Pride and Prejudice and Zombies — A good entertaining mix of concepts — 6*/10

• Story: Great intro, there was also a certain effort made to build an intrigue, lots of details, and the match making kept our attention well enough. However, the zombie crisis and pandemonium seemed almost like an afterthought at times. I know that was the idea, but then why was the climactic event about zombies?
• Setting: Very interesting zombie concepts and quite well developed if a bit over narrated, all of it set in an unusual time period which made it a solid choice.
• Pacing: Well done, nice balance between quiet and action.
• Ending: Poor. There wasn't enough meat to it, especially compared to the rest of the film.
• Dialogs: I think the quality of this flick reside in its dialogs. Not by their craft, no, but by how they navigate us through the story, because they are the one keeping us entertained, really.
• Characters: Good, if simple and archetypical.
• Acting: Varied in quality, but mostly good. Fighting was poor, barely made the cut as far as I'm concerned, especially for one of the girls.
• Visuals: Appealing.
• Special Effects: No reproach, very well done.
• Costumes: Pretty good overall to the exception of a few unfortunate choices.
• Synopsis & information: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1374989/
• Entertainment value: Good.
• Who is it for? Those looking for a new zombie concept or those who like the P&P type of setting as well as the zombie genre. Don't expect too much, though.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse — Funny but could have been better — 6*/10

• Scenario: Very juvenile humour, silly situations with a number of logical flaws.
• Known actors: David Koechner and Cloris Leachman.
• Visual & sound: Acceptable.
• Synopsis & information: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727776/
• Who is it for? Those looking to turn their brains off for some fun or zombie fans.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials — A sci-fi sequel that can satisfy — 7*/10

• Scenario: This sequel is, as far as I'm concerned, better than its predecessor (read my review of the first chapter here). That's rare in the film industry. I say this because the acting is better and the story more interesting. More over, the action is good and the entertainment value is nice. It is still full of stereotypes and predictable elements with a number of logical flaws that require to be overlooked, but it's getting somewhere. That being said, I anticipate a lousier third chapter.
• Known actors: Patricia Clarkson, Lili Taylor and Barry Pepper.
• Visual & sound: Solid.
• Synopsis & information: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4046784/
• Who is it for? Anyone looking for a sci-fi, zombie or apocalypse flick.

Life After Beth — A zombie comedy that might surprise you — 7*/10

• Scenario: Nice details, good concept, funny in a dark way, silly and very engaging with twists and turn presented in a novel way.
• Known actors: Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser and Anna Kendrick.
• Visual & sound: Nice. Nothing impressive, but well done.
• Synopsis & information: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2581244/
• Who is it for? Zombie fans who likes cooky dark comedies.

Dawn of the Dead — Your basic zombie epidemic — 7*/10

Dawn of the Dead is a good zombie movie and if that's what you're looking for you'll be entertained. Things happen fast, lots of action, not too gory, nice effects, and lots of thoughtful plot elements. However, it's a bit linear, predictable and it feels like there isn't much to chew on. It's nice, but only once.

For those hungry for a zombie flick.
7*/10

Zombieland - A world of violence, laughter and good entertainment - 8*/10

Zombieland is one of the best well made comedic zombie movie out there. Great setting and intro, with a smooth scenario, interesting story and good acting.

For good violence and laughs. Not for sensible stomachs.
8*/10

ParaNorman - Very different and imaginative - 7*/10

ParaNorman presents and old story and gives it several new twists. You think you're going in one direction only to find that you're heading somewhere else. Great claymation, macabre setting, funny stuff, and nice tale.

For everyone.
7*/10

World War Z — Strap in tightly because you're in for a hell of a ride! — 10*/10

World War Z is a zombie movie that mixes a number of sub-genres together. It's global war mixed with survival, gun-ho fights, local low-tech thrill ride, and cure hunting. You'd think that with such a mix, you'd get a mess, but no, Marc Forster pulled it off.

The good. Almost everything. I'll just name the best parts. Very realistic approach, nothing is easy, and characters die. Extremely solid tension, your teeth might ache from all the jaw clenching you'll probably do. Very intense and well made action with eye-popping special effects. Lots of attention to details. A tight scenario that gives the ride of a lifetime. A riveting story that avoids a number of zombie clichés. Great score. Very attaching characters. Finally an American movie with a global event that gives more than just a passing nod to other nations.

The actors. Brad Pitt offers us his action hero type with a coating of realism. The other solid performance, beside the two daughter (and to a lesser degree the wife), is given to us by Daniella Kertesz. The rest of the cast performed well, but nothing distinctive.

The bad. The "I need credentials before I talk to you" is kind of a little bit much, but easily forgivable. The flashback could have been made better. Some little weakness when it comes to some acting of secondary character, but so very few. The plot might be simple, but it doesn't divulge where it's going ahead of time, and there's enough surprise to counteract that.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. The best zombie movie ever. Also highly recommended to thrill seekers and action lovers.

10*/10


I highly recommend you see the unrated Blu-ray version which is slightly longer but brings about certain things with just a bit more explanation.

I Am Legend — The extinction of the human race, zombies everywhere — 7*/10

I Am Legend is an other spin on the zombie apocalypse. In this one, the emphasis is on the mental state of a survivor trying to find the cure and the ambience of New York three years down the road.

Will Smith does a great job of putting us in the boots of that recluse, and makes us feel everyone of his challenges. The set are well made. The story is interesting. The mood is riveting, especially the first time you see it. You're quickly immersed and taken for a ride.

Now for the negative. The CG animals are missing a tiny bit of realism, probably due to the limitations of the technology at the time. However, the biggest mistake is the ending. It should have stopped after the lab explosion. The rest is just post test screening adjustments crap.

If you like Will Smith, zombies, or post-apocalyptic situation, you'll be in for a nice ride. The rest of you should at least consider seeing it, it's worth your time.

7*/10

Warm Bodies — Love with a Z as in teenage zombie romance — 7*/10

Warm Bodies wants to be a new take on the zombie genre. I'll give them partial credit for the result.

There's several unique elements about zombie life that really make this flick worth seeing. Its biggest novelty achievement is using a zombie apocalypse as a backdrop for a romance, and casting a zombie as one of the lover. That's definitively well done.

However, this movie is fortunate to have a fresh spin, because there are many logical flaws in its scenario. More over, beyond the suspension of disbelief that comes with the concept of a zombie, you have to make an additional large concession for the healing process and how it comes about which is borderline cheesy.

If you don't mind mixing teenage romance and zombies, it's nice entertainment.

7*/10

Shaun of the Dead — A silly, yet realistic zombie epidemic — 9*/10

Shaun of the Dead is a silly zombie flick with strong undertone of seriousness. There's is no doubt that it is meant to make us laugh, but at the same time, it has a number of dramatic scenes. The couple story is the running thread, but it's not the meat on the bone.

Most scene are a comic setup never failing to have the audience roll back their eyes in incredulity. Toward the ends come the more dramatic ones, and those are the one who make you think.

The dialogs very real and flow at a good pace. The editing is done in a quick efficient manner. The story is very interesting. The zombie threat and its working are imaginative. The acting is good, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Kate Ashfield giving us the best performances.

Overall, it's a very solid entertainment in brain dead way.

It's a must, if you don't mind zombies and a bit of gore.

9*/10