12 seconds to chaos

Rating: 9/10 (31 December 2015)

Lets get this straight, World War Z is a great film. The Internet Movie Database, (www.imdb.com) rates it at 7. Is it 'the' summer blockbuster? Maybe not, but rumbling under the general intensity of the whole movie is a really good story that struggles to get told in a mere 116 minute thrill ride. The intensity of the film is matched only by the pace. This is set early as Pitt and family make their first run from an unknown and unseen threat in morning traffic. The escape sees everyone, myself included, frantic as the first infected people show themselves. Pitt counts the eerie 12 seconds it takes for the deadly virus to take hold, voiced over by his daughter learning to count for effect and so the film commences...
The whole story is literally crowded out by the spectacle of cinema. Brad Pitt carries off the retired UN specialist who chose a loving family over a career very, very well. One can't help but recall his real life family and special UN envoy wife. But blink and you'll miss this story line, just like the contribution of Israeli soldier, (Mireille Enos), who has her arm chopped off with a flash of inspiration by Pitt. Rather than allow the young soldier die next to him seconds after saving his life he takes drastic action and saves her life. She is by his side until the end but sadly never has the opportunity to develop her role with virtually no lines. This is perhaps the biggest disappointment for me. Many other story line opportunities are not adequately developed for my liking. It is a fabulous premise for the apocalyptic movie lover, which makes the sick immune from the cataclysmic spread of a virus. Pitt takes the producer credit for World war Z and should be pleased with the outcome and probably hungry for more. Although it is not perfect it is very good, an easy 8.5 from us!