I had recently been lamenting with a friend about how there weren't many good summer movies this year, but there actually have been a few enjoyable gems -- Much Ado, Before Midnight, and Star Trek: Into Darkness come to mind, for example. The World's End is a fitting title and a great way to round out the summer, as well as being the clincher to Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg's "Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy".
Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg wanted to create a trilogy with three different genres -- horror (Shaun of the Dead), action (Hot Fuzz), and sci-fi (The World's End), although all three movies would of course be solid comedies. The World's End starts off as a romp wherein Gary King tries to relive the glory days of his youth by gathering up his old group of friends to complete "The Golden Mile", a stretch of 12 pubs in their hometown. When the friends return to town, however, they find that not everything is quite as they've left it and have to rely on their (questionable) wits to combat a supernatural invasion.
That being said, I love when a movie has such care in its creation that only rewatching it will only improve its experience. You can expect no less from director Edgar Wright, who put immense time and care into the poorly received gem Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. You get a little bit of that Pilgrim feel in the fighting scenes of this movie, which are so masterfully choreographed, it feels like you're watching a martial arts movie at times. I was caught between laughing and trying to keep my eyes glued to the screen.
The story requires a bit of suspension of belief, as the momentum used to propel the story forward is a bit ridiculous at times...and like many other apocalyptic movies (such as this summer's earlier This is the End), the story just gets more and more insane -- and not always favorably. I do wish they had come up with a more solid impetus throughout the movie, as the last act definitely flags compared to the rest of the movie.
Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg wanted to create a trilogy with three different genres -- horror (Shaun of the Dead), action (Hot Fuzz), and sci-fi (The World's End), although all three movies would of course be solid comedies. The World's End starts off as a romp wherein Gary King tries to relive the glory days of his youth by gathering up his old group of friends to complete "The Golden Mile", a stretch of 12 pubs in their hometown. When the friends return to town, however, they find that not everything is quite as they've left it and have to rely on their (questionable) wits to combat a supernatural invasion.
That being said, I love when a movie has such care in its creation that only rewatching it will only improve its experience. You can expect no less from director Edgar Wright, who put immense time and care into the poorly received gem Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. You get a little bit of that Pilgrim feel in the fighting scenes of this movie, which are so masterfully choreographed, it feels like you're watching a martial arts movie at times. I was caught between laughing and trying to keep my eyes glued to the screen.
The story requires a bit of suspension of belief, as the momentum used to propel the story forward is a bit ridiculous at times...and like many other apocalyptic movies (such as this summer's earlier This is the End), the story just gets more and more insane -- and not always favorably. I do wish they had come up with a more solid impetus throughout the movie, as the last act definitely flags compared to the rest of the movie.
But The World's End is a comedy that will continue to entertain, rather than its American counterpart This is the End, which I feel survives more on its shock value. Without giving too much away, pay as close attention as you can during the movie's opening prologue as well as the various names and signs of all the pubs.
It's great to see Simon Pegg and Nick Frost working together again. It's refreshing to see Pegg in a different role as well as the whole cast of the group of friends (along with some cameos). All the elements that you've come to love about the Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy are present: quick cuts, failed fence hoppings, and yes...a Cornetto appearance.
There's a sort of theme and irony in this as well, especially when Pegg's character, King, says: "It's not us that's changed, it's them!" In Shaun of the Dead, the zombies were uncannily similar to the everyday drudge and zoned-out existences that people normally lived in the prologue. In The World's End, you can't help but compare those that have succumbed to the invasion to people who have surrendered to live a safe, albeit unchanging mild life often controlled by others (their past glory days? technology?). Whatever conclusions you draw from that are your own.
The World's End is a great addition to the canon of invasion movies, and one of the most enjoyable ones to boot. Go watch it! And take me with you.
It's great to see Simon Pegg and Nick Frost working together again. It's refreshing to see Pegg in a different role as well as the whole cast of the group of friends (along with some cameos). All the elements that you've come to love about the Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy are present: quick cuts, failed fence hoppings, and yes...a Cornetto appearance.
There's a sort of theme and irony in this as well, especially when Pegg's character, King, says: "It's not us that's changed, it's them!" In Shaun of the Dead, the zombies were uncannily similar to the everyday drudge and zoned-out existences that people normally lived in the prologue. In The World's End, you can't help but compare those that have succumbed to the invasion to people who have surrendered to live a safe, albeit unchanging mild life often controlled by others (their past glory days? technology?). Whatever conclusions you draw from that are your own.
The World's End is a great addition to the canon of invasion movies, and one of the most enjoyable ones to boot. Go watch it! And take me with you.