By far this is the best zombie film I have ever seen. It is definitely one of the best films I have ever seen. Before I start oogling over this film and analyzing it I will suggest a book for you all to read.
By Kim Paffenroth. This book explains the movies by Romero in depth. In my opinion it is critical to understanding zombie films and oneself.
Firstly I have to say there are few films today and possibly in Hollywood history that make the viewer stop in the midst of the film and reflect on oneself. On watching this film I had no idea I would be reflecting and pondering so much on the cross by the end. The film is a film inside a film. Basically it is the story of a bunch an average kids from Pennsylvania making a film about the zombie virus killing the entire world. The film they made is intended as a diary to document the truth of what really went on. The ironies come in when they start to question the intent of the film. Why are they making it and what is really true. At first it seems enough to ignore but then it doesn't seem so simple after a friend shoots herself after running over three zombies. (she is a christian) The question stands
It seems easy enough to ignore until you stop detaching yourself. Something the main filmmaker is unable to do. It seems documenting
is more important than looking into his own heart. Am I detached? Do Zombies matter? The girl shot herself one may speculate because she realizes that they were people with a family perhaps and a life. The are real. Or did she do it because she was alive? In any event she survives and they go to a hospital. From then on the story pursues taking you deeper and deeper until you find yourself asking
One of the lines in the film that grasped me was
It seems in this world far too many have a camera in their hands so to speak and we can't feel. The truth is smeared into a point of view. If not a camera person then we all want to watch. Why? The film pointed out that we have become desensitized by all the information and so much of it is distortion because we never asked the question.
At one point after being robbed by the national guard one character points out.
Brilliant! I was floored with the depth in the film. Oddly enough I wonder how many got it though? I say again Romero is a Christian. So then you ask what did I miss? Well it's there. 'Them is us.' It was stated brilliantly.
. What does death symbolize? Truth. Absolute truth. We all must die. It's not a movie about the media. It's about us. You. Me. All of us. We either hold the camera or watch the chaos ensue and like those gladiator fights in Rome we die each time we cheer.
The man in the film stated it aptly after shooting a zombie dead
Far too much in this world of ours is too easy. Ravi Zacharias states it like this
Again I ask what have we become? Outside the cross I do not see a way to answer completely.
I was reading an article today in New York Magazine. The cover story was
Stating it as one who has arrived. (see article here http://nymag.com/news/features/43893/ ) Ironically they ultimately place the blame on the parents. I find this puzzling. For one thing they want the child to know it is wrong for them to do wrong. They want them to tell the truth but they blame themselves in the end. Now it's true it is the parents responsibility to parent and train their child in the way they should go but what use is it to the child if they grow up thinking my mom or dad doesn't even think I'm wholly accountable for my actions?
I believe the parent might think that because they like the people in diary of the dead are holding the camera. I think they do not want the truth. I do not think they have the truth. At one point in the film the girlfriend of the main filmographer suggests that they put themselves in this secure vault effectively sealing themselves off from the world. Effectively making themselves
the main guy filming says something to the effect of
If allot of people were honest they too would admit they do not want to be cut off from this world. As dirty and as filthy as unreliable, untruthful, and dishonest as this world is. As many people that clapped after that film was done how many of us would go into that vault and be saved?
John Stott, Rector Emeritus of All Souls London, brilliantly points out that
(Stott, Basic Christianity, 63)
It seems my friends we all know the verdict and we all know how the movie ends. We choose that for ourselves. The only question is do you want to change the ending? Do you want truth? Do you want Christ? Do you want Jesus? Is it really going to be
Gospel of the living dead.
Firstly I have to say there are few films today and possibly in Hollywood history that make the viewer stop in the midst of the film and reflect on oneself. On watching this film I had no idea I would be reflecting and pondering so much on the cross by the end. The film is a film inside a film. Basically it is the story of a bunch an average kids from Pennsylvania making a film about the zombie virus killing the entire world. The film they made is intended as a diary to document the truth of what really went on. The ironies come in when they start to question the intent of the film. Why are they making it and what is really true. At first it seems enough to ignore but then it doesn't seem so simple after a friend shoots herself after running over three zombies. (she is a christian) The question stands
what have we done?
the truth
am I living or dead?
Am I a zombie?
How can I be made alive?
With so many spins on the truth it all becomes noise.
are we even alive?
It used to be us vs. us. now it's us vs. them. The only problem is them is us.
The death of death.
The man in the film stated it aptly after shooting a zombie dead
it was to easy. take this from me.
Science has given us improved means to reach some of our damnable ends. That is not true of all of science that's not true of all of the means. But it is true that many of our technologies have only made us more sophisticated in our evil.
I was reading an article today in New York Magazine. The cover story was
why kids lie.
I believe the parent might think that because they like the people in diary of the dead are holding the camera. I think they do not want the truth. I do not think they have the truth. At one point in the film the girlfriend of the main filmographer suggests that they put themselves in this secure vault effectively sealing themselves off from the world. Effectively making themselves
dead to the world
why would I want to be cut off from this world. I have to film!
If allot of people were honest they too would admit they do not want to be cut off from this world. As dirty and as filthy as unreliable, untruthful, and dishonest as this world is. As many people that clapped after that film was done how many of us would go into that vault and be saved?
John Stott, Rector Emeritus of All Souls London, brilliantly points out that
Much that we take for granted in a 'civilized society' is based upon the assumption of human sin. Nearly all legislation has grown up because human beings cannot be trusted to settle their own disputes with justice and without self-interest. A promise is not enough; we need a contract. Doors are not enough; we have to lock and bolt them…Law and order are not enough; we need the police to enforce them. All this is due to [humanity's] sin. We cannot trust each other. We need protection against one another. It is a terrible indictment of human nature.
It seems my friends we all know the verdict and we all know how the movie ends. We choose that for ourselves. The only question is do you want to change the ending? Do you want truth? Do you want Christ? Do you want Jesus? Is it really going to be
Us Vs. Them?
Last edited by neohxc; 02-16-08 at 01:18 AM.
Reason: paragraphs