Disclaimer: I haven’t read World War Z, the “Oral History of the Zombie War,” written by Max Brooks (Son of Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft). So, I have absolutely no comparison for the novel and its big budget blockbuster adaptation, but from what I hear, they are nothing alike.
Oh well! C’est la vie, right? While the book apparently told the decades-long tale of how the zombie outbreak spread from China and toppled nations, the Marc Forster-directed tale follows one man (Brad Pitt), a former UN troubleshooter (no clue what his actual job was—it’s a little vague) who traverses the world to try to figure out how to stop the ongoing plague.
The movie starts off with a bang in Philly as we watch Gerry and his family escape the city as the zombies begin to takeover. From there, the film begins its formula: story + tense scene X one jump-in-your-seat moment and REPEAT. While I spent all weekend watching Greg play Last of Us and have watched all (mostly mediocre) seasons of The Walking Dead, I’m still not super equipped for tense scenes of undead villains. Luckily, World War Z gives you a little time to breathe in between each of these to try to...you know....build the story along.
So, long story short...World War Z ain’t bad. It has some truly gripping scenes, like one in a plane as an outbreak quickly turns the once safe haven incredibly deadly, or another scene in a grocery store as humans turn ugly trying to scavenge the last bit of water and medicine they can. But, still....it also ain’t great. The 3D is truly awful. The already dark movie is completely hampered by trying to make the film more intense. Avoid at all costs. The CGI is also not the greatest here. Swarms of zombies are actually less frightening than one incredibly scary biter chomping his teeth at our hero.
World War Z (the movie anyway) isn’t going to change the lexicon of zombie culture, but it’s a not terrible distraction for two hours. Just seek it out in 2D.
--Darcie Duttweiler
Oh well! C’est la vie, right? While the book apparently told the decades-long tale of how the zombie outbreak spread from China and toppled nations, the Marc Forster-directed tale follows one man (Brad Pitt), a former UN troubleshooter (no clue what his actual job was—it’s a little vague) who traverses the world to try to figure out how to stop the ongoing plague.
The movie starts off with a bang in Philly as we watch Gerry and his family escape the city as the zombies begin to takeover. From there, the film begins its formula: story + tense scene X one jump-in-your-seat moment and REPEAT. While I spent all weekend watching Greg play Last of Us and have watched all (mostly mediocre) seasons of The Walking Dead, I’m still not super equipped for tense scenes of undead villains. Luckily, World War Z gives you a little time to breathe in between each of these to try to...you know....build the story along.
So, long story short...World War Z ain’t bad. It has some truly gripping scenes, like one in a plane as an outbreak quickly turns the once safe haven incredibly deadly, or another scene in a grocery store as humans turn ugly trying to scavenge the last bit of water and medicine they can. But, still....it also ain’t great. The 3D is truly awful. The already dark movie is completely hampered by trying to make the film more intense. Avoid at all costs. The CGI is also not the greatest here. Swarms of zombies are actually less frightening than one incredibly scary biter chomping his teeth at our hero.
World War Z (the movie anyway) isn’t going to change the lexicon of zombie culture, but it’s a not terrible distraction for two hours. Just seek it out in 2D.
--Darcie Duttweiler
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