Save the World? Nah, save your family first.

Rating: 3/10 (4 October 2015)

Just finished watching this film for the second time (yes, I know--once should have been enough), and apart from Brad Pitt's really rough-looking hairstyle (did he gell it with superglue?) one thing struck me that I'd somehow completely missed the first time. On the aircraft carrier Pitt is asked to use his expertise to help save Mankind. He refuses, not once but three times. Why? He has to stay with his family. Why? Dunno, since his family is in a perfectly safe place and his presence isn't going to make them any safer. He only changes his mind when threatened with being chucked off the ship as non-essential personnel.
So, let's get this straight. Pitt is the hero, the guy we're supposed to sympathize with, but he won't try to save Mankind because he prefers to stay with his family, even though his family has no chance of survival unless he or someone can find a cure for the zombie disease. He's supposed to be a very intelligent guy, but this simple fact appears not to have occurred to him. So, even putting aside his astonishing selfishness, his total lack of altruism, he seems not to be that bright, and certainly not the sort of hero we should be rooting for. Pity we don't have an alternative, like the young scientist who unfortunately gets killed the moment he steps off the plane. Of course, as a bit-parter this guy was always going to get cacked and leave good old Brad in charge, but did it have to be quite so soon?
Dreary film. Selfish hero. Seasick camera-work. Wooden acting, especially Pitt. Dumb script (didn't they know that singing would attract the zombies? They knew enough to build the wall, but didn't know that). Yep, pretty much par for the course these days.