Dead Rising (2015) Reviews

• Not Bad got me interested for more

  korompisp2015-04-01

  First of all I love Zombie movies, i watch all types even the crappy ones... Off course if your into Zombie movie the 10 rating will be George R "Night of the living dead". 8 rating comes "Dawn of the Dead" remake which is fun and a surprisingly good a french movie "La Horde". On the Bad or Worse Rating All the Uwe Bole sucks ass. I thought "Dead Rising Watch Tower" will be like the worse kind.... BUT SURPRISINGLY its well directed, good production value. Its not a Big budget one, but true to its fan of Dead Rising Games. I must say i am entertained, its a good enough movie to hold true to gaming to movie conversion. So overall if u do love zombie, this one will entertain you.

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• Dead Rising: Watchtower is the live action adaptation of the hugely popular video game

  davidlmarks2015-06-07

  So many attempts have been made by Hollywood to create a movie from a video game (Doom, Super Mario Brothers, Max Payne) and vice versa (Alien, Indiana Jones, The Evil Dead, Jaws) that have been so so bad, that my expectations were pretty low going into this newest fare. Dead Rising: Watchtower is the live action adaptation of the hugely popular video game series Dead Rising, by game giant Capcom. And I have to say, right from the get go– I was pleasantly surprised! Not only did it not suck, it was actually very entertaining. Don't get me wrong. There was plenty in this two hour film that will ensure it will never be hoisted up into the realm of Romero or even The Walking Dead any time soon. But as average zombie fare goes, it was actually above average. The story follows online reporter Chase Carter (Jesse Metcalfe) and his camerawoman Jordon (Keegan Connor Tracy) as they cover the stories of the people inside of the walled-in quarantined area in Oregon, as the government (FEZA – Federal Emergency Zombie Authority) attempts to contain a viral outbreak that turns people into ravenous zombies. An anti-viral drug called Zombrex, that keeps the virus at bay, is being administered to those infected. When it becomes clear that the drug is no longer effective, Chase, Jordon, grieving mother Maggie (Virginia Madsen), and survivor, Crystal (Meghan Ory) battle their way to a pawn shop, and temporary safety. But Crystal has a dark secret, and the army has a hidden agenda. This the perfect set up that turns the movie back into the video game. All manner of weapons can be fashioned from things in the pawn shop of course… and well, they are. A garbage can lid gets protruding blades, anything with a long handle gets a pike, a sledge hammer head, or a tree-limb rotary saw attached to each end, making for plenty of weapon-point-of-view camera shots later on. Case in point: a continuous tracking shot with no cut-aways that follows Chase through a horde, into a bus, out of the bus, onto a car, on top of the bus, all the while battling the undead with his tree-limb rotary saw and baseball bat. Marvelous! While the main characters do a decent job as beleaguered protagonists, some of the best performances are by the supporting cast. These include Aleks Paunovic as a Mad Max-style biker gang leader who wants to rule the world with his minions, and the always entertaining Rob Riggle as hotshot Frank West, who has already survived one outbreak, being interviewed (and being a jack-ass) on the UBN news broadcasts, interspersed throughout the movie. I would like to have seen more visceral carnage (there's plenty of zombie-killing, but mostly CGI blood, and not nearly enough amputations). Through the use of the many improvised weapons, there are quite a number of inventive kills, but one stands out for me. It's a shot of a wandering zombie-dad chowing down on the remains of his child who is strapped to his chest in a baby front-pack– kind of like a feed bag. The lack of true gore was obviously a budgetary constraint, but this was definitely not a low-budget affair. A few more practical "Walking Dead-style" effects would have upped the ante for me. That might be my only real complaint. I read a couple of pretty scathing reviews, but I think they just didn't get it. Dead Rising, Watchtower stays pretty true to the video game, which was its obvious intent. There are plenty of shout-outs to the game itself, like Chase donning a servbot helmet t-shirt, and one zombie getting "traffic-coned." There is probably too much plot for its own good (I can't believe I'm saying that) making it feel like a hodgepodge of ideas that could have played out over the run of a television series (which is in the works, by the way). Is it worth watching? For fans of the game, absolutely! It's entertaining and free on Crackle right now. Will you find it entertaining? It depends on the mindset you go into it with.

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• The reporter, the hot chick, the grieving mother, the camera woman. Will their brains and other good parts be eaten by the zombies? Stay tuned.

  Boloxxxi2015-08-13

  At an event where people who have been bitten by zombies are waiting for their anti-zombie injections (which they must periodically take) a reporter, out to make a name for himself in the news business, has an argument with his camera woman over his exploitive and sensationalistic idea of news reporting, and they go their separate ways. She to leave the scene, and he to sneak into a tent to take secret pictures where medical personnel are administering the anti-zombie injection for those who have been bitten. He's present when --for some reason-- the drug does not work and all hell breaks loose. On the run for dear life, he teams up with a hot brunette of the model variety with whom he had an embarrassing encounter earlier to the amusement of his camera woman. Though this movie is not an "outright" comedy (one with a lot of blunt silliness and slapstick, for example), it is no doubt a horror comedy; played a bit more seriously and deadpan. It has some amateurish flaws of execution, but is more forgivable since it is a comedy and you can't take it seriously anyway. As well, you want to root for people who aren't part of the Hollywood establishment who make a decent effort to entertain you. The main flaw, I thought, was those narrow escapes or close calls where the zombies or bad guys clearly had ample opportunity to bite or do bad things but the would-be victim got away. Some of them doing so after the camera cuts away to another scene during the attack or threat and returns to see them still unharmed. Nonetheless, this movie is still entertaining and therefore worth your time. Watch out for the live news broadcast with the anchorwoman and her celebrity guest zombie expert. It is reminiscent to me of something you would see on Saturday Night Live, if you ever watched that show. It is well done and funny without seeming to try to be. At the end, this movie seems to promise a sequel. I look forward to it. Love, Boloxxxi.

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• Plenty to like but a little too late

  amesmonde2015-03-28

  When a government vaccine fails to stop another zombie infection a man teams up with an infected woman to escape the quarantined area before a crazy man wanting to be king of the zombies expands the territory. Sony's Crackle, all streaming online, on-demand in conjunction with Legendary pictures offer an adaptation of Dead Rising Capcom's best selling video game. What's clear from director Zach Lipovsky's offering is that it's no cheap cash-in. Opening with a cute cartoon explanation of the zombie anti virus Zombrex, we're the introduced to hordes of the dead, a creepy clown and policeman zombie within the first few minutes. With sweeping city scales and tight close ups there's a sense of scale, urgency and panic especially with the impending military action. Jesse Metcalfe's Chase Carter is reminiscent of a mix of D.J, Cotrona and George Clooney's Seth Gecko nonchalant delivery. It's good to see one of the biggest 80s stars Virginia Madsen on the screen in the role of a troubled mother. With plenty of screen presence Meghan Ory is notable as Crystal O'Rourke and Bate's Motel's Keegan Connor Tracy is weighty in a small role as Joran. Sadly Dead Rising is broken up by satirical Robocop-like news reports and interviews featuring Rob Riggle and TV-like fade outs don't help the pacing. It has a C.S.I crisp look, while not filmatic it doesn't feel like DTV and has some great special effects. With slicing spinning blades, bats used as weapons and gun-play there's plenty of zombie blood and guts on display. The second half during the night time scenes gets a little darker, no pun intended, with eerie dead girl characters, chainsaws, rough raping nomads, shotguns, nose biting, motorbikes and more explosions. Even though I've never played Dead Rising its surprising how it captures the feel of at least the posters, clips and game adverts I'd seen and subconsciously locked away with Metcalfe striking poses of Carter in framed angles synonymous with the game series (think Prince of Persia). Dead Rising a.k.a. Dead Rising: Watchtower is a solid addition to the saturated zombie film market with well executed effects and action stunt set ups. It's main issue by default and through no fault of its it own nor Lipovsky's or writer/producer Tim Carter it's all been done before. The game also apparently had a liable suit brought against it in 2008 for its similarities to Dawn of the Dead '78 and 2004. Nevertheless, if Dead Rising had been released in 2006 the same year of the game release it may have faired a little better as while it is a good production it feels like it's covering old ground, zombies in general are not as fresh as they used to be, say in 1985. Hopefully it fulfils Dead Rising fans dreams but for the average viewer with nostalgic inducing cult films like Wrymwood and Bloodbath Bombshell injecting new life into the tired genre and big budget outings like The Dawn of the Dead remake and WWZ, Dead Rising feels a little too Resident Evil Apocalypse or TV pilot-like with its expensive C.S.I feel and odd set up for sequel ending. If a TV spin off is to come, Rising's well executed focus on violence would put it above Z Nation and debatably below The Walking Dead.

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• Dead Rising: Watchtower is easily the best video game adaptation to date, fun filled, blood soaked entertainment.

  MoviesReviews1012015-03-28

  Dead Rising: Watchtower is based on the video game which is one of my favourite ones, so don't expect to get a Walking Dead level story. This story ends up giving us everything you would expect to see from Dead Rising video game, it has all of the traits with the wacky over the top weapons and blood splatter around every corner. The most important word to describe this film world be fun but you could use enjoyable or easy to watch. I personally really enjoyed this because I am a fan but I could understand the non-fans thinking this is just another zombie film. As a fan I will rate this high because it could easily be put in the list of good video game adaptations. (7/10) Actor Review Meghan Ory: Crystal O'Rourke is the infected woman who knows how to survive zombies but she is running low on Zomdrex, meaning she has to fight her way through the zombies to look for her next dose. Meghan does a good job as the kick ass heroine of the piece. (7/10) Virginia Madsen: Maggie is a grieving mother who loses her daughter to the zombie outbreak and ends up teaming up with Crystal and Chase to try and survive. Virginia gives a solid supporting performance but it really here to show the human effect of the outbreak. (6/10) Jesse Metcalfe: Chase Carter is an aspirating reporter who finds himself in the middle of a zombie outbreak where his dreams of a story go against his quest for survival. Jesse does a good job in the lead role playing a character that is very similar for Frank West from the original game. (7/10) Dennis Haysbert: General Lyons is the man in charge of the quarantine and the plan to firebomb the town, he makes himself look like the hero of the situation even though he has an alternative motive. Dennis plays the traditional General role solid but never offers anything new to the idea but doesn't need to. (7/10) Rob Riggle: Frank West provides a running commentary from a newsroom on how to survive the situation and simply not holding back on his comments. Rob steals every scene he is in as the charismatic Frank West the survivor from the original game. (8/10) Support Cast: Dead Rising: Watchtower has a large supporting cast that includes the other people trapped inside the walls be it the good or the twisted, as well as the military outside the wall with Chase's plucky partner trying to uncover the story from the outside. Director Review: Zach Lipovsky – Zach does a good job here which is surprising after his last outing. (7/10) Action: Dead Rising: Watchtower is filled with plenty of blood coated action throughout. (9/10) Horror: Dead Rising: Watchtower puts us into a zombie outbreak making it feel like we are trapped much like the games. (8/10) Thriller: Dead Rising: Watchtower does keep you wanting to see what happens next and who will turn up around the next corner. (8/10) Settings: Dead Rising: Watchtower creates the isolation for our survivors as they become trapped inside the town. (9/10) Special Effects: Dead Rising: Watchtower uses great special effects with the zombie kills throughout the film. (9/10) Suggestion: Dead Rising: Watchtower is one for all the zombie fans to enjoy, it is really just fun and enjoyable to watch. (Zombie Fans Watch) Best Part: Frank West everything about him was great. Worst Part: It won't please the serious zombie fans. Action Scene Of The Film: Final fight. Funniest Scene: Frank West interviews. Believability: No (0/10) Chances of Tears: No (0/10) Chances of Sequel: Could easily have one, depends how popular it was. Post Credits Scene: No Similar Too: Dead Rising Video Game. Oscar Chances: No Runtime: 1 Hour 58 Minutes Overall: Dead Rising: Watchtower is easily the best video game adaptation to date, fun filled, blood soaked entertainment. Rating 85

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