Mark Kermode reviews World War Z 

I empathise with the survivors of war Z. In my childhood, holidays often ended up being in Wales, too.

"World War Zed", well said.

That's because they had a different ending in Russia where Brad Pitt and an army of zombie prisoners slaughter the other zombies they rewrote it and reshot it as the original ending was out of character.

While watching WWZ , I started chocking on a sweet and I was coughing to the extent where I was almost out of breath . However , while I was choking a little girl ran out of the screening and I didn't see her come back in .

I've not seen it yet but from what I've been told, they totally abandoned almost everything the was interesting about the book. The thing I liked about the book was the way it's presented as something that had really happened. As the story is told through interviews with survivors. When I first heard about a movie of WWZ, I was sure it would be a mock-documenty, with interviews and archive footage. For me that would have been the way to go. Would have cost a hell of a lot less to make as well.

That it was designed by committee fits perfectly. All the different stories in the book that could have been adapted and they went for the non event reveal in Wales!?

I don't have a big problem with fast zombies, but this film contradicts almost everything written in Max Brooks first book 'The Zombie Survival Guide'. The book depicts zombies as slow moving, gormless, wanderers aimlessly shuffling around towns and cities. Not swarming up the side of a 30 foot wall in a sort of organised chaos. I like slow 'traditional' zombies better. I think they can be just as scary.

Damon Lindelof wrote the third act...and he was only brought on after they'd already wrapped up shooting and they had to re-shoot a lot of stuff. Such a shambolic production in all respects.

Thanks for spoiling the ending Mark

The logic of the characters defies belief at times eg. oh no the rampant rabid zombies have got on the plane - quick, let's stack some suitcases and hand luggage against A CURTAIN to stop them getting to our section! Pitt is the highly trained covert UN operative that forgets to switch his phone to silent mode when sneaking past a gang of highly noise sensitive zombies. The change of scene from epic vistas of Jerusalem to a grotty town in the Welsh Valleys must be a first in modern cinema.

Anybody who's a zombie genre fan should watch Train to Busan instead of this. Don't let the one inch barrier of subtitles stop you pal.

The film's first half felt grittier, less reserved, and much edgier. By the third act the direction seemed to have been lost. The ending was predictable by the third act, yet bagginess ensured you'd have to sit bored and wait for it - and the wait drags on. A good film if only for the first two more exciting and better-paced acts. I really don't understand how it descended into the last act, but it didn't completely ruin the film by any means. Decent is probably the word.

It's not World War "ZED". The movie is called World War "ZEE". Look, I'm Canadian and I pronounce the letter "z" properly (zed), but the movie was purposely called World War ZEE because it's a play on World War III (Three). Hearing Mark calling it World War ZED just made me laugh. Anyway, I thought it was funny that Peter Capaldi was just about to start playing Doctor Who and he was one of the lead doctors at the Cardiff World Health Organization (WHO). Coincidence? I THINK NOT!

Quite possibly Dan and I mean that genuinely. But ask yourself: would a finale in any other British nation provoke a similar reaction? Total Film's review wrote this: “Lane jets around the ruined earth to try and discover the original root of the plague - touching down in South Korean airbases, Israeli cities and, err, Wales.” Err, Wales? Well there's more than 2 million taxpayers in err, Wales.

I havent seen world war ZEE OR ZED yet.But i have a feeling this is going to be a Marmite film.I will love it or hate it.I loved the other Marmite film Prometheus.Does anyone know any other Marmite films?.

absolutely agree with you!!!!!!!!

It reminded me of 28days later in that it felt like 2 movies... In 28 days later the 1st part was awesome up until they met up with the soldiers WWZ was exactly like this with the ending at the Virus centre

Yeah,being a fan of the book I have zero interest in this movie until it's eventual Netflix run. Wish Pitt/Plan B/Paramount/Forster just stuck with the J. Michael Straczynski script which was much closer to the book. There are zero "Attack of The Bloodless CG,Ant Like Swarming Zombies" in the book.I was excited when Pitt bought the rights years ago,I was hoping he would do a proper take on WWZ. But no,he just churns out another insta-forgettabuster. WWZ should have always been an HBO series IMO.

I only went to watch on hearing the finale is set in Wales. Call me sad, but we're NEVER in the movies (see Dr K's almost incredulous reaction here) and it's about time were were put in. I suspect if it's the Isle of Skye, London or Peak District the reaction might be a little different? That said, the end sits awkwardly. TOP visuals with the Zom hordes but I guess in the book the locations serve the story. The film has no story to serve unfortunately. Thanks for the representation though

On it's own this was not all it could have been as a movie. But, with that being said, after the recent crap I've seen such as After Earth, Mud, Man of Steel, and Hangover part 3, this was a welcome change for this summer.

I couldn't agree more. However a part of me says "No Mr Kermode. It's a film about the end of the world. At no point did I get that sense of dread, of the world actually ending, horror, regret, guilt, fear, joy, elation. None of those things were conveyed. It was almost as if the audience had become zombie-fied in the traditional sense... Slow, lumbering brain dead corpses. I had no high hopes, but if the ending was the one they felt was the 'best ending' what was the original ending like?

Whilst the film’s very uneven, the film’s still A gory, action packed, stylish & well acted action adventure zombie film that’s favourably comparable to The Walking Dead (2010-2022). (77%) (4/5 stars) (positive)

What was wrong with the ending at the virus centre? Not a single point about it is made except from the fact that it's set (as spoken with slightly disturbing signs of contempt by Kermode) in Wales. It centralised the action to an indoor setting, and played on the claustrophobia of fighting Zombies in corridors as opposed to the epic expanse of an airfield. This is similar to the critic's criticism of The Avengers for not explaining Hulk's stretchy underwear. Ie, not at all relevant.

"Lost it's bite, lost it's pulse". I see what they did there.

Did they even open the book?

I wonder what Mark Kermode would think of The Last of Us.

Really enjoyed it..!, (Ending was a bit dull, Heard the original cut had a big zombie war set in Russia.!). Roll on the sequel..!

I agree Mccaw they didn't allow my contribution on this video when I mentioned Mark's incredulous reaction to a scene set in Wales. Says it all really, as did the cheer in the cinema when Cardiff was mentioned. It's called representation and even some of the best English people don't like seeing Wales being depicted on screen as being separate from England.

Why no studio footage?

Here's what I thought was negative 1) Pits acting needed serious umph, he looked calm at occastions considering undead tried to nibble him again and again. 2) The editing on the Philli Sequence was bish bash bosh so much I couldn't make sense of it and it hurt my eyes. 3) The film was to quick to introduce the main problem, we weren't eased in with a disquietning sense of dread before throwing us in.

was filmed in Wales but not set in Wales. Significant difference.

I can't see Mark! This makes me sad.

some of it was even filmed in glasgow

Carrie (1976)

The ending of the film was rewritten 6 times. It accounted for $125 million of the budget.

I think they're setting up for a possible sequel.

to mark kermode - whats your favorite zombie film?

“Zed” lol nice one.

It was actually a suspencefull movie, even with unoriginal story it made me care of the characters, well maybe expect Brad, his character was too intouchable, so yeah, a typical hollywood movie with hollywood criteriaz, but at least it was decent and a good action-horror flick. I had fun.

As someone who read the book, I'm pretty disappointed that the movie went in another direction, but I'll be the first to admit that the book's narrative structure just wouldn't work as a film.

Hang on, this is an American film, based on an American book. Surely it should be pronounced 'World War Zee', not 'Zed'?

Hollywood please... Enough with the zombie movies... Zombies, pardon the pun, have been done to death.. What with all the cinematic variations over the last ten years and not forgetting The Walking Dead, I doubt there is anything left to say that's fresh. World War Z doesn't interest me in the slightest, purely because of the subject matter.. Maybe if this had been released five or ten years ago it would have more of an impact. I'd rather watch a Romero zombie movie thanks..

Medical unit in WHERE?

I enjoyed World War Z.

The last act strayed to the point of self-parody

How'd I know he'd say World War Zed.

Uh-oh. Some people are saying the end reshoots made it better, now i'm hearing it's worse. I haven't seen it yet, but I sure hope Mark is wrong here :|

Just been to watch this movie. Massive fan of the book, disappointed by trailer. Tried to go into movie giving it the benefit of the doubt. Such a pile of rubbish. Btw Zombies don't bite you anymore they run at you and push you over while an extra walks in front of the camera. I ended up laughing at the rest of the movie 25 minutes in.

Come on, Mark: fast zombies were started in 1985 by Return of the Living Dead.

world war Z is one of the best movie i've seen after AVATAR.

Getting OK reviews on RTs - 67%. Does not sound well put together so I'll give it a miss

Mark - please don't say too much about the film, talking about the ending even just a little bit is still a spoiler

Seems to me you're monitoring this so I want to tell you something you missed in your Man of Steel review. It's an allegory and 're-imagining' of the story of Christ seeking, through a reversal of virtuous values, to supplant the ultimate sacrifice and expression of unconditional Love for one of infinite Pride and ultimate Power. The trailer for it was replete with visual and aural references but this part was unmistakeable in it's hubris. /T6DJcgm3wNY?t=1m36s

Yea...I expected more from the movie.

Defiantly wasn't a boring film.

Mamma Mia

First! Haven't seen it yet so reserving judgement. Very Happy to see a Major Blockbuster by the mainstream Studios take a stab at this genre of Horror movie. Kermode! Get a new haircut for gods sake, you're a grown man!!

WORLD WAR Z ......Brads biggest grossing movie EVER ....nuff said

Couldn't agree more.

MODERN cinema? :)

Slow fast zombies

Your last point is absolutely on the nose. It's a horrible sense of entitlement and smugness I'm getting from the way English people react to Wales as its own entity. It's like a jealous boyfriend/girlfriend.

I can't help but feeling somewhat cynical towards Brad Pitt's character. Seems fairly unrealistic that a man working for the UN (and apparently has a reputation of being exceedingly good at it) decides that his family is more important than the world? I know family bounds are often strong and important etc. but if he actually thought for a second, he might realize that if a cure isn't found, then it means bugger all if he's with his family or not.

So, much like 28 Weeks Later, I should just watch the first 20 minutes and then go and watch something else.

World War Z has about as much in common with it's paper counterpart as Richard Bacon does with a pig. The film is vague, bloated and cliche'd whereas the book is focused, tight and inventive. But even not comparing it to the book there are many better Zombie films to watch, go and rewatch Dawn of the Dead again. (Also why did Brad Pitt have such long hair, a stupid move when your enemies main way of killing you is grabbing on to any body part they can find and dragging you to the ground.)

Could Mark say the word 'Wales' a little more condescendingly, please? Thanks.

Easily one of BP’s worst

Typical English reaction to Wales. Predictable to the core.

The film is...meh :/