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The Day After Tomorrow
An American weather scientist makes the most important discovery of our time when strange storms start happening all over the planet. The usual happens with this sort of thing, nobody listens to him, especially when he says a Superstorm is coming and will kill almost everything in the Northern Hemisphere.
As it happens, his son is trapped in New York as the Superstorm strikes the Northern Hemisphere and he braves the extreme weather by trekking across America on foot to save his son.
Hence a big ‘told you so’ and a thumbs down for the U.S Government.
That’s really about as far as the plot goes and it’s carried out as well as it could have been.
The film is the usual Emmerich disaster film that shows various landmarks of America being smashed and hammered by natural disaster.
The movie borders at times on laugh out loud funny, but it’s unintentional sadly. Some of the ‘science’ used is cod at best and the dialogue is rip-roaringly cheesy.
If the viewer was to watch the film and imagine it as a spoof, it’s actually much more fun than watching it as a seriously made film.
It’s also extremely stereotypical with the portrayal of anything outside of the USA, which is another Emmerich touch that’s seen in Independence Day and 2012.
The effects are top notch though and they’re actually quite thrilling to watch. The action too is pretty well choreographed and exciting, especially when tidal waves hit New York.
The acting sadly is pretty substandard. Jake Gyllenhaal is wooden and unbelievable as Dennis Quaid’s son.
Dennis Quaid is probably the best of the lot, though he has a look on his face that says "Why am I doing this?"
Still though, he hits his mark professionally.
All in all it’s a popcorn brainless CGI adventure that promises lots of flash, tries to have an air of scientific depth to it but simply just delivers, well, flashy CGI adventures and funny dialogue.
My rating 65%
An American weather scientist makes the most important discovery of our time when strange storms start happening all over the planet. The usual happens with this sort of thing, nobody listens to him, especially when he says a Superstorm is coming and will kill almost everything in the Northern Hemisphere.
As it happens, his son is trapped in New York as the Superstorm strikes the Northern Hemisphere and he braves the extreme weather by trekking across America on foot to save his son.
Hence a big ‘told you so’ and a thumbs down for the U.S Government.
That’s really about as far as the plot goes and it’s carried out as well as it could have been.
The film is the usual Emmerich disaster film that shows various landmarks of America being smashed and hammered by natural disaster.
The movie borders at times on laugh out loud funny, but it’s unintentional sadly. Some of the ‘science’ used is cod at best and the dialogue is rip-roaringly cheesy.
If the viewer was to watch the film and imagine it as a spoof, it’s actually much more fun than watching it as a seriously made film.
It’s also extremely stereotypical with the portrayal of anything outside of the USA, which is another Emmerich touch that’s seen in Independence Day and 2012.
The effects are top notch though and they’re actually quite thrilling to watch. The action too is pretty well choreographed and exciting, especially when tidal waves hit New York.
The acting sadly is pretty substandard. Jake Gyllenhaal is wooden and unbelievable as Dennis Quaid’s son.
Dennis Quaid is probably the best of the lot, though he has a look on his face that says "Why am I doing this?"
Still though, he hits his mark professionally.
All in all it’s a popcorn brainless CGI adventure that promises lots of flash, tries to have an air of scientific depth to it but simply just delivers, well, flashy CGI adventures and funny dialogue.
My rating 65%
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Rodent's Reviews: Delivering The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly In Film
Rodent's Reviews: PART DEUX!
Rodent's 1950-Present Sci-Fi And Futuristic Fantasy Movies
Rodent's Reviews: PART DEUX!
Rodent's 1950-Present Sci-Fi And Futuristic Fantasy Movies
Resident Evil: Retribution was my one-pointer
X
Favorite Movies
Critters 2: The Main Course
Once again Grover's Bend is attacked by the vicious, hungry little creatures. This time, some eggs left behind from the first movie have hatched just as Brad Brown returns to his home town, 2 years after the events of the first movie.
This time round, the Bounty Hunters have also returned and have brought Charlie back with them too.
The movie is definitely a product of bad writing and production.
It tries to be bigger than the first film in the action stakes and expands the overall event to the entire town, rather than the 'trapped in house' horror that the first film made so well.
You might think it would be a good thing to do this, if it were simply a re-run of the first film's plot it would simply be a cash in sequel.
Sadly though, the wooden acting, childlike writing and the dropping of the horror genre for a more comedy orientated basis make for a very poor night in with a DVD.
Many of the original ideas from the first film have also been dropped. There's no continuity in the sequel.
There are also massive plot holes in regard to the town's folk when they refer to the events of the original movie.
The puppetry is one good point. They're brilliantly modelled yet feel different to the first movie in the way they 'act'.
The overall effects though aren't improved from the first. If anything, they're worse.
All in all, a terrible sequel to a cracking little build up.
My rating 15%
Once again Grover's Bend is attacked by the vicious, hungry little creatures. This time, some eggs left behind from the first movie have hatched just as Brad Brown returns to his home town, 2 years after the events of the first movie.
This time round, the Bounty Hunters have also returned and have brought Charlie back with them too.
The movie is definitely a product of bad writing and production.
It tries to be bigger than the first film in the action stakes and expands the overall event to the entire town, rather than the 'trapped in house' horror that the first film made so well.
You might think it would be a good thing to do this, if it were simply a re-run of the first film's plot it would simply be a cash in sequel.
Sadly though, the wooden acting, childlike writing and the dropping of the horror genre for a more comedy orientated basis make for a very poor night in with a DVD.
Many of the original ideas from the first film have also been dropped. There's no continuity in the sequel.
There are also massive plot holes in regard to the town's folk when they refer to the events of the original movie.
The puppetry is one good point. They're brilliantly modelled yet feel different to the first movie in the way they 'act'.
The overall effects though aren't improved from the first. If anything, they're worse.
All in all, a terrible sequel to a cracking little build up.
My rating 15%
X
Favorite Movies
Critters 3
After hitching a ride on the underside of a family's truck, the malicious little monsters find themselves inside the family's crummy apartment block in the city, surrounded by various disparate residents of the apartments.
It's up to the residents to find a way to hide and fight and find a way to save themselves.
Charlie once again shows up to aid the hapless victims.
It's a better film than the second movie. The writing feels as though more time has been taken and the plot is a little closer to the first film with the claustrophobic 'haunted house' genre.
The acting is another plus point. Though cheesy at times and wooden on occasion, it's far better than the second film.
There is a nice subplot with the main family though. It's a broken home storyline with Dad, Daughter and Son having to reconcile their differences.
Bit part actress Frances Bay makes a nice appearance as an elderly lady in the block.
Leonardo Di Caprio makes his feature film debut too. He's certainly at his usual. His acting is exactly the same as modern day.
The creatures look has been altered for this film too. They're more cartoony and feel more viewer friendly, almost as if the filmmakers were trying to appeal to a younger audience, though with the plot and writing being the way it is, I'm not sure it's right for kids.
Bit of a miss affair really to do that.
Another bad point though is the constant background music, like the kind you find in a TV movie. It's badly written and even in the quieter scenes, it's still very prominent.
All in all it's a vast improvment on the awful second movie but nowhere near the original.
My rating 55%
After hitching a ride on the underside of a family's truck, the malicious little monsters find themselves inside the family's crummy apartment block in the city, surrounded by various disparate residents of the apartments.
It's up to the residents to find a way to hide and fight and find a way to save themselves.
Charlie once again shows up to aid the hapless victims.
It's a better film than the second movie. The writing feels as though more time has been taken and the plot is a little closer to the first film with the claustrophobic 'haunted house' genre.
The acting is another plus point. Though cheesy at times and wooden on occasion, it's far better than the second film.
There is a nice subplot with the main family though. It's a broken home storyline with Dad, Daughter and Son having to reconcile their differences.
Bit part actress Frances Bay makes a nice appearance as an elderly lady in the block.
Leonardo Di Caprio makes his feature film debut too. He's certainly at his usual. His acting is exactly the same as modern day.
The creatures look has been altered for this film too. They're more cartoony and feel more viewer friendly, almost as if the filmmakers were trying to appeal to a younger audience, though with the plot and writing being the way it is, I'm not sure it's right for kids.
Bit of a miss affair really to do that.
Another bad point though is the constant background music, like the kind you find in a TV movie. It's badly written and even in the quieter scenes, it's still very prominent.
All in all it's a vast improvment on the awful second movie but nowhere near the original.
My rating 55%
X
Favorite Movies
Critters 4
Charlie has found himself frozen in suspended animation with a bunch of Crite eggs by his side. When he is awakened from his slumber, many years have passed and he finds himself in space, on a salvage ship with a small crew.
The eggs of course have hatched and it's up to Charlie to explain to the crew what's going on and help find a way to survive.
This is the final nail in the Critters coffin. After the third film's improvement over the second film, this one for some reason decided to go for full on comedy mixed with bad humour, cliche plotlines, gimmicky ideas and terrible acting.
The movie as a whole feels very much like Jason X with the hammy/wooden/talentless acting and the plot setting. The writing and effects feel like an extremely low budgetted TV movie too.
What makes the movie almost watchable though is that it knows it's terrible.
The filmmakers excel in utilising the fact that their movie is a complete pile and it actually makes for an entertaining, tongue in cheek, knowingly bad sci-fi.
Brad Douriff is about the best part of it all though. He's cheesy and at his usual self.
All in all, it's knowingly bad but still relatively entertaining because of this. Nowhere near as good as the third or the original, but still better than the second film.
My rating 30%
Charlie has found himself frozen in suspended animation with a bunch of Crite eggs by his side. When he is awakened from his slumber, many years have passed and he finds himself in space, on a salvage ship with a small crew.
The eggs of course have hatched and it's up to Charlie to explain to the crew what's going on and help find a way to survive.
This is the final nail in the Critters coffin. After the third film's improvement over the second film, this one for some reason decided to go for full on comedy mixed with bad humour, cliche plotlines, gimmicky ideas and terrible acting.
The movie as a whole feels very much like Jason X with the hammy/wooden/talentless acting and the plot setting. The writing and effects feel like an extremely low budgetted TV movie too.
What makes the movie almost watchable though is that it knows it's terrible.
The filmmakers excel in utilising the fact that their movie is a complete pile and it actually makes for an entertaining, tongue in cheek, knowingly bad sci-fi.
Brad Douriff is about the best part of it all though. He's cheesy and at his usual self.
All in all, it's knowingly bad but still relatively entertaining because of this. Nowhere near as good as the third or the original, but still better than the second film.
My rating 30%
X
Favorite Movies
Phew! Should be done now. Updated list of my reviews after all that rubbish 
PAGE 1
1 - Young Guns 90%
2 - A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010 Remake) 2%
3 – 2012 15%
4 - Cowboys And Aliens 85%
5 – Cloverfield 80%
6 – Leon 75%
7 – Dreamcatcher 30%
8 - Alien 3 Definitive Version Vs Theatrical Release 90%
9 - The 'Burbs 85%
10 - Starship Troopers 90% [11]
PAGE 2
11 – Predator 99%
12 – Robocop 100%
13 - John Carpenter's The Thing 95%
14 - Alien Vs Predator and Aliens Vs Predator Requiem 25% & 70%
15 - Terminator Foursome (1-4) 90%, 95%, 10% & 75%
16 - The Fourth Kind 35%
17 - Jurassic Park 80%
18 - Pirates Of The Caribbean Original Trilogy (1-3) 95%, 97% & 96%
19 - The Dark Crystal 65%
20 – Tremors 90% [27]
PAGE 3
21 – Paul 30%
22 - Full Metal Jacket 85%
23 - Demolition Man 70%
24 - Dumb And Dumber 95%
25 - Ridley Scott's Robin Hood 15%
26 - Christopher Reeve Superman Foursome (1-4) And Superman Returns 97%, 99%, 70%, 0% & 50%
27 - Batman Begins 90%
28 - The Dark Knight 95%
29 – Ghostbusters 98%
30 - Star Wars Franchise (1-6) 100%, 100%, 98%, 20%, 5% & 55% [46]
PAGE 4
31 – Critters 89%
32 - The Matrix Trilogy (1-3) 90%, 75% & 75%
33 – Arachnophobia 65%
34 - Super 8 45%
35 - The Shawshank Redemption 100%
36 - The Abyss 98%
37 - Troll Hunter 10%
38 - John Carpenter's The Fog 95%
39 - Dog Soldiers 95%
40 - The Shining 99% [58]
PAGE 5
41 - Indiana Jones Foursome (1-4) 100%, 99%, 100% & 1%
42 - Robert Rodriguez' Predators 85%
43 - Sam Raimi's Spider Man Trilogy (1-3) 85%, 95% & 45% [66]
44 - Rocky Franchise (1-6) 95%, 93%, 75%, 80%, 50% & 94%
45 - The Lost Boys 95%
46 – Evolution 90%
47 - Alien Foursome (1-4 Includes A Rerun Of Review #8) 100%, 100%, 90% & 40%
48 - Jurassic Park Trilogy (1-3 Includes A Rerun Of Review #17) 80%, 65% & 10%
49 - Gremlins Duo (1 & 2) 85% & 65%
50 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Original Movie) 90%
51 - 30 Days Of Night 80% [83]
PAGE 6
52 - From Dusk Till Dawn 96%
53 - I, Robot 60%
54 - Steven Spielberg's War Of The Worlds 50%
55 – Blade Runner 100%
56 – Armageddon 70%
57 – Signs 80% [89]
PAGE 7
58 - The Quick And The Dead 90%
59 – Ransom 100%
60 - The Big Lebowski 100%
61 - Ghostbusters Duo (1 & 2 Includes A Rerun Of Review #29) 98% & 70% [93]
PAGE 8
62 - Pitch Black 85%
63 - The Day After Tomorrow 65%
64 - Independence Day 88%
65 - Cat's Eye 89%
66 – Equilibrium 80%
67 - Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes 100%
68 - The Karate Kid (Original Movie) 95% [68th Review 100th Movie]
69 - Die Hard Franchise (1-4) 95%, 40%, 85% & 87%
70 – Poltergeist 90%
PAGE 9
71 - The Passion Of The Christ 100%
72 - Paranormal Activity 5%
73 - Paranormal Activity 2 15%
74 - Pulp Fiction 98%
75 - Critters Foursome (1-4 Includes A Rerun Of Review #31) 89%, 15%, 55% & 30%
76 – Unforgiven 100%
77 - Black Hawk Down 95%
78 - The Fly (1986 Remake) 94%
79 - Lake Placid 65% [116]
PAGE 10
80 - Back To The Future Trilogy (1-3) 98%, 85% & 80%
81 - Lethal Weapon Foursome (1-4) 97%, 98%, 90% & 93%
82 - Star Trek Franchise (1-11) 85%, 95%, 87%, 83%, 86%, 89%, 78%, 32%, 80%, 84% & 98%
83 - Of Mice And Men 96%
84 - An American Werewolf In London 94% [136]
PAGE 11
85 - Predator 2 (Includes A Rerun of Reviews #11 & #42) 99%, 99%, 85%
86 – Jaws 100%
87 - American Pie Original Trilogy (1-3) 95%, 85% & 85%
88 – Godzilla 86%
89 - The Negotiator 92%
90 - The Green Mile 101% [144]
PAGE 12
91 - The Mist 98%
92 - Silent Hill 58%
93 – Highlander 86%
94 - The Goonies 97%
95 – Batman 93%
96 - Batman Returns 94% [150]
PAGE 13
97 - I Am Legend 83%
98 – Titanic 97%
99 - Saving Private Ryan 101%
100 – Avatar 96% [100th Review, 154th Movie]
PAGE 14
101 - The Simpsons Movie 70%
102 - District 9 84%
103 – Slither 88%
104 – Wanted 68% [158]
PAGE 15
105 – Casino 100%
106 - No Country For Old Men 94%
107 - Blown Away 50%
108 - The Cowboys 87%
109 - K-PAX 83%
110 - The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (1-3) 95%, 96% & 97%
111 - Edward Scissorhands 93% [167]
PAGE 16
112 - The Expendables 90%
113 - Little Shop Of Horrors 100%
114 - 3:10 To Yuma 74% [170]
PAGE 17
115 – Trainspotting 98%
116 - A Bug's Life (Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon) 91%
117 - Cars (Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon) 38%
118 - Monsters Inc. (Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon) 100%
119 - WALL-E(Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon)101%[175]
PAGE 18
120 - The Incredibles (Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon) 97%
121 – Gladiator 98%
122 - The Dark Knight Rises (Includes A Rerun Of Reviews #27 & #28) 90%, 95% & 98%
123 - King Kong 87%
124 - Mortal Kombat 65% [180]
PAGE 19
125 – Appaloosa 38%
126 – Legend 91%
127 - Dead Calm 92%
128 - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button 83%
129 - Top Gun 71%
130 - Mission: Impossible Foursome (1-4) [130th Review, 189 Movies In Total] 89%, 91%, 96% & 96%
131 – Twins 87%
PAGE 20
132 - Pearl Harbor 12%
133 - Tremors Trilogy (1-3 Includes A Rerun Of Review #20) 90%, 23% & 11%
134 – Paulie 86%
135 - Hard Target 78%
136 - Universal Soldier 88%
137 - Sudden Death 83% [197]
PAGE 21
138 – Timecop 92%
139 - The Crow 88%
140 - American History X 100% [140th Review, 200th Movie]
141 - Gone Baby Gone 83%
PAGE 22
142 – Waterworld 91%
143 - The Fifth Element 93%
144 - Cop Land 94%
145 - Mississippi Burning 100%
146 - Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy (1-3) (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) [208] 97%, 82% & 27%
PAGE 23
147 - Field Of Dreams (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 90%
148 - Stand By Me (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 97%
149 - Rain Man (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 100%
150 - Big Trouble In Little China (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 86%
151 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 100%
152 - Innerspace (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 90% [214]
PAGE 24
153 - Short Circuit Duo (1 & 2) (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 89% & 63%
154 - Commando (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 68%
155 - Explorers (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 88% [218]
PAGE 25
156 - The Untouchables (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 92%
157 - Flight Of The Navigator (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 96%
158 - Platoon (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 98%
159 - Uncle Buck (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 90%
160 - Weird Science (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 79%
161 - The 40 Year Old Virgin 81% [224]
PAGE 26
162 - The A Team 82%
163 - Dante's Peak 91%
164 – Volcano 84%
165 – Hancock 54%
166 - True Grit Vs True Grit 96% & 96% [230]
PAGE 27
167 – Watchmen 94%
168 - John Carpenter's The Thing And The Thing (Includes A Rerun And Small Edit Of Review #13) 95% & 42%
169 – Scrooged (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 93%
170 – Bad Santa (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 83% [234]
PAGE 28
171 – Home Alone (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 87%
172 – Elf (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 91%
173 – The Grinch (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 78%
174 – Ghost 98% [238]
PAGE 29
175 – Prometheus 89%
176 – Willow 92% [240]
PAGE 30
177 – The Expendables 2 (Includes A Rerun Of Review #112) 90% & 92%
178 – Dredd 96%
179 – Repo Man 98%
180 – Alien Hunter 0%
181 – Two Of The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy 97% & 98% [246]
PAGE 31
182 – Reign Of Fire 23%
183 – Porky’s 87%
184 – Fly Away Home 95%
185 – Rear Window 99% [185th Review 250th Movie]
PAGE 32… The Start Of The New Look Reviews
186 – Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves 94%
187 – Speed And Speed 2: Cruise Control 93% & 4%
188 – Deep Blue Sea 72%
189 – The War Of The Worlds 76%
190 – The Amazing Spider-Man 95%
191 – This Boy’s Life 94% [257]
PAGE 33
192 – Skyline 7%
193 – X-Men The Franchise So Far 84%, 87%, 89%, 81% (Wolverine) & 82% (First Class) [263]
PAGE 34
194 – Vertical Limit 28%
195 – Street Fighter 3%
196 – Eraser 82%
197 – Man On Fire 84%
198 – Jeepers Creepers 87%
199 – Man Of Steel 91%
PAGE 35
200 – Judgment Night 93% [200th Review, 270th Movie]
PAGE 36
201 - Close Encounters Of The Third Kind 101%
PAGE 37
202 - The Bone Collector 68%
PAGE 38
203 - The Star Trek Franchise - 2 Part Rodent’s Revisited and Star Trek Into Darkness 97%
PAGE 39
204 - Chopper 93% [274]
PAGE 40
205 - Pan’s Labyrinth 101%
206 - House Of The Dead 0% [276]
PAGE 41
207 - Kick-Ass Duo 92% & 92%
208 - One Hour Photo 92%
209 - Lawless 97% [280]
210 - Prisoners 100% [281]
PAGE 42
211 - Coraline 99%
PAGE 43
212 - TRON 100% [283]
213 - TRON Legacy 100%
214 - Starman 100%
215 - X-Men: Days Of Future Past 98% [286]
PAGE 43 - PAGE 49
Repeated Reviews Of Franchises And Double Review Posts For The New MoFo Reviews Page
PAGE 1
1 - Young Guns 90%
2 - A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010 Remake) 2%
3 – 2012 15%
4 - Cowboys And Aliens 85%
5 – Cloverfield 80%
6 – Leon 75%
7 – Dreamcatcher 30%
8 - Alien 3 Definitive Version Vs Theatrical Release 90%
9 - The 'Burbs 85%
10 - Starship Troopers 90% [11]
PAGE 2
11 – Predator 99%
12 – Robocop 100%
13 - John Carpenter's The Thing 95%
14 - Alien Vs Predator and Aliens Vs Predator Requiem 25% & 70%
15 - Terminator Foursome (1-4) 90%, 95%, 10% & 75%
16 - The Fourth Kind 35%
17 - Jurassic Park 80%
18 - Pirates Of The Caribbean Original Trilogy (1-3) 95%, 97% & 96%
19 - The Dark Crystal 65%
20 – Tremors 90% [27]
PAGE 3
21 – Paul 30%
22 - Full Metal Jacket 85%
23 - Demolition Man 70%
24 - Dumb And Dumber 95%
25 - Ridley Scott's Robin Hood 15%
26 - Christopher Reeve Superman Foursome (1-4) And Superman Returns 97%, 99%, 70%, 0% & 50%
27 - Batman Begins 90%
28 - The Dark Knight 95%
29 – Ghostbusters 98%
30 - Star Wars Franchise (1-6) 100%, 100%, 98%, 20%, 5% & 55% [46]
PAGE 4
31 – Critters 89%
32 - The Matrix Trilogy (1-3) 90%, 75% & 75%
33 – Arachnophobia 65%
34 - Super 8 45%
35 - The Shawshank Redemption 100%
36 - The Abyss 98%
37 - Troll Hunter 10%
38 - John Carpenter's The Fog 95%
39 - Dog Soldiers 95%
40 - The Shining 99% [58]
PAGE 5
41 - Indiana Jones Foursome (1-4) 100%, 99%, 100% & 1%
42 - Robert Rodriguez' Predators 85%
43 - Sam Raimi's Spider Man Trilogy (1-3) 85%, 95% & 45% [66]
44 - Rocky Franchise (1-6) 95%, 93%, 75%, 80%, 50% & 94%
45 - The Lost Boys 95%
46 – Evolution 90%
47 - Alien Foursome (1-4 Includes A Rerun Of Review #8) 100%, 100%, 90% & 40%
48 - Jurassic Park Trilogy (1-3 Includes A Rerun Of Review #17) 80%, 65% & 10%
49 - Gremlins Duo (1 & 2) 85% & 65%
50 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Original Movie) 90%
51 - 30 Days Of Night 80% [83]
PAGE 6
52 - From Dusk Till Dawn 96%
53 - I, Robot 60%
54 - Steven Spielberg's War Of The Worlds 50%
55 – Blade Runner 100%
56 – Armageddon 70%
57 – Signs 80% [89]
PAGE 7
58 - The Quick And The Dead 90%
59 – Ransom 100%
60 - The Big Lebowski 100%
61 - Ghostbusters Duo (1 & 2 Includes A Rerun Of Review #29) 98% & 70% [93]
PAGE 8
62 - Pitch Black 85%
63 - The Day After Tomorrow 65%
64 - Independence Day 88%
65 - Cat's Eye 89%
66 – Equilibrium 80%
67 - Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes 100%
68 - The Karate Kid (Original Movie) 95% [68th Review 100th Movie]
69 - Die Hard Franchise (1-4) 95%, 40%, 85% & 87%
70 – Poltergeist 90%
PAGE 9
71 - The Passion Of The Christ 100%
72 - Paranormal Activity 5%
73 - Paranormal Activity 2 15%
74 - Pulp Fiction 98%
75 - Critters Foursome (1-4 Includes A Rerun Of Review #31) 89%, 15%, 55% & 30%
76 – Unforgiven 100%
77 - Black Hawk Down 95%
78 - The Fly (1986 Remake) 94%
79 - Lake Placid 65% [116]
PAGE 10
80 - Back To The Future Trilogy (1-3) 98%, 85% & 80%
81 - Lethal Weapon Foursome (1-4) 97%, 98%, 90% & 93%
82 - Star Trek Franchise (1-11) 85%, 95%, 87%, 83%, 86%, 89%, 78%, 32%, 80%, 84% & 98%
83 - Of Mice And Men 96%
84 - An American Werewolf In London 94% [136]
PAGE 11
85 - Predator 2 (Includes A Rerun of Reviews #11 & #42) 99%, 99%, 85%
86 – Jaws 100%
87 - American Pie Original Trilogy (1-3) 95%, 85% & 85%
88 – Godzilla 86%
89 - The Negotiator 92%
90 - The Green Mile 101% [144]
PAGE 12
91 - The Mist 98%
92 - Silent Hill 58%
93 – Highlander 86%
94 - The Goonies 97%
95 – Batman 93%
96 - Batman Returns 94% [150]
PAGE 13
97 - I Am Legend 83%
98 – Titanic 97%
99 - Saving Private Ryan 101%
100 – Avatar 96% [100th Review, 154th Movie]
PAGE 14
101 - The Simpsons Movie 70%
102 - District 9 84%
103 – Slither 88%
104 – Wanted 68% [158]
PAGE 15
105 – Casino 100%
106 - No Country For Old Men 94%
107 - Blown Away 50%
108 - The Cowboys 87%
109 - K-PAX 83%
110 - The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (1-3) 95%, 96% & 97%
111 - Edward Scissorhands 93% [167]
PAGE 16
112 - The Expendables 90%
113 - Little Shop Of Horrors 100%
114 - 3:10 To Yuma 74% [170]
PAGE 17
115 – Trainspotting 98%
116 - A Bug's Life (Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon) 91%
117 - Cars (Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon) 38%
118 - Monsters Inc. (Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon) 100%
119 - WALL-E(Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon)101%[175]
PAGE 18
120 - The Incredibles (Part Of Rodent's 5 Review Pixar Marathon) 97%
121 – Gladiator 98%
122 - The Dark Knight Rises (Includes A Rerun Of Reviews #27 & #28) 90%, 95% & 98%
123 - King Kong 87%
124 - Mortal Kombat 65% [180]
PAGE 19
125 – Appaloosa 38%
126 – Legend 91%
127 - Dead Calm 92%
128 - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button 83%
129 - Top Gun 71%
130 - Mission: Impossible Foursome (1-4) [130th Review, 189 Movies In Total] 89%, 91%, 96% & 96%
131 – Twins 87%
PAGE 20
132 - Pearl Harbor 12%
133 - Tremors Trilogy (1-3 Includes A Rerun Of Review #20) 90%, 23% & 11%
134 – Paulie 86%
135 - Hard Target 78%
136 - Universal Soldier 88%
137 - Sudden Death 83% [197]
PAGE 21
138 – Timecop 92%
139 - The Crow 88%
140 - American History X 100% [140th Review, 200th Movie]
141 - Gone Baby Gone 83%
PAGE 22
142 – Waterworld 91%
143 - The Fifth Element 93%
144 - Cop Land 94%
145 - Mississippi Burning 100%
146 - Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy (1-3) (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) [208] 97%, 82% & 27%
PAGE 23
147 - Field Of Dreams (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 90%
148 - Stand By Me (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 97%
149 - Rain Man (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 100%
150 - Big Trouble In Little China (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 86%
151 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 100%
152 - Innerspace (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 90% [214]
PAGE 24
153 - Short Circuit Duo (1 & 2) (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 89% & 63%
154 - Commando (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 68%
155 - Explorers (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 88% [218]
PAGE 25
156 - The Untouchables (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 92%
157 - Flight Of The Navigator (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 96%
158 - Platoon (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 98%
159 - Uncle Buck (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 90%
160 - Weird Science (Part Of Rodent's 15 Review 1980s Marathon) 79%
161 - The 40 Year Old Virgin 81% [224]
PAGE 26
162 - The A Team 82%
163 - Dante's Peak 91%
164 – Volcano 84%
165 – Hancock 54%
166 - True Grit Vs True Grit 96% & 96% [230]
PAGE 27
167 – Watchmen 94%
168 - John Carpenter's The Thing And The Thing (Includes A Rerun And Small Edit Of Review #13) 95% & 42%
169 – Scrooged (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 93%
170 – Bad Santa (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 83% [234]
PAGE 28
171 – Home Alone (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 87%
172 – Elf (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 91%
173 – The Grinch (Part Of Rodent’s 5 Christmas Movie Marathon) 78%
174 – Ghost 98% [238]
PAGE 29
175 – Prometheus 89%
176 – Willow 92% [240]
PAGE 30
177 – The Expendables 2 (Includes A Rerun Of Review #112) 90% & 92%
178 – Dredd 96%
179 – Repo Man 98%
180 – Alien Hunter 0%
181 – Two Of The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy 97% & 98% [246]
PAGE 31
182 – Reign Of Fire 23%
183 – Porky’s 87%
184 – Fly Away Home 95%
185 – Rear Window 99% [185th Review 250th Movie]
PAGE 32… The Start Of The New Look Reviews
186 – Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves 94%
187 – Speed And Speed 2: Cruise Control 93% & 4%
188 – Deep Blue Sea 72%
189 – The War Of The Worlds 76%
190 – The Amazing Spider-Man 95%
191 – This Boy’s Life 94% [257]
PAGE 33
192 – Skyline 7%
193 – X-Men The Franchise So Far 84%, 87%, 89%, 81% (Wolverine) & 82% (First Class) [263]
PAGE 34
194 – Vertical Limit 28%
195 – Street Fighter 3%
196 – Eraser 82%
197 – Man On Fire 84%
198 – Jeepers Creepers 87%
199 – Man Of Steel 91%
PAGE 35
200 – Judgment Night 93% [200th Review, 270th Movie]
PAGE 36
201 - Close Encounters Of The Third Kind 101%
PAGE 37
202 - The Bone Collector 68%
PAGE 38
203 - The Star Trek Franchise - 2 Part Rodent’s Revisited and Star Trek Into Darkness 97%
PAGE 39
204 - Chopper 93% [274]
PAGE 40
205 - Pan’s Labyrinth 101%
206 - House Of The Dead 0% [276]
PAGE 41
207 - Kick-Ass Duo 92% & 92%
208 - One Hour Photo 92%
209 - Lawless 97% [280]
210 - Prisoners 100% [281]
PAGE 42
211 - Coraline 99%
PAGE 43
212 - TRON 100% [283]
213 - TRON Legacy 100%
214 - Starman 100%
215 - X-Men: Days Of Future Past 98% [286]
PAGE 43 - PAGE 49
Repeated Reviews Of Franchises And Double Review Posts For The New MoFo Reviews Page
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Favorite Movies
Review #216, Movie #287
World War Z
Year Of Release
2013
Director
Marc Forster
Producer/s
Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Ian Bryce
Writer/s
Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, Damon Lindelof, J Michael Straczynski
Cast
Brad Pitt, Daniella Kertesz, Mireille Enos, Sterling Jerins, Abigail Hargrove, Fana Mokoena and David Morse
Notes
After the novel was written and published in 2006, a year later Brad Pitt's company Plan B went head to head with Leonardo DiCaprio's company Appian Way in a bidding war for rights to the make the film.
Novelist Max Brooks had absolutely no input on the film either, but was in favour of Pitt over DiCaprio and supported the changes made from book-film transition.
---
World War Z
Year Of Release
2013
Director
Marc Forster
Producer/s
Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Ian Bryce
Writer/s
Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, Damon Lindelof, J Michael Straczynski
Cast
Brad Pitt, Daniella Kertesz, Mireille Enos, Sterling Jerins, Abigail Hargrove, Fana Mokoena and David Morse
Notes
After the novel was written and published in 2006, a year later Brad Pitt's company Plan B went head to head with Leonardo DiCaprio's company Appian Way in a bidding war for rights to the make the film.
Novelist Max Brooks had absolutely no input on the film either, but was in favour of Pitt over DiCaprio and supported the changes made from book-film transition.
---
Synopsis:
Gerry Lane, a retired UN Investigator, has been spending the past while with his Children as a house Husband, while his Wife goes to work to support them financially.
One morning though, their lives change radically when it appears a virus of some kind is turning people into Zombies.
Gerry must do everything he can to ensure the safety of his family...
... but when the Government calls him back on to duty, Gerry must use every resource he has, and his wits, to save not just his Wife and Children, but also the entire World.
---
Review:
Slammed by some (mainly those who read the book first) and given a thumbs up by others... but WWZ as far as I can tell hasn't managed to garner any actual lovers of the film.
It's a bit of an odd one this...
What the film is, is a solidly pieced together mystery, backed up by some of the best acting in a Zombie movie I've seen, and a ton of action to back it up.
The film then goes into almost the original Resident Evil style haunted house genre in the third act.
As a whole, the film is one long thrill ride of Zombified Gore and never lets up in terms of tension. It's very on-the-edge-of-the-seat exciting from start to end.
Most Zombie movies are labelled as Horrors from the get-go though, but many are just gore fests or Milla Jovovich smashing heads together... World War Z really is a Horror Movie.
It's well crafted in delivery of frights, is nicely toned when it comes to the peril that the characters get in, and the general writing allows you to learn the characters as the film progresses, which adds a little more to the mystery aspects as the characters begin to show their traits.
The film has pretty much everything in terms of the Horror genre; frights, shock, gore, atmosphere, jumpy bits, paranoia, claustrophobia and a few original ideas when it comes to the creatures as well in terms of their traits.
There are a few quieter scene involved too, which adds a sense of realism to the proceedings. It's not just all out smash'em action.
The way they get from act two into the third act is contrived though, even though the third act is a wonderfully playful series of hide-behind-your-cushion scenes.
The acting though as I said is probably the best I've seen in a Zombie movie.
Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane is brilliantly intelligent. You really believe this guy is a professional at what he does, a Government Investigator.
When he's around his family too is brilliantly played by Pitt. His protective nature toward his family is spot on... even when he near attempts suicide for their protection.
Mireille Enos as Gerry's Wife Karin is also spot on, though she's not seen a massive amount after the first act. She spend most of her time with the kids when Gerry is off across the Globe investigating the virus.
Sterling Jerins and Abigail Hargrove play the Lane Children. Both are similar to Enos in that they aren't seen a huge amount after Gerry goes off on his adventure. Both are good though amongst the chaos and hold the characters well.
Daniella Kertesz plays Segen, an Israeli Soldier who becomes a stalwart pal of Gerry's. Kertesz is great throughout and is key to the plot at a couple points... sadly, she's not really utilised as well as she could have been.
Backup comes from Fana Mokoena, James Badge Dale, Ludi Boeken, Matthew Fox and David Morse. Morse's character is really a non-character though.
As for the action... top marks. There's a lot of CGI involved, however the choreography and photography within the practical effects and the makeup and Zombie effects are outstanding.
The filmmakers have also utilised a style of movement and choreography for the creatures that adds a huge sense of threat and makes your toes really curl when the action gets going.
Slammed by some (mainly those who read the book first) and given a thumbs up by others... but WWZ as far as I can tell hasn't managed to garner any actual lovers of the film.
It's a bit of an odd one this...
What the film is, is a solidly pieced together mystery, backed up by some of the best acting in a Zombie movie I've seen, and a ton of action to back it up.
The film then goes into almost the original Resident Evil style haunted house genre in the third act.
As a whole, the film is one long thrill ride of Zombified Gore and never lets up in terms of tension. It's very on-the-edge-of-the-seat exciting from start to end.
Most Zombie movies are labelled as Horrors from the get-go though, but many are just gore fests or Milla Jovovich smashing heads together... World War Z really is a Horror Movie.
It's well crafted in delivery of frights, is nicely toned when it comes to the peril that the characters get in, and the general writing allows you to learn the characters as the film progresses, which adds a little more to the mystery aspects as the characters begin to show their traits.
The film has pretty much everything in terms of the Horror genre; frights, shock, gore, atmosphere, jumpy bits, paranoia, claustrophobia and a few original ideas when it comes to the creatures as well in terms of their traits.
There are a few quieter scene involved too, which adds a sense of realism to the proceedings. It's not just all out smash'em action.
The way they get from act two into the third act is contrived though, even though the third act is a wonderfully playful series of hide-behind-your-cushion scenes.
The acting though as I said is probably the best I've seen in a Zombie movie.
Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane is brilliantly intelligent. You really believe this guy is a professional at what he does, a Government Investigator.
When he's around his family too is brilliantly played by Pitt. His protective nature toward his family is spot on... even when he near attempts suicide for their protection.
Mireille Enos as Gerry's Wife Karin is also spot on, though she's not seen a massive amount after the first act. She spend most of her time with the kids when Gerry is off across the Globe investigating the virus.
Sterling Jerins and Abigail Hargrove play the Lane Children. Both are similar to Enos in that they aren't seen a huge amount after Gerry goes off on his adventure. Both are good though amongst the chaos and hold the characters well.
Daniella Kertesz plays Segen, an Israeli Soldier who becomes a stalwart pal of Gerry's. Kertesz is great throughout and is key to the plot at a couple points... sadly, she's not really utilised as well as she could have been.
Backup comes from Fana Mokoena, James Badge Dale, Ludi Boeken, Matthew Fox and David Morse. Morse's character is really a non-character though.
As for the action... top marks. There's a lot of CGI involved, however the choreography and photography within the practical effects and the makeup and Zombie effects are outstanding.
The filmmakers have also utilised a style of movement and choreography for the creatures that adds a huge sense of threat and makes your toes really curl when the action gets going.
---
All in all... strong, but far from perfect. Some of the characters aren't used very well, and there's a couple of contrived scenes that slap the realistic nature of the film down a few pegs.
However, for a Zombie movie, it's one of the best modern ones going. Full of great scares, great atmosphere and some really well pieced together connections between the audience and the characters and the action and brilliant effects make it stand out from the crowd.
My rating: 82%
All in all... strong, but far from perfect. Some of the characters aren't used very well, and there's a couple of contrived scenes that slap the realistic nature of the film down a few pegs.
However, for a Zombie movie, it's one of the best modern ones going. Full of great scares, great atmosphere and some really well pieced together connections between the audience and the characters and the action and brilliant effects make it stand out from the crowd.
My rating: 82%
Last edited by The Rodent; 06-10-14 at 01:42 AM.
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I'm going to watch World War Z after the 70's craze. I liked 28 Weeks Later an awful lot; is it anything like that?
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That's what I thought when I saw the trailer. I thought it looked good, but people seemed to want to crap on it like they wanted it to fail.
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Review #217, Movie #288
Night Of The Living Dead
Night Of The Living Dead
Year Of Release
1968
Director
George A Romero
Producer/s
Karl Hardman, Russell Streiner
Writer/s
George A Romero, John A Russo
Cast
Cast
Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Bill “Chilly Billy” Cardille and Kyra Schon
Notes
Notes
The reason Night was initially made was that Romero, Russo and Streiner, who had their own production company were growing bored with making commercials and decided that Hollywood’s “thirst” for bizarre films was the best way to go.
Upon raising $6,000 between themselves and 7 other people they went to work, only to find that more money was needed. Eventually they pooled what they had and raised $114,000 for the film under the name Image Ten Productions due to the 10 production members who were involved.
Most of the Zombified locals in the film are friends and family of George A Romero and other members of Image Ten, with the low budget being spent mainly on makeup effects and some helicopter shots. The small budget also lead to Romero using cheap 35mm black and white film, which in the end, actually makes the film look more memorable.
---
---
Synopsis:
Barbra and her Brother Johnny go to the cemetery on their annual visit to see their Father.
When strangely acting people appear in the distance, Johnny teases Barbra about how they're "after her"...
But Johnny was more right than they would hope when these people suddenly attack them, and Barbra has to flee for her life...
Review:
OK, it's very easy just to harp on about how this film is a Classic, and I will be at some point...
However, the film is packed with a number of inconsistencies, continuity errors, and a few naïve mistakes and almost experimental filmmaking in terms of being one of the earliest creature features.
But putting that aside, this film is the Granddaddy of the modern Horror Genre and gave movie fans the Zombie Genre to boot.
Copied many a time, the original Resident Evil videogame for a start, using the "Haunted House" theme is a prime example along with Shyamalan's Signs... but also, what was seen at the time as a brave move in casting.
Duane Jones as the Hero Ben was controversial at the time, yet according to Romero, he was cast simply due to his audition being the best. In Hindsight, Romero broke the mould and moved cinematic taboos beyond words.
The film itself though, along with the naivety, is ground-breaking in its simplicity. The low budget allows for a raw, gritty and atmospheric film that throws the viewer into a claustrophobic adventure full of, I'll coin a phrase here, "mysterious psychological Horror"... meaning, the Horror comes from not knowing what it is that's actually happening to the world outside the boarded up windows of the house.
It'd also be easy to just point out that the film is quite literally just a small group of people in a house, things outside want to get in and there's some occasional gore.
The simplicity really doesn't affect the film though. Romero's execution of the simple screenplay and script and getting some brilliant, realistic emotion from the actors involved makes the Horror and weird goings-on even more potent.
Which brings me to the acting.
Duane Jones as Ben is a mark of genius. This is by far one of the strongest leading roles I've seen in such a low budget film. Not only is this Jones' first film, he only made 8 films altogether in his career but wow... and all from a guy who was actually an Art Director by trade.
Judith O'Dea also shines in what was one of only a couple roles she ever played. She's more of the typical Damsel in distress after seeing her Brother get chomped but O'Dea makes an absolute legend of a character that has lived in the minds of the populous for nearly 50 years. The fact that O'Dea really didn't like Horror Films as they scared her, shows in her performance too.
We're also treated to Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman and Kyra Schon as the Cooper family. Karl Hardman in particular makes for an almost antagonist role, constantly coming to loggerheads with everyone around him.
Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley and Russell Streiner make up the rest of the group. All give a decent show and make the cramped spaces even more edgy and unbearable.
As for action and effects etc. Again, the low budget gives a different edge than other Zombie films.
Rather than shock factor, the small cramped spaces in the house, varying camera angles, music and lighting are used to create atmosphere alongside the edgy acting.
It makes the film universally recognisable and when some of the gory stuff does start kicking in it gives a bigger impact.
Top stuff.
Barbra and her Brother Johnny go to the cemetery on their annual visit to see their Father.
When strangely acting people appear in the distance, Johnny teases Barbra about how they're "after her"...
But Johnny was more right than they would hope when these people suddenly attack them, and Barbra has to flee for her life...
Review:
OK, it's very easy just to harp on about how this film is a Classic, and I will be at some point...
However, the film is packed with a number of inconsistencies, continuity errors, and a few naïve mistakes and almost experimental filmmaking in terms of being one of the earliest creature features.
But putting that aside, this film is the Granddaddy of the modern Horror Genre and gave movie fans the Zombie Genre to boot.
Copied many a time, the original Resident Evil videogame for a start, using the "Haunted House" theme is a prime example along with Shyamalan's Signs... but also, what was seen at the time as a brave move in casting.
Duane Jones as the Hero Ben was controversial at the time, yet according to Romero, he was cast simply due to his audition being the best. In Hindsight, Romero broke the mould and moved cinematic taboos beyond words.
The film itself though, along with the naivety, is ground-breaking in its simplicity. The low budget allows for a raw, gritty and atmospheric film that throws the viewer into a claustrophobic adventure full of, I'll coin a phrase here, "mysterious psychological Horror"... meaning, the Horror comes from not knowing what it is that's actually happening to the world outside the boarded up windows of the house.
It'd also be easy to just point out that the film is quite literally just a small group of people in a house, things outside want to get in and there's some occasional gore.
The simplicity really doesn't affect the film though. Romero's execution of the simple screenplay and script and getting some brilliant, realistic emotion from the actors involved makes the Horror and weird goings-on even more potent.
Which brings me to the acting.
Duane Jones as Ben is a mark of genius. This is by far one of the strongest leading roles I've seen in such a low budget film. Not only is this Jones' first film, he only made 8 films altogether in his career but wow... and all from a guy who was actually an Art Director by trade.
Judith O'Dea also shines in what was one of only a couple roles she ever played. She's more of the typical Damsel in distress after seeing her Brother get chomped but O'Dea makes an absolute legend of a character that has lived in the minds of the populous for nearly 50 years. The fact that O'Dea really didn't like Horror Films as they scared her, shows in her performance too.
We're also treated to Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman and Kyra Schon as the Cooper family. Karl Hardman in particular makes for an almost antagonist role, constantly coming to loggerheads with everyone around him.
Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley and Russell Streiner make up the rest of the group. All give a decent show and make the cramped spaces even more edgy and unbearable.
As for action and effects etc. Again, the low budget gives a different edge than other Zombie films.
Rather than shock factor, the small cramped spaces in the house, varying camera angles, music and lighting are used to create atmosphere alongside the edgy acting.
It makes the film universally recognisable and when some of the gory stuff does start kicking in it gives a bigger impact.
Top stuff.
---
All in all, the Granddaddy of the Zombie Genre.
Seen often as a Cult Film but made a star of George A Romero and has stood the test of time for nearly 50 years.
Low budget and filmed in Black And White, the edginess of the film comes from the acting and sheer style of photography and never lets up in terms of tension and atmosphere. Romero really knew how to utilise what he had to work with.
A true Classic.
My rating: 94%
Seen often as a Cult Film but made a star of George A Romero and has stood the test of time for nearly 50 years.
Low budget and filmed in Black And White, the edginess of the film comes from the acting and sheer style of photography and never lets up in terms of tension and atmosphere. Romero really knew how to utilise what he had to work with.
A true Classic.
My rating: 94%
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Review #218, Movie #289
Dawn Of The Dead
Dawn Of The Dead
Year Of Release
1978
Director
Director
George A Romero
Producer/s
Producer/s
Richard P Rubinstein, Claudio Argento, Alfredo Cuomo
Writer/s
Writer/s
George A Romero
Cast
Cast
David Emge, Ken Foree, Gaylen Ross, Scott Reiniger and Tom Savini
Notes
Notes
This was Romero’s first collaboration with makeup maestro Tom Savini. Savini was offered the job for Night Of The Living Dead in 1968 but had to turn Romero down through being drafted into the Vietnam War.
Effects expert Savini thought that the blood used in the film was too bright and almost luminous, which according to sources was actually down to a mistake on behalf of the production team… but Romero actually ran with it and talked Savini round due to the comic nature of the blood adding to the comic nature of the film.
The thing to remember about Romero's Dead Series, is that they aren't direct sequels of one another, they're more "spiritual" sequels. As the films progress, the state of decomposition of society does too, but each film should be considered "stand alone".
---
The thing to remember about Romero's Dead Series, is that they aren't direct sequels of one another, they're more "spiritual" sequels. As the films progress, the state of decomposition of society does too, but each film should be considered "stand alone".
---
Synopsis:
After only 3 weeks of a deadly virus taking over the World, Governments and Local Police have become unable to control the situation of flesh eating Zombies.
TV Station workers Stephen and Francine see the future is glum and steal the Network's Helicopter and head out of town, on the way, they meet Roger and Peter, two members of a SWAT Team who have gone AWOL due to the fact that society is failing and the Police Force has pretty much failed already...
... and the four end up finding a Shopping Mall that is devoid of any living people.
Review:
With a bigger budget, about 6 times that of Night, though by reckoning the 10 year gap probably makes it about equal due to inflation, Romero has been able to put to screen a more (ahem) fleshed out story combined with some extra action.
It's also the film that has been parodied, copied and even remade more times than the other Dead films. Has never been bettered though.
What's different really, is that the film feels like and extension of the first, yet bares no resemblance at all.
There's more guts and gore this time round. The film in places feels like an exploitation film in regards to some of the scenes. It feels as though Romero has told the various Zombified extras and stuntmen to stand still and stare just past the camera while they get a good shot of the gore and brains falling out their freshly shot foreheads.
It does add a much different aura to the film than anything really seen before, but gladly, not every action scene or gory scene in the film is laden heavily with exploitative amounts blood and goo.
The general screenplay and story this time round has in hindsight started the trend of Zombie Apocalypse conversations that take place mainly between teenaged boys.
Survivors hiding in a Mall.
It works really, really well too. A couple scenes are a little contrived and some of the filmmaking is still experimental, but the special thing is that it makes the film, like Night, universally recognisable.
There's also a subtle undertone of Consumerism, Anti-Consumerism and satire toward the mentality of people who buy for the sake of buying and what it all really means in the grand scheme of things.
It's cleverly put together.
The acting is also improved. This time round, actual actors, albeit at the start of their careers, were hired.
Ken Foree and Scott Reiniger play Peter Washington and Roger DiMarco respectively.
I wasn't sure about Reiniger to start with, he seems more like a last minute add-on even though he's the first main character we meet but he comes into his own eventually.
Foree though makes this movie. He plays the intelligence of the group. The wise man who leads them and protects the group. Foree is a little amateur at some of the action scenes though but it's fun to hear a heroic tune kick in when he starts getting physical.
David Emge and Gaylen Ross play Stephen Andrews and Francine Parker... together, the two portray almost the lost souls of the film. Completely out of their depth in the chaos and follow Peter and Roger for their own survival. In the Mall though is when they come into their own and become disparate personalities and Francine becomes almost a lifeline back to sanity for Stephen as he becomes lost in the life they're now leading.
The action, as I said, feels more like an exploitation in blood and gore at times.
The thing is though, it makes the film stand out. Not just from the original movie, but anything else too.
There's also more gunplay in this one and a handful of scenes with a gang of raiders in the Mall that adds some excitement.
As I said in the Notes as well, the blood and guts, and some of the sound effects too, have been almost caricatured and turned more toward a "comic" nature by the filmmakers and it makes the whole thing much more fun to watch amongst some of the scares. This film though is much less scary than the first.
---
All in all, an improvement over the original in technical terms, but lacking the actual scares, psychological edge and spooky atmosphere.
It's still a romping gore fest though and contains much more humour and hints of satire amongst the blood and headshots.
There's also added action and some nicely played character dynamics and character arcs going on too.
Another Classic from George A Romero.
My rating: 93%
All in all, an improvement over the original in technical terms, but lacking the actual scares, psychological edge and spooky atmosphere.
It's still a romping gore fest though and contains much more humour and hints of satire amongst the blood and headshots.
There's also added action and some nicely played character dynamics and character arcs going on too.
Another Classic from George A Romero.
My rating: 93%
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you're review of World War Z , Night of the living dead and Dawn of the dead are pretty awesome ! totally agree with you ! continue like this it's pretty interresting to read your though !
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''Haters are my favourite. I've built an empire with the bricks they've thrown at me... Keep On Hating''
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http://threemanbooth.files.wordpress...unkshrug02.gif
''Haters are my favourite. I've built an empire with the bricks they've thrown at me... Keep On Hating''
- CM Punk
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Thanks Buddy!! 
Glad it's working, I've made an ever so slight change to how I write and it seems to be working
Glad it's working, I've made an ever so slight change to how I write and it seems to be working
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Review #219, Movie #290
Day Of The Dead
Year Of Release
Day Of The Dead
Year Of Release
1985
Director
Director
George A Romero
Producer
Producer
Richard P Rubinstein
Writer
Writer
George A Romero
Cast
Cast
Lori Cardille, Joseph Pilato, Terry Alexander, Richard Liberty, Jarlath Conroy and Sherman Howard
Notes
Notes
On the theme of keeping it between close friends and family, Lori Cardille, the lead in this film is the daughter of Bill “Chilly Willy” Cardille, who had a role as an extra in Romero’s original Night Of The Living Dead.
Main antagonist Joseph Pilato was also a friend and past co-worker of Romero’s as he had been in Dawn Of The Dead and Knightriders.
---
---
Synopsis:
A group of survivors hide out in an underground Government Lab. The group are split into two disparate parts, the first is a collection of Ex-Military guys lead by the despotic Captain Henry Jones, holding desperately onto their former way of life but managing to become a rag-tag bunch of undisciplined Ex-Soldiers.
The second part of the group are Civilians and Doctors made up of a Helicopter Pilot, a Radio Expert and a trio of Scientists who are working on a way to "train" the Zombies into becoming less aggressive.
But Captain Jones isn't happy, and declares a kind of Marshall Law if everyone in the facility doesn't do exactly what he commands.
Review:
Now we're talking.
For me, this is my favourite of the original trio of Dead Films, it was also the first of the three I watched as well back when I was a kid.
Looking at it now as an adult and reviewer, it takes the best parts of the first two films, the jumpy psychological scares, the action and bloodsoaked gore and the atmosphere of being in a cramped environment... and combines a heavier hand of the exploitation of blood and guts and then, wraps the whole lot up into a slightly newer setting of isolation with paranoia.
This one definitely feels much more fleshed out than the first two. In a mirror of history, this one has a budget of 6 times the second film... and it really shows too.
The general aura of the film is more about the breakdown of society within a small group and is the epitome of Stephen King's "As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room and we pick sides and dream up ways to kill each other" quote (though the film isn't based on that obviously, I'm just using it as reference).
It's definitely the most interesting psychologically of the original 3 films in that term.
The other thing that makes its mark is the paranoia that builds up. You're never really sure what the main antagonists (Military guys) are up to or what Captain Jones will suddenly decide to do next.
It's an interesting dynamic for the main group of protagonists that the viewer is rooting for.
You get to care about, let's call them Good Guys, you get to care about the Good Guys... and it's all down to the fact that not only do you get to know them and their personalities within the first 15 minutes or so, but it's down to Jones and his Military guys being a bunch of thugs with guns and acting basically like power mad d*ckheads.
Romero draws a very clear line down the centre of the film with who is who, what is what and it allows for the viewer to just sit back and enjoy the ride without doing to much thinking.
As for the acting...
Joseph Pilato plays Captain Jones... Pilato is more a campy, pantomime type villain... but he has a very serious edge to him that stands him apart from other similar styled villains like say, Alan Rickman in Die Hard.
His backup comes from Gary Howard Klar, Ralph Marrero, Phillip G Kellams, Taso N Stavrakis and Gregory Nicotero. Gary Howard Klar is the main of the bunch and he's perfect as the second in command brute-with-no-brains.
Our heroes are...
Lori Cardille as Dr Sarah Bowman. Cardille's not a perfect actress, but in this she's pretty on the money, especially when she's holding her ground against Pilato's bad guy.
Jarlath Conroy also makes a good showing as the Radio Tech Bill McDermott. He's held in the background more than I'd have liked but his character is the most likeable of the group of Heroes and he proves to be an asset to the group of actors too.
Terry Alexander is one of the best on show. He plays Chopper Pilot John. Alexander really nails the role perfectly and manages to be tough and funny at the same time.
Best on show though is by far Richard Liberty as Dr Matthew Logan, nicknamed Frankenstein because of his experiments on Zombies. Liberty plays a very underrated role throughout but is incredibly naturalistic.
Back up comes from Anthony Dileo Jr, John Amplas, and Sherman Howard makes a memorable show as "Bub".
The action and effects, like before, have been ramped up because of budget... but also tweaked to look more realistic as well.
The Zombie effects and makeup are top notch and seem to have been made the standard for pretty much every Zombie film since.
This time round like I said though, the blood and gore scenes are pretty much all for shock factor. Almost every scene involving a Zombie chomping someone has been given the OTT treatment, including having people pulled in half for the sake of it and having a Zombie being experimented on.
I like it though, it stands out and shows the imagination of the filmmakers alongside the new special effects techniques they were obviously learning and some of it is used to expand the legend of the Zombies.
There's also some animatronics going on too, some of which are brilliantly made.
The general atmosphere in the cramped facility is top drawer though and draws the viewer in.
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All in all, my favourite of the first 3 films... packed with action and improved Zombie effects and has put back in some of those scares and jumpy bits that were lacking from Dawn.
The general atmosphere and psychological edge are also top notch.
I'd say this one was probably the best written too.
Another Classic though like Night and Dawn? Almost.
My rating: 90%
All in all, my favourite of the first 3 films... packed with action and improved Zombie effects and has put back in some of those scares and jumpy bits that were lacking from Dawn.
The general atmosphere and psychological edge are also top notch.
I'd say this one was probably the best written too.
Another Classic though like Night and Dawn? Almost.
My rating: 90%
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Favorite Movies
I only saw Day of the Dead once when it was out and didn't like it. Seeing how I love the first two, I should probably try it again.
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Favorite Movies
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User Lists
Review #220, Movie #291
Land Of The Dead
Land Of The Dead
Year Of Release
2005
Director
Director
George A Romero
Producer
Producer
Mark Canton, Bernie Goldman, Peter Grunwald
Writer
Writer
George A Romero
Cast
Cast
Simon Baker, Asia Argento, Robert Joy, Eugene Clark, Boyd Banks, Tom Savini, Phil Fondacaro, Shawn Roberts, John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper
Notes
Notes
Another “keep it in the family” moment came with the casting of Asia Argento as the lead girl. Asia is the Niece of Claudio Argento, who was a producer on Dawn Of The Dead.
Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, the main duo behind Shaun Of The Dead have bit parts as Zombies after Romero gave personal praise for their parody of the Zombie genre.
Stand-up Comedian Boyd Banks and Tom Savini make a show as well as various Zombies and extras… Banks in particular was also part of the Dawn Of The Dead remake a year earlier than this film in 2004, which also had cameos from the casts of Romero’s originals including Ken Foree in one of the best cameos I’ve seen.
In another throwback, Foree was also part of Edgar Wright’s and Simon Pegg’s Shaun Of The Dead when his name appeared as the name of a shop, Foree Electronics.
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Synopsis:
A while after the Zombie Apocalypse, many outposts have been set up across the world.
One of which is in Pittsburgh, and like many others, it has a pecking order.
At the top of the food-chain (ahem), is Paul Kaufman, who has claimed himself as the ruler of the outpost and lives in almost solitude apart from a couple of Yes-Men who surround him.
Kaufman hand picks the upper classes (or people of importance from the past lives they once lead) to live in his high-rise apartment block at the centre of the Outpost living a life of luxury and blissful ignorance of the horrors outside...
... everyone else is either a worker who keeps the building going or a kind of hunter-gatherer who risks their life outside the Outpost by gathering goodies for the "rich people"...
... or failing that, they are forcefully kept out of the building by Kaufman's foot-soldiers and live in squalor in the sealed off slums below, all the while the borders are under threat of attack from the Zombie Hordes.
Review:
Ok... this is a modernised version of Romero's Zombie vision.
For a start, it's all very clinical and clean... in the sense of being not that daring and certainly not that experimental in terms of the filmmaking.
This film does follow in the footsteps of the first 3 in that the Apocalypse is farther along in time, yet even though it's tied to the original trio, it has very, very little additions in terms of expansion.
It feels more like an homage to the first 3 films with the bonus of a new effects crew and some CGI.
The Haunted House theme from Night and also the theme of having a Mall from Dawn as the basis of the story is nodded at with Kaufman's High-Rise building, there's the jumpy bits and scares thrown in too, and some realistic gore from the Day rather than the comic style of the second.
There's also the sociological aspect of having a clear and precise pecking order within the inhabitants of the Outpost, which feels like a nod again to Day.
It is lacking however in the satirical side of things, especially with how the Human Race tends to hang on the ownership of "stuff"... the people inside the building are never really built upon, which was a bit of a missed opportunity.
The humour is also mainly situational, as in, the odd line or two after a hint of action... rather than coming naturally from character traits.
One new thing though, is the film does build on and utilise another part of Dawn and Day... that Zombies can learn. The film uses a premise that came from Dawn when one of the characters hints that Zombies may have vague memories of their past lives, which is why they were attracted to the Mall... and we have the "main Zombie" who has seemingly remembered who he was and has realised what he has become, and starts using tools and even leading a group of Zombies toward the Outpost.
What is a little contrived though, is that this film has a MacGuffin. A pretty rubbish one too. The whole second and third acts are based around retrieving a vehicle. Hmm.
As for the acting... Romero has brought in some bigger names for this one rather than having unknowns in the leads.
Simon Baker is our Hero of the hour as Riley Denbo. Not much is built on in terms of character arc, just the odd hint of things he did in the past like helping out his stalwart friend Charlie.
Baker is good in the role though, he plays it straight and makes a likeable hero.
Asia Argento plays Slack... another "rescue" of Riley's and becomes a generic Female role for Baker to play off. Argento is fun though, and she plays a pretty tough but fallible cookie throughout.
John Leguizamo also plays it straight as Cholo DeMora... Baker's second in Command. His role is really the pivotal role in terms of the second and third acts when he steals the MacGuffin in question when he gets slighted by Kaufman. Leguizamo also plays a tough, unbending Soldier who actually has a soul at times which is nice for the character.
Robert Joy plays Riley's pal Charlie... absolutely brilliant. Joy takes what could have been a basic "best pal" role and turns on his talent and makes probably the most memorable role within the Dead Series. He even has a catchphrase of sorts: "All you have to do is look at me, and you can tell... [insert quip here]"
I loved Joy in this role.
The standout role though is by far the late great Dennis Hopper as Kaufman. Hopper's natural talent for being funny, slimy, tough and also fallible at the same time is perfect for the role.
His role is that of the Human antagonist but I couldn't help actually liking and even agreeing to an extent, some of the things Kaufman does... and it's all from Hopper's enigmatic performance.
Back up comes from Boyd Banks, Tom Savini, Phil Fondacaro, Shawn Roberts (of Resident Evil fame) and Eugene Clarke plays our Head Zombie. Clarke is pretty apt in the role too.
Effects and stuff?
Well, it's is a mix of the olde exploitation stuff we're used to from Dawn and Day, just with the added edge of being pretty realistic.
The practical effects and puppetry, makeup work and so on are brilliant in this one.
The big let down though, is the enhancements to the gore by using CGI.
Now, the CG work on the sets and backgrounds and the greenscreen work is top drawer, it's the CG blood and guts that are a bit iffy. It's not brilliantly rendered tbh and looks like CGI.
A while after the Zombie Apocalypse, many outposts have been set up across the world.
One of which is in Pittsburgh, and like many others, it has a pecking order.
At the top of the food-chain (ahem), is Paul Kaufman, who has claimed himself as the ruler of the outpost and lives in almost solitude apart from a couple of Yes-Men who surround him.
Kaufman hand picks the upper classes (or people of importance from the past lives they once lead) to live in his high-rise apartment block at the centre of the Outpost living a life of luxury and blissful ignorance of the horrors outside...
... everyone else is either a worker who keeps the building going or a kind of hunter-gatherer who risks their life outside the Outpost by gathering goodies for the "rich people"...
... or failing that, they are forcefully kept out of the building by Kaufman's foot-soldiers and live in squalor in the sealed off slums below, all the while the borders are under threat of attack from the Zombie Hordes.
Review:
Ok... this is a modernised version of Romero's Zombie vision.
For a start, it's all very clinical and clean... in the sense of being not that daring and certainly not that experimental in terms of the filmmaking.
This film does follow in the footsteps of the first 3 in that the Apocalypse is farther along in time, yet even though it's tied to the original trio, it has very, very little additions in terms of expansion.
It feels more like an homage to the first 3 films with the bonus of a new effects crew and some CGI.
The Haunted House theme from Night and also the theme of having a Mall from Dawn as the basis of the story is nodded at with Kaufman's High-Rise building, there's the jumpy bits and scares thrown in too, and some realistic gore from the Day rather than the comic style of the second.
There's also the sociological aspect of having a clear and precise pecking order within the inhabitants of the Outpost, which feels like a nod again to Day.
It is lacking however in the satirical side of things, especially with how the Human Race tends to hang on the ownership of "stuff"... the people inside the building are never really built upon, which was a bit of a missed opportunity.
The humour is also mainly situational, as in, the odd line or two after a hint of action... rather than coming naturally from character traits.
One new thing though, is the film does build on and utilise another part of Dawn and Day... that Zombies can learn. The film uses a premise that came from Dawn when one of the characters hints that Zombies may have vague memories of their past lives, which is why they were attracted to the Mall... and we have the "main Zombie" who has seemingly remembered who he was and has realised what he has become, and starts using tools and even leading a group of Zombies toward the Outpost.
What is a little contrived though, is that this film has a MacGuffin. A pretty rubbish one too. The whole second and third acts are based around retrieving a vehicle. Hmm.
As for the acting... Romero has brought in some bigger names for this one rather than having unknowns in the leads.
Simon Baker is our Hero of the hour as Riley Denbo. Not much is built on in terms of character arc, just the odd hint of things he did in the past like helping out his stalwart friend Charlie.
Baker is good in the role though, he plays it straight and makes a likeable hero.
Asia Argento plays Slack... another "rescue" of Riley's and becomes a generic Female role for Baker to play off. Argento is fun though, and she plays a pretty tough but fallible cookie throughout.
John Leguizamo also plays it straight as Cholo DeMora... Baker's second in Command. His role is really the pivotal role in terms of the second and third acts when he steals the MacGuffin in question when he gets slighted by Kaufman. Leguizamo also plays a tough, unbending Soldier who actually has a soul at times which is nice for the character.
Robert Joy plays Riley's pal Charlie... absolutely brilliant. Joy takes what could have been a basic "best pal" role and turns on his talent and makes probably the most memorable role within the Dead Series. He even has a catchphrase of sorts: "All you have to do is look at me, and you can tell... [insert quip here]"
I loved Joy in this role.
The standout role though is by far the late great Dennis Hopper as Kaufman. Hopper's natural talent for being funny, slimy, tough and also fallible at the same time is perfect for the role.
His role is that of the Human antagonist but I couldn't help actually liking and even agreeing to an extent, some of the things Kaufman does... and it's all from Hopper's enigmatic performance.
Back up comes from Boyd Banks, Tom Savini, Phil Fondacaro, Shawn Roberts (of Resident Evil fame) and Eugene Clarke plays our Head Zombie. Clarke is pretty apt in the role too.
Effects and stuff?
Well, it's is a mix of the olde exploitation stuff we're used to from Dawn and Day, just with the added edge of being pretty realistic.
The practical effects and puppetry, makeup work and so on are brilliant in this one.
The big let down though, is the enhancements to the gore by using CGI.
Now, the CG work on the sets and backgrounds and the greenscreen work is top drawer, it's the CG blood and guts that are a bit iffy. It's not brilliantly rendered tbh and looks like CGI.
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All in all, a couple little additions, but nothing that'll win awards.
Land is definitely the most soulless of the films, so far, and some of the CG effects aren't great.
It is still a fun adventure for Romero's Dead fans who can spot all the little nods to the other films and will entertain Zombie fans who are just after some popcorn brainless blood and action.
My rating: 84%
All in all, a couple little additions, but nothing that'll win awards.
Land is definitely the most soulless of the films, so far, and some of the CG effects aren't great.
It is still a fun adventure for Romero's Dead fans who can spot all the little nods to the other films and will entertain Zombie fans who are just after some popcorn brainless blood and action.
My rating: 84%
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Favorite Movies
I still haven't seen Day (I rented it through Netflix awhile back and the damn disc was cracked in half), but I've seen all the other movies in the series, including the god-awful Diary of the Dead and Survival of the Dead. Night will always be my favorite, not just because of how influential it is, but because it's the most suspenseful and claustrophobic.
Just curious, Rodent, but would you recommend any of Romero's other films? I've seen bits and pieces of Creepshow, and it didn't look like my kind of thing (Stephen King should stay behind his typewriter, not in front of the camera). But I'm curious about his other films, which I never hear talked about.
Just curious, Rodent, but would you recommend any of Romero's other films? I've seen bits and pieces of Creepshow, and it didn't look like my kind of thing (Stephen King should stay behind his typewriter, not in front of the camera). But I'm curious about his other films, which I never hear talked about.
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