The movie follows Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), a former United Nations investigator, as he traverses the world in a race against time to stop a sudden zombie pandemic that is threatening to destroy civilization.

World War Z has been praised for its intense, fast-paced action sequences involving massive swarms of zombies, creating a sense of scale and urgency throughout the film.

The movie’s tone is more serious compared to other zombie films, aiming to provide a gripping, realistic depiction of how the world would respond to such a catastrophic outbreak.

Review by Ben Dover:

World War Z (2013) – 3.5 Caffeinated Corpses

Well, butter my brains and call me a shambler! Just when I thought the zombie genre had been beaten to death harder than a reanimated horse, along comes “World War Z” to prove there’s still some life in them there undead.

Brad Pitt stars as Gerry Lane, a former UN investigator who looks like he just rolled out of bed and into the apocalypse. His character’s got all the personality of a stale cracker, but damn if he doesn’t make running from zombies look good. The man could make fleeing from a horde of ravenous undead seem like a shampoo commercial.

These aren’t your grandpappy’s shuffling zombies, oh no. These infected move faster than teenagers to a free buffet. They swarm like caffeinated ants, turning cities into all-you-can-eat brain buffets quicker than you can say “patient zero.” It’s like someone crossbred the 28 Days Later infected with Olympic sprinters and gave them a Red Bull IV drip.

The plot? It’s thinner than the chances of survival in a zombie apocalypse. Pitt globe-trots faster than Carmen Sandiego, searching for a cure while conveniently stumbling upon every major set piece the budget could afford. Jerusalem? Sure! South Korea? Why not! Wales? Er, okay, that one’s a bit random.

The action sequences are a mixed bag of genuine thrills and unintentional hilarity. One minute you’re on the edge of your seat as zombies pile up like the world’s worst game of Tetris, the next you’re wondering how in the name of George Romero a plane full of zombies didn’t cause more casualties.

Is it faithful to Max Brooks’ book? About as much as I am to my diet. They basically slapped the title on a generic zombie action flick and called it a day. But you know what? It works. It’s big, dumb fun that moves faster than a zombie spotting a wounded gazelle.

The film’s PG-13 rating means the gore is about as watered down as the beer at a college frat party. But what it lacks in guts, it makes up for in sheer spectacle. It’s like watching a global game of “tag” where the losers join the other team… and then eat them.

“World War Z” isn’t going to win any awards for depth or originality, but it’s a solid popcorn flick that’ll get your heart racing faster than a zombie virus. It’s proof that sometimes, all you need for a good time at the movies is Brad Pitt, a global pandemic, and enough CGI zombies to populate a small country.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go stock up on canned goods and practice my cardio. After all, rule number one is… ah, you know the rest.

Notes:

Gross worldwide:
$540,455,876

Budget
190,000,000 (estimated)

Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes

The screenplay for this film was featured in the 2007 Blacklist; a list of the ‘most liked’ unmade scripts of the year.

The highest grossing zombie film of all time.

The news reports at the beginning of the movie feel a lot like what we got with Covid some 7 years later.

Quotes:

Andrew Fassbach: Mother Nature is a serial killer. No one’s better. Or more creative. Like all serial killers, she can’t help the urge to want to get caught.

Gerry Lane: You’re letting people in!
Jurgen Warmbrunn: Every person we save is one less zombie to fight.

Critics Consensus:

Critics 67% Audience 72% 
Rotten Tomatoes

It’s uneven and diverges from the source book, but World War Z still brings smart, fast-moving thrills and a solid performance from Brad Pitt to the zombie genre…

Trailer:

AI Images:

Released in 2001, “Ghosts of Mars” is Carpenter’s love letter to the B-movie classics of yesteryear, with a healthy dose of his trademark flair for the absurd. Picture this: a group of tough-as-nails space cops, led by the incomparable Ice Cube and Natasha Henstridge, facing off against ancient Martian spirits hell-bent on turning humanity into cosmic dust. It’s like “Mad Max” meets “War of the Worlds,” and the result is a cinematic cocktail that’s equal parts ridiculous and exhilarating.

The plot? Let’s just say it’s like navigating a Martian sandstorm blindfolded. A group of miners accidentally awakens an ancient evil that possesses them, turning them into bloodthirsty maniacs. Cue our ragtag band of space cops, who must battle their way through hordes of possessed miners while trying not to become Martian hors d’oeuvres.

Ice Cube, our fearless leader, brings his trademark swagger to the role of Desolation Williams—a name so cool it could freeze lava. He’s the kind of guy who’d punch a Martian ghost in the face and ask questions later. Natasha Henstridge holds her own as the tough-as-nails cop who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. Together, they make a dynamic duo that’s as entertaining as it is improbable.

The one thing that distracted me watching this today was Jason Statham’s hair. That sh*t was ridiculous. The thing is Ice Cube was Ice Cube, Natasha Henstridge was Natasha Henstridge, but Statham looked like he was Jason Statham of today’s third cousin once removed. It was actually disconcerting like the voice did not go with the face we all know like he was one of the possessed or something.

The special effects are delightfully cheesy, with practical effects and CGI that scream early 2000s nostalgia. The Martian landscape is a visual feast of crimson skies and desolate vistas, a perfect backdrop for the mayhem that unfolds. And let’s not forget the creature designs—equal parts creepy and campy, they’re a reminder of Carpenter’s love for old-school monster movies.

The dialogue is classic Carpenter, filled with one-liners and tough guy talk that’ll have you chuckling like a Martian hyena. The characters are larger than life, with personalities as colorful as the Martian landscape itself. It’s like Carpenter took a page out of his own playbook and cranked the absurdity dial to 11.

Later on, in an interview in 2011 he basically said just that. In his own words he said he should have let the audience “in on the joke”. “…it’s called Ghosts of Mars for Christ’s sake, why would people take this movie seriously. “.

Knowing that now, this movie is so much better on a rewatch than originally, you can see the humor in its campiness. and it’s much better viewed as a buddy cop comedy with horror elements. It’s also a good look at how much today’s video game creators took from his style the fights in this could be cut scenes from any number of video games over the last 15 years or so.

In conclusion, “Ghosts of Mars” is a fun-filled romp through Carpenter’s twisted imagination, a sci-fi extravaganza that’s as campy as it is entertaining. If you’re in the mood for a dose of intergalactic mayhem with a side of cheesy dialogue and over-the-top action, then strap in and blast off to Mars. Just be sure to pack your sense of humor—it’s gonna be a wild ride.