World War Z

[danny_galaga]

There is always that debate about 'book versus movie'. I haven't read the book. I give the movie 5/5. If you've read the book and seen the movie, I'd be interested in what you think.

my score for recent movies you may have seen:

  5/5 - The Way Back, The Kings Speech, Michael Clayton, In Bruges, Gran Torino, Mary and Max, Moonrise Kingdom

4.5/5 - Taken, Iron Man, Reign Over Me, Watchmen, The girl with the dragon tattoo

  4/5 - True Grit, Traitor, Bedtime Stories, Sunshine, pineapple express

3.5/5 - 300, Max Payne, You dont mess with the Zohan, Yes Man

  3/5 - That new Indiana Jones flick, Disturbia, That new TMNT flick,

2.5/5 - Angels and Demons

  2/5 - The Love Guru. Note: My 2 is probably someone elses 1. Just leaving room for worse!

[kahlid74]

The book is like a delicious orange.  The movie is like a rotted apple.  It has Zombies in it, that's where the similarities end.  The movie is entertaining, but it shouldn't use World War Z as it's title. 

It's a crap shoot in my mind because I love the book.  The whole battle of York Town is SOOO substantial when you realize the zombies don't run, yet they STILL overtook the military.  It was in that moment that the whole world went OH CRAP, this is real.  That's when the real panic took hold, when the world broke down.  10,000 Army strong with tanks and helicopters and they couldn't stop the slow moving mass.  Then the army retreated INTO the press and spectators like the Civil War Battle of Bull Run except the zombies didn't hold back like the south did in bull run.  The zombies moved on a massacred everything in their path.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah I know you'd think that a book about zombies would be kind of cheesy, but it's nothing short of a masterpiece.  The book also uses real zombies, as opposed to the lame fast-moving cgi crap in the film.  Everyone should read the book... it's reminiscent of documentaries where they visit veterans and war ravaged nations years later.... very impressive stuff. 

[danny_galaga]

I suspected as much. So then for anyone who has read the book, don't bother with the movie! But if you haven't read the book I thoroughly recommend the movie (",)

[Ginsu Victim]

The only way I wanted this movie to be made was if the Band of Brothers crew did it.

[danny_galaga]

The only way I wanted this movie to be made was if the Band of Brothers crew did it.

Is this the case for ANY movie being made?

[Drnick]

It's world war Z in name only.  I loved the book, and I really hoped for some good things.  But pfffffffffttt.    I dread to think of what they would come up with for the sequel or prequel.

[korbitz]

Watched it Saturday in 3D, iMHO I wasn't to enamored by it, seen better zombie flicks, also seen some worse ones. I'll give it a 3/5 for the movie, 1/5 for the ending 

[koolmoecraig]

Yeah I know you'd think that a book about zombies would be kind of cheesy, but it's nothing short of a masterpiece.  The book also uses real zombies, as opposed to the lame fast-moving cgi crap in the film.  Everyone should read the book... it's reminiscent of documentaries where they visit veterans and war ravaged nations years later.... very impressive stuff.

Fast moving Zombies have ruined the genre.  How are fast moving zombies any different than any other monster/slasher?  Making them out of CGI just makes them worse.

[Howard_Casto]

Oh I know.  I think that these directors that use fast moving zombies don't fully understand why zombies are scary.  Zombies represent plague, or social conformity, or any number of heavy, rational, fears.  What makes them scary isn't their speed or intelligence, it's the numbers and the fact that they are so low key that a stray one could get you in your sleep.  They are a realization that you are the minority and nothing, nothing you can do is going to change that.   To defeat them utterly is to wipe all the sand on a beach away with a broom without getting sand on your shoes. 

Romero got this.  In his films there are always scenes with one or two zombies, and they are pathetic.... even in hoards they are manageable... and then you relax, a lone zombie ignorantly walks though a hole in the fence and slowly but surely your whole group is zombie chow not due to that lone zombie (who usually only gets one guy), but due to the idiot people.  The guy who is infected but is so selfish that they don't tell anybody.  The crazy lady, who after seeing so much death feels hopeless and tries to make a run for it, dooming the rest via opening the gate...ect....  Good zombie films aren't about zombies. 

For fast movers, the fear just isn't there, at least not a legitimate, dreadful, fear.  Even in huge numbers like in this film... if a bunch of zombies are running towards you.. well first thing you'll hear them a mile away and secondly if they are running "this way"  well I'm gonna go "that way" and just stay away from them.  Even if they catch me it's over so quick that there's really no time to get scared.  Quick zombies are a gunshot to the head, killing you instantly and painlessly... real zombies are a gunshot wound to the stomach... you'll be awake and in pain for a long time as you slowly die. 

[danny_galaga]

Ok, in the movie people are being infected by a Rabies like virus. It afflicts the victim within seconds, and then they of course attack other people. I've never seen a rabid dog, but I bet it doesn't shamble around    So what is the story in the book? If it's also a rabies-like virus, do they explain why the victims catch it so quickly, yet shamble along?

[Howard_Casto]

It's been a few years since I've read it, but if  recall correctly in the book they compare it to the rabies virus but I don't think they ever fully explain things.  At one point they FALSELY label it as a rabies offshoot due to a (bogus) vaccine being introduced, but the zombies are decidedly re-animated corpses that die before becoming zombies.  It gets really detailed in the description of the things.  They are more mobile when they first turn, but because they are rotting corpses they very quickly fall apart and move at a snails pace.  They even make note that you can smell the zombies long before you see them because they are eating human flesh.. and well...  it goes right through them and zombies aren't exactly toilet trained.     

They are essentially the classic Romero zombie as described in the author's previous book... the zombie survival guide.   

[danny_galaga]

It's been a few years since I've read it, but if  recall correctly in the book they compare it to the rabies virus but I don't think they ever fully explain things.  At one point they FALSELY label it as a rabies offshoot due to a (bogus) vaccine being introduced, but the zombies are decidedly re-animated corpses that die before becoming zombies.  It gets really detailed in the description of the things.  They are more mobile when they first turn, but because they are rotting corpses they very quickly fall apart and move at a snails pace.  They even make note that you can smell the zombies long before you see them because they are eating human flesh.. and well...  it goes right through them and zombies aren't exactly toilet trained.     

They are essentially the classic Romero zombie as described in the author's previous book... the zombie survival guide.   

I see! The movie still fits the canon then because it focuses on early days. I guess if they make a sequel you would see the zombies getting slower...

[kahlid74]

It's been a few years since I've read it, but if  recall correctly in the book they compare it to the rabies virus but I don't think they ever fully explain things.  At one point they FALSELY label it as a rabies offshoot due to a (bogus) vaccine being introduced, but the zombies are decidedly re-animated corpses that die before becoming zombies.  It gets really detailed in the description of the things.  They are more mobile when they first turn, but because they are rotting corpses they very quickly fall apart and move at a snails pace.  They even make note that you can smell the zombies long before you see them because they are eating human flesh.. and well...  it goes right through them and zombies aren't exactly toilet trained.     

They are essentially the classic Romero zombie as described in the author's previous book... the zombie survival guide.   

I see! The movie still fits the canon then because it focuses on early days. I guess if they make a sequel you would see the zombies getting slower...

It's been a while for me too since I last read the book, but from what I remember Brooks talks about how the virus essentially quarantines off the brain from the rest of the body and the brain becomes an "organism" who doesn't need other parts of the body to continue functioning.

[CCM]

Seems like the best way to approach this is to treat the book and movie as completely separate entities.   I haven't read the book or seen the movie yet, but I talked to my brother who has done both.  He enjoyed both the book and movie.   So, if you can not get your panties in a bunch trying to compare the book and movie, you may just enjoy them both.

[Howard_Casto]

It's not that, it's the principal of the thing.  Brooks was supposed to be a consultant on the film and they basically took his ideas, threw them away, and re-shot the whole thing.  Which is fine, just take WWZ out of the title, because that isn't what it is.  It's times like this when I can understand writers asking to have their name taken off a project.

kahlid got it right.... I knew it was some sort of non-scientific mumbo jumbo that was never fully explained.  Their explanation as to how the brain survived without nutrients was something stupid like it takes a long time for the brain to rot and/or it takes a long time for the parasite to eat it.  It does give a good explanation as to why they are going around munching on people though... to spread the infection.   But no, the film doesn't fall into canon via the type of zombies.  When I say early on, I mean the first few hours of the body dying.  Rigor mortis sets in afterall and even before, the people are stricken from a very bad fever prior to dying.  So they are as fast moving as a recently deceased corpse with the flu. 

[DaOld Man]

Ok I saw this movie yesterday. I have mixed feelings about it.
The special effects were good, but the story, well..

Here are a few questions that immediately popped up in my mind but the movie never addressed them.
(Spoiler Alert!)

First how can anything that moves on its own go so long without eating or drinking?
I mean even a rabid dog will eventually die, usually in just a few days when it can no longer eat or drink.
Plus the speed they run means some kind of energy is being used. And a lot of energy.
Why dont the Jews have guards posted around the wall at Jerusalem?
You would think they would have seen the zombies building a zombie ladder long before they got so far up the wall.
It wasnt like there werent any zombies for miles, I mean they were everywhere outside the wall.
Why didnt the whole world know about Israel building the wall while it was being built?
They would have taken a long time to build a wall like that, and we know the Muslim world would have not sit silently by while Israel built a wall around Jerusalem.
Why did the Zombies break in the door of Tommys apartment?
They are attracted to noise and were chasing Brad Pitts family, and Tommys family wasnt making any noise (unless I missed it), so why did the zombies immediately go to the door and break it in?
How did Tommy escape them?

There are a few more questions, but I have covered enough for now.
What is it with movies these days? If we are supposed to fill in the blanks with our imagination, why dont we just read books? They are not nearly as high cost wise as a movie.
I dont like the trend most movies seem to be doing these days.

[kahlid74]

Ok I saw this movie yesterday. I have mixed feelings about it.
The special effects were good, but the story, well..

Here are a few questions that immediately popped up in my mind but the movie never addressed them.
(Spoiler Alert!)

First how can anything that moves on its own go so long without eating or drinking?
I mean even a rabid dog will eventually die, usually in just a few days when it can no longer eat or drink.
Plus the speed they run means some kind of energy is being used. And a lot of energy.
Why dont the Jews have guards posted around the wall at Jerusalem?
You would think they would have seen the zombies building a zombie ladder long before they got so far up the wall.
It wasnt like there werent any zombies for miles, I mean they were everywhere outside the wall.
Why didnt the whole world know about Israel building the wall while it was being built?
They would have taken a long time to build a wall like that, and we know the Muslim world would have not sit silently by while Israel built a wall around Jerusalem.
Why did the Zombies break in the door of Tommys apartment?
They are attracted to noise and were chasing Brad Pitts family, and Tommys family wasnt making any noise (unless I missed it), so why did the zombies immediately go to the door and break it in?
How did Tommy escape them?

There are a few more questions, but I have covered enough for now.
What is it with movies these days? If we are supposed to fill in the blanks with our imagination, why dont we just read books? They are not nearly as high cost wise as a movie.
I dont like the trend most movies seem to be doing these days.

It's basically just a high paced action movie.  That's what they think you want in this type of movie.  They completely missed the boat on what World War Z was actually all about.

[danny_galaga]

It's not that, it's the principal of the thing.  Brooks was supposed to be a consultant on the film and they basically took his ideas, threw them away, and re-shot the whole thing.  Which is fine, just take WWZ out of the title, because that isn't what it is.  It's times like this when I can understand writers asking to have their name taken off a project.

kahlid got it right.... I knew it was some sort of non-scientific mumbo jumbo that was never fully explained.  Their explanation as to how the brain survived without nutrients was something stupid like it takes a long time for the brain to rot and/or it takes a long time for the parasite to eat it.  It does give a good explanation as to why they are going around munching on people though... to spread the infection.   But no, the film doesn't fall into canon via the type of zombies.  When I say early on, I mean the first few hours of the body dying.  Rigor mortis sets in afterall and even before, the people are stricken from a very bad fever prior to dying.  So they are as fast moving as a recently deceased corpse with the flu. 

You can blame Brooks then. Is he not the son of Mel Brooks? He would be no stranger to the machinations of Hollywood. Perhaps it was his master to sell more books 

[kahlid74]

It's not that, it's the principal of the thing.  Brooks was supposed to be a consultant on the film and they basically took his ideas, threw them away, and re-shot the whole thing.  Which is fine, just take WWZ out of the title, because that isn't what it is.  It's times like this when I can understand writers asking to have their name taken off a project.

kahlid got it right.... I knew it was some sort of non-scientific mumbo jumbo that was never fully explained.  Their explanation as to how the brain survived without nutrients was something stupid like it takes a long time for the brain to rot and/or it takes a long time for the parasite to eat it.  It does give a good explanation as to why they are going around munching on people though... to spread the infection.   But no, the film doesn't fall into canon via the type of zombies.  When I say early on, I mean the first few hours of the body dying.  Rigor mortis sets in afterall and even before, the people are stricken from a very bad fever prior to dying.  So they are as fast moving as a recently deceased corpse with the flu. 

You can blame Brooks then. Is he not the son of Mel Brooks? He would be no stranger to the machinations of Hollywood. Perhaps it was his master to sell more books 

Yes and No.  Some people when they sell rights maintain control and have a hand in the production and ultimate execution.  Others contracts stipulate they sell all parts and have no say in any parts there-after.  So my guess would be that he sold the rights and lost the right to have final say.  They listened to his ideas and then decided it wouldn't be a good fit for "Their movie" and changed the fudsicles out of it.

[danny_galaga]

It's not that, it's the principal of the thing.  Brooks was supposed to be a consultant on the film and they basically took his ideas, threw them away, and re-shot the whole thing.  Which is fine, just take WWZ out of the title, because that isn't what it is.  It's times like this when I can understand writers asking to have their name taken off a project.

kahlid got it right.... I knew it was some sort of non-scientific mumbo jumbo that was never fully explained.  Their explanation as to how the brain survived without nutrients was something stupid like it takes a long time for the brain to rot and/or it takes a long time for the parasite to eat it.  It does give a good explanation as to why they are going around munching on people though... to spread the infection.   But no, the film doesn't fall into canon via the type of zombies.  When I say early on, I mean the first few hours of the body dying.  Rigor mortis sets in afterall and even before, the people are stricken from a very bad fever prior to dying.  So they are as fast moving as a recently deceased corpse with the flu. 

You can blame Brooks then. Is he not the son of Mel Brooks? He would be no stranger to the machinations of Hollywood. Perhaps it was his master to sell more books 

Yes and No.  Some people when they sell rights maintain control and have a hand in the production and ultimate execution.  Others contracts stipulate they sell all parts and have no say in any parts there-after.  So my guess would be that he sold the rights and lost the right to have final say.  They listened to his ideas and then decided it wouldn't be a good fit for "Their movie" and changed the fudsicles out of it.

Still his fault. Didn't J.K Rowling manage to keep the screenplays exactly as she wanted? And without having inside movie experience...