an effective re-imagining...

Rating: 8/10 (17 March 2004)

I attended a preview screening last night and as a die-hard fan of the original I can honestly say that this movie (for the most part) kicked serious ass.
It did a great job of forging the basic elements of the the original into something suitable for a modern audience without cheapening it. Great gore and action setpieces, great performances, great moments (the mid-film musical montage in particular is fucking priceless) and a very well executed ending.
As with any modern horror film there are a few logical "what the fu**?" moments and I do wish the movie had taken more time to develop the sub-plot involving Mekhi Phifer's character and his wife but overall the movie accomplishes what it sets out to do in spades. Any zombie fan with an open mind shouldn't find too much to complain about. Can't wait for the uncut/unrated version DVD.