Film: World War ZCast: Brad Pitt, James Badge Dale,Matthew Fox, Mireille Enos
Director: Marc Forster
Rating: **1/2
The zombie genre seems to be 'done to death' (pun intended). With Brad Pitt as the poster boy, World War Z gets all the right buzz a film of its stature requires. A classic end of the world scenario set against the backdrop of modern day New York sees a virus outbreak that turns humans into zombies. Gerry (Pitt) is a retired UN investigator having a regular day out with his wife (Enos) and kids, until they witness a savage attack by the living dead. In order to keep his family safe on a peace keeping ship, Gerry has to go back to his previous job and identify what led to the epidemic. Mid way the action shifts to Jerusalem, the only place in the world with a refugee camp. The climax unfolds inside a World Health Organisation (WHO) facility in Wales where some of the best scenes of the film are shot.
While this isn't the first and won't be the last of the zombie flicks, WWZ tries to intellectualise the topic and give it a cerebral twist. Apart from the money making 'action scenes', fights and chases, Forster offers an interesting analogy of the human psyche. Unlike the zombies we have seen, these creatures are nimble on their feet to the extent they can make a pyramid and breach walls. Also their walk and appearance is different from the traditional look these flesh eating characters are given.
Pitt is charming enough to fill up a frame with the right star appeal to keep us engrossed. His scene in the laboratory at Wales where he goes on a mission to get the antidote will have your full attention.Likewise the mid air adventure on the Belarus airline is a major highlight. But on the flipside we wish we were fully convinced to sustain our interest in a otherwise lethargic first half. Also the last monologue doesn't do the required trick and seems forced. WWZ has moments where its heart is in the right place, but the whole exercise seems lackluster.
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