Loses points because of the name.

Rating: 5/10 (11 January 2009)

2004's remake of "Dawn of the Dead" is a classic example of a decent film that is hindered by being another in a long line of horror remakes.
While not technically bad, one has to wonder: wouldn't it have been easier to omit a few technicalities from the script and plot and create a fresh, new zombie movie for us? While it did have similarities to the superior 1978 classic, it didn't have THAT much in common where a few things couldn't have been changed to create something original.
Ving Rhames adequately portrays the bad ass while Sarah Polley is also great in the lead female role. The zombies move fast ALA "Nightmare City" and are genuinely scary in some parts.
I really wanted to like this film except that it is called "Dawn of the Dead." This is not "Dawn of the Dead," there is only one and it was directed by George Romero in 1978. After viewing, I felt like I did after I watched the awful "Day of the Dead 2: Contagium." I kept asking myself WHY WHY WHY? Get original, Hollywood. You obviously have the talent; is it really that hard to develop a new screenplay???
5 out of 10, kids.