| Author | Message | ||
     John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.253.174.81 |
I thought I'd mention this in case anyone fancies catching it before the end of its cinema run. It's a genuine surprise - a warm, funny American version of 'Shaun of the Dead' that doesn't copy that film at all but has the same light-hearted witty approach to the problem of a zombie apocalypse. Woody Harrelson is the star but there's also a terrific turn from Bill Murray that allows a few Ghostbusters gags and the whole thing comes to a machine-gunning zombie climax in a fully working amusement park. Go on Zed, you'll love it  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
 I really fancy this one, actually. Looks like it might be a hoot. | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 88.202.207.22 |
Yes, a completely unexpected joy and the third such in our cineblitz (Triangle, Thirst, Zombieland). And then of course Psychoville, which is possibly the best thing I've EVER seen on TV. (Yes, Twin Peaks has been usurped!) Hey JLP... I'm in ur flat, watchin ur Frightmare... | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.253.174.81 |
In that case I hope you're paying attention - there'll be questions when I get home . | ||
| Michael_kelly (Michael_kelly) Username: Michael_kelly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 74.14.15.122 |
Indeed, I was surprised at the depth of the film. Very good. | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
That's it!! I have got to get the 'Psychoville' DVD come pay day on Wed. 'The League Of Gentlemen' is quite close to being the best thing I've ever seen on TV so if this is anywhere near that good... oh, momma!! | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
>>In that case I hope you're paying attention - there'll be questions when I get home<< These little insights into Lord and Lady P's domestic life are most disconcerting.  | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.243.89 |
Well, finally caught this on DVD. It's The Road: The Comedy. Thoroughly entertaining, yes... funny, yes... eye-candy, yes... great cameo from Bill Murray, sure, all that.... I was never bored, I was highly entertained. So why does this seem to represent to me the absolute nadir of moviedom on the other hand? Something about this reeks of the worst things I hate about Hollywood... it's not quite the rampant use of CGI (down to enhancing the smashing of headlights and breaking of knick-nacks, etc.), the uber-slickness, the ultra-cool-yeah-baby!-ness... the relentlessly "hip" soundtrack... the heavy-handed themes and set-ups/pay-offs... the utter inauthenticity of the protagonists... it's all of these, but I've forgiven these before... perhaps I'm not looking at it as the 100% comedy it is... but then, it doesn't seem to want to represent itself as 100% comedy, so there's that too.... In sum, it's a Twinkie: tasty, non-nutritious, and utterly forgettable as an experience. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.156.233.165 |
Yes to all that. My feeling was that the concept was so high it was easy to do, hence just as easy to forget. I did sort of like it though. I have a theory that if a film is just as good as you expected - even if you like it - it loses points. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.243.89 |
Interesting theory, Tony... I think I might agree with it. It was almost too perfect - or perhaps it just signaled everything too loudly - or is it that I'm too jaded? It might be all three. Fear of clowns? Clown is coming. Wants to brush hair of heroine? Hair will get brushed. Always follow rules? Rule will get broken. Jessie Eisenberg I found insufferably meek, and innocently angst-ridden. Again, perhaps, I'm being unfair - perhaps I don't get the audience. I hope I'm not getting old....  | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.121.214.114 |
Are you starting to question your template theories? | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.253.106 |
No, Weber, it took me a couple days to figure out what's up with ZOMBIELAND. It's a young-adult zombie film, that's what I was missing. Do you have the term "young-adult" in your media world in Britain? You know, it's to zombies what the New Moon series is to vampires. A comic-book world-view, as in: idealistic, non-ironic (though utilizing parody), emotionally shallow, episodic, teen-angst-ish cotton-candy. Tonally, one can barely put a film like ZOMBIELAND and a film like Romero's original DAWN OF THE DEAD in the same genre.... |