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I just got back from the midnight showing. Here are my opinions on it. (SPOILERS AHEAD !!!!!!!)
I imagine the scene went down like this:
Hollywood Exec #1: How should we rip off the public this time ?
Hollywood Exec #2: Remakes are hot right now.
HE#1: True, but all the stupid old tv shows have been done already.
HE#2: How about a proven cult film. These kids today love that crap, esp since they never seem to know there was an original.
HE#1: Right again, but every title worth remaking has already been done, too.
HE#2: Maybe we can combine a few films then and market as something new ?
HE#1: We need some action and adventure. That always sells.
HE#2: Like the 'Mad Max' or 'Escape From New York' ?
HE#1: Both ! Now we need something where an inhuman army overthrows it's less than human ruling class. Like that 'Planet of the Apes' movie with the orange jumpsuits.
HE#2: You wanna use apes in the movie ?!
HE#1: Don't be an idiot ! Horror movies are hot right now. We'll use zombies.
HE#2: That's a great idea, too. How will we get everyone to see it ? Zombie movie fans can be a very fickle bunch. We can't possibly get all of them in to see it. Can we ?
HE#1: Of course. We'll have the Great One himself direct it.
HE#2: Wayne Gretzky ?
HE#1: Idiot ! George Romero ! All the great horror directors of the last 30 odd years didn't make much off their classic films. It's time for him to get an overdue pay day. It's a win-win situation for him and us.
HE#2: That's why you're the #1 boss and I'm only #2.
HE#1: Stick with me, kid, and I'll teach you how to make someone as inept as Paris Hilton into a box office draw.
In case you can't tell, I didn't care for it at all. It borrowed so much from other films, I wouldn't be surprised if the lawsuits started piling up. For example, when the anti-hero of the film is hired by rich badguy in tower who has "rebuilt" the city after the apocolypse, what does anti-hero ask for as payment to recover badguy's super tank ? His car and enough gas to get him away from the city/fortress. Sound familiar ?
Every possible character type was used here. The tough girl prostitute, the anti-hero's dim sidekick, the 2nd in command with big dreams of running the show, the cigar chomping badguy in the penthouse suite, etc. Everyone handled their roles well, but the story itself was pointless and redundant from other great films to a much lesser degree.
Zombies are now a learning and reasoning bunch thanks to their "leader" (Big Daddy). Why overtake the big city only to leave it moments afterwards ? I guess for a big finale since there didn't seem to be any other reason. Other than that, they're back to basic zombies (not like the runners in '28 Days Later' or 'Dawn of the Dead 2004'). Of course there always seems to be one floating around every other scene just to remind us that this is supposed to be a zombie film. Otherwise they appear out of nowhere at inconvenient times for the characters and disappear after enough fx are shown to keep the audience interested. Sadly, I think the film failed. There was a full house at the theatre tonight so you know everyone there was a die-hard fan. Everyone just seemed quiet and rather dejected by this installment when exiting. I have to agree. It would seem the master now imitates his imitators. Sorry.
CK
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