Let's see...(in no particular order, besides chronology)
Night of the Living Dead (1990) Definitively creepy atmosphere and a great update to the original. The 'epilogue' was also great, especially how it tied into Dawn. (Helicopter = Roger, Peter, Francine, and Stephen. The part of Dawn they're flying over the rednecks. "They're enjoying themselves!") Some of the best 'character' zombies ever made. The two zombies in the cemetery. Uncle Rege. The zombie immobilized at the legs, creepily crawling in place. And, of course, the awesome soundtrack. Really dug the creepy, cheesy synth music in all the movies. This one was great. Only thing lacking, really, was the gore...meatier headshots, and surplus of blood would've helped. Imagine Night '90 - with the gore of Day of the Dead?
Dawn of the Dead (1978) The "Extended Mall Hours" fan edit in particular. This has all the footage of both the US and European cuts of the film, so it runs something like 155 minutes. A lot of scenes make tons more sense when they are fleshed out. For example, good ol' Captain Rhodes and his band of fake police officers.
Day of the Dead (1985) I think this movie would've blown every other zombie movie in existence away, like completely destroyed the competition, if it had focused another 20 minutes to a half hour, on the helicopter crew traveling from abandoned city to abandoned city.
Land of the Dead This one is gonna become a fan favorite. Just watch. Being too young to have gotten a chance to see the original trilogy in Theaters, this was my big screen zombie debut. A few bowl packs deep, and I even had to bring a friend because I wasn't 17 yet. Still holds up today, for me. Some of the best feasting scenes in movies. The biggest feast in any zombie movie. A lot of great stuff in this. Big Daddy was far too emotive. In fact, they should have had the "protagonist zombies" stop and feast more, and added another 25 - 30 minutes of creepy travel throughout the flick, to build up the doom on a slower burn, ramp the tension as the zombies slowly circle the city.
Shaun of the Dead This movie is almost perfect. The comedy style is very effective. The downfall of civilization, with the Shaun completely ignoring the apocalypse, was also very effective. I doubt a zombie comedy will ever beat this one. In fact, I was surprised I enjoyed Zombieland so much, considering how awesome Shaun was, it sets the bar so high.
The Dead (2010) Only watched this one once, but it definitely had some of the creepiest, most unsettling zombies of all-time. I like the fact there was a lot of travel - I don't think we need any more "hole up in one spot" zombie flicks at this point, unless it's a really clever idea.
Dawn of the Dead (2004) This one, despite the running zombies, just had a great moodiness to it, and some good black comedy in there too. The game of shooting zombie celebrity look-a-likes, the Disturbed cover (should have done Pat Boones Holy Diver instead), when they turn off the mall music. The shit hitting the fan scenes were done really well, and I could've used a lot more of it. Say....another 10 - 15 minutes of the chaos and initial panic, before reaching the mall. I definitely prefer the original, but this one was arguably just as entertaining. And I prefer shamblers, too.
The Walking Dead The show is exactly what we've all wanted. It could be better, yes. Maybe if HBO had picked it up. Maybe if they had done the "Black Hawk Down with Zombies" for the Season 2 opener, depicting shit hitting the fan, like Darabont intended. (Instead of firing him and giving ALL the money to make that episode to "Mad Men" instead. Because they REALLY needed the budget over a ZOMBIE show, right?) When this show is on point, it's really ON POINT. I have high hopes for Season 3: prison time and governor, awww yea. "OY GUV-NAH!"
Whether or not this is living up to the lofty expectations, it is still pretty bad-ass to see this show shatters the world record, again and again.
Return of the Living Dead / ROTLD 2 I'm just gonna lump these two together, because the rest of the series sucked and these two were both awesome. Arguably the second movie to ever have "fast" zombies (when they swarm the paramedic? shiiit) with the first being City of the Walking Dead from 1980. Not to mention Linnea Quigley.
Zombi 2 This movie is the only Fulci zombie flick I ever connected with. Some of the most cringe-worthy scenes in any zombie flick. The eye poke? Shit is intense. It's got a lot of great moments in it, and some really meaning, rotting, slow moving zombies. Great soundtrack too, one of the best for the genre.
Zombieland I saw this one in theater 3 times. Not as good as Shaun of the Dead, but something about it was very endearing. I liked the rules segments, thought that was pretty clever. Had an almost Hitchikers Guide kinda feel to it. (The movie, not the books.)
Others worth mentioning:
Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dead Set, Pontypool, Black Sheep, Mulberry Street, Fido, Night of the Creeps, Slither, Cemetery Man, Diary of the Dead (this one's gonna be a grower too...I'm telling ya. Not as good as Land, though.)
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Originally Posted by MikePizzoff
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