Dawn of the Dead '04

[Geomonic]

This has to be one of the best horror remakes ever IMO, although I'd hardly call it a remake. Barring the same premise (gang of survivors in a mall, living 'normally' while the rest of the world decays) this is very different from the original.

What do we all think about it? Great film in its own right? Shit remake of a horror classic? Discuss!

Also, any news on a sequel?

[Deathscythe]

Also, any news on a sequel?

I'm pretty sure a Day of the Dead remake is in production.

[BlakeTyner]

I'm a fan of Re-Dawn. Not only is it a great film in its own right, it was given to us by a guy who'd never directed a feature before. I think Snyder wanted to give us fans something that we'd really like, and I think he mainly was successful. Even his choice of music in the film was really good.

That said, except in name and general situation, it really bears no resemblance to the original, which is a great film for other reasons. I think Snyder largely did away with the social commentary that makes Romero's Dawn of the Dead the classic that it is. In Romero's world, it's generally not the zombies that defeat us - it's other humans, and that is what makes DOTD so scary.

Snyder went another route, and gave us a more "realistic" portrayal of what would probably happen. We're given just enough details about the military's involvement (the chopper and the mention of Ving's brother) to be credible, but nothing like 28 Days Later, where (though I like the film) I thought the military angle was a little overplayed.

Overall, I'm very glad that we got Re-Dawn. Great movie and I think it helped prove to the studios that zombie movies could have mass consumer appeal, without having to resort to flicks like the Saw sequals and Hostel, which are less character driven and more shock-value-y.

~Blake

[Geomonic]

I think Snyder largely did away with the social commentary that makes Romero's Dawn of the Dead the classic that it is. In Romero's world, it's generally not the zombies that defeat us - it's other humans, and that is what makes DOTD so scary.

Snyder went another route, and gave us a more "realistic" portrayal of what would probably happen. We're given just enough details about the military's involvement (the chopper and the mention of Ving's brother) to be credible, but nothing like 28 Days Later, where (though I like the film) I thought the military angle was a little overplayed.


Agreed. The social commentary which was so strong in the original was omitted from the remake, and this made them even more different. I was personally a lot more scared of the remake than the original. It was released around the same time as I first started watching horror films without hiding behind a pillow; I saw both the original and remake within a few weeks of eachother.

They are both brilliant films in their own way, with the original making me think more than scaring me. The remake seemed to be a lot more balls to the wall, straight up action. The moments that weren't filled with blood and guts were used to enhance the characterisation; which was vital in my enjoyment of the film.I actually cared about TJ and some of the characters in 'Re-Dawn' (I like that name ;)) and when TJ died especially I was gutted, whereas the characters in the original.. well I wanted them all dead to be honest. The fact that it had less social commentary and was just there to scare me proved a lot more effective, as I can't think AND be frightened at the same time. I'm not one for multi-tasking.

The original seemed to drag in places too, which the remake didn't. This kept me on the edge of my seat, never knowing what was gonna happen next. The large character list proved effective in actually getting more kills on screen, with around 10 - 15 survivors in the remake and 4 in the original. Although with more characters it was harder to actually care when they bit the dust, I have to say I cared as much/more about them than the original characters. Horror films need gory deaths, and the remake had them in abundance.

Plus... I have faith in my fellow man, and I find it a lot easier to believe zombies would take over the world and run around like headless chickens, than for a bunch of fucking bikers to come and trash my mall in the middle of national crisis. My logic is fucked, I know.

I love both films, but for entertainment value I have to choose the remake.

[Ron]

This film is the pefect example of a remake done properly along with The Hills Have Eyes. I think if more remakes were like these films then people wouldn't complain about them as much.

[Jack Bauer]

The Down with the Sickness montage was to me probably one of the three best moments in the films.

The other two are: Ken and Tom's cameos.

[Geomonic]

Haha, that montage is brilliant. I like how both the original and lounge version of Down with the sickness are used in the film, very nice touch.

Tom's cameo is badass, wish they kept the extended cut though. Nothing beats Tom talking about which of the culled zombies he banged while they were human. :D

[Jack Bauer]

Confused Reporter: I understand you're having a difficult time killing these things, Sheriff.

The County Sheriff: Just shoot them in the head! They seem to go down permanently if you shoot them in the head.

That line just rules!

[The New Blood]

I can't stand this movie.

[DarkPumpkin]

I wasn't expecting much going into seeing this, but I absolutely fell in love with it. It came along at a time where I was starting to feel frustration towards horror, because everything was attempting to be a Scream ripoff.

The film starts off with a bang, and while Synder could have opted it to be nothing more than a huge action piece, he managed to make it dramatic and character driven. The music choices are also incredible, and it features some of the best opening credits ever.

The overhead shot of the destruction unfolding in the beginning leaves you breathless. The film manages to always stay realistic, which adds to its horror. There are some truly heartbreaking scenes also. Especially with the closing credits. You are rejoicing that they seemingly made it, only to realize that there truly is no escape.

The faux news coverage on the DVD is also highly worth checking out. It's pretty terrifying to imagine something like this happening.

[Joshg]

Definately one of the best remakes. I'd put it in a tie with the original Dawn. Well, okay, point 1 lower than that. :)

[Ron]

I thought both versions had pretty solid gore effects and actors. Both were also very well directed.

[Rick]

It's a great action movie with zombies although I hate that it is called Dawn of the Dead.
Aside from the characters being in a mall and zombies there really are no similarities.
On it's own it's great, as a "remake" it's got nothing on the original.

[Geomonic]

The faux news coverage on the DVD is also highly worth checking out. It's pretty terrifying to imagine something like this happening.

I agree, that is a very enjoyable extra, and was actually quite scary IMO. It all seemed so calm in the studio, but outside it must have been hell. The 'anchor' was a very good actor too, which made it even more effective. One of my favourite extras on a DVD ever.

[Ron]

It's a great action movie with zombies although I hate that it is called Dawn of the Dead.
Aside from the characters being in a mall and zombies there really are no similarities.
On it's own it's great, as a "remake" it's got nothing on the original.

I think thats what actually makes this a great remake. It wasn't a lame shot-for-shot remake like the Omen. A great remake to me should be able to stand on it's own as a different film than the original.

[Geomonic]

Here is the news report extra from the Dawn of the Dead DVD if anyone wants to watch it, really interesting stuff (Featuring Tom Savini!) Even if you're not a fan of the film, it's really daunting and quite scary actually.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXHxIyUex3o

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxHa1XlL1pc&mode=related&search=

Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdRb35j9PVA&mode=related&search=

[Rick]

I think thats what actually makes this a great remake. It wasn't a lame shot-for-shot remake like the Omen. A great remake to me should be able to stand on it's own as a different film than the original.

Then why give it the same name if it is so different, just give it an original name since 99% of it was an original movie.
Like i said, it was a good movie on it's own but I don't see the point (other than money) of calling something a remake and then have little to no similarities to the original.
If it had been the same characters, even in name only, had a mall and a biker gang at some point I could see it.
They didn't have to do a shot for shot remake but have the most important or stand out elements from the original with an original body to connect it.

[Geomonic]

They didn't have to do a shot for shot remake but have the most important or stand out elements from the original with an original body to connect it.

I believe they had the most stand out and important elements in it: The mall and zombies.

[Alex DeLarge]

I'm not a big fan of this. I dunno why, but I like my zombie films to have good charactization. IMO I probably would have liked this film a lot more if the core 5 were the only ones, like in the original. I think a small core is one of the many things that helped that film and I think the film kind of falls apart once we get all these others. Were they even needed? Not really.

[Ron]

Then why give it the same name if it is so different, just give it an original name since 99% of it was an original movie.
Like i said, it was a good movie on it's own but I don't see the point (other than money) of calling something a remake and then have little to no similarities to the original.
If it had been the same characters, even in name only, had a mall and a biker gang at some point I could see it.
They didn't have to do a shot for shot remake but have the most important or stand out elements from the original with an original body to connect it.

Well I would say you answered your own question by saying "money", but I'd be dead wrong also. Dawn Of The Dead is not a name that everyone knows..well not as much as F13 or ANOES. I'd say this was a perfect remake in the sense that it brought something new to the table while keeping the basic skeleton of the story such as the mall and zombies.

[Fowlees]

I found this movie pretty disappointing, It's certainly not the worst re-make i've ever seen, it's just the origional was such a masterpiece , and the strongest of all the "Dead" films, IMO, that they should have left it well alone.

[nottidelterrore]

I actually enjoyed this remake. It'll never hold a candle to the original Dawn of the Dead, which is my favourite movie of all-time, but it was actually pretty decent & entertaining. Definitely one of the few remakes that turned out ok.

I wouldn't lose any sleep if this movie never existed though.

[Joshg]

8/10

While the original DotD was uber cheesy, (and sadly, a little lame) it's better than the remake. But I love both of them. This, House of Wax, and few other '00 decade remakes make me smile.

[Fowlees]

Yeah, the House of Wax re-make was really good , i thought. It was done really well.

[Voo-doo]

shame on all of you. DOTD 04 sucks, big time.

[El Rooto]

No shame. I really liked it.

[Joshg]

shame on all of you. DOTD 04 sucks, big time.

What is your reasoning behind it sucking, Voo-doo?

[Joe Strummer]

It was an alright movie, but the original is far more superior and fun. As far as remakes go, Hills have eyes is my fav.

[Voo-doo]

What is your reasoning behind it sucking, Voo-doo?

no character development, it felt like an action film, and I lose interest about 10 minutes into it.

[Lance Lives]

Hmmm, I hated this when I saw it in the theater and when I first watched it on video, but I just re-watched tonight and I liked it better. It wasn't that good still, but I didn't hate it as much. The use of that terrible Disturbed song, TWICE no less, really puts a cramp in it, but other than that it's decent.

Anybody else think of about the scene in Tromeo and Juliet where her belly is full of popcorn when the zombie baby was about to be born? James Gunn must have something about pregnancy.

[nottidelterrore]

it felt like an action film

That's what I thought too but I still enjoyed it since I'm big into action movies.

The zombie baby was dumb. So were the Disturbed songs.

[Deathscythe]

That's what I thought too but I still enjoyed it since I'm big into action movies.

The zombie baby was dumb. So were the Disturbed songs.

Pretty much how I feel, and this was better than most horror remakes I've seen.

[Jigsaw]

I remember liking this movie. I was never a huge fan of Dawn '78, so the news of a remake didn't bother me when this was first announced.

[Chucky's back]

Never cared much for this one. I hated how it followed the running zombies trend caused by 28 days later(which worked fine in that film, cause they were rapid humans, not re-animated corpses) And apart from the chopping mall setting it doesn't really have anything to do with the original, which had messages about consumerism and politics and good character development. The remake is just a standard zombie-invasion plot and has to many characters, most of them are just there to be killed. I usually don't have that high standards with zombie movies, but I was very disappointed cause it felt like a mediocre movie compared to the superior original.

Zombie babies worked better in Peter Jackson's Braindead. There were also some other stuff here and there that kind apissed me of. Like zombies not eating animals. Zombies kill anything living that moves. There's even one eating a cockroach in the original NOTLD.

[Voo-doo]

zombies can run, according to Zach Snider.

[nottidelterrore]

I'm not too keen on the running zombies idea either...unless it's Return of the Living Dead.

[Geomonic]

I'm not too keen on the running zombies idea either...unless it's Return of the Living Dead.

Yeah... why does nobody have an issue with the zombies running and talking in ROTLD but go mad about the running zombies in this film? I'm not having a gripe as I enjoyed ROTLD, just wondering why there isn't an issue with it.

[Chucky's back]

zombies can run, according to Zach Snider.
According to George Romero they can't.

Yeah... why does nobody have an issue with the zombies running and talking in ROTLD but go mad about the running zombies in this film? I'm not having a gripe as I enjoyed ROTLD, just wondering why there isn't an issue with it.

Because the zombies in ROTLD were meant to be somewhat comical. They gave them abilities like talking, using phones and running to archive a comical effect cause it mad them seem more absurd.

[Shoesalesman]

Fantastic film. I really enjoyed it. I thought the running zombies were a good addition to the movie.

[The Dream Master]

According to George Romero they can't.



Because the zombies in ROTLD were meant to be somewhat comical. They gave them abilities like talking, using phones and running to archive a comical effect cause it mad them seem more absurd.

George Romero didn't direct this, chief. He certainly is the forefather of zombie flicks, but it doesn't mean others can't take the genre and do something new and different with it.

And, just like ROTLD gave their zombies all those abilities for dramatic effect, the writers of DOTD '04 gave their zombies the ability to run to make them more of a threat. Unlike Romero's film, this one isn't all about showing that humanity is its own worst enemy; in this case, the zombies definitely are something to fear.

As for DOTD '04 in general, I always thought the producers were between a rock and a hard place. They had to call it Dawn of the Dead mostly due to its setting in the mall, but really, the film is nothing like the original for the reasons I mentioned. If this would have been called anything else, everyone would have called it a ripoff. I certainly think the original is a better film, but I'm not going to lie: the remake kicked my ass, which I totally wasn't expecting.

Also, if anything, this film is more a remake of "Aliens" than it is "Dawn of the Dead."

[Chex]

While the film has the mall as a central theme, you can sense that the character's and the humanity along with interactions was somewhat another. The problem is, most of the characterization was cut short except for a handful of people.

I wouldn't have mind if the film had been an extra 30 minutes or more to flesh out everyone and elaborate on this.

[SlasherLives]

It was a pretty good zombie flick but I wish it would of stuck more to the original story, I loved the original, My favorite Zombie movie.

[Ron]

I personally like the original and the remake about the same. The original is a classic, but the remake brought something new to the table as well as s=deliver on some cool death sequences.