Dawn of the Dead (2004){unrated}

From the Box: "When a mysterious virus turns people into mindless, flesh-eating zombies, a handful of survivors wage a desperate, last-stand battle to stay alive... and human."

What You Get: First off let me say two things: One, I saw this version before watching the original (I know, how dare I), and Two, I actually do really like this movie. Now with that said, man, this is one sorry zombie movie. This is more like 28 Days Later in a mall and more people than Dawn of the Dead '04. You get some cool effects, lots of zombies, lots of blood, a zombie newborn, and even some tits, but what you don't get is a good, old school zombie-flick. Sorry, that's just the way it is.

Origin of Zombies: Unknown. Spread though bite. If bitten but not killed zombification takes several hours; if bitten and killed sombification instantaneous

Zombie Traits: Dead appearance (mostly from bite wounds), staggering (when not going for a kill)

Unzombie Traits: Running, feralness, jumping

The "Heroes": Mixed group of survivors

Zombie Killing Weapons of Choice: Various firearms, crowbar, axe, fire, chainsaw

The Goals: Survive in the mall, find somewhere safer/non-contaminated, get guns & gun shop owner, get to boat & find a nice, safe island.

End Result: After trying to save the gun shop owner, mall becomes insecure & the group's numbers drop after having to speed up their boat plan. As the credits role no safe island is found (they all die?)

Zombie Rating: (zombies should always walk, not run)

Notes: The time between being bit and turning varies (plot hole!) One bitten seems to last days while others last only a few hours.

Zombies don't eat dogs, just people.

Zombies are more like 28 Days Later infected than Romero-style undead (despite this being a remake of Romero's classic)

This movie follows many zombie rules (head wounds are the only thing that kill, zombies attack in swarms) but the fact they run ruins it. Because of the whole running thing not only is the "3" the best rating I can give the zombies, calling this a "zombie movie" even becomes difficult (though technically it still is)