Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

webmaster-3017 Tagline: An uninteresting failure with a competent display by Elijah Wood… Review by Neo: To say I am disappointed, it is a clear understatement. It is rare that a film can possesses such a fine display from one of the co-stars in Elijah Wood, but still ends up a total disappointment. Day Zero doesn't work like a movie, it doesn't provide a movie experience, but at no times, does it feel real either. It is a film with an adequate premise about the possibility of drafting civilians into the war against terror. For once, I just cannot see any redeeming factor for this movie. With just Wood showing potential, the rest of the cast with Chris Klein in particular produces an emotionless and petty display that is more wooden than anything. Likewise, Jon Bernthal, tries hard, but fails to convince owing to lack of on-screen charisma. Basically, a film is bounded to fail, when the story does not work, nothing really tend to happen and along with fail performances from the leads. Day Zero is easily a big disappointment.The movie goes like this: Three best friends are about to face the prospect of being drafted into national service on the war against terror. With just 30 days left, the film shows how different people react, feel and do in the remaining days before reporting on duty.Let's focus on the rare display of positiveness coming out of this film. Elijah Wood has been trying for years to shed his image of being typecast as Lord of Rings and there is no doubting that he is one actor with potential to burn. I thought he was more than convincing in his role and the way he depicted the torment of an artist who is at loggerhead with the fact that he is going to be killing human beings face to face is almost daunting to endure. Being the only shining light in the film, including a memorable moment in front of the mirror where he screams at himself. It is certainly a rare moment of quality that fails to lighten up the dullness of the flick. As mentioned before, Chris Klein may have the leading man looks, but his acting is far too disconnecting to the audience. Despite having the chance to play a fairly conflicted role, Klein is not impressive and fails miserably. While, Jon Bernthal actually tries to act and does slightly better than Klein, it is needless to say that the guy has no on-screen charisma and perhaps will fit in better on the small screen than the big one.All in all, Day Zero seems to want to express some sort of message about the divided opinion on the war against terror (i.e. how it is the other peoples' war or how we are defending our country), but in reality, it never hits on these issues seriously. Instead the film tries to focus on how people and humans react to this situation and how ordinary people will be affected by issues like these. While it is interesting to think about the prospect, the filmmaker fails to add an human touch to the proceeding and the effect is by the 45 minutes mark, the audience is looking at their watches, thinking, when is this film going to end. By the time, it ends, I am unable to feel or even try to feel for what has happened, as the film is impossible to relate to and almost difficult to connect. Day Zero is really a film that probably deserves zero marks, but for the performance of Elijah Wood, there are some brownie points given … (Neo 2009) I rate it 4/10www.thehkneo.com

Dorkizoid I was left speechless after watching Day Zero, and may have to watch it again to fully grasp the full range of lunacy it presents. The film took me through every emotion I believe I am capable of feeling, from fear and laughter to that sneaking sort of anti-nationalism felt by most Americans today: I love my country, but I hate when its government pulls such ridiculous stunts.Day Zero poses a very valid question: Is it right for a democratic nation to draft its citizens to fight a war for quote-unquote freedom? The film leaves the question open-ended, but definitely casts its vote in favor of yes. Day Zero reminds us that freedom has never been free, and the time may come again that men and women will have to fight for, in the words of Dixon, "Choice... our way of life." I will now admit my bias toward Elijah Wood. I rented this movie solely to see what my beloved Frodo has been up to. I was horrified that Wood was not only regularly sized, but also indulging in mad fantasies of prostitutes and shaven heads. My disturbedness aside, I must say that his performance was really very excellent. However, I must add that the conclusion of his character's story was less than satisfying, despite the fact that it was logical.Day Zero is an interesting study of three somewhat bland and normal people caught up in modern political mayhem. It would have been more appropriate in, say, 2003 or 4, while the Bush era was at its height, as were fears of the draft returning. History has now rendered the film largely obsolete. However, mediocre script writing rendered the film obsolete almost immediately. It is worth a watch, definitely, but I firmly believe this film will not have real value until we use it to teach the next generation about this time in our nation.Day Zero is worth watching precisely because it so accurately captures the spirit of fear and independence present in our nation today. It is not the best movie ever made, but it will do.

beregic AFTER reading some viewers reviews HERE I DECIDED to watch this feature because it is reportedly "balanced". after i DID watch it, at least i know which style and type of posts i should be avoiding from now on...straight to the point, this is a PRO- war movie( very cunning, i give it that). it definitely targets young "stand-up" guys and attempts to give people a subconscious reason as why we have to AGREE with what is going on( even have a speech about "choices" people have in America and take it for granted because the youth is the "pussy" generation apparently).basically the whole thing consists of 3 youngsters in their struggle to accept the draft or not. by the time end scene IS happening , the movie has transmitted its propagandistic vibe. while it starts with a very much ANTI- war vibe it leads the viewer to believe that there is ONLY one way.this movie paves the WAY to drafting legislation. (i doubt that will happen simply because this administration will prefer private armies ,"blackwater" for example, that are not responsible to the any international tribunals upon killing civilians)it is doing so by TRYING to make choice easier for you to the point you actually could believe that it IS your choice for the "best"."are you man enough"." the survival of the fittest" , etc... the director forgets that today's youth are BETTER informed then the previous generation and playing with people feelings, in well to know "i am with you" manner. will not get the message across.( apparently, you left someone to its fate like being raped, you have to fix that by going to war to "man-up". people can do that easily here by throwing this administration out of the office as well no?). at one point it even tells new-yorkers that they should be more concerned with doing the "first-strike" because they would be the first target if "someone" acquires "weapons of mass-destruction"( so wait... this actually must be about Iran since everyone knew, by the time this feature was produced,that Iraq had no such "evil" things?). what a DEEP INSULT TO THE 9/11 VICTIMS Memory!another interesting observation is that while playing with the idea of deserting, the option is never considered out of FEAR. well guess what, i am in Toronto, Canada , and we have many American deserters here and they do not seem "pussies" at all. by contrary they are OUTSPOKEN, just as any FREE individual DOES INDEED HAVE THE CHOICE TO do in a democracy. i quiet had a laugh at this aspect particularly.this has been marketed as an "indy" film. i assure it is not.IF the subject matter would been different and not propagandistic i would give this production a 6-7 due to good acting but slower towards the end( another observation point i have in spotting propaganda; when the movie slows down towards end to make sure your sentiments and feelings can properly have a meltdown, get you to sleep, hypnotize, and make your dreams play the role of influencing your conscious when waking up).well, you can TRY to enjoy it if you already have made-up your mind. good luck with that.

maryschweitzer I was fortunate to be at the premiere of this film on 4/29/07. Day Zero is set in a future in which we are still fighting in Iraq and the draft is reinstated. It is a character study centered on 3 very different men, how they react to a draft notice, and what they do with the 30 days they have before they must report (Day Zero).The 3 men: Aaron (Elijah Wood) is a writer with one successful book already published and currently working on his second book. George (Chris Klein) is a successful attorney from a well-to-do family who has just made partner in his law firm and is married to a woman who has recently survived cancer. Dixon (Jon Bernthal) is a cab driver who seems content with his life – he lives alone and is good friends with a young girl in his building.We learn that George and Dixon were in school together and that Dixon went to jail (or some kind of juvenile lockup) for 2 years when he beat up some guys that were bullying George. We unfortunately aren't told much about how these 2 met and came to be friends with Aaron or anything else about Aaron's background.The reaction of the 3 men to the draft notice is quite telling for their characters: Aaron immediately throws up, George begins to think about how he can get out of being drafted, and Dixon is immediately excited and ready to go (and angry at George for not wanting to serve).Aaron provides what comic relief there is in the first half of the movie. He is incredibly insecure. He has a therapist, but his therapist obviously has no interest in him and does crosswords and her nails during their sessions. The fact that Aaron doesn't seem to be bothered by this is another example of his severe insecurity and lack of self-esteem. Aaron is immediately worried about being killed there – and about being killed first because he won't be liked. Aaron makes a list of 10 things he wants to do before leaving, which his friends laugh at and make fun of when he shows them.The movie is beautifully acted and photographed with a great soundtrack. It is clear during the Q&A that both the director and writer are anti-Iraq war, but they don't shove that down our throats in the movie. I thought they presented a very balanced view of the impact of receiving a draft notice on 3 very different personalities – Dixon who is willing to serve is not written as a "bad guy" because he wants to serve. In fact it is George who is written at several points as the least likable of the characters as he tries to get out of serving. I am sure there are those who will say this is an anti-war movie but for me it simply showed the toll it takes on 3 very different personalities/lives as they face the real likelihood of dying in a war. And it also shows the unfairness of who has to serve and who doesn't have to.Elijah Wood did an amazing job – there is no sign of him at all in this character. Aaron has none of Elijah's poise, confidence, or joy of life. His funny scenes got good laughs from the audience and my heart broke for Aaron as he clearly sunk deeper and deeper into his breakdown with no one to help him – not his therapist or his friends. I think this is the most complex character Elijah Wood has ever played and he did an amazing job.My biggest complaint about the film is that Aaron's character wasn't developed more by the writer and director. I felt cheated not knowing how he came to be friends with George and Dixon (esp. since we are told how George and Dixon came to be friends) and why Aaron is estranged from his family. But most importantly what made Aaron make his final decision – was it fear of death or fear that he couldn't live up to his wish to "serve with honor"? Or did he simply have a psychotic break? There is nothing simple about Aaron – I wish we had been able to get to know him better. But that didn't prevent me from enjoying this film and recommending it highly.This movie deserves to be seen by people on all sides of the Iraq war issue – it presents many sides of the debate and I hope will open many meaningful discussions about the war and the implications of reinstating the draft.