4. The President
OK, just to be clear in the books, much like in the film, the President does die. However, much as its supposed to work in a system of government, he is replaced by his deputy. This is the way it works in the book when the original President is bitten, the Vice-President known simply as the Big Guy is sworn in. Make no mistake, within the narrative the role of the Big Guy thought to be Colin Powell is massive. As President, hes the one who organises the American defence and keeps the USA from falling into the hands of undead monsters. Granted, were still very early on in the book by the end of the film, but still, the Presidents actions should be felt. Speaking about him in the book gave the impression that an entire country was on its knees, that a zombie outbreak could potentially topple a whole system of government. It gave the book an epic-ness often sorely lacking in most on-screen or on-page tales zombie tales. Yet in the film, were told in a throwaway line that the President is dead and his VP is missing, leading to one hell of an anti-climax. Effectively, theyve eradicated a major character at a stroke, leaving the film missing a sense of grandeur which cannot be replaced, no matter how much Gerry goes globetrotting. Without people like Heads of State, the entire film is just one deputy secretary scheming with his friend on a boat, and thats just sad for a film about Armageddon.