Land of the Dead 2005

Greetings! Continuing through our journey of George Romero's "dead series" this morning we have Land of the Dead. Released twenty years after Day of the Dead This installments takes place unknown years after the initial outbreak. Starring Dennis Hopper,  John Leguizamo, and Asia Argento.  With Special Appearances by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright of Shaun of the Dead fame. You can View The trailers of Land of the Dead  HERE. This was given 4.25 stars on Netflix and 6.5 stars on IMDB

We start with a group of men and women surveying a town to ascertain if its good enough to raid for supplies. We discover that the undead have started to communicate with each other and are starting to think and make associations. This is unsettling as the undead severely outnumber the living. 

In this initial raid on the town, things take a turn for the worse and a rookie is killed. This pisses off the lead character Riley Denbo played by Simon Baker.

Once back at "headquarters" we realize this to be a mega mall that has been turned into a high dollar living establishment in a city that is protected by 3 rivers and one fence. This city however has been divided economically, those who can afford it live in the highrise 5 star hotel. Those that can't afford it live on the streets in the slums. 

Cholo, played by John Leguizamo, thinks that just because he has done the will of Kaufman he will be embraced as one of the "haves". Kaufman has other ideas. While this is occurring we are introduced to Slack, played by Asia Argento. At this moment she is being fed to the undead in a game. Rescued by Rhiley they are arrested after a gunfight ensues. Cholo decides that he is going to take Dead Reckoning the super vehicle that they use to go on their raids. He then tries to blackmail Kaufman into paying him 5 million dollars  or he blows up Fiddlers green.

All this while the Zombie horde that has collected is making it's way toward the city, picking up recruits on the way. Proving to the viewer that they are not as stupid as first believed. As they work their way through the outter perimeter they take out each outpost on the way. Compromising layer after layer of defense. Note* Brubaker, played by Alan Van Sprang makes reappearances in two future Romero flicks.

Rhiley, Slack and Charlie are recruited to bring back Dead Reckoning before Cholo destroys the city with it. They are sent by Kaufman along with three of Kaufman's goons to  ensure that Rhiley returns Dead Reckoning. Eventually they find Cholo but not before the undead realize they can walk on the bottom of the river to cross the water and get to Fiddlers Green. Again Tom Savini makes a guest appearance as an undead.

Big Daddy the main Zombie seems to understand compassion and other human emotions as he does things not normally associated with the undead. Such as, putting other Zombies out of their misery when on fire, getting angry when he sees other undead strung up as target practice. As Rhiley states at the end they are only looking for a place to go just like him and Charlie and the rest of the gang.

A slaughter ensues as people are caught between the undead and the perimeter wall which is electrified. The Gore is ramped up several notches between this and NOTLD. The story is better developed than Day of the Dead. The acting is better and the characters are better developed. As with most of Romero's work the social commentary is one of treating others with dignity and a separation of classes. Instead of race, this one deals with economic inequality.  It is Dennis Hopper who makes use of the word Zombie for the first time in Romero's zombieverse. "Zombies, man. They creep me out."

I would give this 4 severed thumbs. Remember folks!

I watch this shit so you don't have to!

Shane

	Simon Baker	...	Riley Denbo
	John Leguizamo	...	Cholo DeMora
	Dennis Hopper	...	Kaufman
	Asia Argento	...	Slack
	Robert Joy	...	Charlie
	Eugene Clark	...	Big Daddy
	Joanne Boland	...	Pretty Boy
	Tony Nappo	...	Foxy
	Jennifer Baxter	...	Number 9
	Boyd Banks	...	Butcher
	Jasmin Geljo	...	Tambourine Man
	Maxwell McCabe-Lokos	...	Mouse
	Tony Munch	...	Anchor
	Shawn Roberts	...	Mike
	Pedro Miguel Arce	...	Pillsbury
	Sasha Roiz	...	Manolete
	Krista Bridges	...	Motown
	Alan Van Sprang	...	Brubaker
	Phil Fondacaro	...	Chihuahua
	Bruce McFee	...	Mulligan
	Earl Pastko	...	Roach
	Jonathan Whittaker	...	Sutherland
	Jonathan Walker	...	Cliff Woods
	Peter Outerbridge	...	Styles
	Lara Amersey	...	Dead Teenage Girl
	Michael Belisaro	...	Dead Teenage Boy (as Michael Belisario)
	Gene Mack	...	Knipp
	Matt Birman	...	Kaufman's Security Guard
	Devon Bostick	...	Brian
	Jason Gautreau	...	Gus
	Christopher Russell	...	Barrett
	Christopher Allen Nelson	...	Veteran Soldier
	Debra Felstead	...	Female Soldier
	Tina Romero	...	'High Noon' Soldier
	Colm Magner	...	Guard at the 'Throat'
	Scott Wickware	...	Guard at the 'Throat'
	Ron Payne	...	Hobo
	Richard Clarkin	...	Steele
	Darrin Brown	...	Bettor
	Eldridge Hyndman	...	Deke
	Ted Ludzik	...	Weapons Storage Guard
	David Sparrow	...	Arena Policeman
	Bryan Renfro	...	Number 9's Victim (as Brian Renfro)
	James Binkley	...	Grenade Soldier
	Robin Ward	...	Fiddler's Green Promo Announcer
	Dawne Furey	...	Topless Dancer
	Sandy Kellerman	...	Kissing Woman
	Donna Croce	...	Kissing Woman
	Wilbert Headley	...	Dead Tuba Player
	Ross Sferrazza	...	Dead Trombone Player
	Erica Olsen	...	Cheerleader Zombie
	Liise Keeling	...	Zombie Mother
	Sonia Belley	...	Zombie Daughter
	Chad Camilleri	...	Refrigerator Zombie (as Chad Camelleri)
	Gino Crognale	...	Policeman Zombie
	Shane Cardwell	...	Fence Fry Zombie
	Simon Pegg	...	Photo Booth Zombie
	Edgar Wright	...	Photo Booth Zombie
	Kevin Rushton	...	Arena Fight Zombie
	Nick Alachiotis	...	Arena Fight Zombie
	James Canton	...	Child Zombie
	Ermes Blarasin	...	Clown Zombie
	Jake McKinnon	...	Hillside Zombie
	Gregory Nicotero	...	Bridgekeeper Zombie (as Greg Nicotero)
	Susan Wloszczyna	...	Temperance Street Zombie
	David Campbell	...	Legless Zombie
	Tom Savini	...	Machete Zombie