I like Simon Pegg. I think he is brilliant. But as far as the trilogy of movies goes only Shaun Of The Dead is good in my opinion. I think I would have liked this film if it was simple about a man trying to relive the best day of his life and actually succeeding, which he did not do in the past. The Sci-fi aspect of it just took me right out of the movie. Same with the second film.
shareThe guy is nearly forty and he thinks that succeding at completing the best day of his life, getting completely pissed and maurauding around his home town with his childhood mates, who should all know better, in tow, as if that would sort all his problems. He's actually trying to hit rock-bottom, or the end of the world. And he does succed. So what happens, the world really does come to an end, in spite of the galactic intervention, the way all his friends lives are almost completely destroyed as a result.
The sci-fi is absolutely necessary for this movie. Without it the movie would be rather tame.
Having said that, I absolutely loved the first part of the movie when there is no indication of what's about to come. It was not, however, diminished by the massive left turns it takes. All the themes are still valid.
@Twitzkrieg - Glasgow's FOREMOST authority
I agree with the OP. I was really getting into the whole dynamic of the group starting to open up to each other, only for the robots to attack and spoil it. The opening half an hour is very good, could easily have made a great film without the sci-fi aspect
shareGive a brief outline of how you would fill the next 90 minutes
shareThe alcoholic one getting over his alcoholism or not. The 2 guys fighting over the sister, Gary having some kind of arc and the bullied one coming to terms with his demons or not. All throughout a drunken Ulysses-ish storyline in their childhood village as they try to finish the pub crawl. With a black comedy edge.
shareThat's not a very original story though, it sounds like something which has been done to death.
shareI don't think the story without the blanks would have been a disaster. It would have just been a very different movie. This one used a ridiculous apocalypse to highlight the characters' lives and growth. It is great the way it is. If you want to re-do it without the sci-fi twist, feel free, because it is not the same movie.
This isn't a morality contest.
I fully agree.
My ratings: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur0239581/ratings
I watched this movie with no expectations... didn't hear anything about it before I sat down to watch it. So, yeah, at first I was THINKING that it was just what you're describing: ...a man trying to relive the best day of his life and actually succeeding.
I would not trade ANYTHING for my jaw-dropping shock when Garry fought that kid in the restroom and he turned out to be an android. I was 100% FLOORED... it came completely out of nowhere!!
I'm an older guy... sometimes I feel a bit like Garry himself in that first part of the film... wondering if the best of days are already behind me. But that shock of realizing I had NO idea what was coming in this movie, was absolutely hilarious!!! Not many movies shock me any more... so "kudos" to them for it.
But then, I loved BOTH Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead.. so the idea that this was part of a trilogy was ok in my book.
Sometimes fires don't go out when you're done playin' with them.
**SPOILER**
Gotta agree with Harvey here. I saw it cable recently, having no idea what it was, just clicked on an interesting title. I recognized the gang and was happy enough, then WHAMMO! Loved every minute of it, 8/10.
I disagree with eliminating the blanks/aliens/whatever, because the trilogy had that as a common theme, albeit in slightly different ways. I like the symmetry.
Shaun of the Dead featured literal zombies, Hot Fuzz featured a town that had descended into madness because those in power developed a "hive" mentality and a warped sense of justice (acting a bit zombie-like) and of course World's End needed something big to bring about the end of civilization... a pub crawl? Nah, ALIENS! Perfect ending to the trilogy imho.
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wait for iiiiit
THIS is why I never watch full trailers, never read any reviews before, and never spoil anything for someone else.
The omg-wtf-just-happened factor will seriously improve the viewing(s) of a movie.
Same scenario for me with hot fuzz.
Also I'd like to say,I employ you to view this a second time. It's actually my favorite out of the cornetto trilogy now.
Pegg's character is kind of hilarious the second time around.
I enjoyed all three movies. I felt World's End got a little too preachy at the end and that was my only issue (however, I guess drunken declarations of rebellion causing the sober person to go home in disgust kind of fits the theme).
Shaun is still my favorite, but I agree Hot Fuzz gets better with rewatching. All the little repetitive jokes and tiny clever bits stand out more. I like it way better now than I did when I first saw it.
I have to agree with this. I got the biggest WTF moment I've had in a long time watching a movie. I was totally engrossed in the very melancholy story playing out between the friends.
Amy: I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
So your complaint is that the movie is not predictable?
shareI agree with the OP. SHaun is the only one I love.
The sci fi part was too out there for me.
To be honest, Shaun Of The Dead was a major disappointment after "Spaced", and Hot Fuzz and World's End too. They're okay, but "Spaced" was Pegg, Frost and Wright's crowning glory and always will be.
shareI have to agree with you (the OP).
While the sci-fi twist was entertaining, to a certain extent, I had by then become very invested in the "straight" storyline. I really liked the melancholy of the manchild refusing to grow up, essentially dealing with his alcoholism and his twisted perception of what his youth was like and what his relationship with his friends actually consisted of.
I would have been perfectly fine with the twist in this third part of the Cornetto-trilogy being that it turned out to be very serious, with moments of black comedy.
They turned it into a sci-fi story instead, and while I accept that I do think the movie would have been better had it the gone the other way.
-If made by George Lucas, this would be re-released 3 times - and by now be mostly cgi.