[Petgan]

Can anyone tell me why it is that everyone thinks that Zombieland among others, is such a great zombie movie? how can something with such ridiculous scenarios, and the usual tongue in cheek comedy element that so often rears its ugly head in todays zombie movies, be so good? Why do nearly all zombie movie directors feel that comedy makes for a great zombie movie. It doesn't. When I watch a zombie film, I want to spend ninety or so minutes having the **** scared out of me, while wondering all the time what exactly I would do in such a situation, not have bizarre, unbelievable comedy moments with in some cases music to match which has the effect of making me snigger in amazement totally deflating the whole thing, leaving me the dissapointing feeling of either trying to persevere with it right to the end or switch it off there and then. Does anyione else feel like this? I still live for the day when somebody out there is going to get the subject by the balls and try to make a half decent effort as realistic as possible, which if done properly could make a great scary movie. As for the moment, I would say that annoyingly, probably about 95% of the genre that's out there go the other way.

[Morbidfilm]

To be honest, I enjoyed it in the theater, but now...I can't even sit through it anymore. The jokes do not hold up on a second viewing, the girls are annoying and there is not enough zombie action.
That's what happens when non-horror people make horror films and cash in on zombies so they can make a comedy, which is what they really wanted to do. I'm glad I didn't buy it.
Personally there are hardly any good zombie movies anymore. They are all the same. Lame 28 Days Later knock-offs or lame ass comedies. I've pretty much given up on new zombie films.

Long live Fulci.

[zombiefan]

I enjoyed Zombieland but it certainly is overrated. My biggest complaint about the film has already been written:

Morbidfilm, on 30 July 2011 - 03:33 PM, said:

...there is not enough zombie action.

One would have thought with a title like "Zombieland" there would have been a lot of zombies in it. With the exception of the amusement park at the end, there aren't. I'm hoping if the rumored sequel gets made that they correct this issue.

[zombie surfer]

Petgan, on 30 July 2011 - 02:13 PM, said:

Why do nearly all zombie movie directors feel that comedy makes for a great zombie movie. It doesn't.

Sorry man but Return of the Living Dead.

[Petgan]

Morbidfilm, on 30 July 2011 - 03:33 PM, said:

To be honest, I enjoyed it in the theater, but now...I can't even sit through it anymore. The jokes do not hold up on a second viewing, the girls are annoying and there is not enough zombie action.
That's what happens when non-horror people make horror films and cash in on zombies so they can make a comedy, which is what they really wanted to do. I'm glad I didn't buy it.
Personally there are hardly any good zombie movies anymore. They are all the same. Lame 28 Days Later knock-offs or lame ass comedies. I've pretty much given up on new zombie films.

Long live Fulci.

Quite agree. that is also my other gripe. Why do they insist on labeling films like 28 Days, The Crazies, etc. etc. as zombie films...They're not! They are films about people who have become crazed due to a virus or whatever. They are not dead, which in my book anyway, is what constitutes as a zombie... Crazy, mad people are not dead zombies...

[Darth Erroneous]

I rather enjoyed Zombieland. Granted it's not in my collection and I may watch it if it just so happens to be on Netflix or the like. It's like Mounds and Almond Joy: Sometime's you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't. I find it refreshing that the zombie genre can translate over to comedy and not just stay in the horror/suspense genre. While I feel that the horror/suspense genre is the best way to go there are those times I just want to have fun and watch a funny zombie flick like Zombieland or Shaun of the Dead.

[Zombie Roy]

Morbidfilm, on 30 July 2011 - 03:33 PM, said:

To be honest, I enjoyed it in the theater, but now...I can't even sit through it anymore. The jokes do not hold up on a second viewing, the girls are annoying and there is not enough zombie action.
That's what happens when non-horror people make horror films and cash in on zombies so they can make a comedy, which is what they really wanted to do. I'm glad I didn't buy it.
Personally there are hardly any good zombie movies anymore. They are all the same. Lame 28 Days Later knock-offs or lame ass comedies. I've pretty much given up on new zombie films.

Long live Fulci.

I agree as well. I saw it at the cinema and thought it was great but when it came out on DVD and I bought it, I realised it wasn't as great as I remember. Still good, but not great. Do think the Bill Murray bit is hilarious though!

And yeah I didn't actually realise till the second viewing that the "zombies" weren't dead, but living infected, so was kinda annoying they put zombie in the title.

[Morbidfilm]

It's kind of sad that most zombie films made today are not undead. Most of them aren't even dead! Filmmakers seem to have forgotten what a zombie is.

[fg42lol]

one without a soul?

[Banjopocalypse]

Petgan, on 30 July 2011 - 02:13 PM, said:

Can anyone tell me why it is that everyone thinks that Zombieland among others, is such a great zombie movie? how can something with such ridiculous scenarios, and the usual tongue in cheek comedy element that so often rears its ugly head in todays zombie movies, be so good? Why do nearly all zombie movie directors feel that comedy makes for a great zombie movie. It doesn't. When I watch a zombie film, I want to spend ninety or so minutes having the **** scared out of me, while wondering all the time what exactly I would do in such a situation, not have bizarre, unbelievable comedy moments with in some cases music to match which has the effect of making me snigger in amazement totally deflating the whole thing, leaving me the dissapointing feeling of either trying to persevere with it right to the end or switch it off there and then. Does anyione else feel like this? I still live for the day when somebody out there is going to get the subject by the balls and try to make a half decent effort as realistic as possible, which if done properly could make a great scary movie. As for the moment, I would say that annoyingly, probably about 95% of the genre that's out there go the other way.

You've touched on something really interesting, and related to the way I see Zombie Movies. Okay, Living Dead movies. Okay, infected/crazed/almost dead/actually dead/whatever movies.

I liked Zombieland, more than I thought I would, and it was because of the humor. And that's one of the things that can make a great flick. A movie like 28 days later isn't exactly on the same level, or going for the same thing, but I enjoyed that more. Zombieland took the camp elements of most zombie films, magnified it, and made a quality film. That's admirable, but it's not going to satisfy everyone.

I rarely enjoy the straight up horror-based zombie/infected/apocalypse movies - mostly because so many are so bad. More often, I like a horror movie that has a little fun in it without being too campy. That's a fine line. In fact, you could argue that "you can't please everyone" in this category since we're talking about two different "likes" here: you like to be scared, I like to be entertained - and fear is included there, but so is humor.

I actually don't like other horror films, but put a horde of zombies in it, and it works for me. That may be due to the "distancing" that an apocalyptic scenario creates from reality - it's a lot less plausible than, say, some postal worker picking up an axe and going on a killing spree. But I like the distance, and humor may be a part of that too. Just another flavor of movie we're talking about here.

TM
banjopocalypse.bandcamp.com

[rharmelink]

Morbidfilm, on 01 August 2011 - 08:27 AM, said:

It's kind of sad that most zombie films made today are not undead. Most of them aren't even dead! Filmmakers seem to have forgotten what a zombie is.

I think it's primarily that "infected" is a lot more realistic, if you'll pardon the term, a situation than "undead". If you need an explanation of the outbreak, "infected" is just easier to do.

[Morbidfilm]

rharmelink, on 01 August 2011 - 04:08 PM, said:

I think it's primarily that "infected" is a lot more realistic, if you'll pardon the term, a situation than "undead". If you need an explanation of the outbreak, "infected" is just easier to do.

Unfortunately it seems many movies made today go for the - it's just easier - route.

[rharmelink]

Morbidfilm, on 01 August 2011 - 05:29 PM, said:

Unfortunately it seems many movies made today go for the - it's just easier - route.

How many zombie movies have you bought the explanation of why the dead bodies reanimate and move around? And continue to move around without anything to sustain their obvious energy consumption?

[fg42lol]

well, for those who think zombies started with Romero, I implore you to watch White Zombie.

[SWAT Zombie]

^This

The only true zombie is a voodoo zombie. Every other "zombie" has just been tagged with the nickname. Infected are not truly zombies, but then neither are GAR's undead cannibals. Movie genres evolve.

And on topic. Zombieland. Great zombies but too few are seen. Slow paced movie and the characters do dumb things that are more annoying than funny. Highly overrrated.

[DarthJoe8]

fg42lol, on 01 August 2011 - 09:31 PM, said:

well, for those who think zombies started with Romero, I implore you to watch White Zombie.

Good luck getting past the 10 minute mark. This movie is crap.

[fg42lol]

that movie is a classic.

my problem with Zombie Land is - If Tallahassee is such a badass, than why the F*CK does he wear V-necks? V-NECKS AREN'T BR00TAL

Another thing, Why wouldn't Columbus ditch his double barreled shotgun for one of the multiple pump actions found in the back of the H2?!

Also, Why would rednecks have an MP7?!

ALSO! How would shooting an electric control panel engage hydraulic breaks?! WTF LOGIC?!

WHY WOULD BILL MURRAY PLAY SUCH A HORRIBLE JOKE? He was asking to get lit up.

[Morbidfilm]

Earlier when I wrote filmmakers forgot what zombies are....I meant voodoo zombies and ghouls. I thought everyone would understand it and I wouldn't have to write it out.
In zombie films, I don't care how it happened. It just does.
And I'm pretty sure everyone here knows that Romero did not invent zombies. And I tried watching White Zombie and it was a mess of a movie. It may be a classic, but so is Plan 9 From Outer Space.

[Lowrie Productions]

Petgan, on 30 July 2011 - 02:13 PM, said:

Can anyone tell me why it is that everyone thinks that Zombieland among others, is such a great zombie movie? how can something with such ridiculous scenarios, and the usual tongue in cheek comedy element that so often rears its ugly head in todays zombie movies, be so good? Why do nearly all zombie movie directors feel that comedy makes for a great zombie movie. It doesn't. When I watch a zombie film, I want to spend ninety or so minutes having the **** scared out of me, while wondering all the time what exactly I would do in such a situation, not have bizarre, unbelievable comedy moments with in some cases music to match which has the effect of making me snigger in amazement totally deflating the whole thing, leaving me the dissapointing feeling of either trying to persevere with it right to the end or switch it off there and then. Does anyione else feel like this? I still live for the day when somebody out there is going to get the subject by the balls and try to make a half decent effort as realistic as possible, which if done properly could make a great scary movie. As for the moment, I would say that annoyingly, probably about 95% of the genre that's out there go the other way.

You do bring up some good points but we cant have mad mental horror all the time.

Sometimes its nice to just sit back and enjoy the flick for what it is.

Why so serious? ....see what I did there

Dan, Citizen Against The Horde

[DarthJoe8]

fg42lol, on 02 August 2011 - 09:07 AM, said:

that movie is a classic.

Crappy classic.