Thanks to the formatting problems I encountered on my Web site’s software through the 10.4.9 update, I decided to change the ratings of the movies I see. They’re no longer going to be in the title but you can scroll down to the bottom where I will have the verdict header in bold to cut to the chase. I’m also ditching my wiseacre “grades.” Back when Siskel & Ebert started on PBS, they had it right. Seeing a movie is really a “yes or no” (binary) opinion. Sure you can throw in all the caveats on the decision, just don’t cloud it with letter grades, stars, smiley faces, whatever. It also doesn’t matter if you see it in your local, overpriced multiplex or wait for its DVD-Pay Per View-Cable debut. A rotten movie is a waste of time regardless of how one watches it. Event movies, namely SciFi, Fantasy, Superhero, Action, Disaster and Pixar work best in theaters thanks to the sound systems. Comedy, Romance, Drama, Mystery and Plays converted into Movies don’t gain anything from the environment so they’re just fine on DVD unless there’s a compelling reason: some people love to waste money, on vacation, boredom, etc. On to what I saw recently…
When the original team behind 28 Days Later didn’t directly participate in this sequel, people definitely had reasons to be worried. But in defense of Weeks, the same thing happened with the Alien franchise when James Cameron applied his vision on Scott Ridley, Dan O’Bannon and HR Giger’s creation by making a different type of movie with the star monster (Action instead of Horror). Personally, I think this was attempted but it didn’t completely succeed.
As per the title, 28 weeks have passed since the Rage Virus’s outbreak thanks to those three animal rights activists. The Infected starved to death within four months because the quarantine of the UK held (it never spread despite the rumors the other characters in Days heard). A NATO expeditionary force led by the US went back to clear out the corpses so the UK can be repopulated by the English refugees and expatriates. Nothing could possibly go wrong with the US Army’s “perfect plan” dependent upon technology and force—there’s the Aliens angle.
When the story opens, it’s sometime during the events of Days with a half dozen survivors holed up in a cottage somewhere around the English countryside, primarily Don (Carlyle) and Alice. They’re grateful to be alive yet they’re worried if their children are safe, they managed to get off the island. When a child shows up, begging to be let in, Alice obliges over the others’ objections but this leads the Infected, who were chasing the kid, to break into the sanctuary. Chaos ensues as everyone is fleeing and in a moment of panic, Don abandons Alice running like hell for a boat with an outboard motor; the Infected aren’t good swimmers and they’re not afraid of the rotor. Then time moves forward to the titular 28 weeks. The only part of London being resettled is a defensible island within the city surrounded by the US Army: there’s snipers on the rooftops, armed checkpoints everywhere, helicopters circling, everybody has to where a visible ID card, etc. London is the new Baghdad without car bombs, kidnappings and al-Sadr, yet I’m sure Halliburton is still gouging the American taxpayers. Two of the new arrivals are a pair of kids, Andy and Tammy. Waiting for them when they arrive is their father, Don. I’ll stop there to prevent any further spoilage.
Obviously, there’d be no film if the Infected don’t reappear and how the Rage Virus gets reintroduced is frustrating due to the two huge loopholes the writers and director had to execute. I know it’s only a movie but poor storytelling still ruins fiction. In all fairness to them, I readily admit that no quarantine will ever be perfect and human stupidity knows no limits so a strong premise for a sequel was always present. I also feel some people are overexamining Weeks if they think it’s a parable about the US’s invasion of Iraq: the Europeans say this, “Whenever an American shows up with a gun and says he’s here to help, it means he’ll shoot you later.” Would a Russian be any different lately?. It’s more like another story warning us about human arrogance, overconfidence and its consequences: Aliens, Jurassic Park and Frankenstein. Unlike Days, I was more satisfied with the Infected’s behavior. These “zombies” kill people if given the opportunity and not just puke blood, create another Infected and run off. It also seems some can also be focused on particular subjects of rage to pursue. Finally, there is no cautiously optimistic ending. Weeks ends on a downer pointing to the rumored sequel 28 Months Later. All isn’t lost, there are also people who are immune and they may be the key to a cure.
I got around to seeing this rather late and many other Summer movies have pushed it out of most theaters by now. I would still recommend seeing it. The scariness kicks in rather quickly so you’re spared any long, boring expositions recapping Days. Films like these work better in a dark place rather than at home on the DVD player too. You can’t pause it, the sound system captures the tension and your phone won’t ring.
Worth Seeing? Yes. In a theater preferably but if you can’t go, rent the DVD. Better yet, rent 28 Days Later first as a refresher too.
