LAND OF THE DEAD

[Woodson]

George Romero is returning to familiar territory with another zombie flick, this time a follow-up to his successful OF-THE-DEAD series, LAND OF THE DEAD. The film will follow the events in NIGHT, DAWN and DAY OF THE DEAD, when zombies have all but taken over the world and the remaining humans are holed up in a walled-in city (with the wealthy living in fortified skyscrapers). Meanwhile anarchy reigns in all surrounding areas with our living dead evolving and getting faster and smarter. Romero will direct the film from his own script. Oddly, Romero had been trying for some time to get the film DIAMOND DEAD off the ground and despite the help of producers Tony and Ridley Scott, this project has leapfrogged ahead. While producers described the film as NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD meets THE ROAD WARRIORS, it does seem to have a little bit of 28 DAYS LATER mixed in there as well. The success of the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake earlier this year no doubt had a hand in getting another OF THE DEAD film greenlit. The project will have a budget between $10-20 million and will begin filming later this fall in WINNIPEG and Pittsburgh.

This is amazing... maybe finally I will get to meet Mr.Romero, and check out the filming.

[David Jimerson]

That could be interesting. An "I am Legend" story, but with a whole city of people. I'll keep an eye out.

[J.R. Hudson]

I have my own I AM LEGEND inspired story going right now (writing sucks). I welcome this coming DEAD film with open arms, except, I wish George would write and let someone else Direct. He's not much of a DIrector.

[Cheesesailor77]

It'll be interesting to see how Romero's writing and directing have evolved since 'Day'.

Don't Ask me why, but in the last year I've become a Zombie whore... well... not literally, i just mean I've been consuming all things zombie... well, not really, I just, fuckit.

Anyway, this is made more interesting by the fact that I hate just about every zombie movie i bother to investigate. Night of the Living dead seems to be the strongest, and 28 days later is ok... yep, that's about it.

I'm looking forward to see what Romero does with 'Land', until then, I'm making my own mark on the Zombie landscape *;) i'll keep yeah posted

[J.R. Hudson]

That is true. For the most part any film that has Zombies is a bad film and it is usually the fans of the genre that like it or some cult movie. I love Zombie films after watching Night of the Living Dead when I was a child. But they just usually are not good films.

My favorites (In no particular order)

Night of the Living Dead
Dawn of the Dead
Day of the Dead
Return of the Living Dead
Dawn of the Dead 04
28 Days Later (Kind of a sub-genre zombie film)

I think the Italian ones are horrible but fun in a weird way.

[Woodson]

speaking of 28 Days Later, the sequel is in the works...

28 Weeks Later.

[Stas_Tagios]

That is true. *For the most part any film that has Zombies is a bad film and it is usually the fans of the genre that like it or some cult movie. *I love Zombie films after watching Night of the Living Dead when I was a child. *But they just usually are not good films.

John, while I would agree that zombie movies have the potential, as do many B-movies, to suck, whether due to limitations of budget or the limitations of the director, writer, and other talent involved, I think Romero's "Dawn of the Dead," with the exception of a few minor quibbles, is a fantastically-directed, written, and acted film.

With the exception of its third act, I also really dug "28 Days Later," and thought it was a great re-imagining of Romero's film (which in turn borrowed conceptually from Matheson's "I Am Legend," which was turned into the pretty crappy "Omega Man," starring Chuck Heston).

The "Dawn" remake plugged along swimmingly for its first half hour, but then got so stupid and annoying (as did its characters) I wound up truly despising it. Ironic that Romero has tried so long to get funding for another "Dead" movie, but only got it after some less-talented director remade Romero's own classic (and likely for a higher budget than Romero's ever worked with).

I never warmed to "Night of the Living Dead" nearly as much as to "Dawn of the Dead," perhaps because I found some of the performances a little over-wrought and stilted/mannered, but it's nonetheless a classic and a great piece to study in terms of low-budget, limited location genre film-making.

With the exception of "Dawn" (one of my all-time favorites) and "Night," however, I'm not a big Romero fan; for me, his other films never come close to matching "Dawn" directorially or conceptually. "Land of the Dead" sounds promising, however, and I hope Romero's budget allows him to fully realize his vision.

[HorseFilms]

It makes me happy to see other people who enjoy horror. I'm a confirmed horror nerd and I can't wait to see Romero come back to the series after such a long hiatus.

[J.R. Hudson]

Stas

Im diggin it and you are absolutley right about the 3rd act in 28 Days Later. Although I didnt hate it I did find it to be very unrealistic behaivor from the British Military as well as an almost too predictable sub-plot.

I love DAWN but have reservations still to this day. The Score is very weak with it's 'Mall Music' and the 'Blue Zombies' just are ridiculous compared to the Zombies in DAY OF THE DEAD which is my favorite of the three films.

I too am not a ROMERO fan as I just dont think he's a great filmmaker (good even) and his sucess lies basically in a couple cult classics.

As far as the new DAWN 04? I loved it and it is defintaley with flaws I found it to be fresh take on the Zombie genre with talented performers and a roller coaster ride. Who knows what was cut from the film that would have made it better.

[monte]

I've always been partial to zombie flicks myself, I remember the first I ever saw was Dawn of the Dead, I can remember it clearly, my uncle merely said "BAH NOTLD in color, its crap!" But I thought it owned night in every possible way, I found it much more enthralling, and cooler.

I mean, a shopping mall is so much more fun and offers more suprises as opposed to a farm house.

28 Days later - Great, I saw it the first day it came out, just because I knew it would be great as I felt the story was quite new, and gave some meaning for the zombies to be there (a virus). However, I too did not like the final part of the movie - it was just.. nonsensical and i found it unrealistic for 1 untrained man to take on the british para-military.

[David Jimerson]

Not just the para-military, but the actual military. And the guy was what, a bike courier?

[J.R. Hudson]

Yeah, thats kind of lame. I guess they didnt ask my take on it.

[Stas_Tagios]

Yeah, it strained credibility not only that he took on the military guys (though he did have help from the wid infected guy he released), but also that he survived without a weapon outside the compound and then made it back into the compound.

The cynic in me also much preferred the alternate ending that ends with Jim's death in the hospital, and the two girls heading off together to continue trying to survive. Much bleaker, though not without a trace of hope a la the ending of Romero's Dawn of the Dead.

[Cheesesailor77]

yeah i like him dying to, but that ending didint comclude it enough for me, or something i dont know. I liked it better than the real ending though

[Woodson]

Check this interview with George..

http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=17989

[J.R. Hudson]

Thanks for the link WOODSON. See? Thios what Im talking about:

" I'd like to give Tom Savini maybe one zombie character or a special appearance. But I'm also plugging for him to do a role."

Why? Savini isnt an actor and the his take as a Sheriff in DOTD 04 was lame; had earings and shit. Dont put Savini in the film.

Asia Argento (daughter of Italian horror film director Dario Argento) is cool though:

http://www.perfectpeople.net/media/celebs/783/79882-1033431243.jpg

I look forward to this (any substantially budgeted zombi film actually) but I still wish he would write it and let someone else helm.

Damn it.

[Woodson]

Asia, is sooooo HOT :P

Sweet pic John!

[J.R. Hudson]

Yeah.

There were other picks but I had to stay in the PG 13 realm :P

She's smoking.

[Woodson]

oh man I've been trying to find Romero's email all day can't find it. I'm trying to contact him because he will be filming in Winnipeg This fall, I want to get on the set. :o