch RE3 again as it's been a long time.

[Show spoiler]

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) Official Trailer 1 - Milla Jovovich Movie - YouTube

[slumcat]

Now not to put too much thought into what is supposed to be a dumb action movie - but if the film is based in the present day -

there is absolutely no way the US army couldn't exterminate the zombies VERY easily. There are so many drones and tools and other kinds of weapons available that it would be very easy to for the US army - the mightiest army in mankind's history - with the best tech available - to very easily, from the air, kill each and every single zombie.

So why is there a quarantine again?

And if they had to be nuked, why weren't they nuked earlier?

And Grace pointed this out - if it is literally the owner of the safe telling you to fetch the money from his safe for him on his orders - why wouldn't he give you the combination. Why would you need a safecracker in the first place?

Also there is no way the zombie outbreak remains contained within Vegas. It would 100% spread outside. There are animals and stuff infected.

Also the zombies are smart right? Why didn't they try to escape? The wall isn't even too high. They could easily have make shift ladders, or climb on top of each other to get to the top.

[MisterPilgrim]

Had a great time at the theater. Movie was a ton of fun. Performances were good, the action was punchy, and I really liked the sound effects. The gunshots were super loud and made the action very intense.

The narrative trajectory was fairly predictable, but I felt there were a few surprises along the way.

[Show spoiler]I wasn't expecting Cruz to get offed so quickly after revealing that she and Bautista wanted to be a thing.

I agree that the film could have shaved 10 - 15 minutes off, and it would have made for a brisker experience, but I appreciate Snyder trying to make an operatic zombie movie. I really enjoyed Junkie XL's score. Really went for that epic and dramatic feel, which I found very unique in what is essentially a wacky zombie action hybrid.

The effects on Tig were quite seamless. There was maybe one or two shots where I could tell she was composited on, but others were flawless.

Overall, this was a blast. Looking forward to seeing this again when it's on Netflix, and I would like to see the prequel projects.

4/5

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by MisterPilgrim

Overall, this was a blast. Looking forward to seeing this again when it's on Netflix, and I would like to see the prequel projects.

Yeah, I really want to see more of the innerworkings of the Zombie hierarchy and world created there.

Also, props to Richard Cetrone for putting in a hell of a performance under those prosthetics as Zeus.

[El Rey]

I saw this in Dolby Atmos a little while ago. While I didn't dislike it, it felt generic. A couple new elements and cool scenes but overall kind of meh.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Just returned from theaters. Basically...



My favorite zombie film is Return of the Living Dead. My second is Army of the Dead. This whole thing is just an enormous roller coaster, similar to ZSJL. It's just so big and full of wonderfully realized concepts and ideas and always feels fresh and exciting, as if Snyder had a board full of ideas and threw a dozen darts at it and melded them all into this big beautiful epic, painting in big loud broad strokes without forgetting the fine details. Snyder's narrow focus cinematography blows up on the big screen beautifully - a stunning film that continuously feels kinetic and frenetic, but clear.

[Show spoiler]The gore and makeup and combination of practical and digital is unparalleled. There's one moment where a zombie is just absolutely decimated by high caliber rounds and it was so obviously a dummy and it looked like something Savini would have made in the 80's. The breeds of zombies are works of art.

And god damn it, Snyder created this entire hierarchy of zombies that just works so well. Like, I don't think I've ever seen this before, but seeing a zombie cry at losing his unborn son was just...like...f*** that was effective.

Snyder continues his trend of like...being completely untouchable with opening credits sequences. Jesus. Goosebumps as it crescendos seeing Scott and Geeta lose their partners as Vegas is sealed up.

The Cranberries. GAWD!

And the whole through line of Scott and Kate and it's so clear seeing Snyder work through his grief losing Autumn. Scott continually makes the wrong choices and doesn't let all of the pain, losing Kate in the process. That final scene with them is just so intimate and touching and heartfelt, as Snyder gives Scott a moment to reconcile their relationship and his faults before passing. It just feels like Snyder saying to Autumn that he would have rather gone and she lived. It's hard to put that into words right now, but man that hit me hard. And that's the last f***ing thing I expected in my zombie heist film.

Absolutely nailed that last part. That’s my BIG takeaway from this film. In effect, this is Snyder’s most personal film to date. And it’s not even close.

[samlop10]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Just returned from theaters. Basically...

[Show spoiler]

My favorite zombie film is Return of the Living Dead. My second is Army of the Dead. This whole thing is just an enormous roller coaster, similar to ZSJL. It's just so big and full of wonderfully realized concepts and ideas and always feels fresh and exciting, as if Snyder had a board full of ideas and threw a dozen darts at it and melded them all into this big beautiful epic, painting in big loud broad strokes without forgetting the fine details. Snyder's narrow focus cinematography blows up on the big screen beautifully - a stunning film that continuously feels kinetic and frenetic, but clear.

[Show spoiler]The gore and makeup and combination of practical and digital is unparalleled. There's one moment where a zombie is just absolutely decimated by high caliber rounds and it was so obviously a dummy and it looked like something Savini would have made in the 80's. The breeds of zombies are works of art.

And god damn it, Snyder created this entire hierarchy of zombies that just works so well. Like, I don't think I've ever seen this before, but seeing a zombie cry at losing his unborn son was just...like...f*** that was effective.

Snyder continues his trend of like...being completely untouchable with opening credits sequences. Jesus. Goosebumps as it crescendos seeing Scott and Geeta lose their partners as Vegas is sealed up.

The Cranberries. GAWD!

And the whole through line of Scott and Kate and it's so clear seeing Snyder work through his grief losing Autumn. Scott continually makes the wrong choices and doesn't let all of the pain, losing Kate in the process. That final scene with them is just so intimate and touching and heartfelt, as Snyder gives Scott a moment to reconcile their relationship and his faults before passing. It just feels like Snyder saying to Autumn that he would have rather gone and she lived. It's hard to put that into words right now, but man that hit me hard. And that's the last f***ing thing I expected in my zombie heist film.

Also agree with the last part.

[Show spoiler]It definitely reminded me of the tragedy of his daughter.

I enjoyed the whole film as a whole, even if it’s not perfect. But it’ll probably end up being one of my favorite zombie films anyway. And yes, I wasn’t expecting that finale to be as emotional as it was. It definitely felt very personal on Zack’s part, especially given how involved he was in various aspects of the production, not just the directing. That ending can’t be a coincidence.

[mastadge]

Originally Posted by slumcat

Now not to put too much thought into what is supposed to be a dumb action movie

I mean, there is an astonishing amount of movies that don't hold up to close scrutiny -- where the central conflict could be easily resolved with a different approach (or, in comedies, by two characters simply having a conversation). Gotta be willing to suspend disbelief if you want the mayhem.

[1blufan]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

$700k on 600 screens is pretty damn good really and the biggest opening for a Netflix film by far. Roma only did $200k.

Top Gun is making 200k+ on 153 screens this weekend.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by 1blufan

Top Gun is making 200k+ on 153 screens this weekend.

At IMAX and Dolby premium prices. My showing of AOTD was $6 a ticket. Tickets for IMAX are usually at least $12 or more.

[mikesncc1701]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

At IMAX and Dolby premium prices. My showing of AOTD was $6 a ticket. Tickets for IMAX are usually at least $12 or more.

Also, it's freakin' Top Gun. It's a pop culture milestone. Once again it's quite an unfair comparison. People work way too hard to discredit something these days.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by slumcat

Now not to put too much thought into what is supposed to be a dumb action movie - but if the film is based in the present day -

there is absolutely no way the US army couldn't exterminate the zombies VERY easily. There are so many drones and tools and other kinds of weapons available that it would be very easy to for the US army - the mightiest army in mankind's history - with the best tech available - to very easily, from the air, kill each and every single zombie.

So why is there a quarantine again?

And if they had to be nuked, why weren't they nuked earlier?

And Grace pointed this out - if it is literally the owner of the safe telling you to fetch the money from his safe for him on his orders - why wouldn't he give you the combination. Why would you need a safecracker in the first place?

Also there is no way the zombie outbreak remains contained within Vegas. It would 100% spread outside. There are animals and stuff infected.

Also the zombies are smart right? Why didn't they try to escape? The wall isn't even too high. They could easily have make shift ladders, or climb on top of each other to get to the top.

I watched Grace's review and how would the owner know what the combination would be? How many CEO's know the combination or passwords to systems that they may have or have not invented? That stuff is delegated to other people. Also, the point of the film, we find out later, is not for the money --

[Show spoiler] it's for the recovery of the zombie head.

The money is a red herring for the most part.


Are we going to nitpick the crap of another ZS film here? It's getting old. There's a prequel (Army of Thieves) and animated series (Lost Vegas) that will fill in the gaps. Shoulda woulda coulda, then the film would be only 5 minutes long. Where's the fun in that?

[cheez avenger]

I saw this last night at my iPic Theater and it was a wild ride indeed. I don't know what system they have but it looked and sounded great. For a 2.5 hour film, it was a perfectly paced. The action, gore, and thrills were top notch. Can't wait to watch it again Friday night on Netflix in 4K DV and Atmos.

Did anyone stay for the end credits - I heard there's a scene after. I did not stay, so don't know what it is. Can someone post it in spoilers for me? Thanks.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Are we going to nitpick the crap of another ZS film here? It's getting old. There's a prequel (Army of Thieves) and animated series (Lost Vegas) that will fill in the gaps. Shoulda woulda coulda, then the film would be only 5 minutes long. Where's the fun in that?

Why would this movie be any different than any other movie talked about on this site?

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by mwynn

Why would this movie be any different than any other movie talked about on this site?

Well, maybe if they were valid criticisms. When they're wrapped in chest-pumping hubris, it's not. Although the bit about slumcat's post about the "mightiest force of all mankind's military" did make me chuckle. How did Vietnam and the Middle East "skirmishes" workout for us? At least here in context, the zombies would have had a plan. People seem to forget that this is part of a franchise. There's another film and an animated series on the way that will expand on the world of AOTD.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Did anyone stay for the end credits - I heard there's a scene after. I did not stay, so don't know what it is. Can someone post it in spoilers for me? Thanks.

There's no post-credits scene(s) according to multiple online sources.