World War Z

***
Release Date: June 2nd 2013

United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

Director: Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace, Stranger Than Fiction, Finding Neverland)

Starring: Brad Pitt

There's one thing this film doesn't lack, and that's suspense. From the get go WWZ keeps you on your toes; waiting for the next zombie outburst.

The US of A is not the only country that suffers. Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), family man and ex-US investigator, goes on a somewhat reluctant journey to uncover the origin of the 'virus'.

At nearly two hours long, it went quickly and felt rushed. With earlier zombie stories, 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead coming to mind, there's notable character development. Relationships are formed, emotions run high. There is a definite lack of this in WWZ. There are plenty of moments that are never taken advantage of. Even Pitt's relationship with his family feels distant (not just in space). A strong background of the character/s with the same common interest as the audience evokes sympathy. Gerry Lane spends more time escaping the wrath of the zombies than unraveling the mystery.

What the film lacks in, makes up in mise-en-scene. It's beautifully shot, each exterior shot swarming with the infected. They go on a frenzy whenever there's a tumultuous amount of noise, causing thousands of them to appear and pile on top of each other to get to their goal.

One small gripe... this film is missing a key factor that's present in all zombie apocalypses - gore. The rating has been lowered to a 15, unlike the usual 18, to cater to a larger audience. With the budget so high (a whopping $170,000,000) we can at least expect a little blood and guts.... can't we? No. Although it took me a good deal of time to notice this, and may not linger on sour moments, it leads to imagination. Gerry is forced to help one of the Israeli marines, and if you've seen it, we know what he's doing, but are too busy focusing our attention on the woman he's helping. Think Reservoir Dogs and the ear, if you've seen it, you'll know what I mean.

Overview: WWZ... although a strong storyline, it should have been longer, to help us feel the anguish Gerry feels. Tremendous to look at, but could have been grittier. Apparently the only similarity with the book it has is the title. Fans of the book may find it harder to warm to.