By Stephen Pytak 

     The next step in the evolution of Romero's "Living
Dead" series was one worth taking.
     The writer/director hits us not only with his brand
of zombie onslaught but issues to consider, from race
relations to materialism. 
      What I liked best about Romero's new film is
his story and script. 
     The temporary safe haven this time out is the
City of Pittsburgh. But, for whatever reason, Romero
didn't film there. This was the first of his "Living Dead"
series not filmed in the Pittsburgh area. "Land" was
lensed in Toronto, Canada.
     But Pittsburgh's the setting. Romero shows us the
skyline, well, at least his apocalyptic version of it. In
it, PPG Place has an additional spire and a new 
name, "Fiddler's Green." And in that huge castle is
a shopping center and housing community for the 
upper class.
     Outside, Wood Street, the Boulevard of the Allies 
and other avenues look like sets from John Carpenter's
"Escape from L.A. (1996)." 
     Everyone on the waiting list, or just unable to 
afford residence in Fiddler's Green, lives somewhere
out here. There are bon fires and street vendors of
all sorts in Market Square. And the night life is
a little more wild than what you'll find on Liberty
Avenue today (I think).
     Like the "Escape" movies, an army is encamped
around the area. But the soldiers are not trying to keep 
people in as much as they are trying to keep the living 
dead out.
     Helping them in the effort is a tank called "Dead 
Reckoning," armed with machine guns and rocket 
launchers.
     "Land's" Pittsburghers use this wild ride to raid
stores for supplies in neighboring communities. In
doing so they encounter populations of the living dead,
and as we discover, disturb their peace.
     Upset after watching his people being shot in the
head by the "Pittsburgh" pirates, a living dead full-
service gas station attendant nicknamed "Big Daddy"
mobilizes troops, shoulders a machine gun he stole
and marches on the city.
     But before the zombies invade the three rivers at
the climax, the hundreds of lives in the city are
threatened when Dead Reckoning is stolen, ends up
on Mount Washington and its rockets are aimed at
Fiddler's Green.
     One of the things that makes this "Living Dead"
picture different from the rest is the number of celebs
that are in our cast. 
     Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento and John Leguizamo 
are excellent here. So is the film's lead, a relative 
unknown named Simon Baker.
    "Land" no doubt had the biggest budget of the 
series. It shows not only in the star power but the
sets.
    I heard it's possible this might be the start of a
new trilogy and, based on this effort, Romero has my 
blessing.
     The make-up effects were O.K. Then again, it's 
hard for anything to beat the work done on "Day of
the Dead."
     I never thought I'd get the chance to see a "new"
Romero "Living Dead" picture in the movies.
     Back in '85 when "Day" came to my local theater,
my father and I walked to the ticket booth, cash in 
hand, only to learn that I was not allowed in. 
     The poster stated: "Due to scenes of violence, 
which may be considered shocking, no one under 17 
will be admitted." 
     And I was only 15.
     Since then, I've seen "Day" on the big screen at
Exhumed Films in Pennsauken, N.J.
     I'm glad Romero got the opportunity to make 
"Land," and give me and thousands of other horror 
fans the chance to see one of his future classics 
first-run.