Brad Pitt saves the world...

Rating: 5/10 (16 July 2013)

Based on the novel by Max Brooks, the action thriller "World War Z" is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. It is directed by Marc Forster, a director who has gained a lot of critical acclaim from such films as the 2005 "Best Picture" nominee "Finding Neverland" as well as the thriller from 2001 "Monster's Ball" which earned Halle Berry an academy award. The story revolves around former UN investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) who has left his job in order to spend more time with his two daughters and wife Karin (Mireille Enos). His life seems peaceful, he and his family live in a cozy house in the suburbs of Philadelphia. This peace is about to be shattered as international tensions are rising due to a mysterious plague that turns those infected into feral creatures. One day, when Gerry and his family are stuck in traffic in the middle of the city the infected begin attacking the inhabitants as well as causing mass destruction. The Lane's manage to escape within the inch of their lives and hide out with a family in an apartment building. Nevertheless, the infected are not far behind and the Lanes are forced to escape again. They run up the stairs of the apartment building until they reach the roof where they miraculously are picked up by an army helicopter and taken to a safe aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean. The carrier is property of the United Nations and if Gerry wants his family to stay on the carrier he will have to follow their orders. Gerry is forced to return to his old job and is sent off with a task force to find the cure for the plague.
Whilst the film's premise is undoubtedly interesting, it is not executed very well. "World War Z" starts off with a bang and creates some great claustrophobic tension. Unfortunately the rest of the film tends to feel dull. The cast give exceptional performances and Brad Pitt once again proves that he is an excellent lead actor. Bear in mind that this is most definitely not a bad film, it's justOK. Like I said, the film looks promising in the first few scenes, but then becomes dull. It should be noted that one of the films major strong point is the impressive visuals and intense camera-work. One of the main problems that hinder the film is that there is very little character development when it comes to Brad Pitt's character. We don't know anything about his past and we don't know the reasoning behind his actions. "World War Z" is most definitely a movie that should be seen in the cinema with a friend, it provides some intense action, but other than that it hasn't got much to offer. I had also heard that the movie was re-shot after the director decided that the story was too politically driven. This really annoyed me because there could have been some great potential for this film if it was more than just popcorn action
This is without a doubt a fun movie, but it becomes progressively predictable and dull. What could have been a fascinating social commentary is now a piece of popcorn entertainment. If you're looking for a movie to see with your friends, sure go see it, but if you're looking for something profound or in any way deep, avoid it.