BY SUSANNE ROBBINS

As I put my last $20.00 bill into the Wheel of Fortune I turn to see the Zombie next to me hitting the machine and grunting. Mmmm that's odd I think to myself, maybe I should try hitting the machine as well, maybe that works. I begin to look around and notice that I am the only person in this casino that isn't dead. Frightened I get up hoping they haven't noticed me yet. I begin to run but it is no use they are slower and not as agile as I am. I don't know what to do, so I scream "I know George Romero." They stop, the zombies seem to understand what I am saying, they slowly walk away, once again real slow, scary slow. I think to myself, silly Zombies I don't know George Romero...but what do they know, they're Zombies. What I do know is that Mr. Romero is back to save the genre that he once built. Run, don't walk, (unless you are a zombie) to see LAND OF THE DEAD.

George Romero is back to doing what he does best, scare the living daylights out of us. I have talked to more people who are afraid of Zombies than Freddy, Michael and that Scream guy all put together. I mean a real fear - as though a Zombie did them wrong. In this fourth installment of the Zombie series we find that the zombies have evolved and they're not going to settle for being shut out from the very thing they need...humans, better known as food.

When supplies are low a small group of Army type vigilantes go out into the streets with the Zombies in order to steal supplies from stores etc., of course in turn they have a little fun killing off the slow moving creatures while they are taking what used to be theirs. As always expect those undead suckers to jump out at you at any minute. Two of the vigilantes, Riley played by Simon Baker and Cholo beautifully acted by John Leguizamo, have decided this time will be their last. Although each has a different reason and plan. Riley the soft spoken, intelligent, free spirit of the group wants to see what else is beyond the Zombies. He wants to find a home away from all of this gloom. Cholo the hot-head, arrogant type, decides he has made enough money to move on up and buy a place at the Green maybe even live the good life. The Green is your normal run of the mill snotty gated community. You know, the kind that seem to think there is no difference between the Zombies and the people living on the streets. The Green is run by Kaufman, a slimy, arrogant, ruthless property manager played by the always amazing Dennis Hopper. Cholo finds that while Kaufman has no problem using Cholo for what he may need, there is no way he will allow his type to live in his establishment. This does not sit well with Cholo who then decides it is payback time. During all of this the Zombies have decided enough is enough, they are going to do a little exploring of their own. They learn that the tools they normally knock people down with can also break through fences. They begin to break into the very city that has tried to keep them out. No one is safe when thousands of Zombies begin to walk among the living.

Meanwhile Cholo derives a plan to extort money from Kaufman so he rounds up his men and steals "Dead Reckoning" which was built as an army vehicle to help kill the Zombies. Cholo just wants a few Millions or he will blow Kaufman sky high. Kaufman is not really a man you negotiate with, in fact, as Kaufman states "We don't negotiate with terrorists". Kaufman may be ruthless or immoral but he's not stupid. He enlists the help of Riley who built "Dead Reckoning" and knows Cholo well. He figures if anyone can find Cholo, Riley can. Riley agrees with some stipulations. He is not alone in his quest as he is accompanied by Slack played by Asia Argento, a girl from the streets who crosses paths with Riley, and Charlie played by Robert Joy. Charlie's not too bright but he is one hell of a shot and provides comic relief when needed. Once again while all of this is going on outside the city, the city itself is being overrun by Zombies that aren't so stupid anymore. They are hungry and will stop at nothing to get what they want, and what they want is a little taste of the good life.

The pace of this film is fast from the beginning. It gets right into the story and keeps you hanging on from start to finish. The gore factor is high but oh so awesome. If you are a George Romero fan go see this movie, there are a few gems in there for you nostalgic people. Once again in all of George's movies there is a social message jumping out at you. The acting is great, between Dennis Hopper and John Lequizamo I don't know whose character you wanted to see get eaten by the Zombies more. One was a hot- head that you didn't cross and one was a calm, cool, creepy politician type that you didn't want to mess with. Either way they played their characters so well you will be thoroughly entertained.

As I said before, run, unless you're a Zombie then you should walk really fast, to check out this movie, I promise you won't be disappointed. Oh and one last note, leave your belly rings at home...