Rating: 
Summary: Terrifying and Scary - - But a lot of fun!
Review: "Dawn of the Dead" is the only movie that I have seen in recent years which genuinely frightened me. My brother and I rented it on a Friday and started it late at night. We decided to watch the rest of it the next day. But, I won't forget watching the first part: the fear that thousands of zombies are going to rush out of somewhere and outnumber the heroes. Or that a ton of zombies will leap out from around a corner. The story concerns two SWAT cops, a TV news producer, and her boyfriend -- the TV station's news helicopter pilot -- getting out of Philadelphia when dead bodies turn into zombies and start killing the living. This film is atmospheric and claustrophobic. And Romero's idea of using a shopping mall as the setting of the core of the story was a true stroke of genius -- where better to confront the human condition of materialism, selfishness, and a whole ton of nasty zombies? The film was made in the late 1970's for a slim $1.5 million. But, it was put to good use -- showing that Romero knew how to stretch a dollar, making it go a long way. My only complaint about the movie is the gore, which is actually what the film is most famous for. These scenes come at the beginning and end of the film. (The end is where the zombies feasting on live humans kicks into SERIOUS overload) These scenes show too much and go on far too long, but I guess Romero wanted to show just how threatening the zombies could really be. Too bad he's not doing that "Resident Evil" movie. But, that's okay. Stick with this film. It's the real thing (no pun intended).
Rating: 
Summary: The most horrifying zombie movie ever!
Review: "What an awesome movie!" I kept thinking to myself after having seen this film for the first time. Dawn of the Dead is one of the most sickening, yet brilliantly made films to date. This movie takes a basically ridiculous premise (flesh eating zombies have overrun America) and makes it both believable interesting, and terrifying. This is because the zombies are seen in a different light almost every time, and when they attack,the gore is unyeilding. The situation is interesting besides. Imagine how neat it would be to live in a deserted shopping mall (assuming you can keep the zombies out!). I was vicarious while watching this movie. I laughed, gasped in horror, sighed in relief, was even moved, and watched awestricken. Dawn of the Dead left me with a horrible gut feeling (no pun intended) at the end, but only due to the movie's effectiveness.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, as his films usually are, but...
Review: ...where did this film take me, as a viewer? Nowhere. When I rented "Dawn of the Dead," I expected a horror masterpiece of epic proportions; one that I would be talking about for years to come, like all of the critics whose reviews I had read, which detailed a film so violent and ahead of its time that it would deeply affect anyone who actually could stomach the film's running time. The film started out interesting enough. There was a roller coaster ride of violence that began with a police raid on a building that was infilterated by zombies. Heads exploded from shotgun shells, necks were bitten, chunks of flesh torn away from limbs... All well and good. The make-up effects looked acceptable, and I was interested in the characters. But then the film lost me. The survivors in this film head for the mall, and they attempt to seek shelter from this supposedly unstoppable force of zombies. Now, I can understand why dozens of these things coming at you would be a threat, but in this movie they look like grey people and nothing more. They plod around aimlessly and rarely seem to have any objective. We see them destroyed wholesale in all sorts of ways, but yet they never seem to illustrate any threat until they have one person cornered. I wasn't scared by them at all, yet I persevered in watching this movie because I was expecting some sort of terrifying pay off that made all of this so-called sophisticated satire and gore worthwhile. I never got it. The pay off didn't come, and I turned off the TV feeling cheated. "Dawn of the Dead" could've been something magnificent if only George Romero had bumped up the pace at which the zombies attack, shortened the movie by about twenty minutes, and didn't so blatantly try and hit us over the head with the satire stick. A little subtlety would've helped too. "Dawn" missed so many opportunities it could've capitalized on that, to me anyway, it's nothing more than a series of misthrown darts that struck so far away from the bull's eye you'd need an RV and a ten day supply of food and water to retrieve them. Now, I know that many people who have seen this movie think of it as a masterpiece of the genre, and how dare I sully the good name of such a good director, but I just didn't see what this movie had to offer in the entertainment category. Sure, there are some laughs and some moments of genuine tension, but they don't make up for an overlong script, stretches of silence that have no point, mediocre acting, and hundreds of grey people that do nothing more than wander up the down escalator, which is why I give the film 2 stars. Seriously, if these zombies can rip open a man's abdomen and rip his intestines out like they were tearing through plastic wrap, why can't a whole group of them break through a window? I found myself asking that question one too many times during this film. It's a true masterpiece of disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: There's No More Room in Hell, So the Dead Now Walk the Earth
Review: 1978's DAWN OF THE DEAD is the second entry in George Romero's "DEAD" trilogy, though it isn't as scary or as groundbreaking as his first, the classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968). Still, for a low-budget sequel, it is an interesting and entertaining film, an unusual mix of action, drama, comedy, and horror that actually functions on two levels: One, it is a stomach-churning study of the depths to which people will sink in order to ensure their survival; and two, it is a dark satire that takes several pokes at Western consumerism.The plot of DAWN OF THE DEAD builds on the premise of its predecessor. The world is now becoming overrun with the flesh-eating zombies, and in the United States, martial law has been declared and all survivors are required to go to state-run "rescue stations" for shelter and protection. The manager of a TV station and her helicopter-pilot boyfriend decide to defy authorities and seek out their own save haven, and two police officers--friends of the helicopter pilot--decide to abandon their duties and go along with the couple. The group eventually arrives at an abandoned shopping mall, and when they realize that the stores within contain all they need to survive--food, clothing, and weapons & ammunition--they seal off the building, dispose of most of the zombies inside, and take up residence. But when their claim on the mall and its goods is challenged by a band of motorcycle-riding marauders, the quartet is soon fighting for survival against not only the zombies, but also against their own kind. Although the audience has been made to sympathize with the film's four protagonists, there is no true heroism in this world of Romero's making. Instead, there are only different levels of self-interest and narcissism. After the four move into their new home and start living off the "fat of the mall," they quickly develop a sort of bourgeois attitude towards the comforts they now enjoy. Of course, that is exactly the Western attitude that Romero is ridiculing--that sense of security and satisfaction one feels after amassing material goods. And when the group's right to possession is violently challenged by outsiders, Romero clearly demonstrates just how tenuous a security based on personal possessions really is. Romero is a master storyteller who knows how to manipulate the emotions of his audience. In this film, he creates a relentless sense of unease by juxtaposing the repulsive and grotesque with the lighthearted and humorous. For example, when the quartet of protagonists first occupies the mall, they turn on the mall-wide Muzak system to mask from the zombies the noises they make while looting the stores. So for several scenes there is this macabre contrast between bloody, pasty-faced zombies and syrupy instrumental music. Uncomfortably comical and humorously disturbing. Creepy, bloody (FX by Tom Savini), boisterous, and constantly full of surprises, DAWN OF THE DEAD is easily one of the most entertaining zombie movies ever made. True, it does have an underlying anti-materialism message that is none too subtle, but that doesn't detract in the least from the enjoyment of being playfully spooked and repulsed by all the zombie grotesquerie. All in all, horror fans will have a good time watching this minor Romero masterpiece. The Divimax Edition DVD from Anchor Bay offers an excellent digital transfer of the U.S. theatrical cut (often considered superior even to the director's cut), and there are lots of cool extras, too, not the least of which is a feature commentary with writer/director Romero and FX man Savini. A worthy addition to the film collections of serious horror fans, and well worth amazon.com's very reasonable asking price.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST ZOMBIE MOVIE EVER!!! AT LAST!!!
Review: A four disc edition? Who can ask for more? Obviously we saw it coming... the remake was there... the Divimax edition early this year... everybody was saying a big multi-disc edition was coming... and here it is! To start analyzing this film we must take a look at NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. This film was a landmark as it introduced the zombies as we know today. Now, DAWN OF THE DEAD set a new landmark. In it, the zombies were a mature (sub)genre in modern cinema. What makes this film so important? Everything! First it is the brilliant screenplay. The story... you already know: as the zombie population increases more and more, four people barricate themselves inside a big shopping mall, where they endulge themselves with all consumering desires they can think of. Sounds simple? It is, but there is more than meets the eye: as the zombies try to get in (you'll have to wonder why) the four heroes inside discover their paradise makes them more empty than they would have thought it would... and slowly, life start making no sense. DAWN OF THE DEAD is the kind of film that has been changing as the decades pass. Its violence seems to have softened if we think of all the action and horror films who came in the decades that followed (just like it happened with other horror landmarks like THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, FRIDAY THE 13TH, HALLOWEEN and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD). Its makeup is not comparable to the vast majority of horror films that came after (who had bigger makeup budgets)... but on the other hand, elements like tension, drama, character development and social critique have all grown more powerful then in all of the films that followed. In other words, audiences who see this film today, many times discover the fact that its weight is changing fields... from graphic horror to social horror. And this kind of horror is no less potent and much more rare. Mr. Romero is one of those rare horror screenwriter/directors who do have a strong critic point of view (and we can see it as he continues to deliver so in his later third zombie film - the sadly underated gem - DAY OF THE DEAD). Clearly, this is a multi-layered film that demands multiple levels of reading. You must be aware of all the issues put inside this film. Otherwise, if you're in just for the cheap thrills, gore and violence, you'll probably be disappointed. As a product of the late seventies, this is a production triumph because it manages to deliver a lot with minimum budget. The remake released early this year made a great update on this basic premisse. I loved them both. This edition seems to be more than we've all asked for (now that the simpler Divimax edition made all the money it could...). Here, you'll find all the versions and lots of extras. But again... DAWN OF THE DEAD is a film that I am sure will be seen and celebrated for years to come. See it with an open mind and you too will discover why.
Rating:
Summary: DAWN OF THE DEAD
Review: A GREAT ZOMBIE MOVIE AND SEQUEL TO NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE WHO ENJOYS GUT RIPPING,FLESH TEARING ZOMBIE FILMS.VERY WELL DONE AND ACTED WITH LOTS OF GORE.ANOTHER MASTERPIECE FROM GEORGE ROMERO. GET IT!!!! A++++
Rating:
Summary: 5 star picture (always); DVD, 3 Stars
Review: George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead is, from where I stand, the most ambitious, creative, best horror film ever made; or at least the best horror film in the twentieth century. It holds all the facets for a great character study piece- and it is somewhere inside a perfectly crafted zombie movie in creating a uniqye suspense and excitement alongside the gory and cartoonish carnage. It also works as a satire, and having such a reach into other genres like that for a budget of this caliber is always a reasurring sign to me that movies like this are still around. There is evidence, a good amount, to support the adulation. The script itself gets praise in the terms of telling a coherent story. And the script delivers such effectiveness in showcasing a parallel dimension deadland it could be on the basis of that alone to be one of the most original. Not to say the ideas and themes on characters are the most original. In Romero's first picture, Night of the Living Dead (Dawn's predecessor in a "dead Trilogy" with the third the mediocre Day of the Dead) displayed many of the key trademarks to be expected- characters getting tenser and a lot of internal combustion not only from getting crazed in a chillingly forboding precense, but as well the cannibalistic-instinct driven corpses. The first debut of zombies in such a way was a smash in horro cult cultrue (deservedly so) and made Mr. Romero's reputation on sight. The original part, however, comes in the form of transferrance- the key elements from "Night" are brought to an apocalyptic timewarp where muzak is a big chunk of the score. Making the message of zombies encompassing a shopping mall isn't tough to connect to reality, but with its cleverness there's a place for endless opportunities for so many gags, drama-bits and shock for any writer and director to latch onto. George grasps on to all of them. Acting goes farther than expected, the score outside and sometimes inside the mall from the Goblins (and in the director's cut by Romero himself) is indeed impressive in heightening tension, and so on. The one complaint here is in the DVD itself. It has the essentials, the director's cut (superior to the 128 minute version) in widescreen and trailers, but there should've been more for a "Collectors Edition". Romero commented on the "Night" special edition DVD and doesn't here, nor are included any of the deleted footage that was shown in the German footage. The Monroeville commercial spot on the other Dawn DVD isn't here either. But those are feebles for the spoiled at DVD buyer heart; immortal moviemaking and acting all around, Dawn of the Dead is the plum of all plums in the horror world.
Rating:
Summary: Fear The Dawn In The Flesh
Review: George A. Romero's Living Dead films are among the most innovative low budget horror movies ever made. They have influenced countless filmgoers over the years. The second installment in the series has gotten more attention lately, thanks to a 2004 remake. I will save comment on the redux for another time, instead, focusing on the 79 version. Picking up where Night Of The Living Dead left off, and still offering no explanation of why the dead are walking the earth, Dawn plunges headlong into one of the most violent and original horror films ever made. After securing an apartment building overcome with flesh-eating zombies, two Philadelphia area SWAT team members, Peter (Ken Foree) and Roger (Scott Reiniger), flee to a television station, where they escape in the station's helicopter with Francine (Gaylen Ross) and Stephen (David Emge), two station employees. Seeking refuge from the zombies and the ensuing hysteria, they land on top of a Pittsburgh area shopping mall, despite the fact that the undead seem to be flocking there. What begins as a stop for supplies becomes a longer stay as the four now find themselves caught in a furious war within the mall to somehow remain alive. I really like the fact Romero chose to start right from the end of the last film, with no explanation of events, not an easy task, considerng that 11 years passed between movies. The fact that, we as the viewers, are put right in the thick of it, at the start was a bold move. The audacious gore and high body count are not for those who are sqeamish but the film manages near masterpiece status just the same. Dawn is what all other zombie flicks should aspire to be. All of the praise for the film, is only muted by the fact that the Divimax DVD Edition, only showcases the theatrical cut. I would have loved to have the extended director's cut on the same disc, or as part of a set of some type...The audio commentary from Romero, Special Effects Creator Tom Savini, and others is just plain fun. A really solid commentary and a must listen for fans. You can also get a peek at the DAWN OF THE DEAD comic book from the publisher IDW (an interesting idea). Theatrical trailers, TV, radio spots, poster galleries, and a 4 page collector's booklet with well written liner notes, round out this release. All in all, I can recommend the DVD, despite the lack of a director's cut viewing option. **** and half stars.
Rating:
Summary: An Appetizer For The Main Course
Review: Hard to believe that it's been a quarter of a century since George A. Romero unleased DAWN OF THE DEAD on unsuspecting moviegoers! Even to this day, DAWN OF THE DEAD is one of the scariest horror movies of all time, and in some respects even better than NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! I just love the way that this film opens, in pure chaos! We are thrown right into the action and never look back; it's all gone to Hell when the dead are walkin' the Earth! Too bad the critics (and some fans) fail to recognize the full force of Romero's satire of consumerism, a trend which sadly continues to this day. The satire isn't as subtle as those critcs would lead you to believe, in fact Romero knocks consumerism and the influence of shopping malls on society front and center; the dehumanization of the four survivors who hide out in the mall by consumerism makes the living dead seem normal by comparison, and that's precisely the point that Romero makes here.
George A. Romero is my favorite horror movie director. His approach to horror in modern society is amazing! Every horror movie he does, particularly NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE CRAZIES, MARTIN, DAWN and DAY OF THE DEAD, and CREEPSHOW is a sign of the times disguised as some truly terrifying horror and disarray. Romero also manages to take on authority, and the Military in particular (THE CRAZIES and DAY OF THE DEAD), presenting a paranoid vision that those in positions of power are the real bad guys. That Romero can find and present terrifying stories in even the smallest details of everyday life (see his newest film BRUISER, a take on Kafka) is a testament to Romero's longevity in the horror genre!
But what I found to be most enjoyable about DAWN was the involvement of Dario Argento! After getting into Argento's movies (SUSPIRIA, INFERNO, TWO EVIL EYES, DEEP RED, and TENEBRE), I began to appreciate DAWN more than I did when I first saw it. Argento put up the money for DAWN, served as script consultant, and provided the awesome music he did with his favorite band Goblin. The music is amazing and really drives home the terror of the story! The other thing that I love about DAWN is how shocking Tom Savini's makeup effects are even today, especially towards the end! DAWN OF THE DEAD is one of the reasons why the 1970's was a great decade for horror!
I just had to get this new edition just to see what the Silver Anniversary set coming out this fall will be like. And I'm glad that I did! The new hi-def transfer and widescreen framing is a revelation, light years beyond any other presentation of this movie over the years! The 5.1 surround tracks add new life to Goblin's score and the soundtrack itself! Plus, you have got to hear the commentary by George and his wife Chris, Tom Savini, and DVD producer Perry Martin; it's an enlightening and funny commentary not to be missed! If you're a major fan of DAWN OF THE DEAD or need to understand the movie before you see the remake that's coming shortly, you can't go wrong with this disc, presented in its US Theatrical version. For all DAWN fans, this is the perfect way to see the incredible job Anchor Bay will do with DAWN OF THE DEAD later this year!
Rating:
Summary: On a planet with countless zombie movies...
Review: The Dawn of the Dead stands above the rest. This is a classic masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Yes it's very 70's as you can tell by the arcade games and hairstyles, but the message is clear. Fight for survuval at all costs. Like most zombie movies there is no real beginning and no real ending. The movie starts off with normal people fighting zombies, and ends with an escape on a helicopter to no where. But the bulk of this film is inside a shopping mall. A motley crew has barricaded themselves in a mall and after killing all the zombies inside, fight against the ones outside. The tractor trailer driving sequence is awesome and a thumbs up to the directing of this difficult set of shots. The zombies are frightening, and can be a source of black humor that I'm sure was intentional. An good example is the lifeless zombies piling up on the esculator. For a good time and to get the appreciation for good horror without modern day hocus-pocus effects, Dawn of the Dead cannot be beat. I have not seen the remake yet, but I know I'll walk away from it liking the original better (I usually do).
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