[Originally posted on 6/20/13]
From June 18 press screening: I've never been a fan of zombies, but thought I'd go see this for the big-budget blockbuster factor.
From June 18 press screening: I've never been a fan of zombies, but thought I'd go see this for the big-budget blockbuster factor.
Adapted from Max Brooks' novel, the movie opens almost
instantly with chaos, attack from the zombies.
The first infection and transformation from human to zombie looks pretty
cool, but loses its novelty fast. The
zombies are full-on CGI, fast-running and swarming like ants. They actually look pretty funny (watch for
the teeth! :-)), although I'm not sure if they're intended to be. One of the funniest scenes is the
hide-and-seek scene at the WHO facility where the main characters are trying to
get to some vials in a secured laboratory room in a desperate attempt to find a
potential cure for the pandemic.
The emotional element is minimal, and it's not with the
hero's (Gerry Lane, Brad Pitt) family; it's the connection the former United
Nations worker forms with a wounded Israeli soldier. They do a good job in ratcheting the urgency and horror, in close
quarters and globally. But it's clear
that while the stakes are high, nowhere do we feel that Gerry is harmed. It's a
don't-worry-Brad-is-gonna-save-the-world kind of deal, a very Hollywood
American hero.
Bottom line, it's pretty entertaining as a summer flick, but
it's hard to take seriously, and if you're a true zombie fan, you may be
disappointed.
http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-reviews-world-war-z-and-now-you-see-me/
DVD: http://tinyurl.com/mt6ysxa
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/ksm2y4jDVD: http://tinyurl.com/mt6ysxa
