Warm Bodies (2013)

Title: Warm Bodies

Based On the Book: Warm Bodies

Written By: Isaac Marion

Director: Jonathan Levine

Starring:  Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, and John Malkovich

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2013

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Oscars: N/A

Plot: After R (a highly unusual zombie) saves Julie from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.
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Love at First Sight
I don't believe in "love at first sight" in real life. Anyone that meets someone and then quickly gets married isn't doing the right thing. Until you really get to know someone it's infatuation and not love. However, in fiction, it's different. "Love at first sight", if done correctly, can add a nice level of sweetness to the work. For those who have read the book (I haven't, but I have read enough comments about this part in the book), you might remember a lack of this element in the original novel. But I still like R falling in love with Julie when he first sees her. Yes, it's unrealistic that a zombie (after eating so many humans) would be swayed to redemption by a pretty girl. However, it doesn't make sense that memories from a lover would sway a zombie. Because, really, R has probably eaten families before and it didn't make him change.

Two Main Types of Zombies
There are two kinds of zombies that are on different sides. First you have the "friendly zombies"/corpses that have conflicting feelings about killing and eating people. Mind you, usually they can't stop and eat people anyways because they're compelled to. The other kind are Bonies/Skeletons who are the real enemies of the movie. They resemble skeletons and are beyond saving. It is revealed, as the movie continues, that they think being like them is the way to go and will even attack corpses if their "utopia" is threatened.

Love Saves All
The cure for being a zombie seems to be love. Also the cure can be said to be to take notice of your surroundings. To not just do things out of habit, but to really experience life. While it is a really cheesey element of the film, it is actually a good life lesson if you think about it. Zombies represent consumerism/not having your own opinions and so zombies are really people that don't feel anymore. And I think a lot of people have the problem of being metaphorical zombies. So, readers, go out and really live.

Final Thoughts
I would've brought up this being a re-telling of Romeo and Juliet, but I don't care/remember enough of the Shakespeare play to really make the comparison good. Before you say I'm 'not educated' because I don't like the play: I have a BA in English with a Specialization in Creative Writing AND I don't think Romeo loved Juliet (so it's not a love story, it's all about infatuation in that department). But that's a whole 'nother blog post. For those interested in the comparison: R = Romeo, Julie = Juliet. Oh, and the balcony scene. Besides that, you can look it up yourself. All in all, this movie was funny and moving. It was a very good choice to see it on Valentine's Day with revrezner (my fiance). Before I saw this movie I didn't think a zombie could really be in love with a human, but now I do. Don't worry, there's no zombie on human sex.