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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sheep Movie Review: World War Z


World War Z directed by Marc Forster and staring Brad Pitt and Karin Lane is the movie adaptation of the 2006 apocalyptic horror novel by Max Brooks. As someone who has not read the book, I found myself enjoying the movie for what it was. Big action, zombies and Brad Pitt. 

Plot: 
The story revolves around United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt), who traverses the world in a race against time to stop a pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself. 

Fans of the stories will surly have a whole different take on this film and I look forward to reading their comparison. After the movie ended and the final credits rolled, I was glad I didn't read the books because I fear there would have been some let down. Quiet a few sequences seemed glazed over quickly, so we could jump on to the next scene. A lot of information was lacking and when we did get some, there wasn't much to back it up. I've still no idea how the zombie virus originally started and frankly was quiet confused when Gerry makes a pit stop in Jerusalem. There seemed to be no point for this, other then more action and high drama. The book must have done a better job of explaining this.



The film's main point of view comes from the character Gerry (played by Pitt) and his family. These is a very short intro in his home life before the action picks up and takes center stage. Soon after, he has to leave said family with the Navy and head out to save the world. With a small group of military backing him, Gerry and his team are off to try and find a cure to mother natures mysterious virus. *Please do not arm young scientists with weapons, it never ends well. 

Bard Pitt is an excellent actor and this film is no less then what you would expect. Regardless of the plot holes and overall abundance of action, Pitt gives another solid performance. I don't know if he looks or acts like the book Gerry and frankly I do not care. I will however nitpick that his hair does stay quiet stylized throughout the film. NO way would he be looking this good after jumping, running, crashing, bombs, zombie guts and everything else.



The film banks on the fact that Gerry, apparently; is the only one that can find answers to this global problem. How an ex UN guy with some first aid skills can be the holy savior, and survive countless against all odds scenarios, I have no clue. But the film sells the idea and wants you to buy it. Ok, I can kind of roll with that, but give me a more down to earth character. Not a guy who can turn on a switch and suddenly have the skills of a ninja warrior and mad scientist. 



Freaky zombies with Olympic running will scare you silly, while Gerry busts heads and makes buddies along the way. Suspenseful and heartbreaking. Overall, the film is entertaining in a scary I-hope-this-never-happens-in-real-life kind of way. 



Getting 3 and 1/2 'can maintenance get down here and fix this squeaky door' Sheep 
KD

9 comments:

  1. I read the book a while back (I was bored and picked it off my husband's book shelf ;)

    I just can't imagine how they could turn that book into a movie about one man's experiences. The book was from many points of view retelling the 'war'.

    As soon as I saw the preview months ago I just assumed they stuck the book title on a totally separate script, paid Pitt tons of $$$, and figured everyone at home would get over the fact the book and movie had almost nothing to do with each other.

    I'll watch it when it comes out on DVD, but won't even bother trying to compare it with the book.

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    1. I was actually really thankful I did NOT read the book. From what I gather, the book is not anything like the movie. It sounds like the film wanted to pull in the large book fans with a movie of the same title.

      It's worth seeing, but waiting for the DVD seems a good choice :)

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  2. I haven't read the book but have read other reviews as well as this one and I'm just not into the whole zombie movement that seems to be happening right now. I'll probably pass on this one until it's free on tv.

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    1. Good call Mary. I am just a fan of most every Pitt film, so for that alone I wanted to see him. :)

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  3. 'm not going to say that it's not an enjoyable movie, but I am going to say that the only thing I find that it really shares with the book is the title. That, to me, is a disappointment, because the book was excellent. I think that this would have been better with another title, this leaving someone else the chance to bring the book to the big screen.

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    1. Right, the movie wanted to pull in that book crowd. Sneaky, but it got butts in the seats :)

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  4. Honestly, I've read the book and no way could be made into a film. A mini series, with each part a separate hour or two. But the author of the book made money for his book and title for this. I never thought this would be made from the book and taking the husband to see it for what it is, a zombie end of the world movie and nothing more.

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    1. my teenager just got back from it and she loved it. She hasn't read the book and just liked it for what it was, crazy zombies. She gives it 4 Sheep

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    2. Pamela, that's dead-on what my buddy said. Make it a TV mini series, but not a film.

      If you can walk in and take it for what it is, you will enjoy the movie more.

      After reading all the comments, just reinforces why I didn't read the book before the movie :)

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