Brad Pitt in World War Z

Night Of The Living Dead
Night Of The Living Dead

The figure of the zombie has appeared several times in fantasy themed fiction and entertainment, as early as the 1929 novel The Magic Island by William Seabrook. Time claimed that the book “introduced ‘zombi’ into U.S. speech”.  In 1932, Victor Halperin directed White Zombie, a horror film starring Bela Lugosi. This film, capitalizing on the same voodoo zombie themes as Seabrook’s book of three years prior, is often regarded as the first legitimate zombie film, and introduced the word “zombie” to the wider world. Other zombie-themed films include Val Lewton’s I Walked With a Zombie (1943) and Wes Craven’s The Serpent and the Rainbow, (1988) a heavily fictionalized account of Wade Davis’ book.

A new version of the zombie, distinct from that described in Haitian religion, has also emerged in popular culture in 1968. This “zombie” is taken largely from George A. Romero’s seminal film The Night of the Living Dead. The movie was in turn partly inspired by Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel I Am Legend. The word zombie is not used in Night of the Living Dead, but was applied later by fans. This is the time this type of walking dead or zombie was introduced to modern pop culture. It is similar to the zombies of World War Z with a few major differences.

World War Z: The story is about UN investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) and his family how they survive this ordeal. Will someone tell me what an UN investigator is and why is he more like a mercenary? And why does he have so much pull within the world governments? Lane saves his family from certain destruction and rendezvous with his old boss on a US ship at sea with his family via rescue with helicopter. They ask Lane for his help in finding a solution to the cause and cure of the zombie problem. First thing we realize is that Gerry Lane has retired from his position and wants nothing to do with his old job, but when his family is threatened with being released to the land based camps close to the zombies he relents and agrees to do what he can. Lane starts on a journey first to Korea then to Israel and finally to a medical facility where he tests out what he has learned from his encounters with the zombies to find a chemical way to fight the virus that is causing the zombie infestation.

These zombies are strange they can be in a slow state of inactivity reacting mindlessly to their surroundings then with a loud sound or a live person in view they become very heightened like a criminal on PCB uncontrollable.  A live person bit can change within seconds or minutes. The action was intense and the frenzy action of the zombies making new zombies happened so fast that it was hard to react against their sheer force with out getting bitten or turned yourself.

Brad Pitt does an good acting job making the character believable. The dialogue is drawn out and hard to understand sometimes because things happen at times very fast. I personally have not liked zombie movies of the past but this one is acceptable because of the story and good acting. World War Z is a visual spectacle and an entertaining story that does not get caught up with gore and blood like so many zombie movies. It will never be known as one of Pitt’s best performances, or roles as an actor, he shows very little emotion as the world is falling apart ether from a cool head or training. The only real emotion he shows is for those of his family and the few others he cares about. He is quick thinking, making life saving decisions throughout the movie.

For all you zombie fans out there this sightly different take of the zombie lore may just please you. Remember we are doing our best to keep you informed at Comics Talk. Stay tuned movie faithful for more. 🙂 Walt

World War Z
World War Z

 

One Thought to “Brad Pitt in World War Z”

  1. Mike S.

    Brad Pitt makes this movie watchable.

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