Question about Dawn of the Dead 2004

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:21 pm

There's a scene about 3 quarters the way through the film were the group are all preparing the buses for escape. There's a song playing with what sounds like a female vocalist - it's got a sort of halfway punkish sound to it and i believe the chorus is the band moaning "woe is me". It's really cool sounding but i can't seem to find the name of the band or track itself. Even wiki doesn't list it under the music section on it's entry. Anyone know?

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:00 am

Found it.

It's "The Hangman's Song" by Tyler Bates. Not sure who gets credit for each instrument in the track but at least i found it.

I'm surprised no one replied to this thread. It was such a great movie.

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:08 am

Great movie? Well, l'd say it had its moments...could have been worse I guess. They took one of the classics of modern horror cinema, stripped it of nearly all the social criticism and turned it into a stylish actionhorror film.
At least it's miles better than the Resident Evil movies

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:51 am

Blah blah blah social criticism. That's all people ever talk about when it comes to the Dead movies. Is that all they had to offer? Some boring, pretentious commentary? It seems people lose sight of the fact that the original trilogy, in the end - still movies about rotting corpses feasting on stupid people.
My friend, you're right about the stylish part, but there's nothing wrong with that. To compare it to the Resident Evil films is sort of insulting though. I think if you go back and look again you'll see the skill and effort that was implemented into the production of this film. I have some arguments to make for once -

- There isn't a single loose end (such as Michael the tv salesman actually being bit during the downtown scene)

- You understand unspoken elements between even the smallest of characters (Bart's lament at the loss of Dairy Queen fat chick from a simple "Yeah, that sucks too")

- Characters don't overplay their roles. (Sarah Polley's chick just lost her boyfriend in the beginning and never even tells anyone what happened directly)

- Actual surprises besides shock treatment (I hated the head security guy at first, CJ. You really want Sarah Polley to smack him in the face until right before the end. Then suddenly he's trying to save the old guy and gives his life for the team? It's pulled off so well. I was like, "Fuck yeah, CJ!!!")

- The creepy ass television preacher scene.

- Fuck sake, he even states the line!!! When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth. Jesus christ, check out these peppers.

- Gets right into the action (Can't be any longer than 5 minutes before Sarah Polley is driving through the neighborhood gawking at the fucked up/hilarious shit going on around her, and she really takes that hit in the shower!!!)

- That rich guy with the yacht actually exists. I didn't realize that until i lived in a city.

- You really don't expect for Andy to hold up the marker board with blood all over it. It's like he's saying "RAAAAA I'M A FUCKING ZOMBIE!!!" lolololol

- Homage - original cast and crew cameos
- Fun soundtrack with original songs composed specifically for it. not just atmospheric pieces.
- Ben Cozine, he's a twitcher.
- Only 1 bad cg shot (lp explosion in crowd of zombies)

There's like a 1,000 more things i can point out but nobody's going to read a post that big.

DBH87 · Post by **DBH87** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:31 pm

circuitface wrote:Found it.

It's "The Hangman's Song" by Tyler Bates. Not sure who gets credit for each instrument in the track but at least i found it.

I'm surprised no one replied to this thread. It was such a great movie.

yeah it was good but not a patch on the original

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:48 pm

It's all moot because Dario Argento's cut of the original beats both Romero's original and the remake.

JJG · Post by **JJG** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:19 pm

I bought it for $5 from Best Buy yesterday which is about what it's worth to me, not a bad movie though.

1up · Post by **1up** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:22 pm

I love it.

The build up and the whole build up is awesome, but as I mentioned in the sci fi thread, im a sucker for that

it290 · Post by **it290** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:16 pm

I thought it was decent. It did have some social commentary -- the sniper scene on the rooftop for example. Not as good as the original, I agree, but still way better than 'Land of the Dead'.

JusteZero · Post by **JusteZero** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:24 am

Sign me up with the "not as good as the original" crowd.

They could have done without the 28 days later "sprint like a maniac zombies", and the remake rushes to the mall far to early. I was left feeling like they had blasphemed Romero's masterpiece.

If I hadnt seen the original I probably would have enjoyed it alot more, that said I can't unwatch something... though I could see how someone may love the movie if they didn't see the original, It is an action packed romp if nothing else.

JJG · Post by **JJG** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:53 am

The beginning of the movie where the zombie chick moves fast as shit is awesome. If all the zombies in the movie moved and acted like that it would have been soo badass. She didn't really move all that fast I guess but I mean if you have zombies that can actually run after you then you have a whole other issue on your hands.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:20 am

I have been a fan of the originals since i was 8 years old. :/

The only thing i think it could have used was a SWAT raid scene like the beginning of the original, but it would have taken away from the wonder of what all is going on in the outside world. You get that bit of chaos in the beginning and hints from news reports and that's about it, but the effect it creates was purposeful.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:25 am

Necronom wrote:social criticism

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Dude, it's a fucking zombie flick for guys who can't get laid! Might as well just cut out all of the boring bits and just show the action, as they did with the remake. If you want social criticism read Walter Benjamin instead.

nlen83 · Post by **nlen83** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:54 am

I really enjoyed this movie as well. Seeing as all horror/scary movies are funny....at least this one kept me entertained. Its like Dead Rising the movie.

landshark · Post by **landshark** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:42 am

One of my favorite zombie flicks.

TWITCHDOCTOR · Post by **TWITCHDOCTOR** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:00 am

Hey...what a coincidence! I just bought the "two pack" a couple of weeks ago. Yea, "Dawn" is a great zombie flick, although "Land of the Dead" kinda sucks; as in ultra cheesy style.
The originals are great too, I just don't own them yet.
I'm planning on getting Day of the Dead soon. I've seen some footage on youtube and it seems cool.
I've always prefered zombie flicks over slasher flicks.

I also watched(with regret) Resident Evil Apocalypse just a few days ago for the first time, MAN IT SUCKED!!!
But yea, it influenced me enough to play through RE Nemesis (PS) once again! (which was great)
post +1!!!

Oh, I must also mention I picked up the Evil Dead Trilogy at the same time I bought the Dawn/Land remake pack.
Evil Dead is even better than I remember it!
Any thoughts/comments?

DEL · Post by **DEL** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:15 am

CIT wrote;

Dude, it's a fucking zombie flick for guys who can't get laid!

Anyway, the original Dawn & Day are excellent and the new Dawn is good too. Land isn't saying much.

TWITCH wrote;

Oh, I must also mention I picked up the Evil Dead Trilogy at the same time I bought the Dawn/Land remake pack.
Evil Dead is even better than I remember it!
Any thoughts/comments?

Evil Dead II is still my favourite film of all time.....but then I'm a biased Bruce fan.

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:25 am

CIT wrote:
Necronom wrote:social criticism
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Dude, it's a fucking zombie flick for guys who can't get laid! Might as well just cut out all of the boring bits and just show the action, as they did with the remake. If you want social criticism read Walter Benjamin instead.

Just in case you're not drunk/high or anything:
While I didn't get your nonsensical remark about "getting laid" (any freudian interpretation?) I do read Walter Benjamin and totally do not see how this should be an altenative to a clever horror movie. Maybe you should pick up a book again, smartarse? Since you're German I recommend to you "Filmgenres - Horrorfilm" by Reclam so you can catch a little glimpse of that "laughable" social critisicm in Romero's Zombie flicks...Dude

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:40 pm

I used to like zombie movies until it became obvious they are the same fuckin movie played over and over. From dawn of the dead to 28 days later to land of the dead, they don't focus on the zombie threat just the threat of idiotic humans.

Why? because zombies aren't a real threat at least not the ones portrayed in the vast majority of zombie movies. So what do we get? Another poor psychology piece after another bashing us over the head of what happens to selfish people who can't work together.

You want a real zombie movie that's about zombies? Try Army of the Dead.

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:25 pm

The n00b wrote:I used to like zombie movies until it became obvious they are the same fuckin movie played over and over. From dawn of the dead to 28 days later to land of the dead, they don't focus on the zombie threat just the threat of idiotic humans.

Why? because zombies aren't a real threat at least not the ones portrayed in the vast majority of zombie movies. So what do we get? Another poor psychology piece after another bashing us over the head of what happens to selfish people who can't work together.

You want a real zombie movie that's about zombies? Try Army of the Dead.

That's right, the (traditional) zombies themselves aren't very interesting, the element which makes a zombie movie great is how it portrays the people in a crisis situation. What happens when the society collapses and anarchy ensues? There are hundreds of zombie flicks that are very atmospheric and inventive (Zombie Flesh Eaters, The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue, The Blind Dead movies...), but never rise to meet the high standards set by Romero's original trilogy. The most they do is point fingers at governments that do not take responsibility of their misdeeds, or sometimes force the characters to take some moral choices ("who's gonna be sacrificed so the rest can live").

The original Dawn of the Dead is so much more. A masterpiece in every possible way: plot, music, effects and thoughts. The remake was a damn good adrenalin-rush zombie action, with some nice "social criticism" as well, but it still feels a bit cheap.

Seems like the days of the pure, slow-moving zombies are over. The italians already did the the fast zombies in 1980 with "Nightmare City", but it didn't work out so well. Fast forward 22 years: 28 Weeks Later was nice, but the ending was hideously lame. Then we got the DoTD remake and 28 Months Later, and I'm totally feeling like watching the same movie again and again. New thoughts or views on this matter are really scarce.

Then in the marginal/indie scene there are all kinds of zombie bastardisations like the japanese movie "JUNK", in which a zombie even uses the internet to lure victims (!), "Wild Zero", with talking and loving zombies, or "I, Zombie: The Chronicles of Pain", which depicts the feelings of a young man who's slowly turning into a zombie. So zombies go post-modern. What's next?

I'm really looking forward to how the World War Z movie turns out...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Z

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:30 pm

Necronom wrote:Just in case you're not drunk/high or anything:
While I didn't get your nonsensical remark about "getting laid" (any freudian interpretation?) I do read Walter Benjamin and totally do not see how this should be an altenative to a clever horror movie. Maybe you should pick up a book again, smartarse? Since you're German I recommend to you "Filmgenres - Horrorfilm" by Reclam so you can catch a little glimpse of that "laughable" social critisicm in Romero's Zombie flicks...Dude

Well, that's the whole point really. Romero's Dawn of the Dead may be many things, including unique and entertaining, but it certainly isn't especially clever. So it has zombies in a shopping mall? Well whoopdeeshit, I guess that must make it some kind of scathing critique of conspicuous consumerism. Oh gee, I never thought of that, maybe we are the real zombies!
-> Gimme a break! This kind of "social criticism" is about as flat, painfully obvious and one-sided as the characters who inhabit this film.

Besides that, anybody who has seen both Day and Land of the Dead must naturally lose all faith in Romero's filmaking genius.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:48 am

I never thought Romero was a genius. I did like his films though. A little slow paced and depressing but cool.

Land of the Dead is more fun than anything. Certainly doesn't feel like it's in the same universe as the original three. Then again, Dawn and Day never felt much like they were in the same universe as the original Night of the Living Dead either.

Social commentaries are lame. Even the word social commentary is annoying.

TWITCHDOCTOR · Post by **TWITCHDOCTOR** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:45 am

Anyone here remember that old classic zombie flick called "Shock Waves"?(Nazi Zombies) I saw the movie many,many years ago when I was really young, and it was kinda creepy.
I'm thinking about picking this up on DVD soon as well.

While were at it...whats your favorite Resident Evil game?
Mine would be (III)Nemesis, and IV.

Gorecki · Post by **Gorecki** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:09 pm

The best zombie movie ever made is White Zombie starring the legendary Bela Lugosi.

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:35 pm

CIT wrote: Well, that's the whole point really. Romero's Dawn of the Dead may be many things, including unique and entertaining, but it certainly isn't especially clever. So it has zombies in a shopping mall? Well whoopdeeshit, I guess that must make it some kind of scathing critique of conspicuous consumerism. Oh gee, I never thought of that, maybe we are the real zombies!
-> Gimme a break! This kind of "social criticism" is about as flat, painfully obvious and one-sided as the characters who inhabit this film.

Sure, sure... it's very easy to say that now, after 30 years. When Romero did his stuff, he was a pioneer in thought-provoking gore horror, now there are many copycats. And the zombies = consumers allegory is just one funny and witty aspect of the movie, there's a LOT more for you to find.

Besides that, anybody who has seen both Day and Land of the Dead must naturally lose all faith in Romero's filmaking genius.

What are you babbling about? Day of the Dead is greatness. Land of the Dead was OK, too bad for Romero that DoTD remake and 28DL had already stepped on his turf. Check out Romero's old movie "Martin", he does the same intellectual and stylish trick with vampires as he did with zombies. I also liked his movie "Bruiser" from 2000, even though many people hate it. The guy was a genius, just like George Lucas was a genius before he went crazy in 1999.

TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:Anyone here remember that old classic zombie flick called "Shock Waves"?(Nazi Zombies) I saw the movie many,many years ago when I was really young, and it was kinda creepy.
I'm thinking about picking this up on DVD soon as well.

Yeah! Shock Waves is easily the best "underwater nazi zombie" flick. Try "Zombie Lake" if you want to see how it's NOT done.. although there is some nice underwater photography when the zombies are preying on skinny-dipping girls and in the end there is probably the best plot twist EVER.

While were at it...whats your favorite Resident Evil game?
Mine would be (III)Nemesis, and IV.

RE4 is my fave, the rest are too much of masochism. I just kind of wish it would have ended after the castle, because after that it was just "bulk" RE stuff with the tired old Umbrella laboratories and mutants (very well executed, of course).

RE (GameCube) is easily the most beautiful in the series. I thought that Alone in the Dark IV was the best looking survival horror, but I was wrong. The small insects moving in the moist, dark forest and such details are stunning. Also the plot is so full of twists. Never did I suspect that if I entered some mansion in the forest I end up being eaten by a huge shark?!

RE2 has some damn clever situations, especially in the 2nd scenario with "Mr. X" following the player around...

Resident Evil Gaiden - The best dialogue. *Finally* the characters are believable, arguing over if they should trust the girl or if she's a B.O.W. etc. in a very convincing and logical manner. The setting is also among the best in the series, a cruise ship... this is especially interesting for people who have been on the cruise ships between Finland and Sweden as those ships are full of liquorified zombies creeping on the floors

Haven't played the rest. Should I play Code Veronica or Nemesis next?

it290 · Post by **it290** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:28 pm

I like CV over Nemesis, although I think I'm in the minority in that. Nemesis has more gameplay features, but honestly Nemesis popping up every ten minutes just annoys the hell out of me.

1up · Post by **1up** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:51 am

Shocky wrote:... I'm really looking forward to how the World War Z movie turns out...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Z

I noticed that this was in the works the other day. Sounds interesting. Looks like its Brad Pitts studio, Plan-B, that will make it?

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:41 am

CIT wrote:
Necronom wrote:social criticism
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Dude, it's a fucking zombie flick for guys who can't get laid! Might as well just cut out all of the boring bits and just show the action, as they did with the remake. If you want social criticism read Walter Benjamin instead.

I was going to say something similar (without the laughter

).

The 'social commentary' in Romero's original NOTLD was something that was played up by fans and critics shortly after release, and snowballed until Romero started to believe his own hype and went on to incorporate aspects of social parallels into his later movies. Although there's definitely an underlying theme, most of the speculation comes from the final scene in NOTLD - which to some casual observers could just be seen as a simple twist.

That said, the DOTD remake isn't a patch on the original - but for a modern zombie flick its better than many.

MX7 · Post by **MX7** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:01 pm

I think it would be very hard to remove social allegory from the equation. Romero was very much influenced by Matherson's 'I Am Legend', and perhaps more specifically, the first film based on it, 'The Last man on Earth'. Both these texts were steeped in themes Cold War panic, much like 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'. This is something we see expressed in unabashed form in 'Night of the Living Dead'. The crisis, the confusion, and the ham fisted response - it's all there.

Horror by it's nature is reactionary, it's always inspired by something that scares us in real life. 'The Host'? Pollution. 'Ginger Snaps'? Puberty. 'Eden Lake'? Chavs/youths. 'Funny Games'? The class divide. 'Ringu'? Urban legends. 'Frankenstein'? Bad science. This is not exactly flipping your world upside-down, is it? So why do people rage so much when you mention that Dawn of the Dead being set in a modern shopping mall is pretty important? Furthermore, I think it's somewhat erroneous that someone who views NOTLD as a Cold War paradigm, or DOTD as a criticism on consumerism is somehow doing so at the detriment to what is undoubtedly the preferred reading; a twitchy, panicky film about people reacting to a disaster.

For this is exactly what a good zombie horror film is; a disaster movie. You can replace the undead in all of Romero's zombie films with an eathquake, say. However, the narrative thrust will always be carried by the drama involved in the interrelationship between the principal (human) characters. This is what's so great about them: they are simple, and can potentially be decoded in a simple way. This is certainly the reason why I enjoy them so much.

But I never did understand this reaction in a certain type of genre film fans: since when did having a perceived social agenda ruin your horror film?

BryanM · Post by **BryanM** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:30 pm

I'm a fan of the Walking Dead. Some scenes are worth quite the knee slap.

I love the scene where Rick punches the serial killer so hard his hand explodes.

Necronom wrote:Resident Evil

I saw the first two of these recently. I'm very confused how a flashing strobe light can keep turning a profit, or how it can be rated around the same as the Silent Hill film.

The worst cinematography I've seen in a commercial product - there's a cut every 2.5 seconds.

"What're those guys up in the sky who don't matter to the scene doing? Let's look!"
"Oh wait look the guy on the ground is throwing a punch."
"Oh look now someone else is throwing a punch."
"Hey that black blob zombie over there is saying something let's look at it."

Banging your head against a desk once or twice could give its fans the headache they crave. Very odd.

Also am annoyed how the first one was like a Cube wannabe for the first few minutes.

shmups.system11.org

Question about Dawn of the Dead 2004

Question about Dawn of the Dead 2004

Confessions of a B Movie Actor

Re:

Re:

Re: Question about Dawn of the Dead 2004

Re: