Land of the Dead Review

Written by: Moviemaven   

Well, here I am after twenty years. The anticipation is over. Was it worth it? Yes. And no. Everyone knows I have love for Uncle George. I always have and always will. Alas, I cannot shower him with accolades for Land of the Dead like I had planned to do for so long. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Hell out of it. But something was amiss. The effects were stellar, the cast was remarkable, the action was a joy, the humor was well placed, and the trademark social commentary was beaming at me from the big screen just like always. So what was missing?

I think it was the home grown goodness that I have loved all my life. I felt as if the heart of the story that made Romero's films so special had gone AWOL since the involvement of a major studio. The film begins in a world where the dead are now in the majority and the remaining humans must scratch to survive if they don't have the money and status to afford a spot in Fiddler's Green where the elite are kept safe from the encroaching ghouls.

We are treated to some wonderfully scary moments and some amazing looking zombies. One thing that we do get from Land that was always lacking in the other films, is the simultaneous mass murder of hundreds of unsuspecting citizens. The piles of bodies being ripped to shreds amidst their tortured screams is fuel for many more years of sleepness nights for me. We are left feeling actual sympathy for the enemy. I liked that. I felt it. I was right in there. Until I stopped for a second and said, "Heyyy."

One of the things I have always enjoyed about the Dead films is the message. But at the end of the day, does it really make sense? They are zombies. No matter how sad they seem and how much they learn to use tools, they are zombies. They eat people. You cannot negotiate with them. That is why I give it a seven when I long to rate it a ten. Technically, the film is incredible and a lot of fun, but I feel the message is force fed while the bare bones charm of the former three (particularly Dawn) is shelved. Somehow it manages to feel rushed after a wait of twenty years. Still, I recommend a viewing. I plan to see it again.

I am proud of what Romero has accomplished and the fact that he has finally been recognized for the genius he is. I long to see more and will wait another twenty years if I have to. I only hope that the next installment will give me back the George that I have admired and enjoyed for so long. But see it for yourself. I urge you to go out and support the man that has been responsible for so much glorious misery throughout the years.