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jcburns87
Reviews
La horde (2009)
A good way to kill 90 minutes.
This film was decent at best, but it could have been so much better. The concept tries to be unique, but in reality most zombie movies toy with the idea that there are people who have to put aside their differences to survive zombies. Nothing extraordinary, they just put "crooked" cops and gangsters into a large apartment complex. I say "crooked" because that's how they are described in every synopsis I've read for this film, but they never really show why they're crooked. They show up for vengeance and are then quickly disarmed, which is really interesting because later the cops fight zombies hand to hand and become expert marksmen.
The Horde wastes zero time jumping right into the action, which is good because aside from a few interactions between the characters there is nothing but zombie killing. Most of the characters are throw aways, save for a few and most fit into archetypes we've all seen in zombie films. You have the principal actors who get some characterization and then zombie meat. In all honesty I don't remember most of the characters names.
Now, this movie is a solid zombie film, except for one thing. The female lead in the film, Aurore, is atrociously unlikeable. There is nothing about her that makes you want her to survive. She seems to be trying to channel Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 and Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil and it just doesn't work. I felt myself rooting for the murderous, drug-dealing gangsters more than her. And this is a film that does not shy away from knocking off characters brutally and quickly. But for some reason this woman not only survives, but is constantly annoying. Aside from that there is an old guy who provides quasi-comic relief who turns out to be the most compelling character.
If you are trying to decide if you want to watch this film, know this. There is a scene at the end that is one of the best death scenes for a character in a zombie movie. Though it is the cliché sort of "save the others" sort of death, it is filmed well and it kills off one of the film's best characters in spectacular fashion.
Alan Wake (2010)
Practically a love letter to David Lynch.
Alan Wake could have been a classic case of a game anguishing far too long in development and not delivering on it's promises. But the intriguing concept, interesting characters, and fantastic setting provide one of the more enjoyable story telling experiences for a game in years.
Some might bemoan the gameplay as either too simplisitc or repetitive, but the tight controls and the hectic action that pops up throughout the campaign keeps the player on their toes.
And David Lynch fans will find plenty to enjoy, with obvious nods to the director's work scattered across Alan Wake, with talks about coffee, surreal characters and Roy Orbison songs.
The episodic format benefits the game well as the game sets up each segment like something you'd expect to see on a prime time television series.
All in all a must for any fan of thrillers or David Lynch, which are usually one in the same.
Day of the Dead (2008)
A disgrace, an absolute disgrace.
This film is just a mess, there was no reason what so ever to even call this movie "Day of the Dead", as it has nothing to do with the original in the slightest bit. The quality of the script, the direction, the acting are all what you'd except from a film made by a cable channel. Romero's films had social context and underlying messages. This film says nothing about humans aside from the fact that they can't remake good films. Say what you will about zombie movies, but the few rules that zombie movies share, such as zombies not having the ability to do human things are not present here. One of the characters becomes a zombie and doesn't attack people because he's a vegetarian, a fact that is mentioned offhand in the beginning of the story. Also there are zombies driving cars and climbing walls. Don't waste your time with this garbage dump, if you've never seen the original "Day of the Dead", watch that instead. If you have seen the original "Day of the Dead" and want to see a remake, grab a few buddies and film one in the backyard because it'll turn out ten times better than this.