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The first thing that struck me about this film is how the characters should never have been allowed on the big screen. Tim & Mike from Spaced, Dawn from the Office, Brendan from Black Books - they're all characters we know from small screen comedies, and none of them could act or hold enough presence to make a scene without zombies ("Don't say that!") passable. But minor criticisms aside, this was still pretty funny. I'm not a fan of the Office, or Black Books, but I'm a Spaced nut, and was looking forward to seeing how they'd make an episode of Spaced if it was longer, and they had a bigger budget. And 'Shaun of the Dead' is about what you'd expect.
All the subtle (and not so subtle) references to modern living somewhere between urban and suburban were there. The crappy house, layabout mates, night after night at the pub - routine. And that's what the film was about: breaking routines. Although neither ground-breaking in ambition, or breath-taking in scope, it's still a top custard effort at taking a dig at society. But I wouldn't go as far as saying this film was "excellent". I'll give it "good", and "above average", but "excellent" it was not. It just didn't fit the giant screen we were watching it on. Maybe when it gets shown on TV, or I buy it on DVD (which I will), it'll sit better. There was just something wrong about a giant, projected Simon Pegg from the opening shot, right to the end.
Acting aside, comedy and entertainment is where the heart of this film really lies. And if you like unmoderated swearing, "Clive" impressions, and the "Joey-spac-hand" look from when you were 12, this film won't disappoint. A "perfick" combination of playground jokes and high-brow references to low-brow films. Much of the fun was to be had spotting the references. I hope the DVD release has a "Homage-O-meter", like in the series 2 Spaced DVD. But despite the odd laugh-out-loud scene, the main bulk of 'Shaun of the Dead' rarely raises above a slight titter. But that's more than any other Brit-flick, or mainstream Hollywood film has offered lately. So to Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright, for taking a risk and making me laugh, I tip my hat in their general direction. And so too should you.
All the subtle (and not so subtle) references to modern living somewhere between urban and suburban were there. The crappy house, layabout mates, night after night at the pub - routine. And that's what the film was about: breaking routines. Although neither ground-breaking in ambition, or breath-taking in scope, it's still a top custard effort at taking a dig at society. But I wouldn't go as far as saying this film was "excellent". I'll give it "good", and "above average", but "excellent" it was not. It just didn't fit the giant screen we were watching it on. Maybe when it gets shown on TV, or I buy it on DVD (which I will), it'll sit better. There was just something wrong about a giant, projected Simon Pegg from the opening shot, right to the end.
Acting aside, comedy and entertainment is where the heart of this film really lies. And if you like unmoderated swearing, "Clive" impressions, and the "Joey-spac-hand" look from when you were 12, this film won't disappoint. A "perfick" combination of playground jokes and high-brow references to low-brow films. Much of the fun was to be had spotting the references. I hope the DVD release has a "Homage-O-meter", like in the series 2 Spaced DVD. But despite the odd laugh-out-loud scene, the main bulk of 'Shaun of the Dead' rarely raises above a slight titter. But that's more than any other Brit-flick, or mainstream Hollywood film has offered lately. So to Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright, for taking a risk and making me laugh, I tip my hat in their general direction. And so too should you.
It's totally aweomse, I've seen it twice already and am seeing it again with my bro when he gets back from New Zealand.
I've not got around to seeing it yet although I really want to. Girlfriend chose 50 First Dates over Shaun of the Dead when we last went to the cinema - but I might go next week and check it out. I miss spaced, I really do, I sometime cry at night wishing it would come back on or that someone would buy me both series' on dvd - but it never happens.
I heard that a third series was in the pipeline - was shaun of the dead instead of the series or as well? *crosses fingers*
I heard that a third series was in the pipeline - was shaun of the dead instead of the series or as well? *crosses fingers*
The first thing that struck me about this film is how the characters should never have been allowed on the big screen. Tim & Mike from Spaced, Dawn from the Office, Brendan from Black Books - they're all characters we know from small screen comedies, and none of them could act or hold enough presence to make a scene without zombies ("Don't say that!") passable. But minor criticisms aside, this was still pretty funny. I'm not a fan of the Office, or Black Books, but I'm a Spaced nut, and was looking forward to seeing how they'd make an episode of Spaced if it was longer, and they had a bigger budget. And 'Shaun of the Dead' is about what you'd expect.
All the subtle (and not so subtle) references to modern living somewhere between urban and suburban were there. The crappy house, layabout mates, night after night at the pub - routine. And that's what the film was about: breaking routines. Although neither ground-breaking in ambition, or breath-taking in scope, it's still a top custard effort at taking a dig at society. But I wouldn't go as far as saying this film was "excellent". I'll give it "good", and "above average", but "excellent" it was not. It just didn't fit the giant screen we were watching it on. Maybe when it gets shown on TV, or I buy it on DVD (which I will), it'll sit better. There was just something wrong about a giant, projected Simon Pegg from the opening shot, right to the end.
Acting aside, comedy and entertainment is where the heart of this film really lies. And if you like unmoderated swearing, "Clive" impressions, and the "Joey-spac-hand" look from when you were 12, this film won't disappoint. A "perfick" combination of playground jokes and high-brow references to low-brow films. Much of the fun was to be had spotting the references. I hope the DVD release has a "Homage-O-meter", like in the series 2 Spaced DVD. But despite the odd laugh-out-loud scene, the main bulk of 'Shaun of the Dead' rarely raises above a slight titter. But that's more than any other Brit-flick, or mainstream Hollywood film has offered lately. So to Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright, for taking a risk and making me laugh, I tip my hat in their general direction. And so too should you.
All the subtle (and not so subtle) references to modern living somewhere between urban and suburban were there. The crappy house, layabout mates, night after night at the pub - routine. And that's what the film was about: breaking routines. Although neither ground-breaking in ambition, or breath-taking in scope, it's still a top custard effort at taking a dig at society. But I wouldn't go as far as saying this film was "excellent". I'll give it "good", and "above average", but "excellent" it was not. It just didn't fit the giant screen we were watching it on. Maybe when it gets shown on TV, or I buy it on DVD (which I will), it'll sit better. There was just something wrong about a giant, projected Simon Pegg from the opening shot, right to the end.
Acting aside, comedy and entertainment is where the heart of this film really lies. And if you like unmoderated swearing, "Clive" impressions, and the "Joey-spac-hand" look from when you were 12, this film won't disappoint. A "perfick" combination of playground jokes and high-brow references to low-brow films. Much of the fun was to be had spotting the references. I hope the DVD release has a "Homage-O-meter", like in the series 2 Spaced DVD. But despite the odd laugh-out-loud scene, the main bulk of 'Shaun of the Dead' rarely raises above a slight titter. But that's more than any other Brit-flick, or mainstream Hollywood film has offered lately. So to Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright, for taking a risk and making me laugh, I tip my hat in their general direction. And so too should you.