Army of the Dead [Zack Snyder, Netflix]

Slydice

Me, right now, halfway through the film..

This guy is such a prick! If he doesn't die..

ongarite

Pretty enjoyable film.
Plays to the usual zombie tropes but none the worse for them.

el Fenomeno

I dunno, maybe I wasn't in the mood for mindless fun, but I just thought it was really, really bad.

Every single trope you associate with a film about a guy who recruits a ragtag group of heroes for one last mission/payday is present.

It's possibly the single most predictable film of all time

Slydice

Finished! Solid Zombie Movie! Don't go in looking for anything too deep and just expect zombies and you'll be grand.

Slydice wrote: »

Me, right now, halfway through the film..

This guy is such a prick! If he doesn't die..

:eek:

ThePott

Surprised how positive a reaction this is getting and when people say it's fun.

I had very little fun with this overall. It fell between the cracks for me where it wasn't a good enough heist film to satisfy me or a good enough zombie film to satisfy me. Mostly for me it was just boring, it picks up a bit of speed in the last 40 minutes or so but still wasn't all that impressive or interesting.

Agree what was said elsewhere about the cinematography, the out of focus gave it all a weird artificial look that was very unappealing. Say what you want about Snyder but he's usually a decent visual filmmaker and considering this is the first film he's been cinematographer for this is pretty shoddy, expected more.

To me this just felt like Zombie Rogue One but with no way of shoehorning in fan service.

fritzelly

It was alright, expected more but fell a bit flat

Bit like Dawn of the Dead which opened great then just became a bit dull

Needed more human on zombie action and Bautista does nothing for me as an actor, quite the opposite

And how can he survive so long after being bitten and everyone else turns almost immediately - big plot hole along with many others

Birneybau

Not great, zombie tiger for zombie tiger sake.

And according to Twitter, I wasn't the only one to think I had the first dead pixels on my screen.

It was one of the cameras used. Ffs.

bewareofthedog

Awful tripe imo, bad script, bad everything.

Maybe it's just not my type of movie but I found for e.g. Zombieland and even its sequel which is "sort" of done in the same vein a thousand times better.

gandalf

Watched it last night and tbh on whole enjoyed it. I certainly didn't feel the runtime which was good. If you want a brain dead predictable zombie action film it delivers.

I agree that at times the camera work was flakey with a JJ Abrams attempt at out of focus just not working.Maybe because I'm aware that Tig Notaro was added in digitally later that her character did seem isolated or separate from everyone else.

Now what's the sequel going to be called? Fiesta of the Dead or Mariachi of the dead maybe

.

The White Wolf

It threatened to become pedestrian but it got dark fairly quick. The futility of what they're doing is quite an interesting take.

For the 3 leaders of the band in particular I never really felt convinced that it was about the money, but a need to self destruct together.

It's deeper than what lies on the surface I think.

McFly85

Expected some dumb fun, but it was just dumb. The script was all over the place.

Like, with the reveal of Tanakas true intentions. Why the deception? Just hire a crew to kidnap that alpha Zombie instead.

And with the villain who took the head, why did he go back to the crew? He could have just left straight away, they were on the edge of the Zombie territory which didn't take them long to get to in the first place.

The whole thing with Wards daughter and tacked on love interest was pointless, it completely shifted the tone, and slowed everything right down. It was made worse with the fact that everything his daughter does is mind numbingly stupid. We're supposed to root for her because she's his daughter but she leaves to go to the alpha zombie nest with one pistol hoping to find someone who didn't bother to escape themselves even though they weren't being guarded, and ultimately her actions get everyone killed.


I could go on!

I still like the idea of a Vegas Zombie heist, but it would have worked far better if the target of the heist was Tanakas daughter who was being kept deep in the bowels of Zombie territory who he hopes to cure, but then they find out he's only interested in creating his own Zombie army or something. Still dumb, just less dumb.

Once again I've been drawn in by a trailer for a Snyder film only to be disappointed! Will I ever learn :rolleyes:

kerplun k

Wasn’t great. Probably one of ZS weakest films.

Opening montage..... was that aliens flying off or just a bit of thunder and lightning?

The White Wolf

The more I think of it the story works quite well if you're viewing it as the original gang who escaped Las Vegas originally, are knowingly embracing death where it all started.

el Fenomeno

The film is also immediately ruined when your other half points out to you at the start that Dave Bautista looks like he is in a perpetual state of "about to sneeze".

We were in stitches during the last scene in particularly if you keep that in mind.

B.A._Baracus

Watched it last night too. I thought it was pretty decent. Bit too long tho at 2 and a half hours but not a bad way to spend a Friday night.

Certainly won't be the movie of the year but won't be any where near the worst too.

Brief_Lives

i watched it... dumb as a salad....

ongarite

The plot really breaks down if you think about it.

Why didn't Martin and the Coyote leave after taking the queen's head?
There were near where they entered and was no danger near that area so just backtrack.
He had already betrayed the group so what's the point in joining them again?

Its been many years since Vegas was walled in.
Why didn't the army lure or takeout the shamblers in that time rather than nuke the place?

Daughter tries to rescue Geeta who then gets forgotten about as soon as she is rescued

McDermotX

Terrible

Even for what you expect from it.

CastorTroy

ongarite wrote: »

Daughter tries to rescue Geeta who then gets forgotten about as soon as she is rescued

I had to go back and check she died in the crash, though was hard to tell as only showed part of her slouched over.

Whatever about surviving that long after the bite, was it not a bit suspicious that he was able to walk out of a nuclear blast site. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I'm sure there would be some fallout right after a nuclear bomb.

Homelander

I really, really enjoyed it with a few beers. Decent take on a tired genre.

FortuneChip

Concept was a lot better than the execution.

Stupid film, not necessarily awful but fairly stupid.

Corholio

What an awful, boring film. As a poster said earlier, had every single trope in the group and even in zombie movies in general. Can't think of one different even half cool thing in the film. Designs were dull, dialogue was poor, gore was pretty boring all told. Wasn't expecting much but don't think I'll remember much of it in about a weeks time.

Homelander

Also thought I was seeing things with the

terminator robot zombies

.

The hell was that about?

There are other things too like

the "whitewalker" eyes, the dying fetus that was glowing, the blue blood stuff, etc.

None of which is addressed which is a head scratcher. Is the implication that

the army created zombies via alien/future tech because the main zombie came from Area 51

But like....what was with

the robot zombies. That's the part I really don't get. Who made them....and why.

The film doesn't really suggest that this level of technology exists in the world to make such a thing possible via human means ala a Marvel movie, or whatever.

ThePott

Apparently there's also a UFO in the opening that I didn't catch and couldn't be bothered going back to check.
I'm sure it's for subsequent sequels and spin-offs to explore.

Mr E

Homelander wrote: »

Also thought I was seeing things with the

terminator robot zombies

.

The hell was that about?

There are other things too like

the "whitewalker" eyes, the dying fetus that was glowing, the blue blood stuff, etc.

None of which is addressed which is a head scratcher. Is the implication that

the army created zombies via alien/future tech because the main zombie came from Area 51

But like....what was with

the robot zombies. That's the part I really don't get. Who made them....and why.

The film doesn't really suggest that this level of technology exists in the world to make such a thing possible via human means ala a Marvel movie, or whatever.

I'd say the studio hacked it to pieces and it will all be revealed in the 4 hour Snyd... ummm.. never mind.

It was a 5/10 watchable movie, but I'm not inclined to watch it again.

earthwormjack

Well that was awful. Horribly paced, full of really dumb sub plots and could have easily been 90mins instead of 150. I'm all for dumb fun movies but this was horrible in every department.

Slydice

One thing that might help with some of the questions was that.. I was looking up some of the characters and noticed that there's a bunch of Prequels in the works. Like Dieter is getting a film about thieves.. think the (at least some of the) rest of em are going to be showing up in a TV series. Much seems to be focused on how they came to be where they were at the start of this film.

Dieter example: Army of Thieves
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13024674/

gmisk

It was fine, it was a really fun idea with some very decent parts but it felt overly long. Lots of plot holes and bit all over the place.
I am guessing

Dieter might still be alive? We didn't see him getting killed?

I enjoyed the Tig Notaro character I have to say.
Fun with a few beers 6/10, will probably watch prequel tbh

Skerries

Homelander wrote: »

Also thought I was seeing things with the

terminator robot zombies

.
[/SPOILER]

yeah that had me totally confused wondering where the hell they came from

Snake Plisken

Screen Rants Pitch Meeting on the money as usual

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC1LiBBkDdo

razorblunt

It’s nonsense, far too long, far too clichéd and way too many slow mo and “nods” to other movies, including quite a lot just blatantly stolen.

It just makes no sense:

They weren’t the first crew sent in, is this the first time they came across the Coyote?

All they needed to do was take her, kill the soldier fella, leave. Job done.

mikhail

Complaining about excessive slow motion in a Snyder movie at this stage is like complaining about symmetry in a Wes Anderson movie, or tension in a Hitchcock.

Banjaxed82

It's been a while since a concept so failed to live up to the craic I thought I was going to have in my head.

If Snyder had as much enthusiasm for the story, plot and characters as he does for spectacle then this could have gone places.

Would love to have seen this concept in the hands of a filmmaker who's not obsessed with forcing his visuals down your throat.

R.I.P. to the poor focus puller on this film. Must have been exhausting. Cause it was exhausting to watch.

Story is king, but there's only one star of a Zack Snyder film... Zack Snyder.

spookwoman

Watched it last night and thought with the start it was going to be enjoyable mindless action and gore. Mindless it was and that was about it. The start was the only decent bit after that it was zoning out every few minutes and forgetting what happened.
Can I have 2 hours and 20 odd minutes of my life back please.

Atlantic Dawn

As mentioned, way way too long, an hour could be cut from it easily.

Denny61

It's,got to be one of the worst movies I've ever watched.

eddhorse

Way too long alright at 2.5 hours.
Just too many unanswered questions and yes i know its a zombie "leave your brain at home" movie.
That screen rant video sums it up perfectly even though he missed some vital stuff.

Did they carry fuel in for the helicopter? That must have been heavy.

If they had a grinder saw, why use it to cut a wall and not just cut the bolt on the grate?

Generous 6/10

p to the e

Well that was awful. Admittedly the zombie tiger would have been a surprise if it hadn't been front and centre in the trailer. Did no one think to edit this film?

Sabre0001

I think if it had gone for purely style over substance, I would have enjoyed it much more. The escape from the casino, for example, was nicely executed with typical Snyder style. But it tried to take itself seriously and actually have a (nonsensical) plot and pretty much falls apart (and drags on) because of that. Haven't watched the Pitch Meeting yet, but they're always on the money and picking this movie apart will be super easy, barely an inconvenience.

Lots of plot points that can be questioned, even though it's really not a film that deserves thinking too much about...

Why spend so many days before the heist just faffing around - doesn't seem like they even plan what they're going to do. Time within the city is all over the place - they have 20 mins before nuke but daughter manages to trek into another hotel and up to where hostages are being kept, Dave has to get a helicopter to same place, and then they still have time to get out. Helicopter crashes tend not to be ones you walk away from. Man survives nuclear winter (and why didn't Dieter also go into vault - and do all zombies get nuked in underground or just decide to leave?) before sloooowly succumbing to bite. And so much more!

But yes...not one to think about further!

Hyzepher

Banjaxed82 wrote: »

R.I.P. to the poor focus puller on this film. Must have been exhausting. Cause it was exhausting to watch.

Apparently there wasn't even 1 pull in the whole movie - hence the somewhat out of focus look

a fat guy

Eh, I enjoyed it.

It's not really a serious film at all, but I liked the action in it.

Banjaxed82

Hyzepher wrote: »

Apparently there wasn't even 1 pull in the whole movie - hence the somewhat out of focus look

There was definitely some focus pulls. But I know what you mean it's fairly apparent they locked into a focal length with a ridiculously shallow depth of field, and it was up to the movement of the camera operator physically moving back and forth in order to keep actors in focus.

RIP camera operator's concentration levels.

razorblunt

I just realised something too, none of the deaths had any real weight to them from the point of view of being "jeez they're being torn apart and selling it really well". It was all heroic, stoic poses, even in the intro.

Hyzepher

Banjaxed82 wrote: »

There was definitely some focus pulls. But I know what you mean it's fairly apparent they locked into a focal length with a ridiculously shallow depth of field, and it was up to the movement of the camera operator physically moving back and forth in order to keep actors in focus.

RIP camera operator's concentration levels.

My understanding is that ZS did the cinematography himself, with old type lenses configured to work with his Red camera - without any pull focus - on purpose.

I think he even made a comment that he expected it to be even more out of focus and was surprised when he reviewed it

Banjaxed82

Hyzepher wrote: »

My understanding is that ZS did the cinematography himself, with old type lenses configured to work with his Red camera - without any pull focus - on purpose.

I think he even made a comment that he expected it to be even more out of focus and was surprised when he reviewed it

I have no idea what he was hoping to achieve with this effect. All it did was constantly draw attention to the technical aspects surrounding lens choice.

Based on the thought that went into the script, I'm assuming it's because...it looks cool.

dubstepper

Not awful but quite disappointing. I was excited like others as it was a good premise to mix the zombie movie with a heist one, but ultimately it really didn't deliver. Same as toying with the idea of somewhat intelligent zombies this was not expanded on.

Even having the few beers and switching the critical part of my brain off wasn't enough.

riffmongous

Average zombie action flick, no worse than any of the other 'of the dead' movies I've watched the last while.

The Raging Bile Duct

Any of ye have this problem?

Those who decided to invest time into the lengthy zombie heist thriller couldn’t help but notice certain scenes featured dead pixels on their TV screen.

The pixels became such an issue that many viewers were left wondering if their television sets were malfunctioning. However, the sheer amount of people who were complaining about the issue on Twitter and Reddit, revealed that the pixels were probably due to a ‘faulty sensor” on a camera used by Snyder.

Viewers spotted up to three pixels in scenes as early as one featuring Dave Bautista’s character, Scott Ward, discussing the heist with the billionaire Bly Tanaka (Hiroyuki Sanada) and another featuring safecracker Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighofer).

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/army-of-the-dead-pixel-netflix-error-b1853655.html#Echobox=1621944874

Drove me demented in certain scenes until I changed the screen settings and it disappeared. Thought it was the start of dead pixels on my screen when I saw it first.

Homelander

I only saw it in the scene where Dieter is talking in front of the vault. Thought it was a dead pixel at first as well.

Kinda strange it wasn't just fixed in post production, surely someone didn't miss something that obvious in multiple passes that tons of people picked up on upon their first viewing.

joe40

Poor movie.

The zombies were a straight rip off from the vampires in 30 days of nights.
Same guttural sounds and expressions.