Spoiler I don't think so much that they can think for themselves but it was more of a monkey see monkey do sort of reaction. Only the one leader zombie probably set the trap and also they showed intelligence by being able to track will smith and the lady and boy by following them back to the house and then coming back when the sun came down. I think it was the first signs of intelligence that they were showing since it was probably the first time he was a bit outsmarted by the zombies.
Along those same lines... Spoiler What's the explanation for why the zombies sometimes appeared to not hear or see Neville? For example, in that scene where he flashes the lights on the sleeping zombies he has just finished calling his dog pretty loudly. Yet, they didn't come after him then or even when he shined the light on them. Then he got attacked by the "head" zombie seconds later. So, what gives? I just read the Wikipedia page for the book, and it simply blows the movie version out of the water. I'm pretty bummed about the adaptation.
Well, I guess you learned your lesson. Don't read the book or about the book and you won't be disappointed. EDIT: Spoiler I just read that as well. I like thinking of them as zombies instead of vampires (book). The book does seem much more darker than the movie.
Spoiler I didn't even make the connection that they were more vampire-like than zombies. Until a friend, who read the book but hasnt see the movie, described them as vampires. Anyway, about the trap, that threw me off as well... he described the zombies as not having any human intelligence at this point, yet they set a trap for him? You guys that say it was Neville that set the trap, no scene in the movie suggested he was mentally weak to not remember that. When Neville caught that female zombie, the other zombie that came out to scream, saying "DONT TAKE MY BFF!!!!" If they display no sense of intelligence, why was he trying to reason with their leader at the end? Sure it was his only option, but... and did anyone thought the zombies would calm down and reason? The movie lacked a strong storyline. thats my only gripe. ending was fine.
Spoiler Didn't he also they they were adapting better after the one zombie stood in the daylight for a couple of seconds to look at him? I'm still going to go with the zombies that set the trap.
Spoiler He THOUGHT they were not displaying any intelligence but the fact that the mannequin was out there proved otherwise. That's why he was freaking out because he didn't want to believe that they were moving things around at night. At least that's how I saw it.
Spoiler No, that seemed to validate his theory that even their basic humanistic traits were fading away...that they would openly risk injury to themselves without any though...but apparently he was wrong, as they were a little smarter than thought
Spoiler So basically the zombie leader subjecting himself to the burning sunlight was, to Neville, a sign that they were becoming mindless and no longer had regard for their own safety. But in the end, it was more of a sign that they were becoming more defiant...more willing to test the boundaries of their confinement.
Spoiler Could it also be that over the years they now have a lack of food and are becoming more desperate With that being said, why would all of the deer and lions etc, migrate to ground zero?
Spoiler There seemed to be more than enough animals running around and they didn't have the same means to hide at night that Neville had, so I doubt the zombies would have any problem finding food. So I still think the leader zombie exposed himself to the sunlight to make a statement, which alludes to intelligent thought. As for all the animals migrating to ground zero, I'm not sure we can make a blanket statement that "all" of them did that. In the movie we only see a few groups of deer and 3 lions. That's not a very big percentage if you think about it.
Spoiler The zombies didnt eat animals, it was against their beliefs, they thrive on human blood. The dog kill that deer cuz the others were asleep proove me wrong. I'm assuming that they came from a zoo and not africa. Why would the deer be in the middle of new york, where food/water is scarse?
What I want to now is Spoiler At the end of the movie, they find a cure, but how exactly are the people going to save 5 billion zombies? It's clear that the zombies no longer care and just want to wreak havoc. I don't understand, the cure is only half of the solution
Spoiler Toward the end Neville tells the woman..can't remember her name...that the virus had like a 90-95% kill rate...so that was like 4-5 billion dead...of the rest 500 million mutated into the zombies and it was either 10-15 million or 100 million were immune...I think it was in the 10 million range...so they don't have to cure 5 billion...only a couple hundred million (assuming some have died or were killed)...still that's a big number for a small group of immune people.
My take on the trap and zombie leader Spoiler neville wanted to believe that they were ruled by their basic instincts but the trap and the leader popping his head out into the sunlight stood in contrast to that. The leader exibited human traits, in that he exposed himself to harm by going into the sunlight, Neville had taken his mate. I assume it meant that the leader loved or cared for that female. I kind of rolled my eyes at that story aspect but the final show down kind of re enforced the idea, the leader bringing all of the rest of them to resuce the female. Just my take
Spoiler Eh, I think he was more or less going after Neville; he saw him as a threat...yet still, seeing him as a threat and launching an organized attack (however simplistic) against Neville would prove he has retained some intelligence. Hell maybe he even used his "companion" as bait to see if the blood vial was a trap
Spoiler Yea, I didn't think too much of the organized attack on Neville as a way to rescue the chick. More of a... I hate you and I want to kill you.
In reference to the $6+ gas prices seen during the movie shots, did anyone notice the Superman/Batman billboard in Times Square? I thought that was pretty interesting to notice....I believe it said 5-10-10 or 5-15-10..... Something to drool about or nothing?
Okay - as somebody that never read the book or even really knew what I was sitting down to watch...that was the STUPIDEST movie I've ever seen. Seriously...what a waste of time and money. Spoiler Neville was a r****d for going screaming and shooting down Fred, the trap...then he was even stupider for walking up to it. Sure, he was worried about the zombies being smart enough to move things, but does that excuse carelessness? Second of all...after his dog died - why would he go to try and kill himself? Later he seemed more than willing do die for the cause, so why was he going to give up on it here? And why the hell would the lady take him back to her house when it wasn't fully day? Oh, it was dawn...well, if you waited that long you might as well wait another hour, no? Lastly...this part might not be stupid, but I just don't get it. Why wouldn't he climb into the safe with the lady and her kid. He said something like "they won't stop coming"...well, would they stop coming just because he died and killed some of the zombies? Why wouldn't they keep on going after the girl and kid anyways? Also...I don't get how he ended up changing anything in the end. Sure, he has the cure - but it's not like the zombies are going to accept it. Why not just head to the Survivors Colony and hang out there...the zombies will eventually all starve to death and die - and then you can go about building civilization again. I don't know...those uncertainties in the plot, the annoying screams of the zombies, and the ridiculous attempts to scare people (transitions with slamming doors and other loud noises) made it a waste of time for me. That and the kids that were high in front of me (and got kicked out for singing to the Bob Marley songs every time one was played).
Spoiler The guy's been alone for 3 years and sees a mannequin moved far away from where it should be. Forgive him for losing it for two seconds. Probably because his only companion died and he felt alone. Sam was the one being he could communicate with so while there were no humans, he wasn't completely alone. They went back to HIS house. That being said, I have no idea what your argument is here. Where else would they go for protection? I don't recall it being dawn either, though I could be wrong. He had to wait until they broke the plexiglass so he could take them out. If he just threw it and ran, they could leave and then come back and break into the safe. The cure isn't just for the zombies. The virus is airborne and there is always the possibility that it will resurface in humans again. That being said, there are probably ways to develop the cure so it doesn't have to be injected so the zombies don't have to "accept it."
