DanielSavage
Flesh Eater
Reged: 09/25/03
Posts: 1211
Loc: West Virginia
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I'm not really here to review this movie. I'm just going to tell you all what Diary Of The Dead really is. I've read many reviews for this film in the past month or so and needless to say, they're a mixed bag. I've read that Diary is a hybrid of The Blair Witch Project and Night Of The Living Dead, but this simply isn't true. While Diary wants to feel like a documentary there are no shaking or motion sickness problems to report. I've also read that there's no gore in Diary, wrong again. There aren't buckets of blood in the film, but it does have some well placed moments where the red stuff gets some screen time. Then there's the narration. I've read that the narrator is annoying and useless, but this isn't true either. The narrator does indeed speak up from time to time throughout the course of the film, but in no way is it annoying. It does feel a little preachy at times but I feel it's what Romero intended. Lastly I want to talk about the ending. Many people have said Diary's ending is bad, wrong again! The ending of this film blows the terrible closing of Land Of The Dead out of the water. All in all Romero has given us a film to get excited about. Diary Of The Dead is independent horror film making at its very best. The actors are nobodys, and will probably remain that way, but they do their job sufficiently. The budget was small but it doesn't look cheap and it's fresh. In a time where horror fans have nothing to look forward to other than a seemingly endless line of remakes and rehashes Romero has delivered the goods. How fitting is it that in the twilight of his career if not his life the king of the zombie film Mr. George A. Romero himself has taken it back to what it was originally intended to be? To top it off, he's done it for us. The true fans. Yesterday afternoon I read a post right here on Horrorspeak that said horror blows now. If you can say that after watching Diary Of The Dead then you're not a horror fan. I waited for what seemed like an eternity to see Diary Of The Dead, and it was worth the wait...
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We won't crawl on our knees for you...
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Tony Soprano
Living Dead
Reged: 02/23/01
Posts: 1949
Loc: Canada
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I have a somewhat different opinion about this movie. While it wasn't terrible by any means, I feel that it ranks at the bottom of my list of Romero zombie films. I was excited to see this movie but when I finally saw it I didn't feel the same anticipation to see the actions unfold. Every time I see Night, Dawn or Day I feel like I am watching it for the first time. Unfortunately, Diary didn't do this for me. As it stands right now, Diary ranks one notch below Land.
I am going to give it anther viewing and see if I can get the magic that the other films bring to the table. Right now though I'm not feeling it.
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"Nine killed her, nine shall die, nine eternities in doom!"
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DanielSavage
Flesh Eater
Reged: 09/25/03
Posts: 1211
Loc: West Virginia
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Quote:
I have a somewhat different opinion about this movie. While it wasn't terrible by any means, I feel that it ranks at the bottom of my list of Romero zombie films. I was excited to see this movie but when I finally saw it I didn't feel the same anticipation to see the actions unfold. Every time I see Night, Dawn or Day I feel like I am watching it for the first time. Unfortunately, Diary didn't do this for me. As it stands right now, Diary ranks one notch below Land.
I am going to give it anther viewing and see if I can get the magic that the other films bring to the table. Right now though I'm not feeling it.
There in lies the problem in my opinion. People are associating this film with Romero's previous "DEAD" movies, but it really doesn't fit into that mold as far as I'm concerned. I think this movie is fantastic given it's 100% indie status. It was made using never will be's, and it was cheap as hell. In that regard it is a great film. As far as indie horror is concerned Diary is a quality movie, but if you compare it to Night, Dawn or Day it just doesn't stack up. Personally I think it's a better film than Land Of The Dead, but opinions vary. I know that aruguments could be made about Night and Dawn being indie films as well, but the world was a different place back in those days.
I'm not trying to force my opinions on you by any means, but if you watch it under the assumption that it's a traditional Romero "DEAD" film you'll be less impressed than if you take it for what it truly is. Diary Of The Dead is a stand alone shoestring budgeted indie horror film, and a damn fine one at that. I really enjoyed the movie, but I do wish the acting would've been more believable. In fact the acting is my only gripe about Diary. Some of the camera work is phenominal, the small amount of gore is great "cgi aside", the superstar guest voiceover actors are fun to point out, and George's overall direction is top notch. Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way about it, but I suppose I have a soft spot for Romero films.
I really hope the film grows on you man. I know it's grown on me. I absolutely love it...
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We won't crawl on our knees for you...
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EdgarAllen
Living Dead
Reged: 09/16/00
Posts: 1202
Loc: Star City
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Didn't get a chance to see the limited release, although I tried really hard, but finally got to view the rental last night. I liked this movie, it's most certainly a great zombie flick. However it's by no means anywhere near perfect either. It didn't offer alot of originality IMO, unless you count filming in POV (on the other hand I thought LAND was quite original and it comes in behind this one). DIARY represents a tried and true sub-genre of horror that not alot of folks outside of zombie fans are really gonna dig very much (unlike, say 28 DAYS LATER). I think this should have gotten a full-blown theater release, I mean LAND did so by default this should of as well, but I can see why a studio would opt not to do that.
The good: Didn't mind the POV filming nor did it make me consciously compare it to BLAIR WITCH PROJECT or CLOVERFIELD. As has been noted by several, their is less camera shaking in this film relative to the other POVs mentioned. The POV allowed for many trademark Romero wide-shots, like he used at the end of NotLD when the authorities are hunting down the ghouls. The beginning story set-up is fun, where the news crew is filming a piece about a multiple murder-suicide. The Amish scenes are a real hoot and also the most intense part of the film, definitely the highlight of the movie. I liked the Winnebago idea too, I thought it might have been a nod to RACE WITH THE DEVIL. It's a step up from LAND in the story department. LAND is actually a lot deeper movie that DIARY, but it's also not as fun or exciting, or scary for that matter.
The not so good: After that first scene the film is basically a on the road picture that doesn't really go anywhere. The acting doesn't do the film justice. Maybe the script lines were incredibly cheesy or maybe these guys just can't deliver lines, but either way.... The story just never developed enough for me. I mean, they told the part of the story I cared about in the first few minutes. I keep thinking about 28 DAYS LATER, that's not my favorite movie in the whole world, but I thought it was alot more effective than DIARY. DIARY didn't get me too creeped out, it didn't draw me in or make me care very much about the characters. It came from the guy that made NIGHT and DAWN and out of the five zombie films he's made this one comes in fourth place.
The bad: Other than the acting, nothing really. See it, it's fun, especially for horror fans.
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"Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday."
-Psalms 91:5-6
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DanielSavage
Flesh Eater
Reged: 09/25/03
Posts: 1211
Loc: West Virginia
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I'll agree with you EA. There isn't much in the way of story telling in Diary, and the characters are totally cookie cutter with the exception of the professor. Even with that being said I'm going to have to stand firmly behind stating that Diary Of The Dead is a solid film. My pros and cons would look like this.
Pros:
Best Romero film since Day Of The Dead.
Nice special effects gags "cgi aside".
Terrific camera work.
Solid overall direction.
Fun voice over work by genre superstars.
Greg Nicotero cameo.
Hilarious Amish character.
Good use of POV perspective.
Cons:
The actor's performances range from mediocre to flat out terrible (excluding the professor).
People associate Diary Of The Dead with Romero's previous Dead films immediately.
I don't think this film will become a beloved classic by any means, but it's a nice addition to the zombie genre. IMO Diary Of The Dead beats the hell out of the Day Of The Dead remake, 28 Weeks Later and pretty much every other zombie film that's been released since the genre regained it's popularity...
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We won't crawl on our knees for you...
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