These zombies draw blood and laughs

Eisenberg and Harrelson in Zombieland

Ruben Fleischer's Zombieland (Sony), being released on DVD Tuesday, was one of last year's surprise film hits. While billed as a horror film and containing its ample share of blood and gore, the movie was also a smart and sophisticated comedy that mocked, among other things: consumerism, geeks and modern society.

Writers Rhett Resse and Paul Wernick crafted a sharp, irreverent and often silly (without becoming stupid) work about an unlikely bunch thrown together in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. They decide to take a road trip seeking sanctuary, only to discover there's literally no place to hide.

Rather than calling each other by names, the travelers refer to each other by the names of cities. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) was the tough guy, while Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) was the prototypical geek. Other crew members included Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin).

This ensemble devised a list of zombie fighting rules that included such details as: carry Swiss army knives, avoid using bathrooms, travel light and do cardio exercises to keep fit.

A nice, compact 88-minute work, the Zombieland DVD contains commentary with Harrelson, Eisenberg, Fleischer, Reese and Wernick, plus behind-the-scenes material, the theatrical trailer, a visual effects guide and deleted scenes.

Pulling off a horror-comedy is a tough task, but Zombieland achieved it with ease. It's both among the funniest and grossest films ever, a combination that seems impossible yet works bloody well, indeed.

Other releases

By contrast, Mira Nair's Amelia, (20th Century Fox), also being released on DVD Tuesday, qualifies as a noble failure. Its chief attributes are first-rate acting from two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank in the title role and Richard Gere as her publisher husband, George Putnam.

Swank — both visually and in her portrayal — conveyed Earhart's pioneering spirit and refusal to let the social customs of the day restrict her. Gere was also effective in showing Putnam's willingness to capitalize on his wife's fame, as well as his growing disillusionment with her social stature and profile.

Ewan McGregor as her other suitor, Gene Vidal, and Christopher Eccleston as navigator Fred Noonan proved equally successful in their roles.

But the film failed as narrative due to the uneasy mix of fact and fiction. Living members of the Vidal estate firmly deny that the relationship between Earhart and Vidal was accurately portrayed in the film. As well, the movie didn't offer any new evidence about what did happen during the ill-fated 1937 flight where Earhart disappeared. 

Still, those who enjoy seeing Swank in any property will find Amelia worth their time.