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Doomsday [2008]
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The disease has surfaced in London (now a walled city), and Mitra is dispatched to find a scientist who may possess a cure. Marshall's vision of Scotland in ruins brings together the punk/modern primitive costume design of George Miller's Mad Max trilogy with some eclectic homegrown elements (knights on horseback defending a gang leader's castle), and while these touches are novel, the picture as a whole should ring overly familiar to any viewer who's spent time in the exploitation trenches during the past 25 years. Younger and less discerning audience members will undoubtedly enjoy the plentiful violence and gore, as well as the unbridled performances of the supporting cast, especially stuntwoman/actress Lee-Ann Liebenberg as the heavily tattooed Viper. --Paul Gaita
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £5.97 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Loud, violent, and proudly derivative, the post-apocalyptic action-thriller Doomsday is the latest from UK cult director Neil Marshall, who impressed horror fans with his previous efforts, Dog Soldiers and The Descent. Both pictures established Marshall as a director with a knack for reinventing well-worn genre pictures, but here, he seems more interested in stitching together favorite scenes and elements from established horror and science-fiction films. Escape from New York is the main source for Doomsday, though there are plenty of nods to The Road Warrior and its multitude of Italian-made carbon copies, as well as the zombie/plague subgenre; the lovely but impassive Rhona Mitra is the Snake Plissken-esque loner sent by police (represented by Bob Hoskins) to infiltrate Scotland, which has descended into anarchy following a viral outbreak.
EXCELLENT COPY OF ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK & MAD MAX
Review date: 2008-11-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
I was positively surprised when I watched DOOMSDAY, expecting a carbon copy of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK / L.A. & MAD MAX.
Then I noticed two things. Rhona Mitra's Sinclair makes Snake Plissken look like a whimp by comparison, and DOOMSDAY is a fantastic film featuring an excellent cast including Bob Hoskins and Malcolm McDowell.
Yes, it copies pretty much of the theme from ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (even the musical score reminded me of it), it also copies parts of 28 DAYS LATER and large portions of MAD MAX 2. But so what? It does maintain its own style and it's a fun to watch movie, so much fun I can give it 5 stars without regretting it. Glad I bought it.
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Reviews
Another classic from Neil Marshall
Review date: 2008-11-21 Rating: 8 out of 10
Neil Marshall delivers once again with this tale of a deadly virus outbreak that culminates in Scotland being walled off and quarantined from the rest of England. Years later the virus rears it's head once more and a small military unit is sent to the other side of the wall in search of survivors...and a cure.
If you enjoyed Neil Marshalls other films then you should get a kick out of this. Of course don't expect it to be anything like his previous films as it's as apart from them as The Descent was from Dog Soldiers so ignore anyone who complains that it's not the same...it's not supposed to be.
You will draw comparisons with Mad Max & Escape from New York (plus a handful of other movies) but that's the whole point. If you're going to make a movie with a post-apocalyptic feel then there is nothing wrong with referencing those who have gone before and it just adds to the experience when done correctly and not as a blatant rip off. So in that respect Neil Marshall has suceeded.
Why only 4 stars?
Well the movie does falter slightly when it suddenly changes from post-apocalyptic dystopia to medieval dictatorship and although the change between the two is a natural progression of the story and how different groups of people are coping to survive, it does take your brain a moment to catch up as it does almost feel like a different movie.
Ignore comparisons with the infected from 28 Days Later and anyone who mentions zombies(?), as there is none of that in this movie. It's just uninfected survivors and pissed off infected people out for revenge aginst the government that betrayed them before they die.
Overall this movie is definately worth buying with enough action & black comedy to keep everyone satisfied. The gore quota could've been upped a bit, but that's just me.
If you're still not sure, rent it. You wont be dissapointed.
2 stars only for the ending
Review date: 2008-11-17 Rating: 4 out of 10
This film appeared to be a big mix up of all those zombie films which I dislike but I had shamefully had higher hopes for it because of the good cast. The best bit for me was the car chase near the end which is getting my two stars, the rest was just a big mess with a load of cannibal thirsty zombie punks with tattooes and make up.
I watched this so that you don't have to.
Review date: 2008-11-15 Rating: 2 out of 10
This is a complete turkey. I don't know what happened to Neil Marshall with this one as I loved his two previous efforts 'Dog Soldiers' & 'The Descent'. He has obviously tried to blend 'Escape from New York' & 'Mad Max 2' and sadly the experiment has blown up in his face. It all seems to be going fine until the hero get attacked by what appears to be Sex Pistols fans on their way home from a gig. From then on I couldn't care less what she was looking for or if the bad guys ate her. I watched this so that you don't have to. One to avoid.
Another excellent Neil Marshall film
Review date: 2008-11-15 Rating: 10 out of 10
Why do many people seem to think a film has to be analysed - what's wrong with watching a film and enjoying it purely for the entertainment value?
Both my husband and I are big Neil Marshall fans and this film didn't disappoint at all. Afterall who would think of putting the completely over the top battle scene to Frankie goes to Hollywood's Two Tribes - genius! And need I mention the gorgeous Bentley - swoon!
This was a brilliant homage and a refreshing change to all the remakes the Americans only seem to be able to make at the moment i.e. The Grudge, The Ring, One Last Call, Prom Night and coming soon Friday the 13th, Hellraiser etc etc etc - all of which probably had budgets beyond belief and some of which were not just remakes but direct rip offs of the original films.
Support the British film industry for something more original.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
MyAnna Buring
Sean Pertwee
Rhona Mitra
Adrian Lester
Bob Hoskins
Creators:
Sean Pertwee (Primary Contributor)
Adrian Lester (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582540321
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-09-01
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 108 minutes