World War Z

Posted on September 16, 2013 at 6:00 pm

B+
Lowest Recommended Age: Mature High Schooler
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense frightening zombie sequences, violence and disturbing images
Profanity: Mild language
Alcohol/ Drugs: Drinking
Violence/ Scariness: Constant peril and violence with many characters injured and killed, children in peril, scary zombies, many disturbing images including graphic wounds and attacks, dead bodies, tension and scary surprises
Diversity Issues: Diverse characters
Date Released to Theaters: June 21, 2013
Date Released to DVD: September 17, 2013
Amazon.com ASIN: B005LAIIMG

There are going to be a lot of superheroes on screen this summer, but none of them are as super as Gerry Lane a former investigator for the UN called back into action to fight the zombie apocalypse. No superhero outfit or origin story — he doesn’t need one. He’s just an ordinary good guy who happens to be super-smart, super-kind, super-honorable, and super-able to withstand all kinds of physical challenges, perform emergency surgery, and be an awwww-inspiring dad and husband. To put it another way, he’s played by Brad Pitt.world_war_z_37736  Based on the book by Max Brooks (son of Oscar-winners Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks), the story takes Lane all over the world to find “patient zero,” the original source of the plague that has turned millions of people into zombies, so they can figure out how to fight them.

A brief opening scene shows us Lane interacting endearingly with his adorable family: wife Karin (Jessica Chastian-ish Mirielle Enos), and two daughters, one with a stuffed animal and one with asthma.  We have just enough time to fall in love with them on what seems like an ordinary day, until all hell breaks loose while they are driving to work and school.  At first, all is confusion and chaos, and then the zombies arrive.  They are fast and aggressive and it takes just 12 seconds after a person is attacked for them to become fast and aggressive zombies themselves.  Zombies are, as we have come to know from many other movies, extremely focused and therefore extremely effective.  They have just one purpose: to create more zombies.  They will do whatever it takes to whomever it takes.  And the humans who must try to survive will be faced with terrible choices.

After a harrowing escape, the Lanes and a young boy who helped them are rescued by a helicopter and taken to Gerry’s former boss at the UN, working from an aircraft carrier.  At first, Gerry refuses to leave his family to investigate the source of the zombies.  But the Naval Commander (David Andrews) makes it clear that they only have room for “essential personel” on their ship — and that Gerry’s family will only be considered essential as long as Gerry takes on the mission of escorting a young professor and expert in virology to Korea to track down the first reported case.  They set off with some Navy Seals for protection, but soon Gerry is on his own, globe-trotting from Korea to Israel to Wales in search of answers.

Director Marc Forster, not known for thrillers, keeps things taut and involving, holding back information to keep us just a little strung out and then allowing us some release at just the right moment.  The zombies are fast and relentless.  Even at a PG-13 level, with muted gore, they are very disturbing.  One just clicks his teeth with what could hardly be described as a knowing look — maybe just focused — and it is really creepy.  From the heartbeat sound behind the opening logo to the seemingly innocent moments that turn ominous, the pacing is tight and absorbing and the the characters and the puzzle weighty.  But it is Pitt who makes it all work.  He is so good at everything that we almost wonder why he needs a plane — surely he can just fly to the next city on his own — but his un-angsty goodness and sheer star power is itself the most powerful reminder of why it is that we want the humans to win.

Parents should know that this film has graphic and disturbing images, extended very intense sequences of peril with many characters injured and killed, scary and disgusting zombies, emergency amputation, guns, explosions, and chases.

Family discussion: Do you agree with the “tenth man” rule? How did Gerry use what he learned from the doctor? From his observations?

If you like this, try: “28 Days Later,” “I Am Legend,” and “The Andromeda Strain” and the book by Max Brooks

 

 

Related Tags:

 

Action/Adventure Based on a book Drama DVD/Blu-Ray Pick of the Week Fantasy Science-Fiction Thriller

Opening This Week: World War Z and Monsters University

Posted on June 17, 2013 at 3:59 pm

world war z posterMonsters_University_poster_3It’s one of the biggest weeks of the year at the movies with two huge openings.  It’s the zombie apocalypse vs. monsters, Brad Pitt vs. Mike and Sully.

Pitt stars in a movie based on World War Z, a book by Max Brooks (son of Oscar-winners Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks).  It is directed by Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland, Stranger than Fiction, The Kite Runner, Quantum of Solace). Pitt plays a former UN executive who travels the world to try to stop the zombies.  Two sequels are already in the works.

Monsters University” is the prequel to one of my favorite Pixar films, Monsters, Inc.  Mike (the ball-shaped guy with one big eye voiced by Billy Crystal) and Sully (the enormous furry guy voiced by John Goodman) are roommates in the frat house.  They study scaring (remember, their world is fueled by the fears of children) and they participate in fraternity competitions.  The cast includes Helen Mirren as the school’s dean, Alfred Molina as a professor, and Nathan Fillion as a big monster on campus.

 

Related Tags:

 

Opening This Week
THE MOVIE MOM® is a registered trademark of Nell Minow. Use of the mark without express consent from Nell Minow constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. All material © Nell Minow 1995-2024, all rights reserved, and no use or republication is permitted without explicit permission. This site hosts Nell Minow’s Movie Mom® archive, with material that originally appeared on Yahoo! Movies, Beliefnet, and other sources. Much of her new material can be found at Rogerebert.com, Huffington Post, and WheretoWatch. Her books include The Movie Mom’s Guide to Family Movies and 101 Must-See Movie Moments, and she can be heard each week on radio stations across the country.

Website Designed by Max LaZebnik