A Fast Paced, Scary, Must See

Rating: 9/10 (28 March 2004)

I loved the original, and I loved this one, maybe a little more. To compare the two movies is like comparing apples and oranges.
The Similarities: The main characters are in a mall, one of them is a black cop, one of them is pregnant, and the walking dead (in Dawn 2004 the running dead) are intent on snacking on them. That's where most of the similarities end.
The Differences: The original had a slow building sense of dread and tension and was full of Romeroish social commentary regarding consumerism, racism and the haves and have nots of society. Within the first five minutes or so of Dawn 2004, you are jump-started into the fast paced world or zombie horror. All throughout this movie, I literally found my heart thumping furiously in my chest. As far as the social commentary was concerned, I don't think there was any. I could care less about social commentary anyway. I go to the movies for the entertainment value and Dawn 2004 paid off handsomely. In the original, there was a certain amount of slap stick humor that eventually became very dark and serious (i.e. the bikers in the mall). Fewer characters in the original led to more character development. Dark humor was present in Dawn 2004 (i.e. the celebrity shoot off). In the original, if a zombie got after you, you might want to pick up your pace to brisk walk if you didn't want to become a protein snack. In Dawn 2004, if a zombie got after you, you better be gettin jiggy-wit-it or you're gonna get chomped.
I loved both movies. Both of them entertained and scared me thoroughly. I gave the original a two thumbs up rating. I have to give Dawn 2004 two thumbs and a roscoe pointed skyward.