I was reticent to watch World War Z when it was first released. Not because it was Brad Pitt, but because I knew there was no way to faithfully adapt and honor Max Brooks novel on which the film is based.

So now, ten years later, I was finally ready for it. And while it definitely doesn’t really tie in with the narratives that Brooks put in his novel it does end up being an excellent zombie movie. The zombies are fast and the idea of viral infection is more terrifying following COVID though you know that there would be a slew of people getting turned because they refused to believe it was a thing.

For all that, the film plays it smart, straight and treats the subject with a scary seriousness.

Gerry Lane (Pitt) is a former UN investigator who has retired to live with his family, but on this day, he’s about to get pulled back in when a strange viral outbreak seems to be spreading across the globe, infecting people through bites, and turning them into the z word.

To keep his family safe he agrees to conduct a global investigation in an attempt to trace the spread of the virus, find patient zero, and maybe a potential vaccine to stop this threat to humanity. This sets the stage for some fantastic set pieces, locations and the idea that Pitt’s lane is more comfortable using his brains than a pistol.

The Doctor Who fan in me loved that Peter Capaldi made an appearance as a W.H.O. doctor, and I loved a number of the sequences, the assault on Jerusalem was a standout.

Sure I rolled my eyes a couple of times. The whole plane crash survival thing actually elicited a laugh from me, because I think it could have been set up a little better. But we’re delivered a shot of devastation with Lane still buckled into his seat while all around him is destruction. Yes, he’s hurt, but hey, any landing you can walk away from.

Overall, however, I really liked this one, and I’m glad I waited until I wanted to watch it instead of diving into it following my reading of the original book. That would have just upset me. The film can stand easily on its own.

That being said, I think the ending is a little too hopeful. I don’t think we as a species would be willing to make the sacrifices that would be necessary to save ourselves, and we can point at most of history as supportive of that fact.

Doesn’t change the fact that this ended up being a really good big-budget zombie film, and I really got into this one. I’ll be watching this one again.