World War Z (3D - 2013)

When it’s over, this is a zombie film, even if people say it is not. Even the word “zombie” is mentioned several times in the film. It is simply a different kind of zombie film that is a combination of I Am Legend, 28 Days Later, and The Crazies (2010). Clearly, not an original film, but not terrible either. For the most part, WWZ stands on its own among other zombie/plague films. There is plenty of suspense to keep viewers guessing and holding off on washroom breaks. In 3D, the pop-out scenes are intensified. United Nations employee, Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) must find the origins of a virus that is consuming humanity before it becomes unstoppable. He leaves behind family, friends, and safety in search of a possible cure. Gone are the straggling, lop-sided undead bodies roaming aimlessly. Gone are the infected, who consume human flesh. Gone are the gore of intestines and brain splatter. In its place are fast, swarming creatures who work collectively to attain their goal – infect the uninfected. Everything about this film looks like it is done on a grand scale, especially in the scenes where the zombies swarm, but this “epic-ness” does more harm than good to the film. There is an overabundance of CGI, making the zombies more fake than believable. I think zombie stories work best when the stories are intimate and are told in contained settings. In I Am Legend, it is New York City. In 28 Days Later, it is London, England. In The Crazies, it is a small Iowa town in the United States. In WWZ, it is global, and there is a feeling of detachment on the viewer’s part. The film looks and feels like a mega blockbuster, rather than a story about a man trying to save his family, which essentially, is the core story, because Gerry’s actions are motivated by his need to protect his family. I like Pitt’s portrayal of Gerry. He does a solid job carrying this film, combining action and drama to give audiences some good scares and memorable scenes. I would recommend a viewing on the big screen, and if possible, in 3D.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5