28 Weeks Later (C or 2/4 stars)
'28 Weeks Later' ... the mayhem continues. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, this sequel follows a new group of people as they try to escape the 'infected'. Once believed to be eradicated, the rage virus is still all-the-rage. The U.S. military fly in to keep London under control, and a young family (among other survivors) is fleeing for their lives. Don & Alice (Robert Carlysle, Catherine McCormack) have 2 kids, Tammy & Andy (Imogen Poots, Mackintosh Muggleton). The kids are in hiding with their grandparents in Spain while their parents are in seclusion. But their hideout is discovered by some rogue 'infecteds' and Don cowardly escapes. His children return to London's Safe Zone (28 weeks later).
Just when things appear to be back on track, Alice emerges to the U.S. military as an 'infected' who doesn't have the murderous 'rage' (as if she were a carrier for the disease). But one thing leads to another, the crisis is reborn, & mass mania strikes London once again. Some members of the U.S. military, including lead medic (Rose Byrne), a sharpshooter (Jeremy Renner), and a helicopter pilot (Lost's Harold Perrineau), try to put an end to the epidemic. But it's too late, the virus spreads to hundreds, despair sets in, and 'Code Red' is instituted (where American soldiers are instructed to gas, incinerate, & kill everyone in sight). Talk about hysteria!
I didn't think '28 DL' was the be-all-end-all of movies, but at least it was coherent, suspenseful, graphic & involving. There was time to set-up the protagonists, hear their story, watch them find ways to escape the 'infected', sympathize with them, etc. The characters were practically 3 dimensional (a tough feat for a zombie flick). There isn't much of any of that in this film. The girl who plays Tammy is pretty, but neither she nor her brother is engaging characters to pull for. The adults are comparatively listless in their performances. I jerked in my seat several times (in fear & tension). This is good. But I wasn't half as tense as I was in '28 DL', mainly because I was much more invested in those characters. I was compelled during '28 DL'.
I'm glad I was shocked, jerked, jarred, & jolted. That's what I want when paying to see this kind of film. A number of action scenes are well choreographed. The special effects are standard. The gore is gooey. The continuation of the storyline from 'days later' to 'weeks later' is intriguing. But the suspense & energy that gripped me in 'DL' is not present here, AT ALL. All this film has to offer is persons A, B, & C running from sickos D, E, & F down dingy streets and dark alleys. There's lots of ferocious camerawork, sprinting, screaming, & killing. I can't say I had a bad time during '28 Weeks Later'. The premise is decent, its' bleakness is appreciated, but we've already seen this in Danny Boyle's '28 Days Later' where the characters & screenplay are infinitely superior.
Just when things appear to be back on track, Alice emerges to the U.S. military as an 'infected' who doesn't have the murderous 'rage' (as if she were a carrier for the disease). But one thing leads to another, the crisis is reborn, & mass mania strikes London once again. Some members of the U.S. military, including lead medic (Rose Byrne), a sharpshooter (Jeremy Renner), and a helicopter pilot (Lost's Harold Perrineau), try to put an end to the epidemic. But it's too late, the virus spreads to hundreds, despair sets in, and 'Code Red' is instituted (where American soldiers are instructed to gas, incinerate, & kill everyone in sight). Talk about hysteria!
I didn't think '28 DL' was the be-all-end-all of movies, but at least it was coherent, suspenseful, graphic & involving. There was time to set-up the protagonists, hear their story, watch them find ways to escape the 'infected', sympathize with them, etc. The characters were practically 3 dimensional (a tough feat for a zombie flick). There isn't much of any of that in this film. The girl who plays Tammy is pretty, but neither she nor her brother is engaging characters to pull for. The adults are comparatively listless in their performances. I jerked in my seat several times (in fear & tension). This is good. But I wasn't half as tense as I was in '28 DL', mainly because I was much more invested in those characters. I was compelled during '28 DL'.
I'm glad I was shocked, jerked, jarred, & jolted. That's what I want when paying to see this kind of film. A number of action scenes are well choreographed. The special effects are standard. The gore is gooey. The continuation of the storyline from 'days later' to 'weeks later' is intriguing. But the suspense & energy that gripped me in 'DL' is not present here, AT ALL. All this film has to offer is persons A, B, & C running from sickos D, E, & F down dingy streets and dark alleys. There's lots of ferocious camerawork, sprinting, screaming, & killing. I can't say I had a bad time during '28 Weeks Later'. The premise is decent, its' bleakness is appreciated, but we've already seen this in Danny Boyle's '28 Days Later' where the characters & screenplay are infinitely superior.