Zom 100: Cien cosas que quiero hacer antes de convertirme en zombi

Plot

Surviving a zombie apocalypse beats being a wage slave any day. After spending years slaving away for a soul-crushing company, Akira's life has lost its luster. He lives in a trash-filled apartment, his pay is abysmal, and he can't even muster up the nerve to confess his love to his beautiful co-worker. But when a zombie apocalypse ravages his town, it gives him the push he needs to live for himself. Now Akira's on a mission to complete all 100 items on his bucket list before he...well, kicks the bucket.

Cast

Unfamiliar with anyone involved, however most of the cast were great here.

Verdict

Straight out of the gate let me say I've not seen the anime this is based on yet and have to say I'm very surprised there is a live action movie released in the same year as the anime!

I love zombie movies, I love zombie everything in fact so was excited for this one. Japanese, zombies, comedy, a great trailer, my expectations were high but maybe I pushed them a smidge too high.

Zom 100 is less zany than the trailer suggests, it's still comedic but also quite melancholy so be prepared for that. It's also however endearing, sweet and full of positive messages even the best of us could pay attention to.

It has its flaws this is true, it's not made fantastically in places and the final act is a smidge eyebrow raising! My other half despised one of the later elements of the movie, a bit Scyfy channel-ish for her liking.

Regardless I found this an endearing fun zombie film well worth your time.

Rants

Is the sub-genre oversaturated? I mean zombies are everywhere, Walking Dead made them "Cool" again apparently which is a double edged blade. For me they never stopped and now I get more content but on the flipside the influx of zombie related material has me a tad burned out and the material is being made by people who perhaps shouldn't but are simply because there is money to be made. I love zombies, so bring it on.

Breakdown

• Great characters
• Solid performances
• Great vibe
• Poorly made in places
• Low on humour for a comedy film.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead: Akira Tendo is a bit like a zombie alrady, yet another corporate drone, overworked, he's the type who would welcome any apocalypse. When the zombie Apocalypse arrives at first he just combats the zombies, intent on not being late for work, then he realises that he is free from such tyranny. He encounters some disappointments at first, but links up with others to embark on a series of escapades including Akira'a bucket list. There's a downside, some wish to continue the regimentation of the old life in refuges from the apocalypse. A story how crises cause some people to change their attitudes but others double down on their bad sides. It features a great Zombie Shark and believable human zombies. In spite of it being a comedy some of the deaths are all too realistic as the zombies eat people alive or turn them. It's far too long and drawn out though with too many cardboard cut out supporting characters who dial their roles in. A 2h 8m film which might have worked at 90 minutes. Directed by Yûsuke Ishida, written by Haro Aso, Tatsuro Mishima & Kotaro Takata. On Netflix. 5.5/10.

Zombies are serious business and I prefer it with a dose of action and grit. Trying to merge zombies with slapstick and romcom is a slippery slope. Zombieland is probably the best attempt at such a movie. This movie started out well but loses steam and given the plethora of zombie movies out there uses the predictable nuances of zombie movies and therefore offers nothing new to the viewer. The role of the heroine is very underdeveloped and the portrayal of the heroes in eastern movies are one dimensional. If you are bereft of choice and finances to accesss a good movie, this movie will occupy you for two hours. However it is like fast food, it stills the hunger but does not contribute to the dietary requirements. Give it a skip.

Opens strong but slows down after 45 minutes. Gets to be quite boring unlike dawn of the dead. It's suppose to be funny but it isn't. Zombies seem to suddenly stop running and get stupider as the days go by. It's ok if you have a couple of hours on your hand but not worth a rewatch. Acting was ok but nothing great. I never felt a connection to any of the main characters. Make up of the zombies was top notch however. Ending was also very predictable. There are far more better zombie films out there. And the bucket list probably wouldn't be on the top ones list if they were in the middle of zombie apocalypse. Just saying.

Didn't know about this until the animated series and this movie were recommended to me on Netflix.

Watched the few episodes of the animated series and really liked it, so I followed up by watching this movie in the original Japanese with English subtitles.

The live action movie was not as good as the animated version, but still decent. I enjoyed how the overworked Japanese culture was the driving force for our hero's transformation. The journey for our hero and his companions were pretty good. But once the trio reached the aquarium, it just felt like the story ran out of steam or budget to more fully execute the vision.

6 out of 10. Glad I watched it, but I am looking forward to more episodes for the animated series.