Stars Brad Pitt, Mirielle Enos, Daniella Kertesz, Fana Mokoena with James Badge Dale, Matthew Fox, David Morse and Peter Capaldi Directed by Marc Forster When is a zombie not quite a zombie? The word is bandied about, although often in jest, as if there really is no such thing as a zombie. Where this movie is concerned, it's just a word (among others) used to describe the plague of undead humans. Plague is the key word tho, where these creatures are concerned. They're not out to eat anyone in particular. They bite, spread whatever disease they have, and move on. So, if it's a zombie movie you're expecting (like any of George Romero's "…of The Dead" movies), you might want to reconsider. Brad Pitt is Gerry Lane, ex-UN Special Investigator (I think) who had left his job for his family (wife and two girls - who aren't all that significant). When the outbreak hits his home town in rather rapid fashion, one quick escape later and he's dragged back into service to help find a way to combat this plague of undead who appear to have the speed and stamina of Usain Bolt. It is a quest that takes Lane all across the world (or at least, four countries), in and out of a series of close calls with death. His drive is the safety of his family. What came to mind is that this movie is, essentially, partly a disaster movie (but from the point of view of just one person instead of tracking several characters over the event) and partly a mash of 28 Days Later (plague driven undead) and Outbreak (searching for the cause/cure but without the background politicking interference). It does try to have some small emotional moments for the lead actor to play on, and Pitt manages to keep the movie going on sheer will alone. Emotionally? Not so much. We know he cares about his family. His wife and kids are important to him, but we are given very few snippets into that life. Not really enough to invest emotionally with him - at least, for me. If anything, there feels a lack of urgency in the proceedings. In watching the "zombie" horde, it's hard to imagine if much of it was done in a practical way with real people aside from the simple running around. They don't just run and chase, these undead swarm like army ants piling on one another if need be just to reach their goal, be it over a massive wall, up a building, or - as evidenced in a poster and trailers - reaching for a helicopter. It isn't until the final set-piece do we get up close and personal with one of these creatures. Ultimately, despite the given nature of the concept, this is not a horror movie. It is fairly bloodless for one, and it sure doesn't really try to go for the shocks or jumps. Instead, we fall back to the disaster movie mould. Something bad has happened, it concerns the whole world, and we track just one particular individual as he makes his way across the world, following what little obscure clue he has and ultimately using a little bit of brain power, some ingenuity and lots of movie luck to reach to a conclusion that seems appropriate. It leaves the door open for more stories and more possibilities while squandering what little opportunity it has here. Given the nature of the concept, and this being a star vehicle, it's hard to see this going any other way, unless it was a TV series event. Much like Battle Los Angeles, World War Z entertains but fails to do more. One can only hope that someone can do something better with the concept (28 Weeks Later, anyone?) taking slightly different approaches and different characters. (like The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift maybe?). From what I heard about the book, lots of other (and way better) stories there.
2 Comments
Alex Lim
6/23/2013 11:41:53 am
NOT Zombies...
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bck1402
6/29/2013 02:30:09 am
Yeh - as mentioned, it's just a word that's used to describe them.
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