Review of World War Z

I usually don't watch Zombie films, but this past week I saw part of one and all of World War Z. The other film which I saw the end of was I am Legend starring Will Smith. Watching both of these films it becomes obvious how Zombies have evolved over the past decade or so. I think my first encounter with Zombies was in Michael Jackson's music video Thriller where the Zombies moved slowly, didn't bite as ferociously, and were few in number. With both of the films I've seen Zombies have become faster, rapid biters, and disbursed on a global scale.

World War Z was an interesting movie. It was a Brad Pitt vehicle with a somewhat believable plot. It asserts that the UN would play a major role in combatting the spread of Zombies which is contrary to the US centric World order, but that is debate for a history or poly sci class, not in a film criticism. The film moved fast it was action packed typical of Hollywood popcorn movies during the Summer. I had read about World War Z at nytimes.com and that sparked my interest to see the movie. I suppose the film presents some hypothetical situations and plays on the fear incited by those questions. For example how would the World respond to a fast spreading global epidemic which kills millions quickly? It's an interesting hypothetical and the film exploits the fear of disease, death, and catastrophe well. The beginning and ending are montage sequences that relate the events of the film similar to Citizen Kane's news on the march sequences. The action sequences are nothing special. They were like participating in role playing shooter video game. Perhaps the best scene of the film is when Zombies scale the wall around Jerusalem.

This movie will not win any awards. It is a formulaic narrative that revolves around Pitt. He is the hero and it is his journey that we follow. The narrative is predictable. It ends on an up note. I was entertained, but not impressed.