By Lourdes Pegueros
[Pegueros attended the “Zombieland” screening at the Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters where a zombie walk for “Food Not Brains” was scheduled to begin]
I wasn’t able to get photos of the zombie walk (security guards at the theater didn’t let me take pictures) but I was there when they were marching around everywhere. Everyone was dressed as zombies. There were girls dressed as dead zombie brides and there was blood everywhere. The streets of downtown were covered in blood from the march of zombies. They would cross the streets without even checking to see if cars were coming. They’d drag their legs around and they wore dramatic makeup. It really looked like there was some sort of zombie invasion! Once everyone went inside the theater it was chaotic. People screaming and others were clapping for no reason. I think that having the people dressed up as zombies made it a more interesting screening. The environment was more fun and I laughed constantly at the things they'd say. It was definitely a great experience.
"Zombieland" isn't your average zombie movie. If you've seen "Dawn of the Dead" or "Shaun of the Dead" and enjoyed them, then you will definitely enjoy "Zombieland!" Not only is it incredibly hilarious and very suspenseful, but also it gives you this comical onscreen text on what to do, you know, just in case zombies are attacking you.
Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is your typical teenage boy who plays video games all day, has never had a girlfriend and has never touched a girl in his life. Columbus is very paranoid and I guess you could say, a big wimp so after being very close to being eaten by his hot neighbor (Amber Heard), he heads out to find his parents in Ohio. On his way there he gets picked up by Tallahassee (the miraculous Woody Harrelson.) He's the the cowboy zombie killer in this film who isn't afraid of anything but has a sensitive side when it comes to his past before the virus spread that turned everyone with it into zombies.
Both Tallahassee and Columbus are forced to join together to survive. They are joined by two young sisters, Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) who have some rather odd survival tactics. The four end up fighting zombies together and start to get to know one another while hiding out in places in Hollywood. This movie is not only hilarious and suspenseful but it also shows different emotions such as love, hate, and sorrow. This film will have you laughing until your stomach aches and scared jumping out of your seats!
During the whole film there is extreme gore. I mean literally! It was so real! Zombies eating intestines and ripping bones and just chomping away on what is left of the corpses.
So when you go to the theater, remember Columbus’ Rule #31: Check Back Seat. I don't recommend taking your children since the film is R rated but other than that it’s a great film worth watching over and over again.
--Lourdes “Lulu” Pegueros is currently a senior at Mount Miguel High School. She’s been in the Marching band for three years and after high school she plans on joining the Navy to join the Naval band. She wanted to be a teen critic because it seemed interesting and she loves watching movies.
By Ariel Ontiveros
“Zombieland” was a five-star movie. It had everything from drama to scares to comedy -- and everything else you could ask for in a movie. In this film the director, Ruben Fleischer, did an amazing job with the casting and the realism of the zombies. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is left alone (so he thinks) to try and survive in a land now known as “Zombieland.” Columbus is a boy who always goes by the book and doesn't do anything that even sounds bad and if it doe sound bad, then it’s just a no go, Then one day he meets Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), and everything changes.
This movie is yet another zombie flick but it isn't like any of the other ones. ”Zombieland” brings romance, suspense, action, comedy and much more together in one film. If you are a "Shaun of the Dead" fan you will love “Zombieland.” Although “Zombieland” has a little more romance and action to it than” Shaun of the Dead," which is more of a comedy. Yet they both have the quality to make you pee your pants. In this film Columbus meets several people that he shares experiences with like Tallahassee, who is obsessed with killing zombies and who loves Twinkies. There’s also Wichita (Emma Stone) who will do anything to save her and her sister Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) and they both have trust issues.
By the end of the film they all come together to try and survive. This movie is full of surprises. You never know what's going to happen next. If there is a zombie in the corner or if someone will die -- you never know. This movie keeps you at the edge of your seat. I would recommend this movie to everyone, and you don’t have to be a fan of zombies to enjoy it. I wouldn’t recommend bringing a five-year-old to watch it but if you love laughing and a good cast , then I’m sure you will also rate this film a five-star. Director Ruben Fleischer had a very good way of making the movie hilarious such as his use of slow motion footage of the zombies and having a cool way of reminding all of us of Columbus’ rules of survival in Zombieland. So remember rule #1: Cardio. Rule #2: The double tap. And rule #17: Don’t be a hero. If you remember those rules I am sure you'll enjoy watching the “Zombieland.”
“Zombieland” is rated R for or horror violence/gore and language.
Ariel Ontiveros is a 17-year-old who attends Mount Miguel High School. She will be attending an art school for acting and singing. She hopes these reviews will help her to be a better actor and to know what to do.
