PIC of the Week - Zombieland Double Tap

PIC of the Week – Zombieland Double Tap

Article series by Ray Schillaci

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment raises one of theirs from the dead with the 4K/Blu of Zombieland Double Tap. To be honest, I had great reservations over this resurrection. I was a big fan of the first one and couldn’t possibly see how Double Tap could even come close to being as much fun as its predecessor. Damn, if I wasn’t in for a pleasant surprise. From the get go – and I’m talking from the Columbia logo – this movie is nearly as much fun as the first.

Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone as Tallahassee, Columbus and Wichita are once again at the height of their comic timing. Along with the clever zombie kills, the three are the main reason to see this film, along with a new tag-along survivor that practically steals the movie, Zoey Deutch as the ditzy Madison. Ohmygod! You’ll be craving more and more Madison. Not only is Deutch funny as hell, she also plays well with others, enhancing every scene she survives in.

There are other worthy supporting survivors such as Rosario Dawson as Nevada the bad-ass mama that has as much love for the King (Elvis) as Woody does. Harrelson and Eisenberg’s doppelgängers are a funny bit played well by Luke Wilson as Albuquerque and Thomas Middleditch as Flagstaff. Middleditch is practically a clone of Eisenberg, making him all the funnier. Abigail Breslin and Avon Jogia are enjoyable as well, but no match for the antics as their brethren.

Is the movie as much a zombie filled laugh riot as the first one? Not quite. There seems to be a lull in the middle (SPOILER) when Madison is left for dead. But, the film manages to survive that death beat after the 15 minute mark. Our survivors are not the only compelling thing keeping the story alive. Zombieland Double Tap introduces new kinds of zombies. To think, there could be no other kind besides the slow moving ones and the fast 28 Days type. This go-around introduces three new kinds of undead sure to have TWD fans salivating for more.

Is the film just about killing zombies and surviving? Nope. Writers Dave Callaham, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick treat our last survivors as a family while working spoiled relationships and teenage angst into the mix and somehow making it all work with a zombie apocalypse. Then there is Ruben Fleischer’s kinetic and comical directing that makes the whole thing feel like the best visit to a funhouse. Kudos also should be sent out to the makeup and effects team for their brilliant creations.

There is an incredible difference between the Blu and 4K. The 4K picture nearly leaps off the screen like one of Ninja Zombies. The picture is detailed and incredibly bright. This is not to say that the Blu is not worth your time (if you don’t have access to 4K). The Blu is a fine representation of 1080p and how good it can look. But, the 4K is a perfect reference quality print that you’ll enjoy displaying to friends and fiends. The darker scenes fare much better on the 4K than they do the Blu.

Zombieland Double Tap DTS:X delivers a 5.1 sound that you can proudly show off to all those who have been wavering on whether or not to invest in 4K. The spacial sound is utilized to the max. All the sights and sounds you can imagine in a zombie apocalypse are used to the fullest advantage. this is a far bigger showcase than the original film. You’ll feel you’ve been surrounded by the undead, begging for those survivors to get their act together and exact vengeance in the bloodiest way possible while laughing at the same time. Demented, right?

Now, for the burial. Less than 45 minutes worth of extras? What the heck! Couldn’t somebody raise some hell and give us a lot more juicy tidbits along with a longer and funnier gag reel. This gag reel almost felt lazy and thrown together haphazardly. Kind a like Bill Murray’s cameo that has none of the feeling his original spot had. The dead and rotting bonuses include…

¥ Audio Commentary by director Ruben Fleischer.
¥ Extended Bloopers & Outtakes
¥ Deleted Scenes
¥ The Doppelgängers: Thomas Middleditch and Luke Wilson’s characters.
¥ A Day with Bill Murray: Murray’s role in this film and the original.
¥ The Rides of Zombieland: A look into the vehicles used in the movie.
¥ Rules for Making a Zombie Film: A look at the sets, locations and scope of the film.
¥ Making Babylon: A deeper look into the hippie tower.
¥ New Blood: A glimpse into the movies new characters.
¥ Single Take Doppelgänger Fight: A closer look into one of the key fight scenes.
¥ Zombieland Ad Council: Kind of a PSA for a zombie apocalypse.
¥ Previews