I think I may be a tad obsessed with apocalyptic and post-apocalytic scenarios…I can’t quite recall when this started but it certainly wasn’t there in my earlier years. I think it developed gradually with the realisation of how throughly humans have messed things up, coupled with a creeping cynicism. A reboot of the human race seems necessary and though yes, I’d be sad to see many fine people gone, it seems inevitable and at least we’d all go together XD
I think what also appeals to me (and apparently millions of other people) is the chance to return to basics, a fight for survival and reliance on wits…it’s a grand-scale adventure with the direst of consequences. And thus whether it be the Day AfterTtomorrow scenario, the 2012 scenario, the Zombie Apocalypse, it doesn’t matter – it’s all very thrilling and has a morbid pull. As these types of scenarios become more popular, I have to wonder if it’s a growing global disillusionment with the way we’ve managed the planet, the realisation that we’re ultimately all doomed anyways (the sun will after all explode in a few million years) or something else entirely…
In any case, last night I saw World War Z – a movie I’ve been most excited to see ever since I saw a blurb about it last year, which actually prompted me to buy the book the movie is based on. I loved the concept of the book, which is sort of an anthropologically-centered global oral account by survivors of the zombie war 10 years after the outbreak. It was a fascinating twist and I wondered how it would translate to the big screen. Turned out it translated not so well. Not in its original form, that is. XD. The movie was beset by many challenges including numerous rewrites and at the last minute they reshot the entire ending (!) I must say I very much prefer the ending we get to see in theatres now, as the original ending was a bit of a downer…
But for a proper review of the movie:
The Pros: it was very well executed with the actors doing a great job (and I have just loved Mireille Enos ever since the first season of The Killing). They had to cut many, many details and aspects from the book, but it worked very well for the medium of film. The pacing was vibrant and I can’t remember the last time I was so tense at some parts of a movie – it really sucked one in. The musical score was noteworthy from the opening credits and at several points I turned to hubby and said ‘I love this music!’ XD . Turns out a lot of the music I loved was done by Muse, and Brad Pitt took especial care to ensure the score would be exceptional. Bravo Brad it shows!
The cons – This is a very personal drawback and for some people might actually be a pro, but the lack of gore was very disappointing XD. The movie is rated PG13 (which is really interesting for a ‘zombie’ movie) and there’s a noticeable lack of blood and gore of any kind. As a huge Walking Dead fan, I guess I’ve come to expect to be shown that shot of the zombie’s brain being splattered. It’s really a visceral satisfaction that World War Z deprives you of. Though mind you, the acting and editing compensates for it – I’m not sure non-zombie fans would even notice it.
My last comment is again a personal preference. The movie distorted and changed certain stories from the book (as is inevitable I guess) but the one concerning Israel was a bit disappointing. The book attracted me because of it’s global scale – I mean which other novel can you recall that mentioned both Guyana and Barbados?! – something missing in many apocalytic stories, which tend to either focus on the US or the UK and might occasionally throw in a cut-away mention to say, oh Japan or the MiddleEast, as if to say ‘Yea we didn’t forget about the rest of you guys, you’re being affected too’. The book paid due to almost all the corners of the Earth and it was a very refreshing change.
In the final analysis, I would wholeheartedly recommend the movie (and obviously the book). Go see it and then start working on your zombie survival plan…I know I have 😀
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