DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) vs SHAUN OF THE DEAD, The big one Options

[mcraigclark]

OK, I'll be the first to say it. I voted Shaun. If I'd thought about it a little longer I would have voted for Dawn. I love Shaun, but Dawn is a big reason Shaun exists and it's a great film in its own right.

And I agree with Jon- Spaced takes it all. I also agree with Nic about the third act. I like that it takes a dark turn rather quickly. The shift helps the ending; you feel happier for Shaun and Liz to have made it through and the bit with Ed is that much sweeter for having gone so serious.

[Crutch]

Dawn of the dead is probably THE zombie-flic. (If you'd say that Night and Dawn are "the same movie.") It's just Night of the living dead with a budget. It's influential, it's cool, it's hard. I personally prefer Night, thought, but that's not the question here. It's just an unfair poll, because Shaun' existence is dependend on the one of Dawn. Edgar is probably a better director than Romero. Whatever.

[rabbit57i]

*Adds Dawn of the Dead to films list*

I am sick at the thought that you haven't seen it. Okay, okay, you're young of age but at leasta it should have been on your list already.

Edgar is probably a better director than Romero.

Interesting...I won't disagree with you just yet because we really don't have a lot of films by Edgar to make this judgement. Romero's films lately haven't been all that impressive, but his early stuff is just so great. He definitely has a rough style that make everything very realistic.

[Omniscia]

While Shaun is very dear to me, Dawn easily surpasses it by a country mile, largely for reasons already mentioned by others. It's gripping, well-paced, smartly written and directed, and always perched right on the razor's edge between relative calm and outright horror.

It's fairly humourous in its own right, too. Whether it's zombies getting pies in the face, beer-chuggin' rednecks hunting zombies in the fields, or the kid-in-a-candy-store exuberance displayed when our protagonists enjoy their totally self-indulgent shopping spree, there are plenty of moments that just make you smile. That is, until George has sufficiently lulled us into our false sense of security so the inevitable bloodbath is all the more disturbing.

The Muzak playing in the corridors of the mall is quite delightful, as well.

My choice may well have changed, however, if we were to have polled Dario Argento's cut of Dawn.

[Henry Krinkle]

I disagree wholeheartedly about the third act; having the comedy go bye-bye and things get very grim is what elevates the movie for me, frankly.

Me too.

But I voted for Dawn.

I didn't.

Although I love Dawn of the Dead, I love Shaun of the Dead that little bit more. You can throw all the genre-defining, breaking-new-ground arguments you like at me, but when push comes to shove I will enjoy watching Shaun more than I will watching Dawn. That's the only way I can compare two films.

[dandan]

That's the only way I can compare two films.

you could compare their running times too; that's my usual criteria for judging films.

[Henry Krinkle]

That's the only way I can compare two films.

you could compare their running times too; that's my usual criteria for judging films.

And with that you have shaken not only my comparison system, but also every fundamental belief I hold true, to its very core.

I don’t know what’s right and wrong anymore.

[Ingram]

I went for Shaun of the Dead - RomZomCom, the cream of British comedy, approachable even for someone who doesn't like Zombie films (me), features the people behind my favourite sitcom, rewatchable... generally just a great film. Love it.

This post has been edited by Ingram: Jun 16 2006, 09:35 AM

[Zoe]

Shaun.

Now if it had beeb DotD (2004) that would have been a different matter.

[Chapman Baxter]

While Shaun would not exist without Dawn, I still think Shaun's the better film. I always found Dawn's 'social commentary' rather hamfisted and embarrassing, and a detriment to the film, but Shaun perfectly skewers a type of young urban complacency. The characters are better drawn, and I care much more about their fate.

[fatseff1234]

Alright, gayyy. (That is what Nick says as the other two take the lift out of the basement, isn't it?)

Isn't it what he says to Shaun after Shaun say's he loves Liz and taht's why they have to go and rescue her?

Shaun for me. Dawn's good but it ain't that good.

[Kick in the Head]

Shaun's good and all, and you can moan on about ground-breaking this and paved the way that till the zombies come home, but Dawn was such a thrill when I first saw it when I was about 10 or 11. At that age you're an impressionable youngster, so I showed it too as many of my friends as possible. Machete in the head! Helicopter scalp removal! Arm ripped off mid-blood pressure test! Insane!

I'm sure Shaun will ignite this generation of kids' interests in the undead - but Dawn still amazes to this day, creating a kind of atmosphere few horror films have since equalled.

[Jinx]

Haven't seen Dawn and so can't submit a vote, but I'm sure it'll be better than Shaun.

[ayeyerma]

Haven't seen Dawn and so can't submit a vote, but I'm sure it'll be better than Shaun.

Go get it now! It's great. Shaun wouldn't be here without it.

[Jon 79]

Interesting...I won't disagree with you just yet because we really don't have a lot of films by Edgar to make this judgement.

You should see A Fistful Of Fingers. ... A fantastic debut.

In my mind, what Romero does for horror, Wright equals it for comedy.