Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Horror Film Review #2

World War Z
Film Review two of six



One of the worst truths in our lives that I like so many have come to terms with, is when you adapt a book or some form of literature into a screenplay to a film, you can never be completely faithful to the text.  In some cases, you can be very close almost at verbatim, other times it can be improved upon, Of course it’s a subjective opinion, but one that is shared by many, and in this case anyone who had read author Max Brooks’ novel.  People may disagree with what I am about to say, but world war Z is just another zombie movie.  That being said in contrast to that statement I must say visually it is unmatched, with images and effects that will leave a lasting impression on my mind, that it was so cinematically stunning.  The issue and the truth is the movie, a plan B production; Brad Pitt's production company substituted a vision over a more intriguing and original idea from its source material.  In more direct terms it was candy to our senses and we got a wonderful buffet of visual effects and creepy sounds,

Max Brooks who came to this year’s Toronto Fan Expo (see earlier post) had no objection to sudden drastic changes on the final product, in the show business world he got a substantial buyout for the rights to have his book made into a movie.  Also, if you read his book, you'll know it takes place after the war and it’s just talking heads and people recapping testimony of the events and it being recorded to document the statistics of what happen and how it impacted etc. Pitt's movie while in production suffered setbacks for their decision for deviating from .the source material..  World War Z had several weeks of re-shoots, the final Act of the film ultimately got rewritten by three different writers, and initial plans to work on a sequel got scrapped after experiencing so many difficulties.  Now that the movie became a commercial success and grossed over three times the amount in both domestic and world sales in comparison to production cost; talks are now rumored for a possible sequel.
 
 

  Brad Pitt plays Gerry Lane a former UN employee, while he and his family are stuck in heavy traffic in Philadelphia, the city gets hit with a zombie attack.  In exchange for safety to his Family Gerry goes on a trek to investigate who was patient zero, the one who caused the zombie outbreak, and hopefully find the cure, The journey takes him from the military base of Camp Humphreys in South Korea, to Jerusalem, and then to a WHO faculty in Wales where upon mid-air a stowaway zombie attacks..  The tension feels real, the pace is quick, the stakes are high, and a solid humanizing performance by Pitt makes this story even more believable. Just readers beware; go in with a clear mind you'll be rewarded, compare it to what you know and you'll be mildly disappointed.

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