So dissapointing!!!!!

Rating: 3/10 (20 March 2004)

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** First off; let me begin by saying that I have NOT seen the original 1978 version of this movie. So therefore when myself and a friend decided on the spur of the moment to go see this flick...it was with only the basic knowledge that it was a "zombie movie"....where folks are in a mall. After sitting through this movie....I felt as if it had been an almost entire waste of time!!!!! I will break down the reasons why I believed so.
1. I absolutely despise movies where s*** just starts happening and there is never any definitive answer as to why they have begun....at least on the original Night Of The Living Dead....they gave some vague reasoning as to what started the dead to rising!!! This movie is normal...and then suddenly total chaos!!!!

2.Absolutely no background information on any of the characters to amount to much except for the Rhames character....com'on...how are we supposed to feel for these people that were just thrown at us????

3.The pregnant chick thing....was just stupid!!!! 4 minutes into the movie...myself and everyone....in the theatre...knew she was gonna be birthing....the spawn of the dead...and then that baby looked like a combination of the babies from...."Its Alive" and "Basket Case"(Yes I know the latter wasn't actually a baby). It was so totally ridiculous!!!!!

4.The dude that stayed on the dock at the end as the boat sailed away....was the most obnoxious....piece of crap I've ever seen....and his character.....was a waste!!!!

5.There was just so much more they could have done with this movie....it was if the producers had borrowed the mall...and had to finish as quickly as possible with their shooting schedule..hehehe.

6.The scenes where everyone suddenly got jolly...and started having a good time and kidding around for a few frames made no sense!!!!!

7.Why were they in such a hurry to get out of the mall?....this was obviously one of the few places on earth that they could reamin relatively safe....hell;watch a video...or something....hehehe.

8.And last...(but, definately not least)....I have absolutely had it with the the "Blair Witch Style" endings...give it a break guys!!!! That s*** was 5 years ago(Blair Witch)....it worked then.....and it is very old now!!!! First the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre did it...and now this crap!!!! The final scene should have just ended with the boat sailing off to nowhere...and not with "Island cannibals" devouring....everyone...during the credits....This scene was seen by less than 50% of the people at the theatre I was at...because once they saw the credits rolling...the movie sucked so badly...they were up....and out of there...before they even realized there were "more scenes"!!!!!!

7. And another thing...that stupidchick that went and got the dog...would have just been one stupid dead girl!!!! I like animals as much as the next guy....but, to people that put them(animals) on the same level as human beings....then ...die with them...she knew the dog would be fine(The Zombies showed no interest...in the dog...when it ran across the mall parking lot).

The movie had a few redeeming qualities...and they were.

1.Ving Rhames turned in a powerful performance(as he does in everything he is in)...He is the most talented African-American actor currently on Hollywood payroll. His character...was very impressive...and they even gave us some hindsight as to who his character may have been.

2.One very awesome soundtrack!!!! I have got to have that opening....song(Sung during the TV mayhem....right before and during the opening credits of the movie)....it sounded like Johnny Cash...if anyone knows what this song is...please let me know.

3.The scene where they were having the dude across the way....shoot celebrity look-a-likes in the mall parking lot...was absolutely hilarious!!!! Loved it....

4.The CJ character(head of security)...became very interesting once he began working in support of the group.

Also; noticed the co-pilot from Jason X's spaceship...on the movie...he is cool.

But, all in all these few things weren't enough to save this less than mediocre...movie....I give it a 3 out of a possible 10 points.

I now plan to go out...and rent the original....and see the differences....my girlfriind says she saw the original when it came out in 1978 and that it was very good....we'll see.