"World War Z" - Review

Directed by: Mark Forster

Written by: Matthew Michael Carnahan and Drew Goddard & Damon Lindelof

Based on the novel by Max Brooks

Rated PG-13 for intense frightening zombie sequences, violence and disturbing images

Release Date: June 21^st, 2013

Review by: Sean Kayden

In 2007, a biding war with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way production company transpired as Brad Pitt’s Plan B company secured the rights to Max Brook’s 2006 novel, “World War Z.” Plagued with script rewrites, major setbacks, and reshoots, Brad Pitt’s summer blockbuster was destined to be a massive failure. While it’s far from the flop that it was shaping up to be, this loosely adapted version of the novel it shares the same name with doesn’t have much heart amongst the bloodshed. The novel itself is divided into separate individual accounts of a post zombie invasion, while the film is purely centered on Gerry Lane (Pitt), a retired U.N. employee who must travel the world to find a way to bring to an end this “zombie” endemic. I believe that the source material would have benefited a lot more with a mini-series or one complete season that spans all the elements of the book instead of Hollywood focusing on one, contained, traditional plotline. However, the audience was delivered an easy, disposable, textbook, typical blockbuster that could have been much worse I admit, but at the same token, so much greater in the end.

To be clear, there’s nothing terribly wrong with “World War Z.” The major problem was how the film started shooting without an exact ending. Paramount brought in screenwriter Damon Lindelof to help write the third act, but since he was busy messing up another script I’m sure, they got another hot writer named Drew Goddard. Lindelof, in my opinion, was responsible for butchering the original “Prometheus” script last year making it the biggest disappointment of 2012. What really irked me in “World War Z” was the faux resolution. I felt cheated with the ending that proves this film is merely the first installment of a two-part series or perhaps a trilogy. I much rather would have favored a completely self-contained story than receiving one that purely ends up being a two-hour trailer for the next installment of something greater years from now. In addition, with the exception of Gerry Lane, our protagonist, you don’t get a feel for anyone else in this movie. Not one of the principal players makes a strong impact. Characters like the one David Morse plays feels terribly wasted. He’s an ex-CIA operative imprisoned in South Korea for treason. He aids Pitt’s character in telling him to go to Jerusalem where they may have had prior information leading up to the outbreak. Unfortunately, “World War Z” lacks a true spirit in this human story that’s somewhere buried under the epic zombie tale.

As far as the direction goes, Mark Forster does a competent job with the film. However, with the exception of some jolts here and there as well as keeping up a moderately swift pace, nothing was eye popping in regard to its visuals. In fact, the color palette was sort of dull and ordinary.  With its quick edits and sharp cuts, some of the action became muddled along the way. And did I mention this film is PG-13? Don’t expect much of any blood and gore as “World War Z” is more of a thriller in vein of “Contagion” than a survival horror movie like the far more superior “28 Days Later.” Despite some bad decisions made by the creative team, “World War Z” can be enjoyable and it rarely bores. However, nothing about it truly stands out. When all is said and done, we’re left with a wickedly ordinary film that squanders away all its intrinsic potential in being the extraordinary movie most of us film enthusiasts were hoping for.

Grade: 3 out of 5

Published By Mountain Views News on June 30th, 2013

http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n26/p20.htm