Review: World War Z

When I first saw the trailer for World War Z, I was like this would be something I’d love to see if only Brad Pitt wasn’t playing the lead. I haven’t liked many of his movies. In the end, I reconsidered and I’m glad I did. I enjoyed this one. I  haven’t read the book so I can’t compare the two. From experience, I’d think the book would be much better.

First of all, on the day of the apocalypse, forget food and shelter, the first thing I’m doing is going the nearest gun store and loading up like Rambo. 
Although World War Z is a zombie apocalypse movie, there wasn’t any gore or blood. Zombies were eating people, yes, but we didn’t see it. All the bloody stuff happened off screen. Who knew there could be a tasteful zombie movie- and that it would work. 
You knew these things were zombies but they didn’t look disgusting. Some zombies in other movies- the mere sight of them would turn your stomach. With World War Z, the scariest thing about the undead was how well they used their numbers. They were like ants. There was never just one or two of them. 
I loved watching them move. They were like a hoard of insects. I especially liked when we got a birds-eyes view of an area while the zombies and people were running. All we saw was a mass of moving black specks. 
I wouldn’t say the story was perfect but I didn’t notice the plot-holes until I started thinking about the movie afterwards. It really did have me on the edge of my seat. As soon as a scene was over, everything in me relaxed. I hadn’t even noticed I was holding my breath. A movie hasn’t had that effect on me in awhile. Some of the scenes reminded me of video games and why I have a love/hate relationship with them. You’re traveling through an empty building/area, you know something is going to pop out and attack but you don’t know when. The suspense alone could give you heart attacks. 
That being said, this movie would’ve been better if it was longer. Maybe, because of time, I don’t know, they never explained what Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) actually did for the UN. I mean, wherever he went, he was treated like a VIP but I didn’t understand why. Just saying he’s from the UN means nothing to me. I understood that he had quit his job, it had him going to dangerous places and he was good at it. I could’ve done with a bit more back-story where Lane was concerned. The lack of info bothered me but not so much that I couldn’t enjoy the movie. 
Also, we got to see what other counties were doing about the zombie apocalypse. The measures they took made sense. As for the United States, the movie made it look like we were relying on one person to save us. That’s highly unlikely. 
In other apocalyptic movies involving one family, we get a dad who, for whatever reason- usually work- has lost touch with his wife and kids. Then, the world ends and while running for their lives, the father becomes a better man. His wife and kids love him again. All those warm and fuzzes are nice but that theme has gotten really tired. World War Z wasn’t like that. At the beginning, we got that Lane had quit his job so he could be with his family.
Despite the fact that the movie focused on one man, the story managed to keep true to the title- it involved the world. All in all, a good way to spend a Saturday evening. 

7 thoughts on “Review: World War Z

  1. I was impressed with how good this flick looked, but I did expect it to be a lot better in the script. Good review Auden.

    1. Yeah, I was thinkng they may have assumed those who were watching the movie had read the book.

  2. Haven't seen this one and I'm not sure if I will. I'm picky about my zombie movies. 😉 I did just watch Warm Bodies this weekend. That was good.

    1. I know what you mean. Some peole seem to make zombies movies just to make them.

      I've heard of Warm Bodies but I've seen it.

  3. I like shooting zombies myself, but to watch someone else ridding the world of the woes of the undead, I don't think I could sit through it without wanting to go home and play Call of Duty. 😀

    Nice review! My daughter went to see it this weekend and loved it.

    1. While watching this movie, I started having Resident Evil flashbacks. Had me wanting to go home and break out my game.

  4. I've got a bit of an aversion to the zombie genre, personally… I think this is one I'll have to skip.

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