MOVIE OF THE DAY: DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)

RE: The 3 Versions

The Cannes Cut – warts ‘n’ all 139 minute version
X-Rated Version – trimmed up theatrical release
Dario Argento’s - more gore, less bore, GOBLIN!!!

I recommend seeing the Dario Argento European International cut for the HORROR factor. The other cuts are more satirical and reflective of social commentaries and cultural dissonance. Shame we didn’t get that “all is lost” ending. At least there’s always DAY.

I've never understood why people make such a big deal about this movie. Much like "The Thing" (1982), it's a movie I don't think has much going for it beyond some nifty gore effects, yet people praise both as if there's anything special about their characters and stories. I can't remember a single character from either movie.

All I remember is how cool and audaciously disgusting/beautifully crafted some of the blood and guts gross-out gore effects were and a few marvelously grotesque moments that were so batshit crazy they were funny (i.e. "You gotta be fucking kidding me!").

People call this a great satire of consumerism. I never got that either. There is one brilliant shot of the zombies in the mall clawing at a store window while someone drones over a P.A. system about sales in the mall, but that's it. The rest of the movie is bland, forgettable characters alternating between running from zombies and fighting zombies.

In my opinion, both "Night of the Living Dead" and the "Dawn of the Dead" remake were better. At least "Night of the Living Dead" had characters with interesting personalities and good dialog, and the smaller, more confined and more intimate setting gave it more tension.

"Dawn of the Dead" 2003 is a little more empty since it has no philosophical perspective at all (the original "Dawn of the Dead" may only have that for one shot, but it's a hell of a shot and singlehandedly makes the movie worthy of points for insight), but the remake's action is better staged and its characters are more memorable. Also, the sex scene at the beginning (the whole opening sequence, in fact) in the "Dawn of the Dead" remake is amazing and better than anything in Romero's version.

DotD 78 is a classic. Same with The Thing. The arguments and discussions have all been had and sorted. It doesn't matter if you don't understand why because it's down to you to bring yourself up to speed if you take your interest in genre cinema seriously.

DotD 03 is great right up until she drives out of the suburbs. Everything after that is utterly forgettable except "Burt Reynolds".

In 20 years, DotD 78 will still be considered a Classic. DotD 03 will have been replaced by DotD 2018 which will likely have sick-makingly accurate/realistic zombie FX, but just as forgettable characterization and still be set in a Mall. DotD 03 is already entirely irrelevant to cinema because it's replacement is inevitable. It didn't even pioneer "Fast Zombies".

I realize this movie has some very devoted fans, but I can't count myself among them.

I can recognize and appreciate the movie’s influence, but I do think you have to have grown up with it. I’m old (38) but I was never into zombies until I saw 28 Days Later and loved it. I loved the Dawn of the Dead remake. Then I saw the original. Dull and long. The movie has a good point, we’re all consumerist zombies already, but it’s not funny, scary, or interesting.

Romero’s best zombie film is clearly the original NotLD, which is brilliant. It's all been downhill form there. Land of the Dead? Are we really supposed to side with / feel sorry for the zombies because they've learned to pick up guns and they're looking for a place to live? Romero likes his zombies to be symbols, and in 'Land', they're...the have-nots I guess. But it's clunky. Good zombie stories are about the human survivors - zombies are just the device. But Romero (in all his zombie films after the first) seems more interested in them than in his human characters.

Close up shop, we're done here.