Brad Pitt Just Shot World War Z in the Head

“World War Z” is my all-time favorite zombie apocalypse book. It earned this status because the author injected  a single “sci-fi” idea (lumbering zombie hordes) and built a real world around it.  A world populated with intelligent people trying to stay alive in the face of a terrifying threat.  Every tactic, response and human behavior literally sang with truth and for that alone it is a favorite of mine.  Others felt the same and Hollywood smelled a blockbuster in the making.   Here is the Hollywood take on this terrific novel.

You know what I smell? Shit.

A journalist recounting vignettes of zombie apocalypse survivors now resembles a Michael Bay movie.  The zombie “floods” are particularly galling because the book went to great pains demonstrating that even slow Romero-style zombies are a serious threat.  I expected this sad turn of events when I ran into Max Brooks at Comicon last year and he indicated that his input on the film was…limited. I have no proof but after viewing the trailer I now understand “limited” means “Get the hell away from us making a mindless blockbuster. Enjoy your payday.”

So, just this once I will cheer for the zombies. I hope they do not get a tummy ache gnawing on Brad Pitt’s plastic face.

Trask, The Last Tyromancer