Simon Crossley (harrcross)

Whilst this movie may end up being remembered for the bizarre cameo by Bill Murrary it is unlikely to be remembered for the zombies. Altogether this makes it a quirky yet unstable movie.
Ruben Fleischer?s affectionate if comical debut, Zombieland, is actually a romzomcom in the finest tradition; more road movie than zombie flick. And right in the middle is the cameo that flows so well you get sucked right in and almost believe you are there yet forgetting that the world is full of zombies ? a truly clever trick. Murray?s own mockery of his career rapidly endears you to him, but as quickly as he jumps into the movie he is gone and we are back on the road.
Up there with Shaun Of The Dead Zombieland presents the slacker/geek version complete with street wise grrrls and token red neck. The graphic novel style is all there with the gratuitous violence against zombies and casual interest in the reality of the grave global situation.
Instead we have an hilarious road journey of three mischievous characters plus one nerd staying in luxury mansions and whacking out zombies on the way.
The four of them are likeable in their own way creating enough frisson between them to keep the tension necessarily high. Emma Stone?s cynical Wichita and Abigail Breslin, as her little sister play second fiddle to the men but show strength where the men have weak underbellies. Harrelson?s ice-cool Tallahassee, is entertaining despite his killer instinct.
Eisenberg?s Columbus is both the lead and odd one out. Providing the least believable character with his nerdy juxtaposition to life yet ease at biffing zombies. His voiceover is unnecessary and eventual pairing up with Wichita unconvincing.
Nevertheless his list of paranoid, survivalist rules provides for a funny, occasionally well scripted road trip. Worth a repeat viewing.

Gerald McMorrow?s debut Franklyn lives in two worlds ? the claustrophobic hell of Meawhile City and the latter day world of London.
In Meanwhile City religion of any sort rules and a masked vigilante Preest (Ryan Phillippe) is looking for revenge. Undoubtedly, there are strong overtones of V for Vendetta. Running alongside this is Milo (Sam Riley) and Emilia (Eva Green) struggling with supernatural acts in their lives.
The set in Meanwhile City is fascinating in its gothic malevolence. The narration though struggles to stay with the story. On its own the latter day story grows in its whodunit but the gothic tale running alongside it fails to keep with it and the story drifts.
The dark brooding Meanwhile City and the workaday London end up feeling like two unrelated movies. The whole concept of how they interlock is simply never clearly explained.
Its one interesting side tale is concept of the imaginary friend from a troubled childhood who returns when things get messy again in adulthood.
Despite its gothic fantasy appeal its story line is too muddied. It never quite makes it as a proper fantasy tale and is certainly not sci-fi.