Tuesday, April 13, 2010

BD impressions: Zombieland

1:24 PM / BD Impressions / Comments7 Comments

BD Impressions
Blu-ray

It's good to be back; to be back is good. After nearly a month with no way of watching movies on the big screen, I'm glad we picked ZOMBIELAND as the first film to watch via my brother's newly repaired AV receiver. Neither of us were particularly massive fans of SHAUN OF THE DEAD - I didn't dislike it or anything, but I didn't consider it the masterpiece that everyone else seemed to, vastly preferring Edgar Wright's follow-up, HOT FUZZ - but it did give birth to the (ugh) "zom-com", and as such ZOMBIELAND owes a massive debt to it. However, while SHAUN OF THE DEAD knowingly referenced the conventions of the zombie movie sub-genre, ZOMBIELAND's humour is derived more from the characters themselves than from name-checking clichés. Don't get me wrong, that's not to say that it isn't funny - it IS, often gut-bustlingly so. In particular, there's one extended sequence which I absolutely refuse to spoil for you... although if you've heard anything about the film, you probably know what it is already, because nearly every viewer and reviewer seems to find it necessary to spell out precisely what it is. I myself went in already spoiled, thanks to a wise-ass (who shall remain nameless) on one of the forums I frequent telling every man and his dog just what that sequence consisted of and just what a surprise it was to him. Yeah, thanks for nothing.

That said, even though perhaps the biggest laugh of the movie was spoiled for me, I still had an absolute blast with ZOMBIELAND. I was particularly impressed by the performances of the four leads, who essentially carry the movie for its duration (there are only a couple of other speaking parts). Woody Harrelson is always a hoot, and while Jesse Eisenberg inhabits the same awkward dweeb role as in ADVENTURELAND, it's not a bad role for him. He certainly seems less self-conscious about it than, say, Michael Cera, whom one tends to associate with these parts. Of the two leading ladies, Emma Stone gets the most to do, but twelve-year-old Abigail Breslin, probably best known for her role in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, continues to impress with a performance that belies her age... and I refuse to believe that the sight of a pre-pubescent child running around with a shotgun blowing the heads of zombies can ever get old.

Image quality: Reference. 10/10

Zombieland
studio: Sony Pictures; country: UK; region code: ABC; codec: AVC;
file size: 22.9 GB; average bit rate (including audio): 37.49 Mbit/sec

Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland Zombieland

 
7 Comments

1. Kram Sacul said:

No detailed PQ analysis?

(Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 11:41 AM)

2. Erik said:

And no mention of it being an HD-shot flick. Could he... not have noticed?

(Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 5:40 PM)

3. Author Profile Page Michael said:

To tell the truth, I'm not sure there's much to be said other than to heap superlatives on it. It really is an excellent image on every level, and there are only so many ways you can say that. And Erik, I did indeed know it was shot in HD. I'm not sure how I could fail to, given our discussion about it on Facebook. :D Aesthetically, I thought it looked rather nice, and certainly I rarely found myself thinking "Ugh, digital" as I've tended to do in the past. That said, there's something about digital photography that I suspect I'll never fully warm to - something rather cold and sterile. Oh well.

(Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 12:00 AM)

4. Christopher D. Jacobson said:

Ha ha, love the PQ writeup. "Reference." All that needs to be said.

I thought this was a pretty good movie. Still unsure if I want to buy it—but after seeing how lovely the BD presentation is, I'll likely get it if I find it for cheap.

(Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 12:13 AM)

5. Erik said:

Michael - I hoped you'd forgotten all about that "shot with Genesis cam(s); one of the better-looking HD films" stuff. ;) I was kidding, and agree with your verdict. Suppose in this instance the cold/sterile feel could be blamed on the tone of the film, down to the color timing in post.

(Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7:05 AM)

6. Neil (B$B) said:

I wasn't exactly floored by Shaun Of The Dead either. I was genuinely surprised at just how damn good, Hot Fuzz actually was. Much better Edgar Wright film imo. Zombieland is cool as hell, soon as I noted the Columbus character physically knocking that letter onto the floor, I pretty much knew how I would take to the film. Best zombie comedy since O'Bannon's Return Of The Living Dead for sure.

(Posted on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 8:50 AM)

7. David S.H. said:

If you are referring to the cameo, I loved that sequence. Always been a huge fan of that actor. I saw it at the cinema (day one I think) so had no spoilers. I remember telling a mate about the film, saying how great it was and carefully hinting an awesome cameo.

(Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 2:59 AM)

 
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