Unveiling Zack Snyder's Unparalleled Journey: From Dawn of the Dead to Man of Steel and Beyond
Zack Snyder, renowned filmmaker, delves into his illustrious career path, providing captivating insights from his early work on Dawn of the Dead to his epic superhero films like Man of Steel Explore his journey, including notable projects like 300 and Watchmen
Summary
Snyder reflects on his filmography, noting the deconstructive nature of his movies like "Watchmen" and "Sucker Punch" and his love for Frank Miller's work in "300".
Snyder examines the presence of self-awareness and commentary in his films, specifically "Dawn of the Dead" and "Sucker Punch," as he delves into genre tropes and audience expectations.
Despite the highs and lows of Snyder's career, his films demonstrate his aptitude for crafting visually stunning and stylistically distinctive movies that embrace risks.
Zack Snyder discusses his career journey and reflects on each of his movies, including his early success with Dawn of the Dead and his renowned films like 300, Watchmen, and Man of Steel. After his involvement in the DCU, Snyder teamed up with Netflix to direct Army of the Dead and is currently working on a space opera epic titled Rebel Moon. In a recent interview with IFC Center on Letterboxd, Snyder examines his divisive film Sucker Punch and considers its relation to his overall filmography. He shares his insights on how each film connects and why they appealed to him. Read Snyder's complete statement below.
"[Sucker Punch] was an insightful film that reflected on the current state of the movie industry. Following Watchmen, which I perceived as deconstructive, it was fascinating to observe my track record in deconstruction.
Dawn of the Dead, in my opinion, is also a deconstructionist film that intelligently examines the genre while being self-aware. I didn't believe in making a straightforward remake of Dawn of the Dead because it serves as a social commentary. Therefore, I aimed to make a film that offers commentary on that commentary, if you catch my drift."
"And so, I embarked on the task of creating 300, a project I had been dedicated to as a devoted follower of Frank Miller. As a passionate admirer of Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, and 300, I felt compelled to express my deep appreciation for Miller's work through this film.
Simultaneously, I was captivated by Watchmen, which I view as the epitome of a deconstructionist comic book. It delves into the complex psyche of superheroes, revealing their anxieties pertaining to sexuality. These characters exhibit traits of agoraphobia, incestuous tendencies, insanity, and a troubling addiction to violence."
During the making of Man of Steel, I always emphasized the importance of understanding the rules before breaking them. However, I ended up breaking them before fully comprehending them. Although this was not the ideal order, it turned out to be acceptable. When I commenced the production of Sucker Punch, I had a heightened awareness of the film's genre. Sweetpea's comment, "What the fuck is this? This is meant to turn the people on?" served as a reflection on the movie itself. She further expressed her dissatisfaction, mentioning that while she understood the concept of a helpless mental patient, portraying a lobotomized character as sexy was inappropriate.
Additionally, she suggested altering the ending. She proposed incorporating a dance number or a catchy song to leave the audience tapping their toes and singing as they departed, as it would improve the overall reception. Although I removed the dance number from the ending, the dialogue between Sweetpea and Gorsky still remained. This particular exchange allowed the movie to be self-aware and self-reflexive, acknowledging the audience's presence while directly addressing their desires and expectations.
Zack Snyder's Filmography Explained
: Their interest lies not in witnessing girls who are empowered, but in objectifying them through their choice of provocative attire. This observation has always intrigued me; when critics label the film as exploitative, it is akin to describing an anti-war movie that accurately depicts the atrocities of war as being excessively realistic.
Snyder's first foray into the zombie genre may not have garnered the same level of excitement as George Romero's iconic Dawn of the Dead did in 1978. However, it did receive generally positive reviews, with critics praising Snyder's dynamic directing style. Following this successful venture, Snyder went on to helm 300. Despite receiving slightly mixed reviews from critics, the film resonated with audiences, raking in an impressive $456 million at the box office. This cinematic triumph solidified Snyder's reputation as a director capable of crafting visually stunning, comic-book-like spectacles.
Snyder's directorial career took off in 2009 with Watchmen, widely acknowledged as one of his most visually impressive movies. Although Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole and Sucker Punch came and went without much fanfare, Snyder joined the DCU in 2013 with Man of Steel, which earned over $668 million worldwide despite mixed reviews. Snyder's career took some interesting turns thereafter, with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice not quite hitting the mark, but Zack Snyder's Justice League concluding his time with DC on a complex yet noteworthy note.
While Army of the Dead found success in terms of viewership on Netflix, it doesn't rank among Snyder's best films. However, his upcoming project, Rebel Moon, promises to be his most expansive and imaginative film yet, set for release later this year. Snyder's career has been a mixed bag, with some movies not resonating, but his willingness to take risks and his impeccable sense of style deserve recognition.
Source: Letterboxd
