George A Romero

I have just read a review of "Survival Of The Dead", the new Zombie movie from George Romero. It was bad.

I am a fan and in true HollywoodRant fashion I shall begin talking about one thing and turn it into a list of something else.

Night Of The Living Dead was brilliant. Duane Jones as Ben is the best actor in a horror movie ever putting more emotion into a horror movie role I have ever witnessed. The story starts small and finishes slightly smaller with a sour ending that sticks in your gullet. Karl Hardman is also great as the asshole Harry Cooper (looking too much like Rob Corddry though) who is always one step from war with Ben. Given the belief these days that HORROR=GORE it is refreshing to see this black and white film being scarier than all modern zombie films.

Dawn Of The Dead is the favourite of many including me. I think it's as is said in the film: "This was an important place for them" and as you watch the film you almost feel you are IN the mall. We have all had to negotiate a busy shopping precinct - just imagine if the ignorant shoppers really were zombies! In all this film also adds scope and makes the zompocolypse seem real and BIG which is something I haven't felt with any other zombie film.

Day Of The Dead was the one I didn't like originally. Too much talk and not enough meat. Looking back it has the worst acting of the series and despite the natural astounding location it looks terrible. The lighting is off and what could've looked vast and epic looks tiny and dull. Viewed as an adult though it shines in terms of character. Plus Joseph Pilato... I love him.

The Zombie genre vanished for a while and just as I started to plan on resurrecting the Zombie film there was suddenly a slew of Undead films being released. One of those a Romero movie.

Land Of The Dead was hugely anticipated but attacked by critics and fans. The Romero films always had bad acting and poor dialogue (mostly poor due to delivery) but in the new age people were not prepared to give any leeway. This was a shame as Land is actually quite good and something new in the genre (which Romero created by the way?) and the next film I am planning to watch.

Diary of the Dead was the last outing for the Romero Zombies.I saw Cloverfield on DVD and Diary at the cinema - I still feel I made the right choice. It was smart, well shot and used the modern online media angle very well. In all honesty, like the other films, it is a Romero Zombie movie and, thus, is great.

I cannot wait until Survival... even though I know I will be in the minority once more.