Corey's Favorites: 28 Days Later
Just so you guys can get a taste of where I'm coming from, and so I can make sure that all two of you that haven't seen it already make sure and give it a try, I've decided to go ahead and give you an example of one of my 5/5 movies.
There was an indie movie picked up by Fox Searchlight that was shot for about 5 million pounds (9 million dollars) and brought in 45 million dollars through a limited release (fewer than 1,500 screens in America). This film is THE indie dream: both exponentially profitable and critically acclaimed. It was directed by a relatively unknown (at least to the masses) director, Danny Boyle. And he's never made anything like it.
This film is 28 Days Later, and it's on sale right now at Wal-Mart for $7.50.
28 Days Later will become a modern classic in multiple areas: an independent success story, a strangely deep drama that will undoubtedly be (incorrectly) lumped into the horror genre, and a compelling step in the right direction for modern cinematography.
It's a frightening film, but don't be mistaken: it is NOT a zombie flick. This is no Night of the Living Dead, Land of the Dead, Office of the Dead, whatever the heck we're on now. The film comes off much more unsettling than it does scary and you should start noticing it from the very beginning. After the chaotic opening, Jim (Cillian Murphy, who everyone wishes we saw more of in Batman Begins) finds himself in a deserted hospital room, which becomes a deserted hospital, which becomes a deserted London. Let me say something here. Don't miss it.
See this movie if for no other reason than the few minutes after Jim wakes up. He wanders around London, completely empty and devoid of all life. You will probably never see anything like this on film again. It is simply mindblowing to see a city normally so busy become a ghost town. You have to see it. There are stories in the UK showings where audiences left within the first ten minutes absolutely terrified, because they had never seen their streets so lifeless.
Through events that unfold in a very chaotic opening sequence, we learn that a man-made virus known as 'Rage' has been introduced on the public. The virus is highly contagious and can be spread by as little as a drop of blood in the mouth, or an open wound. Within seconds, the "Infected" become unbelievably aggressive and violent.
The acting is great, the story is sprinkled with tones of humanity and melancholy. The revelation in the fortress shouldn't come as a shock, but it does. I will never forget the first time the camera panned up in the church and I saw what was written on the wall.
What's more is that nearly the entire movie was filmed by digital video, a large majority of it using a handheld camera. The grainy look works wonders for the action scenes and enhances the movie in a way that would not be possible with the clarity of a standard lens.
It just has to be seen.
This is not a horror movie. I'm saying it again because I still haven't convinced some of you by now. Too many morons will throw it into that category because it has scary eyes on the front and Rolling Stone called it "the scariest movie since The Exorcist" or something like that. Jim Travers is one of the aforementioned morons. It's strangely tame as far as blood and gore, considering the movies it will be sitting next to at Blockbuster. Still not for the faint of heart, but it's less gory and less "scary" than you're thinking it is. I guarantee it.
The DVD features make a purchase even more enticing. There's an unfilmed ending that is stunningly different than the original, told through voiceovers and storyboards. That's worth the seven bucks alone if you've seen the movie already. If you're into film at all, it's definitely something you should check out.
It's $7.50. Go tell your friends. A stunningly intelligent movie under the disguise of a zombie horror flick, an independent success story and a model for directors to come, 28 Days Later is as 5/5 as they come.
And I just realized I blanked on it in my Top 20. My apologies. It deserves to be in there.
There was an indie movie picked up by Fox Searchlight that was shot for about 5 million pounds (9 million dollars) and brought in 45 million dollars through a limited release (fewer than 1,500 screens in America). This film is THE indie dream: both exponentially profitable and critically acclaimed. It was directed by a relatively unknown (at least to the masses) director, Danny Boyle. And he's never made anything like it.
This film is 28 Days Later, and it's on sale right now at Wal-Mart for $7.50.
28 Days Later will become a modern classic in multiple areas: an independent success story, a strangely deep drama that will undoubtedly be (incorrectly) lumped into the horror genre, and a compelling step in the right direction for modern cinematography.
It's a frightening film, but don't be mistaken: it is NOT a zombie flick. This is no Night of the Living Dead, Land of the Dead, Office of the Dead, whatever the heck we're on now. The film comes off much more unsettling than it does scary and you should start noticing it from the very beginning. After the chaotic opening, Jim (Cillian Murphy, who everyone wishes we saw more of in Batman Begins) finds himself in a deserted hospital room, which becomes a deserted hospital, which becomes a deserted London. Let me say something here. Don't miss it.
See this movie if for no other reason than the few minutes after Jim wakes up. He wanders around London, completely empty and devoid of all life. You will probably never see anything like this on film again. It is simply mindblowing to see a city normally so busy become a ghost town. You have to see it. There are stories in the UK showings where audiences left within the first ten minutes absolutely terrified, because they had never seen their streets so lifeless.
Through events that unfold in a very chaotic opening sequence, we learn that a man-made virus known as 'Rage' has been introduced on the public. The virus is highly contagious and can be spread by as little as a drop of blood in the mouth, or an open wound. Within seconds, the "Infected" become unbelievably aggressive and violent.The acting is great, the story is sprinkled with tones of humanity and melancholy. The revelation in the fortress shouldn't come as a shock, but it does. I will never forget the first time the camera panned up in the church and I saw what was written on the wall.
What's more is that nearly the entire movie was filmed by digital video, a large majority of it using a handheld camera. The grainy look works wonders for the action scenes and enhances the movie in a way that would not be possible with the clarity of a standard lens.
It just has to be seen.
This is not a horror movie. I'm saying it again because I still haven't convinced some of you by now. Too many morons will throw it into that category because it has scary eyes on the front and Rolling Stone called it "the scariest movie since The Exorcist" or something like that. Jim Travers is one of the aforementioned morons. It's strangely tame as far as blood and gore, considering the movies it will be sitting next to at Blockbuster. Still not for the faint of heart, but it's less gory and less "scary" than you're thinking it is. I guarantee it.
The DVD features make a purchase even more enticing. There's an unfilmed ending that is stunningly different than the original, told through voiceovers and storyboards. That's worth the seven bucks alone if you've seen the movie already. If you're into film at all, it's definitely something you should check out.
It's $7.50. Go tell your friends. A stunningly intelligent movie under the disguise of a zombie horror flick, an independent success story and a model for directors to come, 28 Days Later is as 5/5 as they come.
And I just realized I blanked on it in my Top 20. My apologies. It deserves to be in there.
posted by Anonymous at 11:08 AM
1 Comments:
I could not have said this better myself--truly a great movie, and you've got me excited about seeing it again.
Although I do often refer to it as a "zombie film" it by no means should draw up visions of the Evil Dead (although I love cheesy zombie movies A LOT). This represents the best of the root idea of zombies. And if you think a zombie-like movie can't be a legitimate 5, go pick up the first 4 trade paperback collections of "The Walking Dead" by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore.
Nice work
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