Reevaluating Dawn of the Dead

[EvilNed]

So I just rewatched Dawn of the Dead for what must have been like 5 years. It was a film I grew up on and has never really been my favorite (that spot belongs to Day). But seeing it now felt like seeing it in new light. Maybe it's just because it's been awhile ago. It really is a great film. The opening sequences - everything leading up to the mall - is probably the best depiction of society on the brink of collapse that I've ever seen (and i've seen it all, I guess). I just feel like we never get to see THAT part. We always see either the very first zombies and a ragtag group of survivors, or we're thrown years into the apocalypse. We never get to see how society itself reacts and tries to respond to the epidemic. This has always been my favorite part of the Zombie apocalypse. We see a bit of this in Dawn and it's very well done.

Overall I have to say Dawn showcases a real attention to detail. Especially when it comes to the characters. They're all well acted and well directed. Subtle hints at what they feel and no real cheesy dialoge.

While I enjoy Land and later Z-films, it is beyond me that Dawn and Day are directed by the same guy who later did... Diary and Survival. What happened?

Anyway... If there's anyone out there who hasn't seen Dawn in a few years. Give it another whirl. It really is amazing.

[Neil]

So I just rewatched Dawn of the Dead for what must have been like 5 years. It was a film I grew up on and has never really been my favorite (that spot belongs to Day). But seeing it now felt like seeing it in new light. Maybe it's just because it's been awhile ago. It really is a great film. The opening sequences - everything leading up to the mall - is probably the best depiction of society on the brink of collapse that I've ever seen (and i've seen it all, I guess). I just feel like we never get to see THAT part. We always see either the very first zombies and a ragtag group of survivors, or we're thrown years into the apocalypse. We never get to see how society itself reacts and tries to respond to the epidemic. This has always been my favorite part of the Zombie apocalypse. We see a bit of this in Dawn and it's very well done.

Overall I have to say Dawn showcases a real attention to detail. Especially when it comes to the characters. They're all well acted and well directed. Subtle hints at what they feel and no real cheesy dialoge.

While I enjoy Land and later Z-films, it is beyond me that Dawn and Day are directed by the same guy who later did... Diary and Survival. What happened?

Anyway... If there's anyone out there who hasn't seen Dawn in a few years. Give it another whirl. It really is amazing.

I assume this was the regular US cinema version you watched?

[shootemindehead]

I've just made my own cut of 'Dawn of the Dead', which basically excises that awful chopper zombie gag (Dario was band on with that) and that appallingly bad pie fight towards the end. :D

But yeh, limitations notwithstanding, 'Dawn of the Dead' is a very good picture, but I do think that people who consider it better than 'Day of the Dead' are bonkers.

'Day of the Dead' is the zenith of zombie films. I've, on numerous occasions, sat people down in front of it and delighted in their reaction to the film. Usually, they think it's going to be some sort nonsense like 'Return of the Living Dead' or cheap trash like 'Zombie Flesh Eaters' and are then knocked for six. Although, I've yet to try it with a Walking Dead fan. I wonder how that would play out.

[EvilNed]

Yes, Neil, it was the theatrical version. I've seen the extended one as well but to be honest I'm not that much of a fan.

And yes, shootem, what brings Dawn down are

1) The pie fight. What the hell...

2) Some of the library music used is just so off. Worst of all is Peter's hero music at the end. Whereas at the same time, Goblin's score is downright haunting. Perfect fit - but a real odd combo.

I haven't seen the European cut. I hear it removes all library music...

[facestabber]

I've just made my own cut of 'Dawn of the Dead', which basically excises that awful chopper zombie gag (Dario was band on with that) and that appallingly bad pie fight towards the end. :D

But yeh, limitations notwithstanding, 'Dawn of the Dead' is a very good picture, but I do think that people who consider it better than 'Day of the Dead' are bonkers.

'Day of the Dead' is the zenith of zombie films. I've, on numerous occasions, sat people down in front of it and delighted in their reaction to the film. Usually, they think it's going to be some sort nonsense like 'Return of the Living Dead' or cheap trash like 'Zombie Flesh Eaters' and are then knocked for six. Although, I've yet to try it with a Walking Dead fan. I wonder how that would play out.

I tried encouraging a young 23ish girl that is a fan of zombies because of TWD, to try Day. She turned off Day of the Dead and called me an idiot. Said it was horrible. TWD is just a different animal. That experience taught me the younger folks aren't really down with Romero's work.

[shootemindehead]

You should have tired her down and made her watch til the end.

Then left her in the dark all night to think about what she'd done, Dr. Logan style.

- - - Updated - - -


Yes, Neil, it was the theatrical version. I've seen the extended one as well but to be honest I'm not that much of a fan.

And yes, shootem, what brings Dawn down are

1) The pie fight. What the hell...

2) Some of the library music used is just so off. Worst of all is Peter's hero music at the end. Whereas at the same time, Goblin's score is downright haunting. Perfect fit - but a real odd combo.

I haven't seen the European cut. I hear it removes all library music...

I got the anchor bay DVD box set a number of years ago with all the various cuts. A lot of people seem to like the Argento cut, but personally I prefer the extended Romero cut myself, minus the chopper zombie and pies of course.

The awful music at the end is truly laughable, but I didn't think Goblin's rock music suited the scene either TBH. But, the music throughout is quite good.

[slayerized]

Yes, Neil, it was the theatrical version. I've seen the extended one as well but to be honest I'm not that much of a fan.

And yes, shootem, what brings Dawn down are

1) The pie fight. What the hell...

2) Some of the library music used is just so off. Worst of all is Peter's hero music at the end. Whereas at the same time, Goblin's score is downright haunting. Perfect fit - but a real odd combo.

I haven't seen the European cut. I hear it removes all library music...

What's wrong with Pie Fight?? I would take the Pie Fight in Dawn of the Dead over any part of Land, Diary or Survival any day of the week...

I view it almost like Pink Floyd The Wall -- it's a masterpiece in it's entirety - yes it has it's flaws but that's what ultimately gives it it's character...it blends just the right mix if satire, humor and horror and because of that I believe (my opinion anyway) Romero's US Theatrical cut IS Dawn of the Dead...Argento's Zombi loses that and it just doesn't work the same way

[wayzim]

What's wrong with Pie Fight?? I would take the Pie Fight in Dawn of the Dead over any part of Land, Diary or Survival any day of the week...

I view it almost like Pink Floyd The Wall -- it's a masterpiece in it's entirety - yes it has it's flaws but that's what ultimately gives it it's character...it blends just the right mix if satire, humor and horror and because of that I believe (my opinion anyway) Romero's US Theatrical cut IS Dawn of the Dead...Argento's Zombi loses that and it just doesn't work the same way

I guess it's both my age and long time interest in survivor psychology that I didn't have a big issue with the pie fight. The raiders were in control; so they thought, and the zombies simply weren't that big a threat to them. I think we would call that Hubris? Now the dude in the sombrero trying to get his blood pressure tested; THAT was a groaner.

[JDP]

What's wrong with Pie Fight?? I would take the Pie Fight in Dawn of the Dead over any part of Land, Diary or Survival any day of the week...

I view it almost like Pink Floyd The Wall -- it's a masterpiece in it's entirety - yes it has it's flaws but that's what ultimately gives it it's character...it blends just the right mix if satire, humor and horror and because of that I believe (my opinion anyway) Romero's US Theatrical cut IS Dawn of the Dead...Argento's Zombi loses that and it just doesn't work the same way

The only problem I have with the "Pie Fight" sequence is the scene where we see the biker played by Tom Savini ("Blades") among some zombies watching the other bikers screwing around with some other zombies and NONE of them attack him!

[kidgloves]

Greatest movie in history in my mind. :D

[Trin]

For me, Dawn captures something that the other movies in the series lack. It is a realism to the characters (the core group) and the bond they develop. They are very relatable. They have personality differences and they argue/fight at times, but they ultimately look out for one another. I find it very easy to be engaged with the group, their actions, their decisions, etc. Even when they screw up (with disastrous results) I don't find myself second guessing them, or screaming WTF. It has become rare (if not unheard of) that the zombie genre focuses on a group working together without interpersonal conflicts driving the main plot. In Dawn, the bulk of the movie highlights the struggle to survive against the zombies.

The Mall then sends it over the top. Who hasn't dreamed of having an entire mall as their personal playground?

[kidgloves]

For me, Dawn captures something that the other movies in the series lack. It is a realism to the characters (the core group) and the bond they develop. They are very relatable. They have personality differences and they argue/fight at times, but they ultimately look out for one another. I find it very easy to be engaged with the group, their actions, their decisions, etc. Even when they screw up (with disastrous results) I don't find myself second guessing them, or screaming WTF. It has become rare (if not unheard of) that the zombie genre focuses on a group working together without interpersonal conflicts driving the main plot. In Dawn, the bulk of the movie highlights the struggle to survive against the zombies.

The Mall then sends it over the top. Who hasn't dreamed of having an entire mall as their personal playground?

This +1

[EvilNed]

I agree that the characters are what make the film.
There's another aspect of it tho, that I reflected on upon seeing it recently. Despite this being the end of the world, the group are all very materialistic. I mean, it's over-the-top obvious with Stephen at the end when he goes off on a rail about how the mall is "ours", there's hints even before that. Like when they first run down the mall and take a look. They come up, fighting off the hare krishna zombie and then Stephen holds Fran and calms her down by promising her a bunch of "stuff".
Not even in the face of total societal apocalypse can they even begin to imagine a life that's not centered around material wealth. Not until the very end of the film, when Fran and Peter escape from the mall, must they accept that the world is gone forever.

[MinionZombie]

I tried encouraging a young 23ish girl that is a fan of zombies because of TWD, to try Day. She turned off Day of the Dead and called me an idiot. Said it was horrible. TWD is just a different animal. That experience taught me the younger folks aren't really down with Romero's work.

http://cdn3.whatculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/delbert-grady.jpg

Sounds like she needs to be corrected, Sir. :|

:lol:

To be fair, there are movies I love now that I just absolutely did not get when I first saw them when I was several years younger. I hated John Carpenter's "The Fog" when I first saw it at 14, but then re-watched it a few years later and absolutely loved it (which remains my feeling for it to this day - love it!). Sometimes you have to ease into a particular era of filmmaking, or style of filmmaking, or even a filmmaker's work in general. You have to ease in somehow - for instance, my access point for the entire giallo genre was through Dario Argento's work, while thinking of some of them (such as Tenebrae) in my mind as a slasher video nasty than as a giallo ... so yeah, sometimes it's the access point and the timing of your exposure to a new cinematic world.


You should have tired her down and made her watch til the end.

Then left her in the dark all night to think about what she'd done, Dr. Logan style.

I got the anchor bay DVD box set a number of years ago with all the various cuts. A lot of people seem to like the Argento cut, but personally I prefer the extended Romero cut myself, minus the chopper zombie and pies of course.

1) :lol: Savage. :lol:

2) The "Ultimate Edition"? 4-disc set? Yeah, I've got that one too. The first time I saw Dawn was in the extended cut, so that's always been the movie to me. I love all the additional stuff and always miss it when I watch Romero's cut.

I can't stand Argento's cut of the film. It misses all the themes of the flick, the Goblin music - great though it may be - is totally overused, and the large chunks of missing material leaves various gaps and holes that irritate. It's interesting as a curio, but it's such a mess generally, especially when compared to GAR's cuts - as the director intended!

I disagree on the chopper zombie and the pie fight - I dig them both. I do enjoy the sense of fun that the pie fight has - these goddamned bikers running hog wild, they would do something that stupid and bizarre - and the chopper kill is just awesome. :D


Greatest movie in history in my mind. :D

Hooray!

Day has been praised as superior elsewhere in this thread, and while in my heart I don't agree, critically speaking I do agree that in several aspects Day of the Dead is a superior film to Dawn ... although Dawn's cultural importance and legacy is far wider. Dawn is a cinematic landmark, whereas Day never attained that status (unfairly so, too) ... but yes ... while my love of Dawn has never faltered since I first saw it (it blew my fucking mind, I tell you), my love of Day has only got warmer and warmer as the years have passed. Everytime I go back to that movie I get more and more out of it - I loved it from the get-go as well, but I've gained considerably more from it with each viewing compared to Dawn ... although that film, too, has afforded me many riches over the years with new experiences even after multiple viewings (I recall, on yet another viewing - 20-something times - the opening half hour before they get to the mall just floored me, I felt physically overwhelmed by the sheer speed and chaos of it all - especially the TV station and SWAT sequences ... just absolutely run over by a bulldozer amazing).

[facestabber]

I've just made my own cut of 'Dawn of the Dead', which basically excises that awful chopper zombie gag (Dario was band on with that) and that appallingly bad pie fight towards the end. :D

But yeh, limitations notwithstanding, 'Dawn of the Dead' is a very good picture, but I do think that people who consider it better than 'Day of the Dead' are bonkers.

'Day of the Dead' is the zenith of zombie films. I've, on numerous occasions, sat people down in front of it and delighted in their reaction to the film. Usually, they think it's going to be some sort nonsense like 'Return of the Living Dead' or cheap trash like 'Zombie Flesh Eaters' and are then knocked for six. Although, I've yet to try it with a Walking Dead fan. I wonder how that would play out.

I grew up on Dawn and it was always my favorite but Day has over taken it.

[Neil]

I grew up on Dawn and it was always my favorite but Day has over taken it.

Think I'm in the same boat now!

[Moon Knight]

Dawn will forever be my favorite Zombie flick. I love those characters to death. Funny thing is I believe I've seen Day more times than Dawn, the replay value with that one is untouched.

[JDP]

Dawn is a more complex movie than Day at every level, with the only exception of make-up and special effects, in which department Day blows every other zombie movie out of the water. Just the amount of different locations in both movies already says a lot. Dawn is like the Gone with the Wind of zombie movies. It's an epic.

[Wyldwraith]

I will never, NEVER understand people's fixated adoration for Day. It's an excellent movie, sure...but the way people talk it's light-years beyond either Night or Dawn, and I simply don't agree. (Hell, to tell the truth I even blasphemously prefer the Night remake for the more interesting, not-a-caricature-of-feminine-hysteria Barbara character. Her competence and cool are so beautifully offset by the woebegone sense of horror as she easily nudges a zombie away from her repeatedly with a gun barrel and grieves that such limited, pitiable things brought down ruin on so many living people. It's genius, and something Romero's Barbara suffers by in any comparison of the two.

So maybe my taste is weird, but I've always enjoyed Dawn the most. I really like Night and Day, and give them the credit they're due as foundation works in the genre...but they don't blow my mind the way Dawn did the first time I saw it. (Though yes, the pie fight always makes me cringe.)...I dunno, Day just feels like a stock Seige-plot, enlivened somewhat by the instabilities amongst the survivors. Elements of its story always hit poor notes with me...Like portraying military men that gleefully put an exhausted comrade in mortal danger just because he's getting laid and they aren't. Yet are so loyal to the rest of their group as to be driven to murderous rages by anyone increasing the danger to their comrades....Even Rhodes's meltdown was SO pronounced I asked myself from the cafeteria meeting where Rhodes was going to have the female lead shot for not kissing up to him how the other soldiers could feel safe this constantly armed nutjob wouldn't decide to plug one or more of them for some perceived slight to his position. I had one brief moment of hope the first time I saw it when Steele thought it was a joke and tried to play it off that way, but then Rhodes threatens him, Steele moves to comply...and the others just...sit there placidly.

Sorry, this post ended up less coherent and more stream of consciousness than intended...but I hope it at least conveys my thinking on the subject of Night/Night-Remake/Dawn/Day.

[shootemindehead]

Well, not trying to sound like and Apple fan or anything, but put simply 'Day of the Dead' is just a better film over all. It had better acting, better pacing, better editing, better effects, better zombies, better atmosphere, it's more "realistic" and it's dated better...much better.

In comparison, 'Dawn of the Dead' looks quaint and literally like it's from another century, which is just an unfortunate consequence of being made in one of the most hideous fashion periods in mankind's history.

It should come as no surprise to anyone here that I consider 'Day of the Dead' a triumph of the genre. Not only do I think it's the best zombie film ever made, I think it's the greatest horror film of all time and easily Romero's best film to date and will probably be his best of all, full stop. It's grim atmosphere, alone, took balls to put on screen as it's tone is utterly relentless. It's story opens up the world of the dead, with Logan's insights into what he believes is making them tick, despite the confines of the 14 mile tombstone that the survivors find themselves in. His observations were genuinely interesting to kid me and his enlightenment made the zombies all the more horrifying, to be honest, because their existence augmented the brutal existence of the human characters.

The blue faced cartoons of 'Dawn of the Dead' gave way to the pathetically terrifying creatures we see in the third installment and they are a stellar leap in their horrific nature, who stay with you, long after the film has ended. Also, the silly orange blood getting binned in favour of a dark crimson lent Savini's gore effects a shocking power that hasn't been bettered yet in the genre. Plus the horrific death that the dead promise has never been so gruesomely put on film. Rickles' madness induced laughter turning to blood curdling screams as his snapped mind realises his awful end still sends shivers up my spine. There's nothing in 'Dawn of the Dead' that comes even remotely close to the level of actual horror that's in 'Day of the Dead'.

To me, I have never understood why (mostly Americans) like 'Dawn of the Dead' better than 'Day of the Dead'. It's reception upon release has always been one of those WTF things that beggars belief, much like how 'The Thing' was received, when it was first shown too.

That's not to say that 'Dawn of the Dead' isn't loved by me, but it's shortcomings detract from it these days in a very large way. It's still a great film and one that I throw on at least once a year, but its sequel has always been the better film on every level. 'Dawn of the Dead' may be Romero's first masterpiece, but 'Day of the Dead' is his absolute magnum opus.

[MinionZombie]

A well written, passionate post there, Shoot.

I'd say that objectively Day of the Dead is a better film for many of the reasons you listed ... subjectively Dawn of the Dead holds a higher position in my heart ... but Day of the Dead has gained a hell of a lot of ground on Dawn over the years while Dawn has remained where it has always been in my affections. And this isn't to say I didn't love Day of the Dead when I first saw it - because I did - but when I first saw Dawn of the Dead it blew my mind.

Essentially I'm at a point now where I love them both equally.

I think I said this earlier in the thread, but as I've got older Day has grown even more in my estimations. I think Dawn appeals to our youthful sides - especially if you saw it as a youngster - while Day of the Dead's completely different tone riggles its way into you as an adult.

[JDP]

So maybe my taste is weird, but I've always enjoyed Dawn the most. I really like Night and Day, and give them the credit they're due as foundation works in the genre...but they don't blow my mind the way Dawn did the first time I saw it. (Though yes, the pie fight always makes me cringe.)...I dunno, Day just feels like a stock Seige-plot, enlivened somewhat by the instabilities amongst the survivors. Elements of its story always hit poor notes with me...

Dawn also has the "siege plot" element in it (after the survivors manage to close & "clean up" the mall and turn it into their home), but unlike Day it is not confined to it. One of the things that makes Dawn more complex than Day, plot-wise.


Like portraying military men that gleefully put an exhausted comrade in mortal danger just because he's getting laid and they aren't. Yet are so loyal to the rest of their group as to be driven to murderous rages by anyone increasing the danger to their comrades....Even Rhodes's meltdown was SO pronounced I asked myself from the cafeteria meeting where Rhodes was going to have the female lead shot for not kissing up to him how the other soldiers could feel safe this constantly armed nutjob wouldn't decide to plug one or more of them for some perceived slight to his position. I had one brief moment of hope the first time I saw it when Steele thought it was a joke and tried to play it off that way, but then Rhodes threatens him, Steele moves to comply...and the others just...sit there placidly.

Not quite. At first Steel and the other soldiers are not taking Rhodes' rants totally seriously, but when he starts to point guns and threatens to shoot Steel to let everyone know that he means business, the other soldiers stand up and put their hands on their guns, getting ready just in case the situation escalates into a shoot-out between them. After Steel complies with Rhodes' orders and Sarah is given no choice but to sit down or die, the tension between the soldiers goes away and they all sit down again. But now it is totally clear to everyone who is in command. Rhodes is not kidding and he is willing to do what the others are not quite ready to do: kill people who don't obey orders.

Also, Miguel was picked on by the other soldiers not so much because he was Sarah's boyfriend, but because they saw him as a coward (which he basically was, until he loses one arm to a zombie bite and then gains the courage to sacrifice his own life to make the other soldiers pay for their cruel behavior towards the civilian team.)

[shootemindehead]

A well written, passionate post there, Shoot.

I'd say that objectively Day of the Dead is a better film for many of the reasons you listed ... subjectively Dawn of the Dead holds a higher position in my heart ... but Day of the Dead has gained a hell of a lot of ground on Dawn over the years while Dawn has remained where it has always been in my affections. And this isn't to say I didn't love Day of the Dead when I first saw it - because I did - but when I first saw Dawn of the Dead it blew my mind.

Essentially I'm at a point now where I love them both equally.

I think I said this earlier in the thread, but as I've got older Day has grown even more in my estimations. I think Dawn appeals to our youthful sides - especially if you saw it as a youngster - while Day of the Dead's completely different tone riggles its way into you as an adult.

Cheers Mini. Thankfully, it looks somewhat coherent, even though it was written in the middle of the morning with a bout of insomnia! :lol: Work is tough today, even if it is working from home. :bored:

I saw both when I was a kid and while I really liked 'Dawn of the Dead', it was 'Day of the Dead' that actually scared me...really scared me and that left a lasting impression. I already liked horror films and my parents never censored what I could watch, so I'd seen a lot of things, but nothing impacted on me like Romero's film. I still get tense looking at the opening scene and the moaning and wailing of the dead still creeps me out. It's just an expertly put together film, in a way that 'Dawn of the Dead' could never be and the level of despair (even for the zombies) creates an atmosphere that is sorely lacking in far too many "horror" films, which I believe play things way too safe.

In terms of actual horror, 'Day of the Dead' is light years ahead of every film in the (sub) genre, including its predecessor.

- - - Updated - - -


Dawn also has the "siege plot" element in it (after the survivors manage to close & "clean up" the mall and turn it into their home), but unlike Day it is not confined to it. One of the things that makes Dawn more complex than Day, plot-wise.

Every film in Romero's quad is a "siege" film and just because there is a "complexity" of location in 'Dawn of the Dead', it doesn't make it a better film. The most complex is 'Land of the Dead', which is the worst of the series. I don't count 'Diary of the Dead' as the same universe and I don't count 'Survival of the Dead' at all.



Not quite. At first Steel and the other soldiers are not taking Rhodes' rants totally seriously, but when he starts to point guns and threatens to shoot Steel to let everyone know that he means business, the other soldiers stand up and put their hands on their guns, getting ready just in case the situation escalates into a shoot-out between them. After Steel complies with Rhodes' orders and Sarah is given no choice but to sit down or die, the tension between the soldiers goes away and they all sit down again. But now it is totally clear to everyone who is in command. Rhodes is not kidding and he is willing to do what the others are not quite ready to do: kill people who don't obey orders.

Also, Miguel was picked on by the other soldiers not so much because he was Sarah's boyfriend, but because they saw him as a coward (which he basically was, until he loses one arm to a zombie bite and then gains the courage to sacrifice his own life to make the other soldiers pay for their cruel behavior towards the civilian team.)

The "military" men in 'Day of the Dead' are reservists and national guard. So they're weekenders, not exactly used to a strict military code. Plus, they occupy space in a world that has gone to pieces where codes and honour mean nothing. It's entirely plausible that in such a world, sides would be taken, even if there is no real sense in it. Rhodes is a bolted on psychopath, whose breakdown manifests itself in a complete control fixation. His determination to exercise this fixation in threats to shoot anyone who doesn't comply comes as a shock to everybody, as you correctly point out. The problem is that neither side trusts the other, with one side completely oblivious to the actual nature of the operation that has been set up and both realise that the situation is rather hopeless, which compounds any issue that the two sides may have. With Rhodes thrown into the mix, that becomes an explosive cocktail.

You're also correct that Miguel has become a whipping boy for some of the soldiers. But, it's clear that most of the men don't really care about Miguel, or for what they're doing for that matter. They seem happy to get tanked up and roll a few doobies and that makes perfect sense. But Miguel was probably always disliked in the unit and there is a palpable sense of jealousy that he's getting some with Sarah (although their "relationship" barely functions).

[MinionZombie]

I saw Dawn a few months after seeing Day during my formative years ... Dawn had the wow factor of its sense of scale (and I've always loved how Dawn is shot and edited - something which Day doesn't have, unfortunately - I love that look and editing rhythm of the films GAR edited, the sheer volume of different shots etc) and Day had a shock factor for me. I was stunned by the gore and by the language in the film - it really did bowl me over, but in a good way. It has been in the years since I first saw it that the tone of the film, the characterisation, and the story have really evolved for me - the layers have been peeling back more and more and more, so as a result Day has been a film that continually gets greater each time I watch it.

I loved Dawn from the get go, but I've also watched it so many times I've kind of watered it down for myself in-doing-so. That said, a few viewings ago - having already seen the film soooo many times - I experienced the opening scenes of Dawn like I'd never had before. The sense of panic, and speed of the film (world building, editing, the forcefulness of the acting - the urgency of the situations), really left me stunned - it was great getting a new experience out of a film I was so familiar with. I think part of that was, again, being older and seeing new things in the film.

[nectarsis]

For me, Dawn captures something that the other movies in the series lack. It is a realism to the characters (the core group) and the bond they develop. They are very relatable. They have personality differences and they argue/fight at times, but they ultimately look out for one another. I find it very easy to be engaged with the group, their actions, their decisions, etc. Even when they screw up (with disastrous results) I don't find myself second guessing them, or screaming WTF. It has become rare (if not unheard of) that the zombie genre focuses on a group working together without interpersonal conflicts driving the main plot. In Dawn, the bulk of the movie highlights the struggle to survive against the zombies.

The Mall then sends it over the top. Who hasn't dreamed of having an entire mall as their personal playground?

Stated better than I could. lol :cool:

Night is what got me hooked as a kid, but Dawn is a top 5 movie (all genres) ever.

[Furiousbunny]

My favorite changes by the mood I'm in at the moment and I think it would be impossible to pick just one of the original three off hand as they all have their strengths and charms. Night has this creepy old school horror feel that has been truly lost over time, Dawn has this massive scope (for the time) and a group of relatable characters that you just want to root for, and Day is a primal force showing the collapse of humanity to the point that the undead are a sympathetic element, for example Logan butchering them like cattle.

[rees1977]

love dawn of the dead dont think much of the remake but the 70s version is fantastic i dont like these new age zombies the fast moving i mean there dead so rigger should have set in so they would not move that fast the classics are the best x

- - - Updated - - -

day of the dead is cool my wife goes all soppy when she sees bub she a weirdo

[LivingDeadGuy]

Dawn of the Dead (original) was never my favorite of Romero's movies but i would take it over the 2004 remake by Zack Snider any day. The remake may have had better special effects but it was offensive to me with it's racist, sexist, and homophobic stereotypes. What I love about Romero as a director is that he doesn't reinforce negative stereotypes with his characters he just shows people in society the way they really are.