Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6195 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-12-26
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Director's Cut, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Bolstered by the success of 28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, the Resident Evil movies and the hit remake of his own Dawn of the Dead, George A. Romero returns to the horror subgenre he invented with Land of the Dead. The fourth installment in Romero's zombie cycle (and the first since 1985's Day of the Dead) presents a logical progression of events since 1968's horror classic Night of the Living Dead: Zombies (also known as "stenches" for their rotting odor) are the dominant population, and they've begun to show signs of undead intelligence and gathering power. The wealthiest survivors live comfortably in a luxury high-rise within a barricaded safe zone, ignoring the horrors of the outside world while armed scavengers stage raids in the zombie-zone to gather much-needed food and supplies. Simon Baker and John Leguizamo play mercenaries-for-hire; Dennis Hopper is their nefarious boss; and horror favorite Asia Argento (daughter of Suspiria director Dario Argento) plays a former hooker recruited into Baker's scavenger squad. While none of this seems particularly fresh or inspired, Land of the Dead benefits from hints of the social satire that made Romero's earlier zombie films so memorable. Not so much funny as gruesomely peculiar, Romero's plot isn't as inventive as it could've been, but as a big-scale B-movie, Land of the Dead delivers a handful of shocks and horror-celebrity cameos (including gore-masters Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero) that should keep horror buffs happy until the next zombie opus comes along. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Zombie movies slip in and out of fashion, but it's always a special occasion when the man who helped turn the undead into a worldwide phenomenon decides to add an instalment to his ongoing saga of flesh-eating films. George A. Romero's zombie movies have all appeared in different decades, beginning with Night of the Living Dead in 1968, Dawn of the Dead in '78, and Day of the Dead in '85. Romero skipped the '90s, but a zombie renaissance in the early 21st century (28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead) finds him back in the directors chair. Often seen as allegories for their times, Romero's films have been connected to societal events such as the consumerism of the '70s (Dawn of the Dead) and the spread of the AIDS virus in the '80s (Day of the Dead). With 2005's Land of the Dead, Romero positions the bulk of his story in a giant skyscraper which houses the last humans left on the planet; although his intentions are foggy this time, Land appears to be Romero's commentary on the post-9/11 political landscape. The zombies only bother crews who venture outside the makeshift city for supplies, but the people are kept sedated by their leader, the irascible Kaufman (Dennis Hopper), who exaggerates their threat. What Kaufman doesn't realise is that the zombies are learning skills they half-remember from their old selves, leading to some impressively blood-soaked scenes of tumult. In an unusual move for Romero, Hopper is joined by name actors such as John Leguizamo and Asia Argento. The film greatly benefits as a result, successfully portraying an atrophied civilisation that has regressed to a primitive state, allowing its undead tormentors to sense that a free lunch may be just around the corner.

Customer Reviews

a certain irony
This movie is not quite the epic it could have been but for an entertaining slice of zombie action it will do just nicely. The main actor in it is not bad considering i ve never heard of him and he gives it his all which puts the movie up a notch. the touch of hamminess(on purpose) from Hopper is a good addition and the effects are as guesome as ever. On its own merits i was pleasantly surprised by this next installment from Romero and i dont think it should be compared with the others, although saying that it probably edges out Day of the Dead on most aspects. Yes o.k it has its flaws, its not involving enough and the ending feels rushed but it has a certain sweet irony and cleverness that sets it above most horror trash thats out these days, A good effort indeed!

SUPERB!
I wont ramble on but I will just say I have seen this film 4 times at the cinema (and I've never seen any film more than twice before on the big screen). I think George A Romero has achieve a modern day masterpiece with Land of the Dead. The political overtones of this movie are superbly relevant to today, with America's foreign policies, attitude and the war on terror being the most obvious. George has woven a clever, well written story that is scary, interesting, exciting and intelligent. some of todays MTV generation with their fast editing styles and running zombies (eerrrrrm, they are dead, rotting corpses, with degrees of rigamortis, how are they supposed to run like athletes ala Dawn of the Dead remake!!!!!) will probably be less likey to enjoy this film, but for the true genre movie goers, most won't be disappointed. Its a film with a lot of heart, a lot of guts (in every sense of the word) and a lot of brains. George, you are a legend!!!!!

Same old, same old
Very repetitive, uninspiring and quite frankly boring zombie film. More like a series of 'zombies attacking someone' scenes with a weak and pointless storyline cemented around them.

The effects are good but what's the point of just showing a succession of attacks when you have not attempted to write any decent storyline, rubbish and contrived dialogue and annoying stereotypical characters. I guess this will appeal to those who just like seeing gore and aren't interested in any innovation or suspense in their film making.

To be short, it's not worth the effort of writing all the faults etc of this film, I have already wasted two hours on it. A lazy presentation which has been done much better before; worst film I have ever seen Dennis Hopper in; 'intelligent zombie' such a poor idea and badly executed; difficult to distinguish the 'living' cast from the zombies they were so one dimensional. Cynical attempt at cashing-in on the recent zombie craze, poor all round.