I was inspired to watch 28 Days Later after reading the graphic novel, The Waking Dead. For what it's worth, the similarities between the two are that they're both about zombies, and the main character wakes up in a hospital that happens to be deserted. Apparently, that beginning is actually from a book or movie entitled, Day of the Triffids, though this is about multiple types of generic monsters rather than just zombies.
About the movie: Jim, played by Cillian Murphy, wakes up in a deserted hospital and then finds out the city (London) seems to be just as deserted. He encounters zombies, non zombies, neighbors, rats, and military personnel in his quest to discover this strange new world. Note that not all of these meetings are friendly. One of the friendlier meetings results in hearing a radio transmission indicating there's a cure for the plague, that salvation can be found at the coordinates given in the broadcast. The merry band of survivors begins the quest to Manchester, which, upon arrival, they discover is in the midst of blowing up, or at least Manchester proper. The coordinates given lead them to a military base on the outskirts of town, but this base appears deserted as well. Then the fun really begins.
28 Days Later has nothing to do with the movie starring Sandra Bullock in a rehab center. The title comes from the caption for the second scene, which indicates the time period since the initial outbreak of the zombies.
My take: Not being a general purveyor of all things zombie, my only point of comparison are the movies Night of the Living Dead and Resident Evil. It's safe to say that Night of the Living Dead is certainly the granddaddy of zombie movies and arguably the best of the lot. Mr. Boyle, the director, takes some liberties with zombie lore, but he seems to make it work in this instance. The source of the zombification is explained at the very beginning of the movie, an explanation that lends credence to the changes Mr. Boyle made. The story concerns itself with survival in an impossible situation, and asks the question of whether or not traditional rules apply in such a bizarre situation.
Things I liked: I liked seeing another movie from the same man that brought us Trainspotting. While Trainspotting was a very grotesque movie in certain spots, it was very well done, very well acted, and it certainly serves to ward people away from drugs. The music was pretty darn good, too. I like that 28 Days Later focused on the people, not the gore, though what would a good zombie movie be without some kind of gore? And I really like that he tried something different with this movie, that he tried to step away from some of the conventions of zombie movies. What he elected to do differently helped the movie step into a class of its own, one that really allows it to shine. Purists will disagree.
The music really served the movie well. While Jim is trying to get his bearings in this new world he has awakened to, the beautiful music works in contrast to the ugliness of the situation. Angelic voices, ghostly melodies, even pop riffs, all work together to show the disparity between what you want and the reality of your situation. It's almost a nostalgic reminiscence and a hope for some better future that is far different than what can be seen in the current circumstance.
Things I Didn't Like: I did not like some of the cutting techniques used in the editing. Some of the scenes were very much from the MTV style of quick cutting where you cannot focus on anything in particular; instead, you're supposed to get some kind of feeling from all the scenes you didn't see put together. I also found the ending a little bit hokey, almost too clean cut in comparison to the rest of the movie.
Recommendation: If you like zombie movies, or even if you're just remotely interested in them, you should see this movie. If you do not like intense scenes or bizarre situations, do not even bother renting this movie. The movie is thought-provoking in that it asks the questions of what makes us human, who becomes our friend or our neighbor, and what rules can possibly apply when the entire fabric of society has been torn asunder. If you can handle it, by all means watch this movie. (I have not seen any particular Christian overtones in the movie, but that doesn't mean there are none. That it's well done and thought-provoking is sufficient for me to recommend.)
About the movie: Jim, played by Cillian Murphy, wakes up in a deserted hospital and then finds out the city (London) seems to be just as deserted. He encounters zombies, non zombies, neighbors, rats, and military personnel in his quest to discover this strange new world. Note that not all of these meetings are friendly. One of the friendlier meetings results in hearing a radio transmission indicating there's a cure for the plague, that salvation can be found at the coordinates given in the broadcast. The merry band of survivors begins the quest to Manchester, which, upon arrival, they discover is in the midst of blowing up, or at least Manchester proper. The coordinates given lead them to a military base on the outskirts of town, but this base appears deserted as well. Then the fun really begins.
28 Days Later has nothing to do with the movie starring Sandra Bullock in a rehab center. The title comes from the caption for the second scene, which indicates the time period since the initial outbreak of the zombies.
My take: Not being a general purveyor of all things zombie, my only point of comparison are the movies Night of the Living Dead and Resident Evil. It's safe to say that Night of the Living Dead is certainly the granddaddy of zombie movies and arguably the best of the lot. Mr. Boyle, the director, takes some liberties with zombie lore, but he seems to make it work in this instance. The source of the zombification is explained at the very beginning of the movie, an explanation that lends credence to the changes Mr. Boyle made. The story concerns itself with survival in an impossible situation, and asks the question of whether or not traditional rules apply in such a bizarre situation.
Things I liked: I liked seeing another movie from the same man that brought us Trainspotting. While Trainspotting was a very grotesque movie in certain spots, it was very well done, very well acted, and it certainly serves to ward people away from drugs. The music was pretty darn good, too. I like that 28 Days Later focused on the people, not the gore, though what would a good zombie movie be without some kind of gore? And I really like that he tried something different with this movie, that he tried to step away from some of the conventions of zombie movies. What he elected to do differently helped the movie step into a class of its own, one that really allows it to shine. Purists will disagree.
The music really served the movie well. While Jim is trying to get his bearings in this new world he has awakened to, the beautiful music works in contrast to the ugliness of the situation. Angelic voices, ghostly melodies, even pop riffs, all work together to show the disparity between what you want and the reality of your situation. It's almost a nostalgic reminiscence and a hope for some better future that is far different than what can be seen in the current circumstance.
Things I Didn't Like: I did not like some of the cutting techniques used in the editing. Some of the scenes were very much from the MTV style of quick cutting where you cannot focus on anything in particular; instead, you're supposed to get some kind of feeling from all the scenes you didn't see put together. I also found the ending a little bit hokey, almost too clean cut in comparison to the rest of the movie.
Recommendation: If you like zombie movies, or even if you're just remotely interested in them, you should see this movie. If you do not like intense scenes or bizarre situations, do not even bother renting this movie. The movie is thought-provoking in that it asks the questions of what makes us human, who becomes our friend or our neighbor, and what rules can possibly apply when the entire fabric of society has been torn asunder. If you can handle it, by all means watch this movie. (I have not seen any particular Christian overtones in the movie, but that doesn't mean there are none. That it's well done and thought-provoking is sufficient for me to recommend.)
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