REVIEW: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD(ORIGNAL)

[marinelv]

[B]REVIEW:NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD(ORIGNAL)-One of the highly classical zombie flicks ever-to-be-made. This, the first in the series of " George Romero's" Zombie-dead series. The film takes place in a hell world- A meteorite has crashed causing a chemical gas(or something:)) causing
Graveyards everywhere to be exposed of the chemical, and add a litter of the flesh-eating-dead. The film is well made
for the sixties and has basically an easy-understandable plot. The film is set in a farmstead house, where 7 people are trapped because of zombies looking for hunger. To deeply look into the "living dead walking" it sounds a real stupid idea because it is Just NOT possible. The film has an excuse for shooting for about 5-10mins and lighting flames. The zombies detail looks realistic but if you actually realise that the film is in black and white you really realise that they just look plain stupid. The film's actors are okish and the film may seem boring for atleast 20mins. But near the end the film just takes a turn into kamikazee. The ending must get a great applause because of the seemingly good twist. Although not the best in the series (my opinion) i think DOTD(dawn of the dead) is the best by far.THis i think is better than the 92 salvanci remake.

FILM:NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD(ORIGNAL)
DIRECTOR: G.ROMERO
OVERALL: GOLD 4/5- a great film and one of the best zombie filcks.


REVIEWS TO COME:

CLASSIC: 2001: A SPACE ODYESSY
CLASSIC: PSYCHO
REVIEW: DOTD
REVIEW: DOTD(DAY OF THE DEAD)
REVIEW: TRUMAN SHOW

[Edited by marinelv on 05-08-2000 at 01:41 AM]

[Clipper]

I entered this thread with trepidation as the "Dead" movies are my favourite in the genre.

But I pretty much agree here.

The film has acres of suspense and very tight direction. Acting is average but there are some very taut performances to be admired here from people who weren't even really actors alot of them were friends etc. The interplay between the humans provides the depth here. The morale perhaps being that the real monsters were inside the house after all :).

I don't think its worth mentioning that the premise of the film is not possible. Many films contain impossible things but its no reason to mention it I don't think, just my opinion.

Not sure what this comment means...

"The zombies detail looks realistic but if you actually realise that the film is in black and white you really realise that they just look plain stupid."

Did u watch the Black and White version or the crappy colourised version? Is that what you are getting at?

Overall thought I hasten to add again that I broadly agree with your review :) I'd give it 4.5/5 maybe even 5/5 depending on my mood. I won't say whether it is better than DOTD cos I think they are different films and easily on a par with each other.

Oh and as a footnote (for those who have read this far) this is a prime example of how a low budget horror film should be done. Take note Blair Witch fans :P It is vastly superior to Blair Witch and altho it did cost a bit more (25,000 rather than 3,000) this is only cos they shot this film on Real Film raather than vid camera.

This film is vastly superior to the remake by Tom Savini but by no means discount his version. Disreagrd the fact its a remake and its an enjoyable film for very different reasons, after all Romero gave the remake his blessing. It is mor a reworking than a remake and its therefore unfair to compare them I feel :)

Cheers again
Clipper

[WeaselFierce]

The key to NOTLD, in my opinion, is the characterisation. There's a lot of antagonism between the characters but they each have a valid viewpoint.

It's a dark irony that despite all the protestations about locking himself in the basement that is, ultimately, exactly what Ben does to survive (at least 'til morning anyway).

The suspense element is also hightened by the films realistic tone. Okay, yeah, we're talking a 'what if?' scenario here but that doesn't stop Romero's script from taking a serious tone.

All in all, this film was an imense shot in the arm for the horror industry at the time. Considering it's over 30 years old, was made on a shoestring by a 1st time director with a cast of non-actors, NOTLD, to me, definitely rates a 5/5.

[Clipper]

Oooh weasel you don;ttake any prisoners do you :)

I always shy away from 5/5 marks but you just go straight in there no messing :)

Very good points tho, agree completely

Cheers
Clipper

[WeaselFierce]

What can I say? It's a film I've watched time and again over the last 15 years and I still love it. If that doesn't rate full marks what does?

:smokin:

[brattle]

And you can't argue with that :bandit:.

[marinelv]

Yes pretty much you guys are right:) but there is one more thing, the ending shows that the yokal-towns people have killed nearly all the zombies but yet in DOTD its outgrown.
I know in other countries there must be less experiencd gun-men but police and the army must be trained more than a bunch a yokal's. Think about it.

My fave bit in the whole film is the last 20 mins of the film. (SPOILER: IF YOU HAVENT SEEN FILM DONT READ ON)
The best bit is just the last scene where ben gets crowded by zombies and that mr.cooper guy's daughter comes from behind its just pure class. Than when he gets shot in the head. Also i want to get at something, NO FILM IS PERFECT
NOTHING IS EVER PERFECT, so it is just impossible for something to get 100%. But also Ben is forced to lock himself in the basment a.) thats the only place he can run.
b.) if he go's down there he will be able to kill them one by one. Plus there was a radio downstairs.

But DOTD by far takes the best turn and ending. 3 diff endings, one suicide ending, and a great story.

Thanks for all comments posted, brattle,clipper,weaselfierce.

ps clipper i watched black &white version, but if ou actually saw that in real colour they wouldn't look realistic.

[WeaselFierce]

The really GREAT news is that George is back making movies and (fingers crossed) is hoping to make the long-awaited Twilight of the Dead.

[Clipper]

Yeah I know the zombies wouldn't look any good in colour its cos makeup for B&W work is very different :) If they shot in colour they would've used different makeup.

And no nothing is ever perfect. But why have a rating 5/5 which you would never use :)

Ok as for the plot holes ....

Yes the yokels managed to beat all the zombies and I know Cities have police and army etc...
BUT the area they were in was out in sticks, therefore low population and therefore very few graveyards. This meteorite or whatever it was affected whole planet. Cities having much higher populations would have loads more graveyards and therefore far more dead people to rise. And remember as soon as someone dies they join the opposite side. Also this all happens very quickly it would take time to mobilise forces. How many normal people in the street would've been zombified before the police could even get there.

In actual fact the zombies are poor dumb animals. In all 3 films its the humans who are nasty pieces of work see DayOTD for the culmination of this theory.

[Gwil Da Skank Of TA]

Obviously the government literacy drive is failing...miserably.

[Clipper]

Any particular person you are referring too Gwil?

A bit silly to post in a thread just to insult someones grammar isn't it? Got nothing contructive to add to the thread?...

Thought not

Cheers
Clipper

[Gwil Da Skank Of TA]

T'was a joke you fool! You eat crap!!

[Gwil Da Skank Of TA]

Hmm, ok. In general Black and white horror films are cheesy with cheesy titles and cheesy fonts to put the title at the start.

With cheesy rising, 'squeal' music, or tinkling piano!!!!

Hahahaahah!

[Gwil Da Skank Of TA]

Not that this has to follow these rules of course...

[brattle]

What on earth are you wibbling on about? :hmph::rolleyes:

[Clipper]

Ok Gwil, you say you were joking lets see that post in full shall we kids


"Obviously the government literacy drive is failing...miserably."

Hmmm lets see , first of all no smilie at all...

Also no discernable humour or joke

So your second post is

"T'was a joke you fool! You eat crap!!"

Hmmm no smilie and no discernable humour. So you must be attempting another joke... Pathetic, oh and the insult is mind-bogglingly acute and witty m8. I bow before your superior rapier like wit :E

Oh and your final post shows a true understanding of the art of film and an unwavering clinical set of critical skills.

"Hmm, ok. In general Black and white horror films are cheesy with cheesy titles and cheesy fonts to put the title at the start. "

I rest my case... I apologise unreservedly. you are spectacularly funny and a movie reviewer without equal.

Altho adding adding hahahahaha to your last post indicates you might have been joking...

Actually forget all that... You know what? I was enjoying tearing you to shreds but now I realise that insulting someone with the intellectual capacity of a grapefruit is somehow unsatisfying.

Just understand this. If you are joking, be funny and use a smilie if you can't be funny. If you can't think of an intelligent reply to a post don't bother, the world is full of drivel written by people like you without filling it with anymore!

Cheers
Clipper

[Gwil Da Skank Of TA]

Thank you clipper for recognising my movie reviewing talent :E

Shall we let this drop now?

[Clipper]

good idea :E

[Gwil Da Skank Of TA]

Yes people have seen the light and are being converted to the way of the :E

[Hellraisermk2]

Originally posted by WeaselFierce
The really GREAT news is that George is back making movies and (fingers crossed) is hoping to make the long-awaited Twilight of the Dead.


Er... he was never away from making films m8 :)
He has actually just finished his latest film BRUISER due for release sometime next year.... and as for Twilight of the Dead.... he DOESN'T know if it will ever be made (OR what it would be called)! What is certain is that he has helped with a film called Children of the Living Dead.... WHICH IS NOT THE FORTH FILM IN THE SERIES... but should satisfy Zombie freaks such as myself!

Anyway... the reason the 4th in the Zombie trioligy is in peril is because Romero can't get the financial backing needed... or a company WILLING to distribute HIS VERSION of the film. Basically its a similar situation to what happened to Day of the Dead... a completely different film to the one he was made to release.... and again similar to the 1993 remake of Night of the LIving Dead, where the actual film was only about 40% of Savini's version. A real shame considering that Romero redefined the horror genre and is a genius!

Anyway... for those who are interested.... read the ORIGINAL Day of the Dead script.....here (http://www.powerup.com.au/~vampire/day/original.htm)

(I think u'll agree.... this script would have been the most awesome zombie film EVER)

Those who want news on what George A Romero is doing with himself now go..... here (http://www.georgearomero.com/splash.htm)



And those who want to actually SPEAK to George A Romero go .... here (http://www.georgearomero.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html)

(and YES... HE REALLY DOES POST HERE.... I MYSELF HAVE HAD MANY REPLIES OF THE TALANTED GENIUS MYSELF (A real fans man)!!!

Oh and just for people information.... in Night of the Living Dead... it is NOT a meteor that has crashed.... we never actually find out what it is what has caused the Dead to rise... it is merely suggested that maybee it was due to a passing meteor during the film....

[Edited by Hellraisermk2 on 19-08-2000 at 07:35 PM]

[WeaselFierce]

Thanks for the links, m8. :wink:

Perhaps I should have said 'directing' in my previous post since the point I was making was that Bruiser is first Romero directed film to emerge in several years. (Last one I was aware of was The Dark Half).

It is a crying shame that a writer/director of Romero's caliber still doesn't get the respect he's due from film companies. Seems the powers that be would rather churn out their usual, safe, comic/horror movies than provide an adult movie with some intelligence.

Anyway, I'm off take a gander at the original 'Day of the Dead' screenplay you mentioned. Should be a good read.

:smokin:

[Hellraisermk2]

Ahhh no probs m8.... but the link for the original DOTD script seems to not be working (dam)... it is their I promise.... but the site moved it's adress.... it doesn't appear to be up yet.... just keep trying and it should be back online soon.... again tho... onec you've read it, I think u'll agree it's a great script, much superior to the actual one used...

And I agree... Romero is a genius AND a world renownd and respected director... it is a real insult when he cannot make the 4th Dead film, if it were Speilburg with the same script... there would be no problems!

[WeaselFierce]

The link worked fine when I tried it earlier. I finished printing off a copy about half an hour ago. Little bedtime reading, I think... :z

[Hellraisermk2]

Ahhhhhhh good... glad to hear it :).... enjoy it m8... I know I did :E

[the original Jesus]

the end makes me cry. thats all i have to say

[marinelv]

hmm. That orignal script of Day of the dead was to long, can anyone give me a summary of it. Idea of zombies wearing red thingys with white ones and is not gonna appeal me.
Sounds cheesy:)

[WeaselFierce]

Regarding the original 'Day of the Dead' script, I really recommend you should print off a copy and read it before dismissing it. From your previous posts it's obvious you have a taste for horror films and Romero's 'Dead' trilogy in particular.

All in all, it's a good script and probably more in line with the film I was expecting to see after 'Dawn of the Dead', ie. a real epic.

It has to be said when I first saw 'Day of the Dead' (back in '85/'86? shortly after I first saw 'Dawn') I was a little dissapointed. I'd been hoping for something bigger, I guess.

Having said that, 'Day' very quickly grew on me as a superb film in it's own right. The fact that it is a much more enclosed narrative leads to much better characterisation for everybody. Coupled with dialogue and acting that is spot on, it's a great script. Logan and Bub in particular are much better in the final film than the original script. The scene where Bub shows his broken chain to Logan with pride only to realise the Doc's dead really does bring a lump to the throat.

Also, the divisions between the character's doesn't really come about because one group is evil and corrupt. Rhodes is a ******* but in the final film I think this comes across as a feature of his fear. The other soldiers fall in line because they've got no one else to trust or even look to for support.

Then there's the special effects, of course. Some of the most realistically gruesome effects I have EVER seen in a film. There's so many instances where you look at the effect and say to yourself, 'how the **** did they do that?'.

All in all, despite it's difference from the original concept I think 'Day of the Dead' stands out as one of the finest zombie films ever made. It may not be 'epic' but it's so good on so many levels I really couldn't wish for it to be any different.

[marinelv]

i have dismissed it already because i can't stand zombies bein friendly and happy and bein m8s with the humans. As in Dawn of the dead they were all shootin everything and i liked the characters flyboy,roger,peter. Plus me has not got ink. :):):):):):):)

[WeaselFierce]

Trust me, the zombies are in no way happy or friendly to humans. A small group have been 'conditioned' by the humans but even so (as you'll see if you read to the end) they're even more dangerous than their counterparts.

[marinelv]

Actually i printed myself a copy and ive just realised that some of the characters out of day of the dead acted on the dock scene and one guy was the character sledge while in day of hte dead he was some army guy/Plus any of you seen the documentary on DOTD(dawn) its called "Document of the dead" its ok to watch if you want to know how they made the film.