Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

World War Z 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

"Meh" 3D doesn't dampen an exciting Zombie flick.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 11, 2013

There may be nothing bigger in the broad entertainment field right now than zombies. Superhero movies and digital kids' fare still reign supreme at the box office, but combine the world of film, television, literature, video games, and comics and it would be hard to find anything has so captured the public's imagination than a fictional scenario in which the dead reanimate and feast on the living. But why? What is it that makes that specific fear, that sort of violence, that kind of apocalyptic world so appealing? Is it the possibility for any number of wild, no-win scenarios? Is it the fantasy of escaping the doldrums of reality and finding a charge in life through the specter of almost certain death? Or is it just a fad that will pass with time with no real rhyme or reason for its success? Certainly within the greater Zombie story proliferation there are no, or at least few, deeply rooted themes and commentaries anymore. George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead remains that standard bearer of zombies-as-social-commentary. New productions, like The Walking Dead, aim for character drama and gritty reality more so than jabs at mindless consumerism. Whatever the purpose may be, zombies are a hot commodity and it doesn't appear that they're about to fall out of public favor in the near future. Enter World War Z, the latest Zombie movie to bite its way into theaters. It, too, is largely absent any sort of morality tales or sly commentary but it does deliver top-flight popcorn entertainment on a scope the Zombie genre has never before seen. Based on the book by Max Brooks, son of Filmmaker Mel Brooks, the picture delights in intensity and seamless visual effects without the gut-churning gore of The Walking Dead, making it perhaps the perfect entry point for anyone yet to become fully immersed in the Zombie entertainment pandemic.

Ax me about zombies.

Former United Nations Investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) has retired from his career that tasked him with globetrotting through dangerous lands in favor spending time at home and living the easy life with his wife Karin (Mireille Enos) and his daughters Rachel (Abigail Hargrove) and Constance (Sterling Jerins). A day out on the streets of Philadelphia becomes the beginning of a nightmare when the family finds itself caught in the middle of an outbreak of violence that sees crazed people attacking one another at random and with shocking speed and ferocity. Gerry quickly learns that attack victims themselves turn into singleminded attackers only twelve seconds after contact. He and his family barely escape and are, ultimately, rescued with the help of Gerry's former United Nations boss and friend, Deputy Secretary-General Thierry Umutoni (Fana Mokoena). Gerry is thrust back into service and tasked with tracking down the origins of what is believed to be a "zombie" pandemic and search for a cure. In exchange for the risk, his family is afforded the safety of an overcrowded flotilla.

World War Z is an adrenaline rush of a movie that creates a sense of panicked urgency and never relents. Though the film is at its absolute best in its opening act, the entirety of the production is one of a fast moving and wholly unbelievable spectacle of doom in an apocalyptic landscape that unfolds before the audience's very eyes. Director Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) paints the action vividly and brings it incessantly. If the picture isn't in motion, it's quickly building towards motion, and it's never motion for motion's sake. Instead, there's a kinetic energy that builds within the story as heroes survive and cities fall into rapid ruin, as a search for answers is hindered, though never halted, by disaster after disaster. There's never been a Zombie movie like this before, one that's so fast, so chaotic, so threatening, so uncertain, so dangerous, so large in scope. It's as much about "how" and "why" and "what's the answer" as it is bites, attacks, gunfire, and hell almost literally spewing forth on the screen. Forster's ability to bring dramatic balance amidst the incessant chaos is the film's best asset. It's a true example of film as a roller coaster ride, this time into a world that decays as quickly as the camera can capture it and descends into the sort of madness that only the Zombie genre can offer.

The picture's sense of urgency is made possible due largely to zombies that scramble about like the racetrack dog chasing the mechanical rabbit, not the death row convict marching towards the gas chamber at ten 'til midnight. These zombies are less like the classic amblers of Romero's day that make for juicy targets and fairly easy opponents provided they're not amassed right on top of their victim and more like the "raged" individuals in Danny Boyle's fantastic 28 Days Later. But the movie is much more than these track star "Zekes" that have no problem spilling over one another to reach an objective and who mindlessly rush towards any sound or most any fresh piece of meat. The picture builds a credible character atmosphere, painting Pitt and fictional family very strongly, albeit simply to not just satisfy the picture's core needs but also give it some dramatic weight and a purpose beyond mere survival or "doing the right thing." Pitt's Gerry is a sympathetic, amicable character who becomes a believable hero, not a post-apocalyptic superman. He's more a hero of the mind and stout determination and less a hero of the body or the gun, albeit the latter pieces certainly aid him in his quest to learn the secrets behind the outbreak and find a way to solve the problem. Pitt is strong in the role, a great choice and a relatable, reliable face in the midst of the incessant chaos that swirls around him almost literally from the beginning.

World War Z 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

World War Z's 2D-only presentation proved technically stable but hardly handsome. The same applies here, mostly. This is, again, not the most attractive image in the world. It's fairly pasty a good bit of the time, not always vibrant, and sharp but not consistently so. It's all a little bit dimmer and murkier in 3D, not significantly so but enough to make an already somewhat unattractive film a little bit more so. There's a light softness to many scenes, particularly early and throughout the film's first act. As with the 2D-only transfer, the picture fares best in its middle act in terms of clarity, robustness, and definition, though it's all a touch underwhelming in 3D. Colors satisfy but not to a great degree, while details are largely well defined but not to the same level as the finest images. Again, it points more towards the film and much less towards the Blu-ray release. As for the 3D elements, they're not earth shatteringly impressive, either, though, at the end of the day, may be described as "technically sound." The image shows fair general depth, particularly evident across some longer shots and noticeably in the early Philadelphia overheads. Unfortunately, good spacing is about all this one has to offer, and even then some of more intimate and medium-length shots don't really dazzle in terms of the third dimension. There are a few good moments when ash appears to hover in front of, and well into, the screen during one of the South Korean sequences. A few falling zombies that plummet towards the camera will make the audience flinch. Text overlays appear as if they're well out beyond the confines of the screen. But that's all basic stuff. There's nothing to really dazzle audiences, nothing to set this one apart from the pack. It's a serviceable 3D effort, nothing more and nothing less.

All screenshots have been sourced from the included 2D-only disc.

World War Z 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

World War Z explodes onto Blu-ray with a fantastic DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. It's excellent from the moment the sound rises in sync with the Paramount stars shooting towards the mountain. It's big and serious with a potent low end element that never overwhelms but instead captures a deep, penetrating essence. Musical notes are faultlessly spread about the stage, yielding natural placement and superb clarity with just the right balance of surround support. The track handles its supportive effects wonderfully, whether light background sounds of traffic and overhead helicopters at the beginning or the sheer immersive chaos of a city overrun by zombies later on. The track is dynamically involved and faultlessly clear and robust through every moment and in its delivery of each unique sound. Gunfire pops with pleasing authority and presence, while explosions feature the sort of pinpoint heft and stage presence that's only heard on the best tracks. Dialogue clarity and placement are accurate throughout. This is an excellent lossless soundtrack, just the sort one would expect to accompany a huge Action blockbuster title.

World War Z 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

World War Z's Blu-ray 3D contains a limited assortment of supplements, headlined by a four-part making-of featurette. All supplements may be found on the included 2D-only disc. No 3D-specific extras are included. Please note that the extended cut of the film is only available in 2D while the theatrical cut is only available in 3D.

• Origins (HD, 8:21): A look at the journey of the film's production, beginning with the book's release in 2006 and moving on to cover the book's structure and scope, translating it into a viable film project, and the process of assembling the cast and crew and the qualities the majors brought to the film.
• Looking to Science (HD, 7:28): An examination of how real-world scientific truths and analysis were used to enhance the film. The piece also briefly looks at the appeal of zombies and Zombie films.
• WWZ: Production (HD): A four-part Documentary that analyzes the making of the film. It begins with Outbreak (8:31), a detailed look at the making of the film's opening sequence. The Journey Begins (8:39) focuses on building several of the visual effects and shooting the scenes that end the first act and play through part of the second. Next is Behind the Wall (9:41), a thorough examination of making the extended Israel action sequence. Finally, Camouflage (9:25) guides viewers through the making of the film's extended airliner sequence and third act elements.
• Digital Copies: UV and downloadable copies are included. However, the included code is only good for redeeming one or the other, not both.

World War Z 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

World War Z lacks both the dramatic splendor and splattering gore of The Walking Dead. It's also absent the biting social commentary of Romero's classic films, but what it doesn't fail to feature is a robust story, fast-paced action, and insanely detailed special effects. This is huge, entertaining moviemaking done very well by a director with a vision and a keen sense of how to entertain both his core audience and outsiders dabbling in what is a fairly safe but highly intense and oftentimes exhilarating Zombie film. World War Z is built to please, and please it does as one of 2013's most agreeably exciting films. Paramount's Blu-ray 3D release of World War Z features solid video, adequate 3D, reference audio, and several extras. The 2D-only version is the better option.