The Crazies (Opinions?)

[Zeroillusion]

I just ordered the DVD. I've not heard of this film until about a month ago, but since i'm a fan of everything i've seen of Romero's except Season of the Witch, I decided to pick this one up. The story sounded cool, and it was only $12 at Deep Discount DVD so I ordered it. what do you all think of it? I read the review at the Corner and it sounded pretty cool.

[Alex Riviello]

In my opinion, it's one of Romero's best- no idea why it's so underlooked. Ryan nailed that review. Haven't seen it on anything but a worn old vhs copy from the local video store, so I can't wait for this dvd.

Sick that the movie's more relevant than ever...

[Johnny Butane]

Sorry...Season of the Witch? Huh?

[Rawhead Rotten]

Johnny Butane:
Sorry...Season of the Witch? Huh?Not a fan of "Season of the Witch" a.k.a. "Jack's Wife" either, Butane? (He's referring to the Romero flick, not the maligned "Halloween" sequel.)

Romero revealed in the commentary for "The Crazies" that, if he had to, he'd pick "Jack's Wife" to remake. His reasons, as always, are founded on the fact that he "didn't have enough money."

This is what gets me: we've got all these masters of horror that were put on the map for films that had ZERO budget. When one of their latest films becomes a disaster they bitch and moan about how little money they had, blah, blah, blah...

Hellloooo... You guys had shit to work with the first time around and made a scary-ass film!

[WGON]

HELL YES!!! The Crazies (aside from the Dead trilogy) is my second favorite Romero film (aside from KNIGHTRIDERS) and I'm so glad to see it get the special DVD treatment. This movie absolutely kicks ass and call me crazy (bdm-chishc!) but I consider it a remake to Night and Dawn a remake to this in that Dead subject of the trilogy...

[Aghora Eats Kittens]

WGON, managed to confoose me.

Anywho, I like it. I'll buy it. Mind you, I'm a Romero whore who will defend Bruiser and Jack's wife on my deathbed. So my opinion might be slightly biased.

[Rawhead Rotten]

Hey, I ain't got no beef with "Bruiser." It peters out in the end (even with the Misfits playing), but I liked it.

[RikGrif]

Just watch the DVD of The Crazies.... and as much as it's rough around the edges production value wise.... I also think it's one of Romero's best.

I miss that rapid fire editing style his early films had.... probably a lot of that came from having no money to afford a dolly/crane... but it gave his movies an energy that his new movies are missing.

Which was one of my major problems with Bruiser... it just seemed like it could have been made by anyone.... unlike Knightriders, Martin, Dawn.... which had Romero's stamp all over them.

[WGON]

Rock on Aghora, Rock on!

[Ken10]

I watched THE CRAZIES last night after having last seen it many years ago. The new release is of excellent quality. I appreciated the Lynn Lowry interview (by pure chance I received Cronenberg's SHIVERS at the same time, which also features this beautiful actress), although I have yet to hear Romero's commentary.

All in all, it's a strong low-budget release. The histrionics are a little bit non-stop for my taste (everyone is always SHOUTING), but the script is generally intelligent. While the film is pretty violent, it's not as gory or over-the-top as you might expect. For the price, it's a winner.

[thedudeabides]

The Crazies is a good little film, one of Romero's best non Dead movie...the '70s film stock and harshly lit conditions almost gives the movie a documentary feel.

And Ryan, I too like Bruiser, and the ending was a bit...weak?

It really seemed like they were trying to set the movie up for a sequel. Maybe romero had hopes of starting a franchise.

And what was up with the guy that was the
"5th Misfit?"

The one playing guitar that smashed it on someone's back and got in a fight...that was the strangest part of thr film.

[Rawhead Rotten]

Dude - I don't know if Romero had franchise in mind, but it did get very weird once he arrived at the big Bruiser party. I mean, suddenly he has bums helping him out? And that little kid saying, "Die...die..." while sitting on the shoulders of that brawny guy? Ooookay.

[Johnny Butane]

Ah, I see...I had never heard of 'Jack's Wife' referred to as 'Season of the Witch', so I was a bit loopy there. Makes sense now.

As far as 'The Crazies' go, I recently watched a VHS of it (first time I had seen it...I know, I know) and dug the hell out of it. I can't wait to get the DVD (since Ryan's getting all the free stuff...) as soon as I can, because I DEMAND Romero commentary. Awesome.

[zombie780]

In my opinion, the crazies was not one of romeros best! Hell the movie was along the same lines as the dark half, which I also think is one of romeros weaker movies.

I dont know if its just me, but the dead trilogy made romero who he is today!

The crazies was just not interesting. I got into the beggining trying to think of this as a typical outbreak of a deadly virus and what not, yet it did give me some feeling of the dead trilogy was cool, yet that feeling faded really fast and it just turned into a all out killing spree with guns, which is just boring!

[Zeroillusion]

Johnny Butane:
Ah, I see...I had never heard of 'Jack's Wife' referred to as 'Season of the Witch', so I was a bit loopy there. Makes sense now.

As far as 'The Crazies' go, I recently watched a VHS of it (first time I had seen it...I know, I know) and dug the hell out of it. I can't wait to get the DVD (since Ryan's getting all the free stuff...) as soon as I can, because I DEMAND Romero commentary. Awesome.Funny, I had only just heard of the title Jack's Wife instead of Season Of The Witch every video copy i've seen of it was "Season of the Witch."