The World's End (third-pass)
Cert: 15 / 109 mins / Dir. Edgar Wright
Oh, you know the score by now. My first review of The World's End is here, and my second one is here. And since I haven't really got much more to say about it at the moment, I made you a picture instead.
^^ Click for big / 1500*2115px / 494kb / Opens in new window ^^
You're very welcome.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly. • That there poster was made by myself (@MightyBlackout) as a piece of fan-art, and while the intellectual copyright lies with me for the piece itself, no ownership is claimed or implied over The World's End or the Lego figure likeness. By all means share it around, but please leave both my @ name and website information intact. You know what I'm getting at; don't go being a knob and reckoning you made it. Thanks.
The World's End (Second-pass / SPOILERS)
Cert: 15 / 109 mins / Dir. Edgar Wright
I'm happy to report that The World's End is a much easier watch the second time around. I still stand by my original points, and upon a rewatch it seems like the climax of the film, while thoroughly accomplished, has been lifted from another screenplay altogether. And while I'm on the subject, it occurred to me that the final scene with Gary would work so much better if he hadn't escaped Newton Haven with Andrew, Sam and Steven. If, say, those three had fled the basement of The World's End while Gary determinedly poured himself a pint from the fridge of the bar, Andrew's final voiceover would have carried more weight. Because 'we got separated' doesn't really cut it, frankly.
That said, with the WTF's of the plot out of the way, the script full of setups, callbacks and Easter-eggs really starts to shine, as do the performances of the cast. Knowing where the various characters will end up allows you to take your foot off the pedal and enjoy the ride, which is exactly what rewatches are for. I still can't quite bring myself to award the film full marks, but that may change in the future. I'll be very interested to watch this with the commentary track.
Thought #1: In terms of in-series callbacks, the fruit-machine in The King's Head*1 plays the same musical jingle as the one in The Winchester in Shaun of the Dead. I haven't clocked a similar Hot Fuzz reference yet, but if you've spotted it (because I know there'll be one), let me know in that there comments box, yeah?
Thought #2: The casting of Thomas Law and Zachary Bailess, as young Gary and Andrew respectively (and the actress who plays the young Sam*2) is rather marvellous. I'd have liked more speaking-lines for all of them, but still; well done, casting person whose name I also didn't think to read.
Thought #3: Wouldn't it have been nice if Shaun had featured a former James Bond? That would have been a great hallmark for the trilogy along with the other signatures, but from what I can ascertain that link doesn't exist for the first film. If you can prove me wrong, I'd welcome that.
I'm probably going to let tWE lie fallow for a week or two before another watch, but in the meanwhile I want to know what you think of it, and what Easter-eggs you've found. You can use the comments box below this post or the World Of Blackout Facebook page.
Second favourite line:
OLIVER: WTF, Gary? WTF?
GARY: What the fuck does WTF mean?!?
PETER staggers from a toilet cubicle and looks around at the after-fight carnage.
PETER: …what the fuck?
GARY: Oh, right.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
For me? Cinema. For you? Your choice, really.
No.
Yes. Before it finishes its theatrical run.
When the car's escaping Newton Haven and screeches to a halt. It's the second scream that comes from the car.
What's the lengthiest pub-crawl you've completed in one session? Tell me the pubs for an extra point.
No, I want to know. Seriously. GO.
*1 I think it's The King's Head. It could be The Hole In The Wall. That's why I need this to come out on DVD/BLU as soon as possible.
*2 I forgot to scan the credits for her name, and the internet doesn't seem to know. Apologies, actress who plays young Sam.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
The third and final outing*1 in Wright's Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy has arrived, bringing with it a level of critical and audience anticipation not seen since… ooh, 1999? And in a similar situation to that film, I found myself a little overwhelmed after only one viewing. I loved it, but I know I only took in around half of what was going on.
The team we know and love are there, as well as a few new faces along for the ride, and while it all feels like it's taking place in the same universe, it didn't have that right-first-time vibe I got from its predecessors.
As the film builds up, I get the feeling that there are too many ideas jostling for position. The steady start and measured acceleration of the mid-section seem to give way to a third act full of 'oh, and we've got to put this in as well'; if the lead-in had carried the same level of adrenaline it'd be understandable, but it doesn't so the conclusion seems a bit, well… tacked on, somehow. I'd like to say that any quibbles I have with the film come down to pacing issues, but there was more than one occasion where I was sat there thinking 'right, hang on, what the hell's going on again?' These questions didn't stay unresolved for long, but the fact that I was asking them gives me pause for thought.
It also feels like The World's End has been slightly too long in coming. The two-year gap between Shaun and Fuzz lent them a sense of natural continuation. Seven years later, however, and with the core trio having worked on several other projects (with varying degrees of success), it seems like less of a sequel and more of a reunion we're watching. And as the characters in the film discover, half of a reunion is spent trying to fight the imagined memory of people and accept them as they are now; familiar, but markedly different.
Now that's not to say that I didn't loveThe World's End, and it's not to say that it's not a fitting conclusion to the trilogy; but it is a different film, even if it doesn't want to be. It's full of great characters, great performances, there was a smile on my face throughout and I guffawed frequently (favourite line: "Legoland"). I just can't ignore that it's not quite as user-friendly as its forebears.
The concept isn't particularly high, but Wright's execution of it just might be. As a standalone film, The World's End is pretty good. As the conclusion to the trilogy, it's pretty great.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
You won't lose too much by watching it on DVD, but if you're a fan already, you'll be going to the cinema anyway.
Not really.
Yes. Tomorrow.
Yes. Yes, there is. This makes me happy. It is near the end.
What self-respecting Goth would have a mix-tape of early 90's indie in his car, friend-created or not?
*1 Explaining to 'civilians' that Paul wasn't the third film in the series was painful, I can tell you. I don't mean 'civilians' in a film-snob way, I just mean that if they knew why 'Shaun' and 'Fuzz' were part of a trilogy, then they'd know why 'Paul' wasn't. Incidentally, clickers of that link will see that I've rated 'Paul' 7/7, while I've only given 'The World's End' 6/7. I stand by that, for now at least. 'Paul' had nothing to prove; This film, on the other hand, does.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
