As a die-hard fan of George A. Romero’s groundbreaking work, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when it comes to his iconic “Dawn of the Dead.” However, when it comes to Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake, my allegiance is divided. While many fans and critics hail it as Snyder’s best work and an exemplary take on Romero’s original, the master himself only found it somewhat entertaining.
Gaining the approval of such a master, who has pioneered an entire cinematic genre, can prove quite challenging.
To illustrate, let’s consider Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, which is now available on Peacock. While numerous fans believe that this film, penned by James Gunn, is a remarkable adaptation of the 1978 original and Snyder’s finest work to date, zombie legend George A. Romero was only impressed for roughly the first quarter of it.
What did George A. Romero think of Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake?
In his 2005 interview with TimeOut (as reported by Uproxx), he expressed that the movie surpassed his expectations, stating it as a good action film. He particularly enjoyed the first 15-20 minutes, but felt the plot lost its direction afterwards, making it feel more like a video game. His fear isn’t of things charging at him, he explained, it’s reminiscent of Space Invaders. Essentially, he felt there was a lack of depth in the movie.
James Grebey from SYFY WIRE nearly concurred with this viewpoint, expressing it as follows: “The initial 10 minutes and subsequent title sequence hold an incredible impact. To a large extent, you could argue that the remainder of the film isn’t even necessary.
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In a conversation with The Telegraph in 2013, four years before his passing at the age of 77, Romero expressed his displeasure towards the remake, stating he wasn’t particularly fond of it, even though renowned horror icon Stephen King had praised it.
Essentially, he explained, his motivation for making the film was to create satire. He believed it was crucial to produce the movie promptly because the mall portrayed, being the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, was a novelty. The essence of the story revolves around this unique setting. Moreover, he felt that the remake lacked this authenticity.
Initially, Snyder acknowledged that he was well aware he was dealing with a fiery and carnivorous project from the start when remaking “Dawn of the Dead”. In the film’s behind-the-scenes documentary, he confesses, “[Remaking] Dawn of the Dead is a desecration which I have accepted”. He can’t offer an apology because the process was so enjoyable. However, he also admitted that he was mindful of stepping on sacred territory, if you will.
Later on, he clarifies that the film isn’t a simple remake but rather a fresh interpretation or reimagining of the original. They didn’t simply follow George’s script and reshoot it.
Almost two decades later, the filmmaker revisited the zombie genre with “Army of the Dead”, a move that led to an ongoing franchise consisting of “Army of Thieves”, an upcoming anime series called “Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas”, and a sequel titled “Planet of the Dead”.
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2024-09-27 18:47