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.
And so the second part of Edgar Wright's trilogy screeched into cinemas two years after Shaun Of The Dead, and took a lot of people by surprise. Not only does it not milk what's gone before, but it also has a much stronger narrative and a whole new range of genres to homage/reference.
The thing that stands out to me watching it now is how bloody good Nick Frost is. Not just in this, but generally. As likeable as Simon Pegg is, he's arguably played three versions of himself over Spaced, Shaun and Fuzz, whereas Frost is notably different in each. Not bad for the guy who drifted into it more by luck than judgement. The rest of the cast (including Pegg, obviously) still put in marvellous turns, with varying levels of archetype, and make the film consistently 'watchable'*1
Another great thing about the movie is that it's ageing very well, largely due to the 1970's-paranoia feel of the NWA plot; Evoking that small-town spirit lends it a sort of timelessness.
And yet, although Hot Fuzz is far more accomplished as a film than its predecessor, for me it's not as accessible as Shaun. It's still absolutely immense, of course, and one of the best British films of recent years, but I do find I have to be in the mood for it. Ultimately, the amount of love and dedication more than makes up for any foibles which I may (wrongfully) perceive.
Yep.
Yep.
Yep.
Buy, and get the two-disc version if you still can.
Yep.
Yep.
I think I heard one buried in the final gunfight, but I can't be sure.
Did Nicholas Angel die in the stabbing or Kalashnikov incident shown at the start of the film, and his time in Sandford is a sort of Life On Mars type purgatory before he accepts his fate and moves on? Just a thought.
*1 That said, I don't stay on-channel when I happen across Hot Fuzz on ITV2. I can't be doing with films with adverts in them. It's very, very wrong.
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.
In a needless attempt to get myself excited for The World's End, I've been having a Wright-a-thon this week. First Spaced, next Shaun. Edgar Wright's zombie flick and spiritual successor to his TV series is, in my humble opinion, a masterpiece. The tone of the film is very much evolved from the show (to the point where at least one minor character has a cameo), and Wright's stylistic touches take the sharp edges off what should be a gorefest and propel the plot along nicely.
In keeping with his previous work there are a shed-load of references and homages (some subtle, some glaring), and not just from the zombie genre. But with all the plates it has to spin, the film never loses sight of what it has to be: a romantic/buddy/zombie comedy. And it manages this with a flair that hasn't been approached before or since*1.
Shaun joins the hallowed ranks of Star Wars, Back To The Future, From Dusk Till Dawn and Snatch; a film that I am never not in the mood to watch.
Best line: "…get FUCKED, four-eyes!"
Oh, yes.
Oh, yes.
Oh, yes.
You should already own this. If not, I've no doubt it's on ITV2 now.
Yes.
Obviously.
Just about; it's quiet.
Do you want anything from the shop?
Oh, and did I tell you about the time me and my mate went to The Winchester?
*1 Because let's be honest, SotD has opened the door for some right old derivative shite in the years since its release. It can't be blamed for that, but it can't be ignored, either.
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.
