Acceptable Re-Make of Horror Classic

Rating: Null/10 (19 March 2004)

POSSIBLE SPOILER
This film will undoubtedly be judged against the classic 1979 George Romero original. This is a bit unfair as they are both quite distinctive films. The basic plot is the same with human survivors of a world plagued by flesh eating, walking dead, holing themselves up inside a shopping mall.
The special effects have certainly improved in this one, and the all-important gore is present and plentiful. This film is very stylishly made and quite impressive to look at. The battle scenes with the zombies are well-done with an interesting gritty, jerky look.
The main problems are the character development is pretty weak, and sometimes feels just thrust in for the sake of it, rather than to flesh out the story. There are many characters which do really stupid things here for inexplicable reasons. Also it lacks the social subtext that Romero included in the original.
By the way, do not leave when the end credits start rolling, or you will miss some pretty good scenes.