Moral of the story: Kids are really stupid.

The Movie: 28 Weeks Later, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Recommendation: 28 Days Later. So, me.
Reason: I love the first movie. Had to see the second one.

The primary criticism I've heard of this movie is of the combat scenes, which are edited in fast, harsh cuts that make it difficult to understand properly what's going on. There are two important sequences that are put together this way, and I can't disagree with the critics more-I think this technique is essential to establishing the movie's atmosphere. The initial battles with the Infected in the previous movie were treated similarily-they're confusing, constructed of quick cuts, and it's on the aftermath we linger. The confusion and panic that the shots evoke contrasts heavily with the calm moments, lending them greater weight.

I'm still not certain how I feel about 28 Weeks Later. It was a good movie, well constructed, but the characters seemed a little light. Kudos to the military in the movie for taking the exact precautions that were necessary (except for the idiots who were examining Infected without eye protection). I thought the overarching strategy that was employed was effective and well executed. The protagonists (and we'll use that term really loosely) were believable, at the very least.

I feel that the plot weakened around the children who had to play the lead. Held up against Hannah, they just don't work. Hannah wasn't quite as dumb as these two. I mean, every zombie movie revolves around someone either going crazy or doing something stupid. These two kids, though, might just win the Nicole Award For Excellence In Zombie Movie Idiocy-at least Nicole went after a useful, living animal.

-126/365 down, 239/365 to go

Zombie movie. No zombies.

The Movie: Assault on Precinct 13, directed by John Carpenter
Recommendation: Me
Reason: I read an article (referenced in one of my previous posts) that called Assault on Precinct 13 John Carpenter's zombie movie. Therefore, had to see it.

So the ghoulies in this film aren't zombies, but a swarm of gang members determined to overrun the police station. Instead of the usual band of mismatched survivors thrown together by chance, we have a witness, some cops, some receptionists and some criminals. The zeds have guns (but they did that in Dawn of the Dead 1978 and Land of the Dead too). The stage is set for a siege, and John Carpenter succeeded in pulling off the claustrophobia and intensity he needed to.

Like Hitchcock before him, Carpenter faked out the censors to keep a critical (and unexpected) death scene in the film. I'll be watching the remake of this movie later in the year, but I really strongly doubt that the 2005 movie includes that particular moment. I have my doubts about the 2005 version in general, especially after seeing this one.

This wasn't such a bad way to kill some time. It's not the greatest movie of all time, but it's likeable enough. As usual, the action and horror directors of the 70's and early 80's pushed the envelope in unanticipated directions. Good for them. I miss that kind of daring in filmmaking.

-96/365 down, 269/365 to go

My love is conditional

The Movie: Zombi 2, directed by Lucio Fulci
Recommendation: Me
Reason: Shark vs. Zombie vs. mostly naked diver.

I like zombie movies, really I do. When I watch things like Zombi 2 and House of the Dead, it's really hard to remember that. I tried to like this one based on its charming bad acting and hideous special effects. I managed to make it through the entire eye-gouging and the whole aforementioned fight scene pretty well, but the rest of the film was a trial in stupidity. There's something to be said for heroes and heroines who don't just stand around waiting to be eaten. Shambling zombies should win through superior numbers, not through apparent idiocy.

So that's the deal. It was like House of the Dead, without the video game clips and with added gore. I'm starting to get desensitized to the sight of exposed intestines, which I'm not sure is entirely normal. Then again, it's not like I'm giggling as loops of guts fly at the camera. I think I'm still fine. Oh wait, no, I do laugh when that happens in Shaun of the Dead. I'm going to hell.

I think we need to see more revolutionary zombie flicks like Night of..., Shaun of...
and 28 Days Later. I supposed for completeness' sake I should also pick up copies of that atypical Z-movie classic Assault on Precinct 13, just for Carpenter's shot at the genre. And I don't know about any more mondo flicks. I think I only need one eye-gouging in my life, thanks.

-60/365 down, 305/365 to go