World War Z

I am going to start with a very different observation this time around.  The importance that our sovereign socialist republic has gained over this century cannot be more magnified.  A forced but very obvious integration in a $200 million movie is proof enough.  Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) has to consider a stop-over in India to evaluate whether the source of the latest deadly virus has some roots in India.

Having said that, we add to what has convincingly become the flavor of the year with at least 3 movies that I have seen, that come from this genre – Zombies.  The Z in World War Z stands for those disgusting creatures who have first featured on the silver screen over 8 decades back.  Of late, it has just become a rage – much to my disgust and disappointment.

 

As most of you must be aware, I have no love lost for Zombie movies and nothing can really change my sentiments there.  But to Marc Forster’s credit, this time around, the emphasis was more on the story, the build-up and everything leading to a climax rather than just the zombie.  Gerry is a United Nations attaché of sorts who has to return from self-imposed exile to save the world from these creatures.

 

No one really knows where they have come from.  Various theories floating around lead Gerry from Philadelphia to somewhere over the Pacific or Atlantic to Korea to a thought about India, Israel and then finally Cardiff (Wales).  Along the way, there are several dramatic sequences including a superb plane crash.  There is enough action to keep most people interested in what will happen next.

 

However, Forster doesn’t really give an absolutely clear understanding of why Gerry is the one picked for the job. Most women wouldn’t care less because that gives them an opportunity to stare at Mr. Jolie for the better part of 2 hours.  But, even to the amateur movie critic like me, the question continues to nag you throughout the movie.

 

Having said that, Forster more than makes up in terms of scale that can be best described by the word gargantuan.  Definitely the most expensive zombie movie made to date, if not the most expensive movie of all time.  The effects used are quite stunning.  One has to give credit to even the zombie tower that eventually manages to invade Jerusalem despite the best efforts of the Israelis.

 

Overall, World War Z is an average flick made worth watching only for its effects and little else.  The story is average and the performances do not take it to a different level either.  Is it the best way to invest time on a weekend with 3 other movies releasing? Probably yes, because you will not enjoy it on the small screen.  But only because of that.  6 on 10.

 

Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3616319001/?ref_=tt_ov_vi