I really tried to like this movie... - Dawn of the Dead Discussion

[–] leightoncollins 10 years ago

To be fair I can't imagine what it would be like to watch for the first time now. I saw it when I was young and I'd never even seen a shopping mall, so the location was really exciting in the 80s.

As far as scares, there are a couple of cheap jumps like the caretaker zombie who attacks Stephen. The real scares are the more human issues; the tv studio descending into chaos and going off air, the boredom of having full access to all the glamour of consumerism, the fear of seeing people you know come back as zombies...

Try day of the dead, it's slower and more serious but worth a watch.

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[–] KingCobra686 10 years ago

I am in the same boat. I had seen the remake plenty of times, but I watched the original for the first time today. I tried to appreciate it for being one of the first zombie movies, but it was difficult. There have been so many excellent and unique zombie movies since this came out and it was difficult not to compare this to all of them. If this exact movie was released today under a different name, it would be a complete bomb.

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[–] i-am-so-original 10 years ago

Here's the thing. It was groundbreaking and most likely mesmerizing for its time, but it's TERRIBLY dated now. Anyone who preaches this as the greatest zombie movie ever made most likely saw it when it came out and it was the cool new thing. But yes, nowadays, everything, and I mean everything, about this movie is dated.

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[–] Degree7 10 years ago

That's part of its charm.

It's a B-movie, through and through.

~ That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras.

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] metalgazza 9 years ago

Totally agree. I prefer and love Night of the Living Dead by a country mile.

This one has good gore effects for its time, but the acting was bad, it was too drawn out and the music was diabolical.

I have tried and tried to really like this films at different stages of growing up and my adult years. But at 33 I still don't get the appeal

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[–] ElectricWarlock 9 years ago

I prefer Night of the Living Dead as well. I'd place this in third after Night of the Living Dead and Day of the Dead as a matter of fact. The movie isn't bad by any means, just a bit too long. I think they could've trimmed 20 or 30 minutes from the running time and it still would've been just as good. It just feels a bit long. But other than that, I do enjoy the movie very much.

Others call it dated and maybe that's true but that doesn't bother me at all. I like when movies feel like a product of their time because it makes me feel as if I'm actually there in that place and time.

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[–] model101 9 years ago

Here's the thing. It was groundbreaking and most likely mesmerizing for its time, but it's TERRIBLY dated now. Anyone who preaches this as the greatest zombie movie ever made most likely saw it when it came out and it was the cool new thing. But yes, nowadays, everything, and I mean everything, about this movie is dated.

Well I saw it is one of the best zombie films to date, and I wasn't even born when it came out.
I didn't even see it until the late 1990's when I rented the VHS from the nearby towns video store.

So what does that make me?
Sure it's dated but then so is The Terminator and I still regard that movie as the greatest movie of all time.
Just like The Thing starring Kurt Russell is dated and yet I still love that movie to death.

I can look past those things and I enjoy this movie allot.

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[–] salemstwat 9 years ago

The OP is nuts.

Dawn of the Dead (78) is the best horror film ever.

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[–] ddwookie 9 years ago

I saw it for the first time in '87 and was mesmerized. Yes, the make up is nowhere near as awesome as Day of the Dead, but this is still my favorite movie of all time. I can understand how those born in the mid to late 90's raised on the remake (also good, but could have been so much more and needed a different title), 28 day/weeks later and things of that caliber wouldn't appreciate a movie with slower, wobbly, grey/blue zombies, but give this a chance. The more you watch it the more you'll see in it.

It's only my opinion. Climb down.

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[–] jtwizzle901 9 years ago

Just watched it for the first time... Really had to force myself to watch it until the end . Maybe in another decade or so another viewing will change the mind.

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[–] wantutosigh 9 years ago

I first saw this movie 5 years ago and I loved it. I enjoy it more everytime I see it. It's my top 1 or 2 all time zombie movies. Such a unique creepy fun movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBYznVnNTI4 RIP Bob Probert

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[–] pseudonil 9 years ago

Same here, had to practically force myself to watch it until the very end. Seems the rating is heavily skewed by nostalgia.

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[–] imustkillthequeen 9 years ago

Yeah yeah, the entire world needs to think exactly like you, otherwise there's something fishy going on. Get over yourself.

The reason for its high rating is it's the best film in its genre.

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[–] pseudonil 9 years ago

The reason for its high rating is it's the best film in its genre.

And I'm perfectly fine with that opinion. I don't see it but I do realize that others might. No need to be so touchy with your replies, man.

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[–] enfilmigult 9 years ago

Eh, he had kind of a good reason. "Nostalgia" means people's memories playing tricks on them, more or less, and not that yes, they actually and with clear eyes think it's a terrific movie. You were being a little insulting.

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[–] pseudonil 9 years ago

Nostalgia isn't necessarily a bad thing. I mean, I still think Final Fantasy 7 is one of the greatest games ever made. Was it amazing and groundbreaking at the time? Probably, yes. Does it hold up today? IMO, not really. And yet, because of nostalgia, I still have a very fond opinion of the game. So to me it seemed like this might be the case here, didn't really expect people to start getting offended over that, though I guess I see what you mean.

Thanks for being civil!

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[–] enfilmigult 9 years ago

Thanks for the response...have to admit I don't quite get where you're coming from though, I think. "Holds up" like, if it were a brand-new game/movie released today would it be impressive?

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[–] pseudonil 9 years ago

Sorry, I don't think I actually get emails from IMDb when someone responds to me, hence the delay. Well, yes, that's pretty much what I meant! In a lot of ways, FF7 would be extremely unimpressive if it was released today in the state it was released in 1997, despite being groundbreaking for jRPG's at the time. Likewise with this movie, if I saw it 30-something years ago, I'd be more likely to get what the hype was about than I am having only recently watched it.

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[–] mmserrano4 9 years ago

Shaun of the Dead is better

And I really really hoped I wouldn't die

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[–] strawdawg 9 years ago

You're right, it's not a bad movie it just isn't NEAR as good as NOTLD. Didn't even come close, nor did DOTD. As far as I'm concerned, Romero's only really great film was NOTLD.

So many other zombie films are so much better. Sorry George.

give me a stage where this bull here can rage and though I can fight I'd much rather recite.

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[–] Obeylovesmovies 9 years ago

OP, this movie grows on you if you will give it another try. My first thoughts were exactly the same as yours but then i watched it again and again. Now i'm watching it on youtube, yeah it's on youtube now! the extended version, and can't stop smiling. If you can look past the dated special effects, which are part of the charm imo, you will see a great story , fun music, and the humour in the movie (intentional and unintentional) + the chemistry between Roger and Peter, which carries the movie. "We've got this man - We got this by the ASS!" My favourite line XD !

Digital makes the perfect art, but 0's and 1's don't break my heart.

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