Night of the Living Dead
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.22 You Save: $5.77 (58%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.14 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Night of the Living Dead
Movie Review: One Of The Best Horror Movies Of The '90s!
Summary: 5 Stars
On August 16 and 17, I went to my first horror convention, which was HorrorFind 2003 in Maryland. I came along for one reason: to meet Tom Savini, the greatest gore wizard in horror movie history. This guy is so cool; his effects look so real, even when watched behind the scenes. I brought along my DVDs of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 90 (which he directed) and THE PROWLER (which he did a commentary for with Joseph Zito and features some of his greatest gore effects) for him to autograph. (My NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 90 DVD was also signed by John A. Russo, Russ Streiner, Tony Todd and Bill Moseley.) It was so cool meeting Savini and telling him how awesome his effects are; I e-mailed Savini a few days ago to tell him about his effects on DAY OF THE DEAD.Before the convention, I saw NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 90 twice; I watched it the second time listening to Savini's commentary. I must say, this remake is light years better than most remakes that are trotted out lately because it stays true to the original yet has its own unique twists. I totally loved what they did with Barbara (brilliantly played by Patricia Tallman); she went from a catatonic victim to a kick-ass, yet sympathetic, heroine. Tony Todd was excellent as Ben; it's easy to see why Savini went with Todd for this role, since Todd really put his heart into his performance. I also loved how they increased the dramatic tension in the story, especially the conflicts between Harry Cooper (Tom Towles), who now resembles Captain Rhodes from DAY OF THE DEAD, and everyone else. The zombies are also the highlight of the film, as they truly looked dead, which was the goal of the effects crew. In fact, Savini's direction is reminiscent of Dario Argento (whom he worked with on TWO EVIL EYES and TRAUMA), especially in the way the film manipulates the viewer with his/her knowledge of the original before hitting him/her with a new twist (e.g., the opening graveyard scene). And besides, George A. Romero and a few others involved with the original were involved with this remake, which is always a good sign.
This DVD has great extras along with the aforementioned commentary, which is informative in detailing the production and various studio problems and scenes which Savini was never able to film. There's also a terrific documentary, "The Dead Walk," which has interviews with Savini, Russo, Streiner, Tallman, and special effects man John Vulich; this also includes deleted gore scenes among other details of the production, including how it came to be. It was really interesting to hear that Savini thinks that it's what you don't see that's scarier, like traditional horror fans, and I agree with that, and that he's proud of this movie despite the problems that were encountered. Me, I think that this remake has become a classic in its own right, especially when you consider AIDS was still on the rise then. Highly recommended!
Movie Review: What a remake!
Summary: 5 Stars
As anyone would knows anything about horror movies Night of The Living Dead is the defining zombie movie from the 1960's. Who would want to remake such a remarkable and defining movie? Well, like any movie studios who want to make money they think that something that was a success in the past will be a success now. Oh, how untrue that statement usually is. However, this remake is the acception to the rule of remakes.
We begin our journey through the landscape of a magestic countryside were two people are driving to an unknown destination to meet their mother. Continueing in we find out that their mother has died and they are going to a cemetary to pay respect to her, only to find two men, unbeknown to them, are the walking dead. These walking dead end up killing the brother while the sister, Barbara, escapes only to find herself alone at a seemingly abandoned farm house. Moments later a truck dashes up the driveway and a man (tony todd) gets out hoping to find gas to fill his nearly empty gas tank, only there is no key to locked gas pump. They both take refuge inside the house for the time being while the choas outside continues to mount.
Hours later 5 people come up from the basement to investigate what is happening only to find the 2 who already are there. All must take refuge in the house to keep alive. Choas and fear arise outside. As time goes by, one by one, characters die, other characters grow as human beings, and few survive.
This remake was very close to the original story done by George A Romero's '68 original. However, there were some minor and one major difference in this version which I think added to the overall horror of the entire movie. Here we don't find an explaination why the dead are rising and killing, whereas, in the original we find out what exactly caused the dead to rise. The major change to the movie was the actual survival and personal growth of one of the main characters, Barbara. In likeness of such characters as Ellen Ripley and Sarah Conner we find Barbara in the beginning of the story as a sweet innocent character who seemingly couldn't hurt a fly. But by mid movie we find a character who obviously has completely lost it and is having to rebuild her own pysche from the ground up. Finally, growing into a different person completely; who is resourceful, strong, and able bodied. A far cry from the original Barbra who in the end dies.
Both Tony Todd and Patricia Tallman push the movie foward with their acting and ability to make the characters they play their own. Although, the acting from the other main characters are at times shaky they do a solid job with their characters and doesn't detrack from the movie at all. The make-up and stunts of the movie are top notch. The overall atmosphere of the movie portrays a very real sense of dread and fear. A great remake!
Movie Review: Surprisingly good.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought Night of the Living Dead as an impulse buy. I wasn't expecting much, but the movie quickly became one of my favorites. After viewing this film, I went and purchased every of George A Romero's "Dead" films.
The movie is a powerful social satire. The start of the movie has some unknown epidemic causing the dead to return to life - the unknown force is slowly taking over the world. The dead are driven by one primitive desire: eat live flesh. Due to an unknown force, people are suddenly unable to determine what to do. I believe Romero meant the characters to be a reflection of the audience. Everyone would want to make it out alive, but the problem is that since no one knows what is going on - i.e. central authority is gone - everyone is skeptical of the next person's opinion and believes his or her own opinion is the best option to staying alive. The movie portrays this in two ways. One, the television has newscasters being skeptical on what is going on - scientists are saying a satellite blew up and spread radiation, while others are saying, "Hell just ran out of room" - no one really knows what is going on and everyone is just forming opinions. Two, the main characters are not sure of what is going on, and the characters are a bit skeptical that the dead could return to life. By the end of the movie, we see that due to the doubts, people cannot cooperate. Due to this uncooperative nature, the group of people destroy themselves before the zombies can.
Night of the Living Dead is great in my opinion. Most zombie movies are either too funny, or tries to be too serious which ends up being unintentionally funny. Romero's film just places characters right into the middle of their world, and the movie offers no conclusive explanation to as what is going on - only the facts that a group of people is trying to survive the ordeal. With this in mind, the film can appeal to horror fans and people just looking for a movie with some good meaning behind it.
The one thing I don't like about this DVD of Night of the Living Dead is that on the back of the box it says that due to a satellite blowing up, radiation caused the dead to return to life. This is untrue as in the film, and by Romero's discussion, it seems that no one knows what is going on, and never well - and it is left up to the viewers to decide.
Overall, I loved this movie. I suggest watching the original 1968 version of the film as well. The original is drastically different than the 1990 remake. The differences - besides the obvious colorization - includes key plot details and character developments. I thing the 1990 remake is great, but I think any Romero fan should watch the original. I also suggest all of the Dead originals by Romero (Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, and the upcoming new one due out 2008 on dvd).
Movie Review: Same Idea, Different "Night" ...
Summary: 5 Stars
Romero fans, be prepared for a few radical changes ... hopefully you can view them as reflective of a new era and not as an assault on the 1968 original (that Romero was an executive producer and had a hand in revising the script should help)!!
No longer is Barbara the catatonic, ineffectual "zombie" that she was in the 1968 version: now she has a riffle and a meat tenderizer ... and she knows how to use them BOTH!! Other alterations abound! (I am omitting the juicy stuff so as not to spoil your discovery!!) For instance, as Johnnie (as spelled at IMDB) and Barbara approach the cemetery, it is revealed that the siblings' mother is dead ... not the father. Why is this interesting? As explained in Tony Williams text The Cinema of George A. Romero: Knight of the Living Dead, "[the original deals with] domination and possession on many levels. An unseen mother manipulates Johnny and Barbara into performing a ritual neither of them shows any real feeling for" (22). A curious alteration since it is the focus of much speculation! What does this reveal about the current roles of mothers and fathers?
As a zombie fan, you probably enjoy all the minutia as much as I ... especially when it involves social commentary. Therefore, you will enjoy the commentary on modern "craftsmanship" in this version. When Ben realizes that the old farmhouse is being remodeled, he despairs. Tommy is perplexed until Ben easily puts his fist through the new door ... so poorly made. Only by retrieving the old "ugly" doors can the enclave proper steel themselves against the "zed word." Very clever!! It's a small but fun detail:D And, seriously, hearing the line "Yeah, they're dead, they're all messed up" once again ... well, that's just priceless!!
While all the acting is excellent, Tony Todd is a shining star ... not too many actors could succeed in bringing the original role "new life," but Todd does so with zest. He has easily earned his status as a horror-film icon!! (The "Final Destination," trilogy, the "Candyman" trilogy, "Wishmaster," "X-Files," etc... EPIC ACTOR!!)
A note on a minor coincidence that only a horror-enthusiast can appreciate: at 11:44 minutes watch for Tony Todd (Ben) to emerge from the car with a crow-bar. An extreme close-up of the crow-bar in his hand looks like a giant hook ... a la Tony Todd's role in "Candyman." Yes, I know Rose's "Candyman" was released in 1992 and this was released in 1990 ... like I said, it's just a neat coincidence;)
Watch this film if you love zombies, want to be a zombie, have a friend who is a zombie, or are interested in zombie-rights.
Suggested reading: Williams, Tony. The Cinema of George A. Romero: Knight of the Living Dead. London: Wallflower P, 2003.
Movie Review: One Of The Best Zombie Movies Ever, And Essential Horror
Summary: 5 Stars
The 1990 version of the immortal "Night Of The Living Dead" tale - the newly dead rise from the graves and a group of strangers seeks safety by barricading themselves in a farmhouse that is quickly beseiged - is in many ways actually even better than its legendary predecessor. Certain elements from the original are admittedly truncated - the 'news-reel' footage from the first in which a tv set in the farm house plays out reports across the country as the characters inside go about making preparations - is virtually absent, for example. But that was one of the better parts of the first NotLD, and shortening the parts that were already perfect, and building up other aspects that weren't as developed the first time around, may have been wise. The character of Barbara is a good example of this. One of the pair of siblings (in both versions) that first encounters a zombie in the graveyard, in the first movie the character had little to do once inside the farmhouse; the male characters took over the focus of the movie. In this remake the character (played by Patricia Tallman) becomes one of the two leading figures of the survivors, along with Ben (Tony Todd). With the other characters, the 1968 original set them up very well with differing reactions to the situation and differing personalities; in the 1990 remake those same characters are expanded on and used to even greater effect.
The action this time is ratcheted up, with a more violent, intense and gory assault by the dead; excellent special effects stand up brilliantly 18 years after this one's release. Inividually not as dangerous as the fast, savage zombies in the Dawn of the Dead (Widescreen Unrated Director's Cut) remake or 28 Days Later (Widescreen Edition)/28 Weeks Later (Widescreen Edition) the zombies are a bit more aggressive and monsterous-looking than in the '68 original. All the different takes on the living dead - the slow, human-looking shamblers of the original, the berserk beasts of 28 Days/28 Weeks, or the ones sort of inbetween, can work great if done well; this remake may be the definitive take on this particular breed of living dead. And the movie itself is a quintessential horror film, definately one of the field's essentials.