Fair warning to those out there who expect this to be a straight up animated version of Romero's undead zeitgeist of a flick. For better or worse, it isn't. Instead what we have here is a massive multimedia art project, a mobile gallery show, collected and presented on one platform for consumption, IE a TV or theater screen. Though some fans may be disappointed by these prospects, the producers of the project are clear in their intentions as a title card states this is an "animated/illustrated response" to the original film. "Curator" Mike Schneider oversees the contributions. International in response, wildly eclectic in form, they range from flash animation to storyboards, comic panels, 3D computer work, to claymation and puppets... and that's just in the first five minutes.
Sometimes artist's personal styles or sensibilities don't readily reflect the mood, atmosphere or pacing of the original film, which can distract if one looks at this as just watching Night Of The Living Dead. So consider this: Reanimated is not a standard movie viewing experience, and may not work for those who haven't seen Romero's film - do I really have to write a plot synopsis for that one? - and even then it may be somewhat alienating.
What is impressive is the task of editing all these pieces to be timed with the original audio. This is a considerable feat, yet doesn't always benefit as some contributions seem like filler, barely lasting a second. If this was one cohesive art style, it'd work great for emotional affect, just like in the original, but when we have big eyed anime one moment and gothic oil pastels the next, it can well, again, be distracting, lending to a rather cacophonous and cluttered viewing.
In reviewing I'm more of the mind of "fair and understanding," yet as I shape this review, I realize how much of it may sound like whining and complaining. While I loved the idea behind it, I found myself hung up on the presentation, and the varying quality of the art at hand.
So I guess, like most art shows, there are a few standout pieces surrounded by sub par works. And like most art shows, opinions will run the gauntlet on what is considered good or amateurish. But in this presentation format, with hundreds upon hundreds of non-animated still entries, most of them up for just a matter of seconds, the interesting pieces flash by all too quickly, feeling far more fleeting in impact than say if one was able to view them in a proper gallery setting on their own time. That's not to say you can't use your pause button...
.
I encourage animation and Romero aficionados to check this out as a grand love letter and appreciation of a seminal horror work. Others might find it not all too interesting, or like me, be unable to fully wrap their heads around the presentation and execution of the project.
NOTLD: Reanimated is set to be released on DVD in April and is currently being shown around North America at various art and theater venues. For further details check out the film's official website and/or their Facebook page.
Sometimes artist's personal styles or sensibilities don't readily reflect the mood, atmosphere or pacing of the original film, which can distract if one looks at this as just watching Night Of The Living Dead. So consider this: Reanimated is not a standard movie viewing experience, and may not work for those who haven't seen Romero's film - do I really have to write a plot synopsis for that one? - and even then it may be somewhat alienating.
What is impressive is the task of editing all these pieces to be timed with the original audio. This is a considerable feat, yet doesn't always benefit as some contributions seem like filler, barely lasting a second. If this was one cohesive art style, it'd work great for emotional affect, just like in the original, but when we have big eyed anime one moment and gothic oil pastels the next, it can well, again, be distracting, lending to a rather cacophonous and cluttered viewing.
In reviewing I'm more of the mind of "fair and understanding," yet as I shape this review, I realize how much of it may sound like whining and complaining. While I loved the idea behind it, I found myself hung up on the presentation, and the varying quality of the art at hand.
So I guess, like most art shows, there are a few standout pieces surrounded by sub par works. And like most art shows, opinions will run the gauntlet on what is considered good or amateurish. But in this presentation format, with hundreds upon hundreds of non-animated still entries, most of them up for just a matter of seconds, the interesting pieces flash by all too quickly, feeling far more fleeting in impact than say if one was able to view them in a proper gallery setting on their own time. That's not to say you can't use your pause button...
.
I encourage animation and Romero aficionados to check this out as a grand love letter and appreciation of a seminal horror work. Others might find it not all too interesting, or like me, be unable to fully wrap their heads around the presentation and execution of the project.
NOTLD: Reanimated is set to be released on DVD in April and is currently being shown around North America at various art and theater venues. For further details check out the film's official website and/or their Facebook page.
I'm sure a lot of work went into this and I'm very open to "re-imagining" art, but the clips shown on the company's site look totally ridiculous.
You know what's awesome? The original Night Of The Living Dead.
I saw this at the Revenant film fest in Seattle, and I completely fell asleep. Granted, there were some minor moments of hilarity and some inventive use of animation, namely the stop-film to real actors, sock puppets and some barbies, but the overall quality of artists involved in this is less than that of what you see on bathroom walls. It's quite tedious and crappy most of the time, and you'd think with the concept that you could do no wrong.
Yes, I completely agree with cuckoo, the original is awesome and is what opened my eyes to the possibilities of what makes a horror film great.
This reanimated project is, unfortunately a blemish on the original title.
Well as madamecurry mentioned, an early draft screened at Revenant Film Festival in Seattle to pretty mixed reactions. There were those who loved it (Seattle Geekly), those who hated it (Mail Order Zombie), and those who weren't quite sure what to think (Zombat). I mention all three because they archive their podcasts online and all of them make valid points if you can sort through the praise from the ones who responded positively and the cursing from the ones who did not.
Now since that early draft hundreds of additional works have been added so though the idea is the same and almost all of the works you have seen are still present... the sparser scenes have had their tempo picked up and the flow is a bit different. Will that win you over if you hated that draft... probably not... but for those on the fence or those who loved it... there is more to sway you one way or another.
As cuckoo mentioned some of the clips are a bit out there... as a matter of fact the artists set out to respond to the scenes not capture the mood or tension of that seen so the warning from the review itself is completely founded. All of the artists love the original film... find it fun and entertaining... and that reads more then the horror element in some of the many works.
The fact that the original is awesome is without question. In fact, you'll note that we repeatedly say people should see the original. The original still exists untouched and we aren't even claiming this as an alternative but rather in supplement. So it's a grain of salt situation because this project will not appeal to everyone but unlike many productions that is said right up front in our own disclaimers and explanations. I mean it is exactly what it promises to be... nothing more nothing less.
In the end, apart from the DVD release (which will be loaded with supplements) the project itself will be available for free online... so watch and judge for yourself... and as the review suggests... don't be afraid to use the pause button if you see something you want to take more time with.
Ugh, Jesus, how about we give it a rest? How about we stop clinging onto the name and exploiting Romero's masterpiece just because "we can"?
It's nice, though, that apparently they admit that they're a cash-in project hoping to make their names on the back and title of one of the greatest horror movies ever made, since they claim to admit it up front.