Army of the Dead | Full Review |
Spoilers
Why we gave this film a 9/10? Because its unpredictable and we want more. If you have that "I want more" feelings after you watch this movie, that's a good movie.
The actor's performance - All actors have done a great performance in this movie, especially Tig Nataro.
The plot - the plot is easy to understand after the second viewing and NO, the zombies are not the bad guys. Both Zombies and Scott Ward's team is the victims of Government political agenda. That's why you can see Mr. Tanaka hang out with Military Officers in this movie.
Scott Ward and his team were forced to be part of the plan (except Mikey Guzmann, Chambers, Deiter, and Lily "the coyote") because they are in desperate times of their life. PTSD, hard life, ambition, and low income has put them in desperate time until a man named Bly Tanaka appears and offer them $50M cash if they succeed in their task. Everyone has their own reason to be part of the mission, and those who has no reason, they choose to quit - Guzman's friend is the example. He chooses to quit because he has no reason.
The hard fact about this observation is from the Geeta's character. She desperately needs $5000 USD, so she can survive in the city after her quarantine time is over. She need money to start her life.
Zeus, even though he has no memory of his past on how he end up being a zombie, decided to move on as a zombie. Zeus and the alphas are smart and by logic, those "walls" won't able to stop him and his "army". Zack Snyder confirmed the theory. This mean, Zeus makes Las Vegas as his "Kingdom" and to help him control the mindless zombies, he creates his own races. Zeus knew that he has "something" that humans want - money, but to earn that "easy cash", Zeus wants a fair trade. Hand them a "food source" and he let you to take the money. Now you know why Zeus creates the alphas.
Also, in this movie, we found two important arcs. Redemption and Consequences. The redemption arc can be seen in Scott Ward's story. First, he lost his wife in the early virus outbreak. That tragedy put him in the PTSD, and cost his relationship with his daughter. Second, he lost all of his best friends, who died for nothing - Maria, Peters, and Vanderohe (Scott didn't know Van survive.) But, will all the lost he have seen, in his dying breath, he finally able to make peace with his daughter.
Consequences arc can be seen in Scott's daughter, Kate. We know many viewers disappointed with Zack because they "hate" her. LOL. Her ego and selfishness cost the mission and because of that, viewers think that the storyline in this movie is completely pointless. But, for us, there's a positive point from Kate's arc. Just like her father, who suffer from the traumatic stress disorder after killing her mother, Kate also has PTSD and the only way to heal herself, she decides to be the Volunteer and take care of the orphans that was still in the Quarantine Zone Camp. She lost her mother, and with her father distance himself from her, she was lonely and thus, create this selfish attitude to survive. This "selfish attitude" cost her everything. She lost her father and her mission failed - Geeta died.
Just like Dawn of the Dead, all main characters died - except Kate and Vandarohe. Here's the biggest point: We give this movie a high score because Zack pick the opposite side.
One week before the movie premiere, we thought that Zack intentionally leak the spoilers through the movie poster - Scott and Kate Ward, Maria Cruz, Vanderohe and Dieter. (Look at the poster) Typical expectations plot from the movie poster, huh? So glad Zack pick the opposite. If anyone say the plot is "predictable", they were lying. Disappointed - Yes. Predictable - No.
Verdict - This movie was fun to watch and worth to rewatch. Those who have taken the bait that the Army of the Dead is a bad movie, this movie gives you something new. You may disagree with the plot, but at least you will please with the action. If you believe "Army of the Dead" is a bad movie because people said so, don't watch this movie. It's not for you.
Source: The Snyderverse