George A. Romero's Land of the Dead Review

Written by: Ash's missing hand   

In George A. Romero's future zombies have started to evolve. They don't just lurch about eating people anymore. The zombies have learned to communicate on a very basic level, to make plans, and learn from their torment.

The humans, on the other hand, have evolved a class system. Those with money live in Fiddlers Green. Others live in the city barricaded against the zombies outside. Raids are staged outside the safe zone in Dead Reckoning, a giant armored truck, to bring back supplies.

Cholo (John Leguizamo) wants to move into Fiddlers Green. He is one of the best mercenaries that works for Kaufman (Dennis Hopper). Cholo works under Riley (Simon Baker), the leader of the mercenaries and the hero of the movie. Also around is Slack (Asia Argento) a part-time hooker who gets thrown into a pit of zombies to fend for herself.

The balance of this little world is upset when Kaufman refuses Cholo's request to move into Fiddlers Green. Cholo steals Dead Reckoning, the zombies get organized, and Big Daddy (Eugene Clark) begins to develop a bit of intelligence. Geroge Romero is still using zombies for social satire and nobody does it better.