Zombie
Night of the Living Dead (1968) - George A. Romero [Amazon.com]
Definition
A dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force. --AHDZombies in fiction
Zombies are regularly encountered in horror- and fantasy-themed fiction, films, video games and role-playing games. They are typically depicted as mindless, shambling, decaying corpses with a hunger for human flesh, most famously in Night of the Living Dead. However, some films (such as 28 Days Later) feature living but otherwise zombie-like humans, usually as the result of disease.
In fiction zombies can generally be disabled by either dismemberment or the destruction of the brain. In a few cases the entire body of the zombie must be destroyed as individual limbs or even fingers continue to move after being severed from the body.
The Resident Evil series of video games makes particular use of zombies.
Other causes of zombies in fiction include radiation acting on the brains of the dead, evil magic or Vodun, extraterrestrials, the use of drugs or the substitution of the brain for some sinister artifact. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie#Zombies_in_fiction [Nov 2004]
Zombie - Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 80 Band
- Zombie - Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 80 Band [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
1. Zombie 2. Mister Follow Follow 3. Observation Is No Crime 4. Mistake (Live At The Berlin Jazz Festival 1978)
The theme shared by the four tracks on this re-release/compilation is: refusal to ignore contemporary reality and refusal to repress one's commentary. "Zombie" (1976) may still be the best-known and best-loved Fela track, with its jagged yet hypnotic instrumental structure and insouciant humor. Here it sounds better than ever before. Its original b-side, "Mr. Follow Follow", is not nearly as iconic, but its subtler charms include a senuous soprano saxophone line that is among Fela's most distinctive melodic statements. "Observation is No Crime" is an outtake from 1977 or '78 (mislabeled in the liner notes as a live track) which represents Fela's love of jazz arrangements with a big-band approach to the horn charts. The track's lack of momentum probably contributed to its relegation to obscurity. The final track here actually is a live one, from a 1978 Berlin jazz festival which in retrospect mirrors Dylan's riotous 1965-66 appearances, with a roar of disapproval greeting Fela's every instrumental move (he plays keyboards more hamfistedly than usual in response); the Africa 70, who would soon leave the bandleader en masse for reasons of pay and exhaustion after years of government harassment, solo inspiredly and play at peak energy, capping an amazing era in music and a fine collection. [...]
George Romero [...]
Night of the Living Dead (1968) - George A. Romero
Night of the Living Dead (1968) - George A. Romero [Amazon.com]
Night of the Living Dead (1968) - George A. Romero [Amazon.com]
Night of the Living Dead (1968) is a seminal horror film directed by George A. Romero which was to transfigure the horror-movie genre. The plot is simple and familiar to viewers even casually acquainted with the genre: the dead come to life after a mysterious plague that is sweeping through the United States and start attacking the living in order to feed upon their flesh. It was filmed in Evans City, Pennsylvania.
The film comments slyly on racism in the United States and reverses a number of stereotypes. Perhaps the most sympathetic character is a young black man who takes refuge within a farm house. It must be noted, however, that Romero has denied choosing Duane Jones as a black actor specifically for the part, claiming that he merely gave the best audition. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Living_Dead [Feb 2005]
I Walked With A Zombie (1943) - Jacques Tourneur
Present day viewers watching this wonderful movie after reading the label "horror" and seeing the word "zombie" in the title, might be in for a shock if they think they're going to be in for a Romero/Fulci gorefest. This is a completely different kind of zombie movie! In fact, calling it horror is quite misleading, mystery is the more appropriate description. Anyone who has seen 'Cat People', the earlier collaboration between director Jacques Tourneur and producer Val Lewton, will know what to expect. A haunting and subtle yet suspenseful, and yes, at times quite scary, thriller. 'I Walked With A Zombie' (a classic title! Later lifted by Roky Erikson for a classic song) follows 'Cat People's ambiguous format quite closely with a series of events which may or may not have a supernatural explanation. Add a dash of 'Jane Eyre' to it and a West Indies setting and there you have it. Tourneur was a master of atmosphere and there are moments in this movie which are truly unforgettable. The two leads Tom Conway and Frances Dee are both very good, and Dee is cute to boot. I don't think 'I Walked With A Zombie' is quite as brilliant as 'Cat People', which I still think ties with the film noir classic 'Out Of The Past' as Tourneur's greatest film, but it comes very close, and I highly recommend it. If you've never seen this one before, turn off all the lights and watch with someone special. You are in for a real treat! --Infofreak via http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036027/ [Aug 2004]
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