Stupid Kids

Rating: 4/10 (21 May 2007)

I liked "28 Days Later..." and while not exactly eagerly anticipating a sequel but if one came out, I would definitely see it.
Regrettably, I didn't like it as much as the first.
One of my favorite movies, "Aliens", contains a line to the effect "In case you haven't been keeping up with current events, we're getting our (bleep) kicked!" That's my main problem with "28 Weeks Later". There are too many situations where the characters aren't keeping up with current events. A savage disease had just ravaged mankind on the island of Great Britain where the infected had maniacally spread the disease by attacking the non-infected. I'd think that would serve ample warning to those trying to repopulate the island.
But, no. And the Harris children were the worst.
The story revolves around the Harris family. Father Don (Robert Carlyle) and Mother Alice (Catherine McCormack) found themselves stuck in England but the children Tammy (bright-eyed Imogen Poots) and Andy (shaggy Mackintosh Muggleton) were able to be shipped off to a refugee camp in Spain.
The opening sequence shows Don barely escaping an attack from the infected but Alice is not so lucky. Don makes to an area in London where, after all the infected have starved to death, a NATO operation led by U.S. troops begins the process of starting over again. It is here that he is reunited with his children.
Trouble starts when Andy craves a memento of Mom. So the he and his sis sneak off the area that's supposedly a fortress to keep out the infected should they happen to still roam the country. These two should have been scared straight about the risks they are taking.
That's just the first instance and it's not just with the kids. To me this spoiled the movie. I need this movie to give me sense and sensibility because it sure needs to overcome its gloominess.
Another pet peeve is the many scenes shot with a jerky hand-held camera. That style is played out.