Don't expect this write-up to analyse the film The Dawn of the Dead (2004) as a way to kill time. I might only add that the movies’ version of a zombie is existential or material. It does not suppose that there is such a thing as a soul because of the nature of the changing process. "Healthy" humans who are bitten by zombies gradually turn into such creatures as if it was caused by a parasitic protozoa which, when entrenched in the brain, operates its single motivation, feeding.
This extract follows speculations that movies such as Wag The Dog, Canadian Bacon, Independence Day and countless other films produced in Hollywood include political propaganda. Like it or not, there is a plethora "conspiracy theories" out there. I'll say no more about the validity of there being a government employee of some sort pushing the buttons in entertainment industry studios but for instance, two comedy movies, Wag The Dog (1997) and Canadian Bacon (1995) imply in good humour that in a couple of years America will be fighting a war against terrorism.
Well, come that day and watching this cheaply entertaining remake, a couple of trivial things I noticed in it struck me as odd.
# In the opening credits scene
The opening credits scene starts about 5 minutes into the movie, just after the main character’s day begins badly. It's mostly composed of distorted audio and video effects. Fast cuts of gore and chaotic masses. The first sequence is grainy footage of a filled Islamic mosque. These Muslims have no peculiar appearance save that of portraying their humility towards what they perceive to be god. They bend over and the sequence ends. To me it seems fairly obvious that a number of people will to some extent associate Islamic religion with violent behaviour. What a funny notion.
# Disturbing trivia
Later in the movie, when all the frightened protagonists have gathered in a consumerist mosque they watch the television. On it is a police officer explaining how to neutralise (the zombies of course) and brief scenes of chaotic masses. As some might think that each of these scenes are staged I must note that I recognised at least 2 clips of police brutality that were recorded while the G8 meeting took place in Genoa (in Italy) between July 20-22 2001.
Half an hour long documentary about the violent protest made by Indymedia in Italy at just over 260 mbs with English subtitles.
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/multimedia/ngvision/ disc50/ngv_ge_en_20010721 _aggiornamento_1_indy_genova_engl_ riedizione_in_qualita_.avi
ftp://eldiego.ngvision.org/new_global_vision/disc50/ ngv_ge_en_20010721_aggiornamento_1_indy _genova_engl_riedizione_in_qualita_.avi
http://undergroundarchives.net/ download/genoa.wmv - ~50 mb, worse quality
# Even more disturbing
In an emergency television broadcast viewers are told that the reason for this unrest among former humans is manifestation of Christian prophecy. Sins responsible include "same sex marriage" and "the murders of unborn babies". Closely in sync with policies of the current national president and the sentiments of orthodox Christians, a substantial estimated percentage of the nation's population. Alas, gullible or not, only Christians will perceive the threat as credible.
Familiarly enough the plot, so to speak, is about the average middle to lower class (tv sales men, nurses, petty criminals etc.) fight for and achievement of survival against the odds. Categorise as mildly entertaining, mostly boring.