I guess it’s fitting to do a review about a horror film the night before Halloween. So, I figured I’d review a classic. This is actually a remake of the original Night of the Living Dead (1968). It is director George A. Romero’s claim to fame. Tom Savini directed this version, but it was based upon the writing and story by both Romero and John A. Russo. There is nothing complicated about the premise of this movie, it helped to inspire a number of other zombie films.
This was the tagline that was used: “There IS a fate worse than death”. The casting for this film was excellent, and there are some hidden messages in the story if you read between the lines including racism and religion as well as morale values. The undead return to life through an accident, and start to crave the flesh of the living. This theme has been used a number of times over the years. The zombies in this one move rather slow, but they certainly creep up on you after a while.
The cast (aside from the zombies) deliver very convincing character types you find in modern day society. Tony Todd stars as Ben who was brilliant in his performance. He meets up with Patricia Tallman playing the role of Barbara who also delivers a wonderful performance as well. Some people might not know she was the Possessed Witch in the Sam Raimi movie Army of Darkness (1992).The setup starts off with Barbara finding her way from a graveyard to a white house in the countryside. Once she is there she discovers the absolute madness that follows. This was Katie Finneran’s first film appearance as Judy Rose her character Judy is the girlfriend of William Butler who plays the role of Tom. Tom Towles plays a snobby jerk named Harry Cooper. He was very convincing in the role. His wife was played by McKee Anderson as Helen Cooper. She constantly tries to reason with his as he is very demanding and forceful. Johnnie is played by Bill Mosley, David W. Butler plays Hondo, Zachary Mott is Bulldog, Pat Reese is The Mourner, William Cameron is The Newsman, Pat Logan is Uncle Rege, Berle Ellis is the Flaming Zombie, and Bill ‘Chilly Billy’ Cardille plays a T.V. Interviewer.
There have been a number of sequels in this series of films and an upcoming release starring Tony Todd is already in the works and in production titled Escape of the Living Dead (2009). Perhaps it will be in limited release sometime next year. John A. Russo will be directing and he also wrote the screenplay.
This is a true classic from the 1980’s. If you have never seen The Karate Kid, then you surely you must have heard of it. It was a standout picture from this decade, and brought some remember able moments in cinematic history. John G. Avildsen directed this one, and it was written by Robert Mark Kamen.
The simple tagline was “Only the ‘Old One’ could teach him the secrets of the masters”
The basic story is about a boy who grows up trying to fit in. He is lost without his former friends from where he lived before. He fancy’s a girl at school who has had a better life than him in some ways. He wants to be popular and yet surprisingly tries many ways to find acceptance at the new school he is at. He has no father, and is raised by a single mother. The character Daniel Larusso played by Ralph Macchio is mentored by the late Pat Morita who plays the infamous Mr. Kesuke Miyagi. He teaches Daniel discipline through the ways of martial arts, particularly karate. Miyagi molds Daniel into growing up with his wits and using his fists as a last resort.
Daniel loves his mother dearly, and would willingly do anything he could to help her. There are moments of teen frustration and anguish throughout the story, which most people should identify with. He meets up with Elisabeth Shue who plays Ali Mills she helps to encourage him along the way while falling for him. The final showdown happens later between Daniel and Johnny Lawrence who is played by William Zabka who does an excellent job playing a real jerk. More appearances in this include Ron Thomas as Bobby Brown, Rob Garrison as Tommy, Chad McQueen as Dutch, Tony O’Dell as Jimmy, Martin Kove is John Kreese, Israel Juarbe is Freddy Fernandez, and William Bassett is Mr. Mills. Larry B. Scott is Jerry, Juli Fields is Susan, and Dana Andersen is Barbara.
I think the characters are interesting and you get to know them well in the story, this movie spawned a total of 3 more sequels, and the entire collection is available on DVD. You will appreciate seeing this one. I recommend everyone to watch this if you haven’t already. Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love” would later be used as the theme song in the sequel “The Karate Kid, Part II (1986)”.
