Critics and fans alike are pretty much split down the middle between loving and hating Land of the Dead, but I think what the naysayers fail to understand is that no matter how different it may be from it’s predecessors, Land of the Dead is still at it’s core a zombie movie.

You can’t expect perfection from a movie because if you do, the majority of the time you’ll be disappointed. Land of the Dead does what it’s meant to do. It delivers graphic blood and gore. Who says a zombie movie needs to have a point?

In the end, though, Land of the Dead does have a poiny and it is different than most other zombie movies. Amongst the carnage, there is a message about the class-structures in society. The rich live in comfort in their gated communities, while the poor are left to survive off their scraps in the slums below them. Does Land of the Dead deliver it’s message? I suppose it does, albeit maybe a bit heavy-handedly.

Also in Land of the Dead, we find the zombies are now somewhat sentient – living their lives (in a manner of speaking) much as humans do. They pump gas, play instruments (kind of) and even hold hands. Does this make them more sympathetic? Watch and decide for yourself.

Quick Review: If nothing else, Land of the Dead is great for a surprising amount of gore for its R-rating.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead (Unrated Director’s Cut)

Blu-Ray

Land of the Dead (Unrated Director’s Cut) [Blu-ray]

Day of the Dead shouldn’t be called a remake at all. It’s more of a re-imagining. The zombies aren’t your typical zombie. They move faster, the climb walls and scale buildings, they can listen and understand radio broadcasts and some of them are even vegetarian – okay, there’s only one vegetarian, but its inclusion allows the film to answer the age old question, what do vegetarian zombies eat.

My best advice for anyone preparing to watch Day of the Dead, is this: forget the original completely. While there are a few throwbacks, this is a completely separate movie. If you go into this expecting the original you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you go into this looking for a fun, zombie, bloodbath, you’ll get exactly what you’re looking for.

Quick Review: Doomed by it’s name, Day of the Dead isn’t deserving of the bad press it got. It’s an entertaining watch as has more gore than you can shake a severed limb at.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

Day of the Dead

Blu-Ray

Day of the Dead [Blu-ray]

Like the Remake? Pick up the Original on DVD:

Day of the Dead (Divimax Special Edition)

Or Blu-Ray:

Day of the Dead [Blu-ray]

Dawn of the Dead is full of zombie slaying fun and loaded with sharp wit and memorable, repeatable lines. Among my favorite is the exchange between Kenneth and Steve when discussing the zombie situation. Kenneth: “Is everyone there dead?” Steve: “Well, dead-ish.” I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more accurate description of zombies.

Quick Review: Many people were skeptical about remaking this classic, but Dawn of the Dead is everything one could hope for. Lots of blood. Lots of gore. Lots of zombies. Perfect.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

Dawn of the Dead (Widescreen Unrated Director’s Cut)

Blu-Ray

Dawn of the Dead (Unrated Director’s Cut) [Blu-ray]

Like the remake? Check out the original on DVD:

Dawn of the Dead (Divimax Edition)

Or Blu-Ray

Dawn of the Dead [Blu-ray]