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Notes on Land of the Dead and Oldboy 6/24/2005 9:20:08 PM
George Romero's Land of the Dead
posted 6/24/2005
Romero has a thoughtful way of making zombie films that speak to current politics. In this film, zombies are pretty much everywhere except an exclusive enclave managed by a wealthy and ruthless entrepenuer. The poor are kept around to maintain and secure the enclave, and played off against the threat of the dead, in the same manner poor white laborers and black slaves and laborers were played off against each other by the wealthy for hundreds of years.
When a mercenary who decides he wants to live in the big house is double-crossed, he takes an armored vehicle used to make runs into the countryside for food and medical supplies. This happens at a bad time, for one of the zombies is developing a low level of intelligence (like how to use a gun and construction tools), and is leading the others in an attack on the wealthy enclave.
In the end, the hero of the film survives to try and find a place he can call home, letting the zombies who've eaten the rich leave in peace to find their own place in the world.
Very graphic gore. A smaller budget might have helped create a more thoughtful, interesting film.
Oldboy
posted 6/17/2005
This Korean film demonstrates the power of a compelling plot question. A man is imprisoned in a room for fifteen years for a reason he doesn't know. When he's released, he seeks answers and vengeance. But he must put off his vengeance if he is to get answers.
The answers ultimately shows his complicity in an act that led to his imprisonment.
Since the main character knows nothing, the audience learns about his situation as he does.
This is a Memento-like film where what seems apparent isn't true, and what's true has different levels of meaning.
This film has scenes of harrowing physical and emotional violence that isn't bloodless and painless like most Hollywood films. Anyone planning to see the film should be prepared.
