Movie Review: Dawn of the Dead 1978 and 2004

One of my all time favorite zombie films was Dawn of the Dead by George Romero in 1978. I mean, who wouldn't want to hold up in a castle-like structure beating back the hoards of undead and surviving off of J.C. Penney's and a Food Court?

Well, ok it wasn't a castle and when zombies come, I would hope most people have enough sense to AVOID malls like a plague.

Let's talk about the 1978 version:

Entertainment value? I give the movie 4.5 out of 5 brains. .5 less for ending too soon.

Strategically speaking? Horrible choices. I mean, training the woman to fly the helicopter was smart. Teaching her to shoot somewhat, even better.

But Flyboy? I think I would have buried him in his own fecal matter or fed him to the walking undead garbage disposals. Pure Idiot.

The concept of taking what you can get in a survival situation is essential but expecting to defend an entire mall from zombies and other looters? No chance. You are better off grabbing what you can and moving on to find fuel or perhaps get a more practical method of travel.

Grab the guns, ammo, some food, practical clothing, maps, etc. and get the hell outta dodge!

2004 Version:

Ving Rhames is badass in this movie but he can't drive worth a shit, considering he is supposed to be a police sergeant. I wanted to see gratuitous sex with Sarah Polley and Lindy Booth, but the scene with Kim Poirier and Ty Burrell was decent.

Ok, moving on. . . The mall again, poor selection, but at the time they didn't have a chopper or any transportation for that matter, so it was the closest choice. Lucky for them, the mall was locked down fairly tight by the mall cops, a particularly overzealous bunch but smart for being paranoid nevertheless.

Ok, I want to jump to the guy in the gun store across the parking lot from the mall. They kept rattling their brains on how to get over to the guy without being made into lunchmeat.

Their solution, underground passage to the front of the gun store, then a short stint through about 20 or so undead meanies. Not too bad but they placed themselves in unnecessary danger in that last 20 feet from the manhole cover to the front of the gun store. Also, they should have covered their retreat a little better. Underground, in the maintenance tunnel, they walked through a doorway with a metal gate. A length of chain and someone waiting in the tunnel as they ran past would have solved the problem of the baddies following them. As the group retreated through the gate, the person waiting there would pull the gate shut and then secure it with the chain. Voila!

Another method to get to the gun store:

The truck that Lindy Booth (Nicole) drove to the front of the gun store was a 5 ton delivery truck with a 12 foot tall cab. She was able to successfully negotiate the zombie hoard and park in front of the store.

My suggestion: Modify the truck so that there is a roof hatch in the box in back and have the front cab reinforced to withstand a beating.

Drive over to the gun store and park as close to the front of the store as possible, giving the zombies no leverage to tip the truck. The driver and a passenger can stay secured inside the cab and perhaps you can open up a hole between the cab and the box so the driver can get out safely.

Have an extension ladder in the box in back popped through the roof and another ladder on top of the roof of the box. Secure the second ladder to a second story window with rope and climb in through the second floor window.

The box is about 12 feet tall which is tall enough to be out of reach of the undead meanies.

Once inside, give food to Andy, the gun store owner, and then start unloading a SHITLOAD of equipment. As the equipment is loaded, it will give the truck extra leverage to motor through the masses.

Once the truck is loaded, start shooting as many zombies as possible to clear the way for the truck. Once that is done, motor back to the mall and VOILA! Guns, Ammo, Andy, and a nice truck to use for later.

The same technique can be used for unloading the equipment at the mall as well.

Ok now the two mall vans. Not bad but I would have spent more time planning a route around the city if possible.

ALSO. NO FUCKING CHAINSAWS IN THE PASSENGER AREA PLEASE. Guns ok, but the old guy with a chainsaw sawing through the blonde hottie is not my idea of surviving.

I would have chosen better trucks to use, like the 5 ton delivery truck perhaps. It has better torque and can be weighed down with equipment for more stability.

The selection of clothing they chose, hrmm. . . useless. I would have gone to the sporting goods store and put on some padding, hell even a good leather jacket, gloves, and good boots would have been a better choice.

Still, I enjoyed both films. Hell they are classics for chrissakes. How can any true American zombie lover not like Dawn of the Dead?

5 brains out of 5.

Remember, always look over your shoulder!