Telcom34
11-May-2007, 08:54 PM
I just finished watching Deadlands and was glad to find a forum to write a review and compare mine to the others. I like horror movies like this that are done for fun instead of trying to bring in box office bucks. I read some other reviews, including the most recent ones. I agree with sirjack that it started out very slow, but picked up somewhat in the second half. The story wasn't bad with the different side stories, which was a good idea. There were some good action scenes and scary moments with the attacks. I disagree with him about the music. It's raw and edgy that a horror film should have, although it was a bit grating with the screeching noises within it. If I'm right about this being Dj's first ever movie, it really wasn't too shabby. If the story moved along faster, better dialog and more money to work with, it would have turned out much better.
Mutineer is right about the varied plots in the movie. I like not being stuck with only one or two people or places as if nothing else is going on out there during a zombie attack. Dj wanted to give a feel for what it would be like right after an outbreak started, so a traffic jam would make sense. Kind of like Independence Day when Jeff Goldblum is riding back with his dad into town with all the traffic going one way. Right again about the slow pacing and too much driving around, shooting bottles, etc., but it did give me a feel for being in the car with them and being their third musketeer along for the ride. Having them "disappear" for a short time was actually good to anticipate what their situation was.
The acting was very uneven. I agree that most of the cast were not actors, but friends or neighbors who worked on the cheap. The mom did a nice job with her role and I worried for her and her son's safety. I think she gave a realistic representation of an American mom trying to protect her family. Her part was very well done as a central character in the story. However, I definitely disagree with mutineer not liking the closet guy. Was it a bathroom? I thought it was some kind of utility closet. Anyway, he was easily the best performer in the whole movie. He seemed like the only pro in the bunch. Too bad the others didn't help him out much. I also felt sorry for his character that nobody would listen to his warnings of incoming destruction and I was very relieved he made it out in one piece. I like his no-nonsense approach telling the people to shut up and listen if they want to live. Very strong and convincing performance. Why didn't he have a bigger role, and what happened to him after he left the building? Mutineer contradicted himself saying he liked the closet guy because of his enthusiasm and brought out a sense of compassion, but then goes on to say he wasn't a good actor. Huh? If he wasn't a good actor, a viewer would not have liked him or felt any emotions from him or for him. I took drama courses in college, and one of the most important responsibilities for an actor is to convey emotions and have the audience feel those emotions as well while going along for the ride as if they are in the story too. If he wasn't a good actor, you would never have cared about him, felt any enthusiasm (or any emotions) or liked him at all. The fact he elicited feelings and had you rooting for him proves he was a very good actor. Some of the older reviews agree with my assessment, so I know I'm not alone there.
Same idea with the mom. Her fear showed and her priority to protect her son was done well. I also like that Dj didn't get some unrealistic model to play the part. Having Cindy Crawford play the mom would have looked silly. People need to see people they can actually relate to themselves which increases their enjoyment of a movie, although not too many have a stomach like the closet guy does. Guess he got in such good shape from running away from all those zombies? By the way, there are many excellent actors who don't belong to the unions and many who are AFTRA/SAG that aren't any good. Just turn on the TV and you'll find many who shouldn't be there. So the view that none of the cast could "pull it off" is very untrue, but every opinion is different and should be shared. I'm a little surprised Dj agreed with most of the negatives and didn't really defend his crew people or cast in the latest review. In my view, the mom and closet guy saved the film. Good thing when considering the guardsmen and Homeland Security guy. They were not at all convincing, and it was kind of embarrassing to watch. Nothing personal against them, since I'm sure they did the best they could.
The two leads did a pretty decent job too. Their friendship came through as they stuck together watching each others backs. The living room scene was kind of weak, but the traffic jam shootout was better. I got a good sense of them being on the run (looking at the map) and doing what they could to avoid getting infected. The picnic bench scene was also good. I felt the doubt of the bald guy not knowing who else is out there and how long they can find supplies, and the optimism of his friend that they will survive somehow. Good writing there to have a balance between them.
I disagree the script was "a complete mess". Although the dialog could have had more substance and depth, it still got the point across as to what was happening and how people felt. The multiple plots were nice and the traffic attack was very well done. The woman's neck getting ripped open almost made me queasy it looked so real. The intestines looked nasty too, so Dj got his money's worth from the makeup people. The camera work was pretty smooth and on target. Some shots did look like they were taken by different cameras, with some clearer and some grainier, but wasn't a big deal. I didn't really like the slow motion approach at the shelter of the zombies. There is too much of that in movies these days, and I prefer a straight forward attack from zombie to victim without delay. Slowing it down kind of kills the moment.
If this was some multi million dollar movie, I would be much more negative with my comments, but taking into account this was a first try for many with little money, it turned out fairly well. Viewers just need to have the mindset at the beginning this isn't a big budget film with a new director. I hope Dj tries again and brings back the mom and closet guy with a more professional writer and cast with a bigger budget. That would make a big difference in quality and enjoyment. Thanks for a good movie and giving me a chance to write my review.
Mutineer is right about the varied plots in the movie. I like not being stuck with only one or two people or places as if nothing else is going on out there during a zombie attack. Dj wanted to give a feel for what it would be like right after an outbreak started, so a traffic jam would make sense. Kind of like Independence Day when Jeff Goldblum is riding back with his dad into town with all the traffic going one way. Right again about the slow pacing and too much driving around, shooting bottles, etc., but it did give me a feel for being in the car with them and being their third musketeer along for the ride. Having them "disappear" for a short time was actually good to anticipate what their situation was.
The acting was very uneven. I agree that most of the cast were not actors, but friends or neighbors who worked on the cheap. The mom did a nice job with her role and I worried for her and her son's safety. I think she gave a realistic representation of an American mom trying to protect her family. Her part was very well done as a central character in the story. However, I definitely disagree with mutineer not liking the closet guy. Was it a bathroom? I thought it was some kind of utility closet. Anyway, he was easily the best performer in the whole movie. He seemed like the only pro in the bunch. Too bad the others didn't help him out much. I also felt sorry for his character that nobody would listen to his warnings of incoming destruction and I was very relieved he made it out in one piece. I like his no-nonsense approach telling the people to shut up and listen if they want to live. Very strong and convincing performance. Why didn't he have a bigger role, and what happened to him after he left the building? Mutineer contradicted himself saying he liked the closet guy because of his enthusiasm and brought out a sense of compassion, but then goes on to say he wasn't a good actor. Huh? If he wasn't a good actor, a viewer would not have liked him or felt any emotions from him or for him. I took drama courses in college, and one of the most important responsibilities for an actor is to convey emotions and have the audience feel those emotions as well while going along for the ride as if they are in the story too. If he wasn't a good actor, you would never have cared about him, felt any enthusiasm (or any emotions) or liked him at all. The fact he elicited feelings and had you rooting for him proves he was a very good actor. Some of the older reviews agree with my assessment, so I know I'm not alone there.
Same idea with the mom. Her fear showed and her priority to protect her son was done well. I also like that Dj didn't get some unrealistic model to play the part. Having Cindy Crawford play the mom would have looked silly. People need to see people they can actually relate to themselves which increases their enjoyment of a movie, although not too many have a stomach like the closet guy does. Guess he got in such good shape from running away from all those zombies? By the way, there are many excellent actors who don't belong to the unions and many who are AFTRA/SAG that aren't any good. Just turn on the TV and you'll find many who shouldn't be there. So the view that none of the cast could "pull it off" is very untrue, but every opinion is different and should be shared. I'm a little surprised Dj agreed with most of the negatives and didn't really defend his crew people or cast in the latest review. In my view, the mom and closet guy saved the film. Good thing when considering the guardsmen and Homeland Security guy. They were not at all convincing, and it was kind of embarrassing to watch. Nothing personal against them, since I'm sure they did the best they could.
The two leads did a pretty decent job too. Their friendship came through as they stuck together watching each others backs. The living room scene was kind of weak, but the traffic jam shootout was better. I got a good sense of them being on the run (looking at the map) and doing what they could to avoid getting infected. The picnic bench scene was also good. I felt the doubt of the bald guy not knowing who else is out there and how long they can find supplies, and the optimism of his friend that they will survive somehow. Good writing there to have a balance between them.
I disagree the script was "a complete mess". Although the dialog could have had more substance and depth, it still got the point across as to what was happening and how people felt. The multiple plots were nice and the traffic attack was very well done. The woman's neck getting ripped open almost made me queasy it looked so real. The intestines looked nasty too, so Dj got his money's worth from the makeup people. The camera work was pretty smooth and on target. Some shots did look like they were taken by different cameras, with some clearer and some grainier, but wasn't a big deal. I didn't really like the slow motion approach at the shelter of the zombies. There is too much of that in movies these days, and I prefer a straight forward attack from zombie to victim without delay. Slowing it down kind of kills the moment.
If this was some multi million dollar movie, I would be much more negative with my comments, but taking into account this was a first try for many with little money, it turned out fairly well. Viewers just need to have the mindset at the beginning this isn't a big budget film with a new director. I hope Dj tries again and brings back the mom and closet guy with a more professional writer and cast with a bigger budget. That would make a big difference in quality and enjoyment. Thanks for a good movie and giving me a chance to write my review.