Book to Box Office: A Film Review of World War Z

World War Z
Starring Brad Pit, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz
Directed by Marc Forster
Rated PG-13

The IMBD Synopsis: 
United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself. 

My Thoughts:
I was extremely excited to see how this book would be made into a film. After just finishing World War Z by Max Brooks, I couldn't quite see how this geo-political zombie warfare novel would be turned into a successful movie script. The novel is written like a historical document with many short clips from various survivors of WWZ. A film following even ten different war stories would have probably cost a fortune to make, so I wasn't too surprised when the trailer showed that the story would be told from a single vantage point. 
I think the film was a success. I really enjoyed the plot, despite it not being an actual part of the novel. It was clear that the film was inspired by the novel and I think the story of Gerry Lane was probable to the Brook's novel. The cast was well-chosen. There were some recognized faces and some actors that I didn't recognize, which made me appreciate the film more. The character's dress and makeup was very appropriate and, especially with the unfamiliar faces, I had no trouble believing in the cast. 
The zombies were good, but not quite what I was expecting. They seemed very tame compared to the zombies in Brook's novel. However, it should be taken into account that this film is rated PG-13 - the images couldn't be too graphic or it may have been rated R. Considering the rating, I was pleased with the zombies. They were sufficiently scary, but not disgusting and distasteful. 
The film seemed short, but I think it was actually a perfect length. It must have felt shorter because I was enjoying it so much! There was certainly a good level of suspense in the film with just the amount of relief. I wouldn't classify this as horrifying, but suspense/thriller would be an accurate genre. Perfect for me! I don't like too much gore. If you're the same then you'll love this movie. The ending is left with a few loose ends, but the novel is the same way. At first I was disappointed with the film's conclusion, but I don't think any other ending would have worked as well as that one did, especially in comparison to the novel. The film does have a major twist that doesn't occur in the novel. This twist was appropriate for the film adaption to move the plot along and give the movie its own unique attraction.
I would highly recommend this movie! Those interested in zombie films, this is a good one. Those looking for a good suspense or thriller, WWZ is a good film for lots of suspense without the horror. The zombies are appropriate for younger viewers, but they are still zombies - they might be too scary for some, but they are tame in comparison to the novels description. 

I give World War Z four out of five stars

you can read my review of World War Z by Max Brooks here

Review: World War Z by Max Brooks

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
by Max Brooks
Published by Three Rivers Press, 2006
Source: Library

Goodreads Description: 

The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivoros from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.

My Review:
Max Brooks certainly has a chilling gift. It is clear that he is highly intelligent throughout this work, and that he has definitely done his homework on this one. The detail about religions and cultures made this book almost hauntingly real. It also made me appreciate Brooks as an author. If anything, one could read this book to witness Brooks's demonstration of quality authorship. 

Brooks really did a great job - this book is a work of art. However, as far as my investment in the actual plot, that's another story. I liked the book, I really did. However, the story is more like clips of a different events by different people. I often forgot the name of the person being interviewed and had to refer to the bold title before each new story. There was no one character to follow, to root for. That made it a difficult read at first, but I did end up getting into the plot and appreciating the action and emotion in each narrative.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the reading was the technical terms, especially those of weapons and war maneuvers. During long narratives discussing weaponry, I would find my eyelids drooping. It just wasn't my interest. For some, I'm sure, this would become a highlight of the novel, so that must be taken into consideration - that this review is based on my personal reading experience. 

The story of the war was covered from each vantage point - really. Brooks did not forget a single thing. From the ocean floor to outer space, the war had different effects and Brooks considered them all.  
This book was written with such focus it almost seemed real. Very, very rarely did I feel like I needed to suspend my disbelief - beyond the existence of zombies of course (which I realize is a hot topic of its own). The story was terrifying in this way, that Brooks made it seem so very real. 

This book is an insightful story on the nature of humanity and people's responses to trauma and crisis. This is what I loved about this story! Brooks discusses difficult realities and makes several sharp observations about past crises and the human condition. I don't want to make this sound like some political work - its not. World War Z is a great piece of fiction from a very intelligent author. Though it is a work of fiction, the horror comes from the reality of it. From phony miracle drugs to "quislings" experiencing what resembles Stockholm Syndrome, Brooks really drives the story home, right to your front door. When you close the book you'll be asking, "would I really want to live?" 

I highly recommend this story to fans of apocalyptic fiction and for those entertained by war details and mechanics. I'm going to give this book a three out of five foxes because as much as I enjoyed the story, I still always felt disconnected from characters. I know Brooks made a point to avoid the human element as stated in the introduction, but it did not really please my personal reading tastes. Also, I had some difficulty getting through the highly technical narratives and often skipped over weaponry details simply for my lack of understanding and desire to understand. 

** This book was read for a book club with the intent to watch the film soon after. I will include a follow up review of the film and briefly discuss how it relates to the book. Check back soon to read the film review **