A new dawn is upon us...

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2009)

and it is significantly better than the Romero version. That will hurt a lot of people to hear, but this movie is, quite simply put, the best zombie movie ever made. It is so for 4 main reasons.
1. Characters. The characters are fantastic and well thought out. You learn more about them going through the movie, but you don't learn too much as to waste time finding out about insignificant details. Rather than be a commentary on society like Romero's, you see more of the personal conflicts of each character and see how they grow.
2. Plot. You don't learn too much about what is actually causing the zombies, which is nice in this genre. It means that no one had to spend a whole bunch of time coming up with a scientifically plausible reason for the zombies being around, all that your given is the basics. You find out what causes people to become a zombie, what a zombie looks and acts like and how to kill a zombie. Nothing overly complicated or to be puzzled about. They are the zombies, either shoot them or run away. That's it.
So what's it about if it's not about a cure? Escape. Where to go to be safe? Are the doors locked? How can we get away? The plot focuses on demonstrating the circumstances are becoming more and more dire and the characters should be (and do) becoming increasingly desperate. As there is no time spent on explaining why, time is spent focusing on the surroundings, survival and what to do next. The immediacy and imminence of everything that occurs in the movie also serves to make sure the audience aren't bored or spend too much time thinking "that's what I'd do in that situation", they just hold their breath and hope their favourite character makes it.
3. Special effects. On the DVD there is a great section on each of the main zombie "splatters" which really makes you appreciate even more the special effects in the movie. They are brilliantly and seamlessly filmed and only add to the fear and panic being experienced by the viewer on behalf of the characters in the movie.
4. (and my favourite part) the soundtrack. Amazing and satirical, this soundtrack probably requires a bit of a musical knowledge to appreciate. But from the man in black to lounge against the machine, the music just suits what is going on in the movie. Unlike other Snyder movies, such as Watchmen, the soundtrack doesn't detract from the happening in the movie or overwhelm the viewers when watching a fight scene by distracting them with a popular song they no doubt will recognise. The subtle satire and use of a normally loud song played softly is nothing short of brilliant.
Truly, the main thing Snyder did that really makes this movie worth watching is not try to copy Romero in any way in his movie. This is simply a namesake, that has zombies and that's it.
A sensational, awe inspiring flick. And to top it off, there isn't your classic good guys get away ending. Its great that it just gets left hanging.