This weekend turned into a bit of a film and TV fest.
I went to see 28 Weeks Later, the sequel to 28 Days Later, at the cinema. In 28 Days Later the “Rage Virus” as released from a research facility and infected everyone in the UK, turning them in to shrieking, running zombies. I guess the idea was not dissimilar to Resident Evil. Anyway, the sequel starts 28 weeks after the initial outbreak. By this point all the zombies have starved to death and the US army help start the re-population of the UK, stating with the Isle of Dogs in London. Inevitably, it all kicks-off again…
Although the original film was relatively low budget, it was executed well. The sequel followed the same format. It was noticeably a higher budget film, but still looked rather gritty. It did make use of the “shake the camera to add excitement” technique, which is one of my pet hates, but it was used in the appropriate manner, so I can’t complain. It was quite a grisly film, but it worked really well and I enjoyed it.
I’d read a number of reviews that talked about it being a metaphor for the Iraq invasion. I think if you are looking for this sort of thing you are always going to find it. Personally I think it is total trash.
Cheers
Tim….
>It did make use of the “shake the camera to add >excitement” technique, which is one of my pet hates
Oh it’s not just me who hates that then? 😉
FYI The cast and crew have explicitly stated that a lot of the situation in this film are a metaphor for the Iraq invasion, for example:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2073279,00.html
Indeed it is unlikely that people like Robert Carlise would be involved in what is at first look a horror film if there had not been some political depth to it!
I don’t buy it. My translation of those comments is:
Robert Carlise: I know it’s a horror film and I only did it for the money, but I promise you there was something deep and meaningful here.
Danny Boyle: I know it’s a horror film and I was only linked with it because of the money, and even then I didn’t do very much, but I promise you there is something deep and meaningful here.
Actors and directors love to make out they are artists probing the inner workings of the human psyche. When I see a horror film, I call it a horror film, not a metaphor for all the worlds ills.
It’s only my ill-informed opinion. 🙂
Cheers
Tim…
I love a good, gory horror film and 28 days was one of the best in the last few years. I still haven’t gotten around to 28 weeks later. I’m hoping it’ll hit PPV soon.
LewisC
i looooved 28 weeks later! alot of it was scary but the movie actually had meaning like with the human nature vs rage at the soldier base and all that… i havent seen resident evil so the plot is still really original to me
mind messing stuff..
I prefer 28 days over weeks, although I actually like how they left the end scenes open for a sequel, 28 months??
I LOVE ROBERT CARLISE