Thursday 6 June 2013

World War Z (2013) directed by Marc Forster, 6th June


Plot

Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) wakes up to what appears to be like any other ordinary day in Philadelphia only for his day and the world to break out into an all out global pandemic Zombie infection crisis. As the crisis deepens, Gerry is re-called by his former employers to help and investigate the start of the crisis.

Review

Loosely based on the book by Max Brook. This film has been a long time coming and after much speculation of a troubled production and long re-shoots it has finally landed. The film differs much from the book which is a collection of stories across the globe told from different view points.

Zombie films generally fall into two categories. Fast or slow moving. This film follows the fast moving mold.

The film opens with a sleepy suburban family home life of Gerry Lane for the first 5 minutes. Showing a sedate loving family but then the film hits the gas pedal showing a rapid collapse of civilisation into lawlessness, rioting and looting. We then enter an adrenaline fuelled globe trotting race against time to find the cause and hopefully a cure for the global zombie infection spanning 4 continents.

The escape from Philadelphia is quite effective being dark, moody and claustrophobic. Here there is an impression that there is true peril to the family.

This film is really a vehicle for Brad Pitt the action hero and he does a competent job of it and carries it off well. Unfortunately everybody else is only there to support him. This is not the fault of Pitt/Gerry but the story.  As unfortunately anyone who is working with him does not have a high percentage of making it with the exception of Segan played by Daniella Kertesz. Playing an Israeli soldier and even then she does not get off lightly.  Mirelle Enos playing Karen Lane, Gerry's wife and is only given to look worried for her husband during most of the film.

The film direction is fast paced and captures a sense of urgency which lends the film the right amount of tension. Not really much happens in the film and for a film at close to 2 hours it is not short. Thanks to the direction and pacing by Marc Forster the film zips by quickly. At the end of the film I did not notice 2 hours had past.

Unfortunately the 3d does not really had much to the film. The film is played mostly straight with relatively few laughs and is quite bleak. There is no real gore as well.

This film is not the disaster as many had predicted.

This is a good solid action film. Ideal for escapism. It is a workman like blockbuster and it does not pretend to be anything else. Finally there is a hint that there could be a sequel but like all movies these days this depends on the box office returns. If there is one then I would be more than happy to see it.

8/10


No comments:

Post a Comment