My review of Survival of the Dead

[Monrozombi]

Posted over at DreadCentral.com

http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/survival-dead-2009

[Fecunditatis]

I hope to enjoy it as much as you did!

Very well written review, by the way.

[krakenslayer]

Posted over at DreadCentral.com

http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/survival-dead-2009

Awesome! Thanks for the review!

[sirjacktorrance]

we can make questions?

things that worry me:
- the humor i read that survival it´s almost a parody of his movies, that there is lots of humor. i wish it´s well integrated and the mood of the film still goes for the horror or the drama.

-the script: flaw,lame and other adjetives are on the reviews

-the zombies:
bad make up?
not too much in teh same shot?

why do you think it´s better than diary or land?

thanks!!

[capncnut]

Great review, Monro. Thanks.

[Monrozombi]

we can make questions?

things that worry me:
- the humor i read that survival it´s almost a parody of his movies, that there is lots of humor. i wish it´s well integrated and the mood of the film still goes for the horror or the drama.

-the script: flaw,lame and other adjetives are on the reviews

-the zombies:
bad make up?
not too much in teh same shot?

why do you think it´s better than diary or land?

thanks!!

The film has about much humor as the rest of his films, it is well placed. Remember Dawn has a pie fight in the middle of a biker gang invading the mall which is more then you'll see in this film.

The script is pretty tight, its not all over the place and the movie flows quite well. Like i said, the movie was over before I realized 90 minutes had passed.

The zombie make up for the most part is subtle, there aren't too many grotesque zombies but the make ups are very consistant and well done. Most zombies in this don't have too many large wounds or decay since the film takes place 3 weeks after the outbreak.

Thank you all for the kinds words, I don't write reviews and it was hard for me to actually sit there and write it up, but I appreciate it none the less.

Thanks!!!

[AcesandEights]

Decent review. It reads a little on the gushing side and has me a bit worried, but if I like the movie half as much as you did I'll be very happy.

This bit gave me a chuckle, though:


Hard on the outside, soft on the inside, Sarge becomes more then just a one-dimensional character as the film progresses.

[Monrozombi]

[QUOTE=AcesandEights;199181]Decent review. It reads a little on the gushing side and has me a bit worried, but if I like the movie half as much as you did I'll be very happy.

This bit gave me a chuckle, though:


I liked it as much as I did because its the film I knew George could make and i feel it will appeal to most of the fans out there that were really let down by Diary.

I read these negative reviews and wonder what do these people want from a film, esp one from Romero? They act like George should read all reviews online and make a film that avoids everything the review says is bad or left out and should put in or do everything they say. I understand that not everyone will like this film as most people are critical of George and I believe sometimes way too critical of him because we all still base his films on the original trilogy.

[sirjacktorrance]

thanks a lot, i have fear but your review calms us !
other topics we want to know:

-zombie animals...
-the music...
-the mood...

and this is a thing that pisses me off on land and diary ,both movies were anticlimatic, none of them had a big ending like the others...it´s the climax of survival comparable(a little bit) to the day of the dead climx?

thanks a lot. we are hungry!!!

[axlish]

Monro, no offense, but I knew your review would be positive. I really hope I like this film.

[Monrozombi]

Monro, no offense, but I knew your review would be positive. I really hope I like this film.

none taken but I really do think this film is heads and tails better then Diary and Land, it just has that feel the previous 2 were missing. I tend to focus more on the postive aspects of Romero's films when discussing it because I tend to get wrapped up in conversations about what people think the film is missing or what "Romero should have done." George's work is far from perfect, just like every filmmaker. This film has its flaws but I believe that its positive parts far outshine the negative.

I will talk up Diary because I like the technical aspect of the film and what George set out to do. But I feel he missed the mark on a lot of that film but I'll praise him for taking the chance with the 1st person POV, the rebooting but the overt message telling, IMO, is the films main flaw. The kids as the main actors weren't all that likable and the only character you really cared about was the professor.

I really wish I could go more indepth with this film but since only a handful of people have seen it I will hold back and I want people to form their own opinion. My review was my review and how I watched the film. I do not like critic reviews, I'd rather read a fan's review, good or bad.

[MinionZombie]

Thanks for the review Monro.

I'd much sooner trust your opinion on this flick, even though you were in it, than that chump in Variety, or any of the other chumps in the LA Times or whatever.

I do hope I rather enjoy this film, and I honestly think I will, just going on images and the video clips we have seen so far before it started getting festival screenings.

I'll like it better than Diary, easily I think, the main question for me is, will I like it more or a little bit less than Land? That's the only measure I'll be using, and I think it's a fair one.

[AcesandEights]

I'll like it better than Diary, easily I think, the main question for me is, will I like it more or a little bit less than Land? That's the only measure I'll be using, and I think it's a fair one.

I have had pretty much the same thought process going, for me. Land, I liked (though I rolled my eyes a few times and felt bad for the people I brought to see it who weren't fans), but Diary was subpar viewing (not saying you feel the same way, MZ), and now I just wonder if Survival will fit between the two or exceed Land as enjoyable zombie fare. I truly doubt I will rank Survival below Diary, when all is said and done.

Then again, maybe...you know, just maybe...we'll like it more than all George's other zombie movies combined.

Hey, it's possible.

[Monrozombi]

Thanks for the review Monro.

I'd much sooner trust your opinion on this flick, even though you were in it, than that chump in Variety, or any of the other chumps in the LA Times or whatever.

I do hope I rather enjoy this film, and I honestly think I will, just going on images and the video clips we have seen so far before it started getting festival screenings.

I'll like it better than Diary, easily I think, the main question for me is, will I like it more or a little bit less than Land? That's the only measure I'll be using, and I think it's a fair one.

Thanks. The review would have said the same thing regardless of my involvement. I could have written the review based on my own perception since I was there for 3 days. I am working on a journal from my time up there and I will be sending it off to Neil soon, it just needs some polishing. I figure some people will think the review as one-sided due to my involvement but I do have my issues with it, but like i said, I believe the film has much more positives to focus on then the bad. It just seems people tend to focus on the bad parts of films these days then anything positive.

[Moon Knight]

I remember how most people loved Diary when it was first played and once it came out everyone mainly hated it. I also remember how horrible of a review Day got when it first premiered. If you read the booklet that came with the Day of the Day DVD, the writer admits hating the movie upon fist viewing only to discover how good the movie really was after giving it a second chance on VHS. This movie seems to be getting bad press by critics but good responses from actual horror fans.

Thanks for the review, I can't wait to see this flick.

[Yojimbo]

Thanks for the review. It leaves me with hope that this one will be awesome!

[darth los]

It's tough to go on reviews.

On one hand monro is a huge fan so his opinion has to be skewed. If he was a judge he would have to recuse himself from the case.


On the other you might have haters or those who just don't "get GAr" and shit all over his films.



So as was said before I'll make my own mind up.


Doesn't mean I don't appreciate the review monro. And for the record you're preaching to the choir on this one.






:cool:

[Monrozombi]

It's tough to go on reviews.

On one hand monro is a huge fan so his opinion has to be skewed. If he was a judge he would have to recuse himself from the case.


On the other you might have haters or those who just don't "get GAr" and shit all over his films.



So as was said before I'll make my own mind up.


Doesn't mean I don't appreciate the review monro. And for the record you're preaching to the choir on this one.






:cool:

Trust me i know that people are going to see the review that its from me and think that, I don't blame them. I wouldn't say my opinion is skewed as much as i am excited at the fact that Romero is continuing to make his films his way just as he's done for 40 years and is still getting recognition for it. Sure I will stick up for this film as I always will with Romero, he's my favorite director. But i, as a person, am an optimistic so I will always tend to look at the positive aspects of films, books, people etc.

Do i think this is George's best work ever? No, but I believe its his best film effort since probably Day of the Dead. Like I said I will go more indepth when this film gets some sort of theatrical release so as to not give too much away. I have my problems with the film, but compared to his previous 2 films in the last 4 years, they are not as numerous as LOTD & DiOTD. I would rank this as the best GAR zombie film in this new wave of films but it is still nowhere near the caliber of his earlier films and zombie films in general. We have to remember that these are different films in a different generation so they're never going to be like his previous films.

I think the "hating & not getting GAR" is kind of the in thing now. In the 12 or so years I've been here up until Romero started making LOTD we all couldn't wait and kept Romero on the front burner of all of our minds and hoped for the best. He released LOTD and it was a much different zombie film then anyone was expecting and I think it left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths and they almost seem like they refuse to see otherwise because "they" feel cheated or let down by George. I don't think thats fair to George.

[AcesandEights]

I think the "hating & not getting GAR" is kind of the in thing now.

The above is also a very "in thing" for people to say from what I've seen. Really, as I've said before, it's just a divergence of tastes.

[MoonSylver]

The above is also a very "in thing" for people to say from what I've seen. Really, as I've said before, it's just a divergence of tastes.

What's kinda weird though is that it seems like somehow it's become not ok to admit something is flawed & isn't perfect & that overall though you still like it. If you do any thing other that call his latest movies names & scream how loudly they suck you get branded as a fanboy or something. And if you disagree with anyone who DOES feel that way they'll explode in a fit of...

http://akatsukiseven.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/nerd-rage.gif

[Monrozombi]

The above is also a very "in thing" for people to say from what I've seen. Really, as I've said before, it's just a divergence of tastes.

I would agree with you more if we weren't talking about Romero on the biggest Romero forum on the internet...

[AcesandEights]

I would agree with you more if we weren't talking about Romero on the biggest Romero forum on the internet...

Not really sure how opinions should change based on where one is expressing them. How they are expressed, is another conversation all together.

Moon, truth be told, it goes both ways. You can't be critical of much without getting called out for it and you can't truly admit you like something without being called out for it. Calls of Fanboy are always met with calls of Hater and vice-versa . It's not just with GAR, either. It's usually easier to slag everything off all-together (very popular nowadays) or throw one's self wholeheartedly into believing something is the greatest, as opposed to being genuinely open-minded about the good and bad of what a given project brings to the table.

But, then again, these are just movies after all and if you can't hate a shitty movie you truly don't like, even though everyone else does (Gladiator, for me--and for the most trivial of reasons) or love a movie unabashedly, then we're all truly taking things too seriously. That said, over-simplifying matters is also annoying and I hate to see either the tag fanboy or hater too easily applied.

[MoonSylver]

Moon, truth be told, it goes both ways. You can't be critical of much without getting called out for it and you can't truly admit you like something without being called out for it. Calls of Fanboy are always met with calls of Hater and vice-versa . It's not just with GAR, either. It's usually easier to slag everything off all-together (very popular nowadays) or throw one's self wholeheartedly into believing something is the greatest, as opposed to being genuinely open-minded about the good and bad of what a given project brings to the table.

Mmm...good points.

[Trin]

I think the "hating & not getting GAR" is kind of the in thing now.I think it's easy to pass off "not liking it" as "not getting it" when in fact, as Aces says, it's more likely just a difference in taste.

I think a lot of it boils down to what you want out of the movie. Do you want to bask in the social commentary and message or do you want a plausible set of characters acting out a zombie survival scenario? In the olden days GAR gave us both - which was great - so this distinction was not so important.


He released LOTD and it was a much different zombie film then anyone was expecting and I think it left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths and they almost seem like they refuse to see otherwise because "they" feel cheated or let down by George. I don't think thats fair to George.
I felt like Land fits with the original trilogy better than Diary. I didn't like the movie overall (and the reasons are well documented. *g*) but it didn't leave me feeling like it was different than what I expected - just worse.

I'm going into Survival open minded but cautious. I'm just about ready to see the dang thing now *stomps foot and looks at the calendar*

[clanglee]

I heard that "The Return of the Living Dead" was based on a real case. What do you think?

:rockbrow:

Time to break out my cousins Leroy and Bibb again.. .

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/blog/images/huh.jpg

[MoonSylver]

:rockbrow:

Time to break out my cousins Leroy and Bibb again...

Yer cousins must've scared off the post you're quoting Clang...I can't find it anywhere!:lol:

[MinionZombie]

Yer cousins must've scared off the post you're quoting Clang...I can't find it anywhere!:lol:
T'was a filthy spammer...

[DjfunkmasterG]

Posted over at DreadCentral.com

http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/survival-dead-2009

Kinda biased Monro... since you did play a zombie in it.

[Mike70]

The above is also a very "in thing" for people to say from what I've seen. Really, as I've said before, it's just a divergence of tastes.

yep. accusing people of "not getting" something is the very first refuge of the fan boy.

romero's work isn't math where there is a right answer, a wrong answer and the twain never meet. people take away whatever meaning from fictional films they want to take with them. there are no right or wrong answers in fictional interpretation as long as you back up your opinion with a rational argument.

saying someone doesn't "get it" is also arrogant because you are implying that you do "get it" and that your opinion of a fictional work is more valid than someone else's. well, it isn't. period. as soon as fanboys can get that through their heads, the better off the internet will be.

this is the main reason that while i love star trek, i cannot stand being within 200 fucking feet of most star trek fans.

[DjfunkmasterG]

But isn't the internet built on Bitching about movies and sharing porn?

[clanglee]

Yer cousins must've scared off the post you're quoting Clang...I can't find it anywhere!:lol:

Two birds with one stone. . .with one snarky and unrelated comment I have also resurrected this thread.

http://remixtheory.net/remixImages/daveChapelleJames.jpg
Now Argue Bitches!!!!!

[MoonSylver]

romero's work isn't math where there is a right answer, a wrong answer

Sure it is: Night+Dawn+Day=AWESOME. :lol:


Now Argue Bitches!!!!!

It's a celebration! Enjoy yo'sef!!!

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd50/lcdlove/fuck_yo_couch.gif

[rongravy]

Yeah, that review has my mouth watering. I will probably love it as much as I did the last two.
And I loved Land and Diary, by the way. Hope to add Survival to the list...