Sunday 23 June 2013

World War Z

 
It is not often I get to make the disclaimer that I have read the book before seeing the film.  It is important that I admit now that WWZ is one of my favourite books.  This is by way of an apology for this review turning into a rant but not for the content of said rant.
It is quite the achievement that one of my favourite books has become one of my least anticipated films in recent memory.  WWZ had been stuck in development hell for years, was subject to countless reshoots and when I first viewed the trailer a little piece of my heart withered and died.
PLOT:  A zombie virus has broken out on a global scale.  The world is falling apart and former UN employee Jerry (Brad Pitt) travels from country to country in an attempt to discover the source of the virus.  The world goes to shit and everyone loses the ability to swear.  The smartest person in the world trips and accidentally shoots himself.  The source is found in Wales.  The door is left wide open for a sequel but the hint is accompanied by a brass band and flashing neon signs.  END PLOT
The plot is so far removed from the source material it feels like the writers read WWZ and wrote the script on Opposite Day. 
The storyline of the film captures nothing of the emotional first-hand encounters contained in the book and instead focuses on the story of one man’s globetrotting adventure to find the source and thereafter the cure.
The worldwide scale works well in the book and we follow the story of the different characters from start to finish.  The film seemed to have missed the point of this entirely as the scale is there, it is just devoid of any emotion, drama or tension and that important ingredient – characters.
Brad Pitt is fine as Jerry but he is lumbered with wooden dialogue and despite being the “hero” he is given absolutely nothing to do other than look bemused and accessorise with jaunty scarves. 
The action ranges from nameless extras running from CGI zombies to CGI zombies chasing nameless extras.  The constant running around and zippy camera movements did create a sense of chaos but it didn’t add anything to the film as it was just a sea of faces that I didn’t know or care about.
The set pieces felt lazy and the woeful grand finale inside the WHO consisted of approximately ten zombies.  The finale did try to slow things down but unfortunately the change in pace still didn’t manage to create any tension.  It was never believable that Jerry was in any real danger.
I will concede that zombies on a plane is a terrifying thought.  This was the best part of the film.  I have a fear of flying so that section was always going to make me feel on edge.
The mass hordes of CGI zombies looked like something from an old computer game with the “climbing the wall” section in Israel being as bad as the trailer predicted.  The makeup and prosthetics from the few zombies we saw up close in the WHO were poor.  The effects on The Walking Dead have made a big budget production seem like amateur hour. 

It looked as bad as I feared. 
 
There are very few onscreen deaths and when there is a kill the camera cuts just before it is made.  There is no blood.  There is nothing.  Two hours of undiluted nothing.
WWZ has very few redeeming qualities:
As a zombie film World War Z is devoid of any tension, emotion or scares and gets 2/10.
As an adaptation of a book World War Z is a catastrophic mess in which all involved should hang their heads in shame – 0/10

This has become my most hated film.  I would happily watch Scott Pilgrim if it meant avoiding sitting through WWZ once more.

17 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a fun time ;-)
    It's never good when they take their fave book and turn it into something completely different. The trailers all look awful, but I still will waste my money next week to see and review this catastrophe. It can't be worse than Purge :)

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    1. I did try to switch off from the book and enjoy it for what it was but even then it is still crap.

      This film is a major triumph in fucking up!

      K :-)

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    2. I agree with EVERYTHING in your review. Goddammit, what a frustrating piece of shit.

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    3. Whoops!!

      This will be my worst film of the year. I don't believe that anything could top it in terms of crappiness!

      Looking forward to your review lol

      K :-)

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    4. Hey Karina and Maynard I got movies for you to review Shadow 2009 film from The Italian Rob Zombie Federico Zampaglione, Bunnyman, The Graves 2 (When it's released) and Wolf Creek 2. Check them out.

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  2. Actually much nicer than I expected, I expected full on rage! The movie, well I probably gave it a higher score than I should have. Now that it's settled into the mind, I think a C ish grade would have been more appropriate. Still think they should have just named it something else....

    P.S. I love Scott Pilgrim!

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    1. I think I was too generous with my rating - I also left out the terrible science and the fact that it all took place in the space of about three days.

      The chaos in the food store at the start of the film was understandable but the two men attempting to assault the wife was a bit much. I appreciate society will inevitably breakdown but not within the space of an hour. This grip has festered!

      PS - I HATE Scott Pilgrim!

      K ;-)

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    2. The less said about the science the better. The assualt at the store made no sense, I mean the event just happened and they are gonna go on a raping spree.

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    3. That part is what has annoyed me the most!

      I will complain until the cows come home but I will still go and see the sequel!

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  3. I take you HATED this movie, K. I haven't read the source material, so I really don't know what to expect. I'm seeing it for Brad Pitt (duh!) and the intriguing premise this weekend. I just hope the film DOES NOT scare the fricking daylights outta me in a darkened theatre and give me nightmares. We'll see...

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    1. Brad Pitt has nevet held any interest for me. For such an active career he has very few films that I would class as decent

      There are a few jumps but no scares or Gore at all. If the film was watered down anymore I would have gotten wet!

      K :-)

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  4. Though it has similar story to the movie "The Legend", there are some moments where you feel its worth it

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    1. I just couldn't warm to it at all. It was a film with very few redeeming features!

      Thanks for stopping by

      K :-)

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  5. I really loved this movie and thought it brought life to the book, which was a series of very dry interviews that I could not care about. I thought the plot was exactly what it should be and the action sequences were awesome. I was disappointed there was no gore or swearing, but I had a great time and can't wait to own this to watch it again and again. :)

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    1. Lol - we are at complete opposite ends of the scale for this one ;-)

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  6. I like the point that as an adaptation it gets a 0/10. SO TRUE.

    As a fan of the book, I hated the movie, as a fan of zombie films, I thought it was ok.

    http://www.zombiehall.com/2013/06/world-war-z.html

    The most frustrating thing about the film is thinking about everything that it COULD have been. Anyways, nice review!

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    1. I agree with you - this film could have and honestly should have been so much better!

      Thanks for stopping by

      K :-)

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