My thoughts on "Survival of the Dead"

[livingdeadboy]

Hey all, First and foremost this won't be a long review (in fact it's going to be painfully short), I'm out of town right now and don't have the time to write a crazy big in depth review. I went to the midnight madness screening of Survival last night. In a nutshell, I really enjoyed the movie. From the get go though, I'm pretty sure a majority of you are going to tear this poor movie to shreds. And I base that on practically everyones thoughts and feelings on his last two films. I'll give it this, I enjoyed it more then Land, and it had a higher entertainment value than Diary. Now the reason I think this movie won't sit well with people is the ridiculus odd ball and comical tone of the movie. I'm quite sure the movie doesn't take itself seriously at all. The actors chew the scenery with their sometimes over the top and "classic western character" acting. A lot of grimacing at various situations and quippy one liners. Personally I enjoyed the hell out of it. The acting to me has never been a strong point in any of the dead films. So it was nice to see a movie where the actors don't try and make more out of their roles. This need for CGI blood in movies really gets to me, sometimes it's pulled off quite well. And other times, it just looks terribly silly. This movie had a few too many CGI moments that made me shake my head with a bit of sadness. I understand the reason to approach the effects this way, being that the set up time with practical effects is always a bitch. But lets face it, practical always looks better. Anyways, I've already written too much, and I gotta fly. Despite it's flaws, it was a Romero zombie movie, and I'll probably enjoy each and everyone that he makes and releases. I think people take these damn zombie movies a little to seriously when they should just be enjoyed for what they are. Fun. And that's what Survival was, it was fun. I can post more in the next few days about it. I hate writing reviews, so if you ask some questions about the movie I'll do my best to provide spoiler free answers.

[krakenslayer]

Hmm...

[MoonSylver]

From the get go though, I'm pretty sure a majority of you are going to tear this poor movie to shreds. And I base that on practically everyones thoughts and feelings on his last two films. I've been bracing myself for this oncoming shit storm since the movie was first announced... When the movie finally drops, I ain't gonna be surprised at the weeping, moaning & gnashing of teeth at all.

[rongravy]

Where can I find the trailer? I bet this will harder for me to see in the theater than Diary was. Bummer.

[bassman]

Where can I find the trailer? Unfortunately there's no official trailer yet. I imagine there will be pretty soon seeing as how the film just got picked up for distribution. There's a work print trailer floating around the net, but it's not too impressive because of the quality. Thanks for the review, LDB!

[DubiousComforts]

I've been bracing myself for this oncoming shit storm since the movie was first announced... When the movie finally drops, I ain't gonna be surprised at the weeping, moaning & gnashing of teeth at all. I wrote this more than a year ago in this very forum: "Awesome, an untold number of months of fan bitching and belly-aching begins!" Maybe we can start a support group?

[Monrozombi]

I wrote this more than a year ago in this very forum: "Awesome, an untold number of months of fan bitching and belly-aching begins!" Maybe we can start a support group? Thats my main question, "When did it become the 'cool' thing to attack Romero on every front about every film he's released this decade?"

[MoonSylver]

Thats my main question, "When did it become the 'cool' thing to attack Romero on every front about every film he's released this decade?" Since Day was released & every one was pissed because it wasn't "Dawn pt II" (at the time)

[shootemindehead]

...the ridiculus odd ball and comical tone of the movie. Oh well...fuck that then. Don't want comedy in my zombie flicks thanks you and if the "comedy" in 'Dawn of the Dead' is anything to go by, it might be better not to see it. Not much chance of that though either way...

[Trin]

Thats my main question, "When did it become the 'cool' thing to attack Romero on every front about every film he's released this decade?" It's cool to do what everyone else is doing until the cool people start doing something else and then it's not cool. Not cool at all. Land and Diary have garnered a lot of negativity, especially early after their release, and yes that caused some pitch-fork mobs to form loosely based around sentiment. But that's all just smoke blowing around the fire. No one takes it seriously when someone says, "I hated it" without reasons. Look at some of the well thought out attacks and you'll see they center around certain specifics of each movie. You'll also see that where the movies deserved accolades they get them even from the haters. There are very, very few people who hate either Land or Diary on every front. And Dawn, the crown jewel of zombie films, gets attacked in those areas where it is weak. Fewer weak areas = fewer attacks, but it gets attacked nonetheless. I really hope Survival gives me cause to come on here and not be a hater.

[bassman]

I would say that Dawn has MORE weak areas than his last two flicks.

[DjfunkmasterG]

I would say that Dawn has MORE weak areas than his last two flicks. DAWN has more weak areas? Did we see the same film? DAWN is a masterpiece next to that shit pile they call Land of the Dead. Diary on the other hand I enjoy, maybe because it has that Night of the Living Dead vibe to it and it was more serious than goofy.

[bassman]

DAWN has more weak areas? Did we see the same film? DAWN is a masterpiece next to that shit pile they call Land of the Dead. Dawn is a more enjoyable film. On that I agree. But as for how the films were made and put together....Land is a better achievement.

[Monrozombi]

I would say that Dawn has MORE weak areas than his last two flicks. Please elaborate on this one, i'm very curious to hear what Dawn's weak areas are.

[bassman]

Please elaborate on this one, i'm very curious to hear what Dawn's weak areas are. For starters the acting, the cheese, the effects, the music....