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Diary Of The Dead - Single Disc Edition [2007]
![Diary Of The Dead - Single Disc Edition [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tAAXEWJ9L._SL160_.jpg)
This time around then, Diary Of The Dead heads a little back to basics, with a film that follows a group of amateur filmmakers who find themselves under siege from zombies, allowing the legendary director to take some less-than-subtle swipes at the YouTube generation. Sadly, his cast don’t help him very much, ringing in primarily forgettable performances, and this certainly nullifies some of the points that Romero tries to make. Yet when it comes to the zombie action, there’s no number you’d call faster than Romero’s, and here’s where the great man delivers. Diary Of The Dead does work along the law of diminishing returns, and is the weakest of the series, but it’s not without a general collection of skilful moments that fans of the genre won't want to miss. Diary Of The Dead isn’t a film that you need to have seen the others before it to appreciate, but it is a primarily quite ordinary film from an often-extraordinary director. That said, it still easily eclipses the army of imitators of recent times (the splendid zombie romantic comedy Shaun Of The Dead excepted, of course), and has more than enough horror to fill an empty night. --Jon Foster
RRP: £17.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
George A Romero continues his revival of his iconic zombie franchise with Diary Of The Dead, the fifth film in a series that kicked off back in 1968 with Night Of The Living Dead. And while his latest doesn’t manage to match the heights of the earlier films, there’s still something refreshing about watching a genuine master of the genre at work.
The weakest "dead" film so far
Review date: 2008-11-15 Rating: 6 out of 10
I'm a huge fan of George A Romero and his films, however I was dissapointed with his latest entry, it wasnt so much the acting which with a few exceptions was very weak. It was the script which I really think let the film down, George Romero's previous "Dead" films have had very subtly context, such as in Dawn of the Dead he commented on commercialisation. He also had very rich characters in these previous films. But in Diary of the Dead the characters are so thin it almost becomes laughable, it is also very hard to care for most of the characters, especially the "Director" of the film who just stands around filming whilst his girlfriend is attacked by zombies. You also have the well spoken english drunk who often imparts his wisdom which makes you shout, "well duhh" at the tv. You have the dippy blonde the fiesty brunet the guy who refuses to belive any of it is happening and a scene where the dialouge is shamelessly copied from Dirty Harry.
I really wanted to like this film and though it was enjoyable, with Romero still finding new ways to kill zombies it just seemed that Romero is losing his talented skills when it comes to writing a solid script. And though the ending did have a poignant message, by the time I got there I really didnt care.
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Reviews
Still better than the rest.
Review date: 2008-11-07 Rating: 8 out of 10
Look at the other zombie-flics that just came out or are about to come out nowadays... then this one still is a lot better. The beginning is a bit long, that's true, but then the second half has it's moments. I don't like films like 28 days later. This one I like. I think most modern horror- and action-flics lack ambience and storytelling. Too fast, too noisy, it seems that all the actors are in a hurry to finish the film cause it's so boring. Thank you George, for falling out of frame one more time.
Really Good
Review date: 2008-11-06 Rating: 8 out of 10
I've just finished watching Diary of the Dead and I really enjoyed it. The film is shot through a hand-held camera and shows the story of several college students and their professor trying to survive a zombie outbreak that has befallen the planet, and it typical Romero style, there is blood and guts by the barrel full.
The way the film is shot through the hand held camera adds to the realism of the film, creating a sense of urgency and panic amongst the audience. Great film and in my opinion, Romero's best.
Times up George
Review date: 2008-10-31 Rating: 2 out of 10
oh dear me what went wrong i am a massive fan of Mr Romero but this is awful.
i was so looking forward to seeing this and was stunned into a coma by its naffness. All i wanted to do was stick the camera of the Diarist where the son doesnt shine.
Now might a good time to call it a day george as you seem to have run out of any original ideas.
One star because i have too.
I am a camera with my shutter open
Review date: 2008-10-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
In Christopher Isherwood's "Goodbye to Berlin" we have a character looking down at events happening in the street below: "I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking." What "Diary of the Dead" does very well is to examine the relationship between the viewer, the voyeur, and the filmmaker. I think where the movie loses points from the teen market is because it's very much an auteur's movie. Romero knows where he wants to go with this and he does so, brilliantly; but the little kiddies out there will clamour for fast zombies and typical thrills because they can only lap up what they're force fed. Horror doesn't have to be scary, it has to be believeable in order to be relevant. Here, Romero is very relevant.
Romero, interestingly enough, takes the teenage kick penetrating modern horror flicks, but then doesn't do the obvious with it. And when he does tread the familiar it's very tongue in cheek (the opening scene, later repeated, with the ripped blouse for example). All of Romero's movies are flawed and that's what I like about them. He stamps his vision on the movie and we don't get some chocolate box wrapped up for the consumber market with toy and gaming products built in. What we get is skewed genuis, some occasional touches of brilliance (the deaf farmer is pure class), and a few flaws (no one suffers great emotional loss - but then if they did so all we would have is relentless sobbing: we have to suspend our disbelief to take the ride).
I'd rate this up there with "Night of the Living Dead". The final scene is chilling, because it's utterly believeable. The marriage of pure horror with real horror. Add to that the compulsion we have to contextualise ourselves, whether in film or in our heads, and you have a fun, thoughtful, entertaining, and genuine zombie movie experience.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Michelle Morgan
Joshua Close
Shawn Roberts
Creators:
Joshua Close (Primary Contributor)
Michelle Morgan (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Optimum Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Optimum Home Entertainment
EAN: 5055201804297
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-06-30
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 91 minutes