World War Z

On the return flight from a trip overseas (US to the United Kingdom) I caught World War Z on the small screen in the back of the economy seat in front of me. I knew about the movie for a long time, having heard good things about the book World War Z by Max Brooks and knowing that Brad Pitt was to star in the adaptation.

The premise of the movie is that Gerry Lane (Pitt) has recently stopped his work as a UN Investigator to spend more time with his wife and two daughters. While driving with his family, something happens, an outbreak of some kind, and he must save his family from what seem to be ravenous human beings (very fast zombies) attacking everyone they see. Lane hooks up with his former UN boss to protect his family. What follows is a thriller where Lane works to determine what caused the outbreak and how to stop it, if he can.

This is a pretty adrenaline-filled race around various locales as Lane seeks answers to what is happening so that he can help the powers-that-be figure out how to overcome. There is suspense, tense moments, heroic actions and frustrating setbacks. Some of the best scenes have a real feel of menace to them without major violence. Don't get me wrong though, there is a lot of violence and blood.

One of the minor issues I had with the film is the way the director helps the viewer see some of the same clues that Lane is cataloging throughout the story that give him insight into the outbreak. The camera lingers on them a little too long and we get a voice over clue into others. These might have been more effective if just shown like any other action in the movie and then later flashed back when Lane is thinking about what he has learned. The other drawback I saw with the film is the hyper nature of the zombies, which makes you wonder how anyone could survive.

The locations in the film are good, they really captured the look of Wales in the few outdoor scenes in the later part of the movie. I know that lovers of the book were upset that the story lost some of its global feel, but not having read the book I didn't have that same reaction. One of my favorite characters was the Israeli soldier, Segen, played by Daniella Kertesz. She doesn't say a lot, but is focused and does a job while overcoming major setbacks.

In the end, what you get, is an action-packed thrill ride to try to save humanity. Sure, the threat to humanity could have been pretty much anything that makes us turn against ourselves, but in this case it was zombies and it works. I give 4 Mick Happies to World War Z and it is certainly worth your time. Gotta go prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse.