The World’s End Blu-ray Review

Actors: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan

Director: Edgar Wright

Writers: Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright

Producers: Nira Park, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner

Format: Color, Widescreen

Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)

Subtitles: Spanish , English  

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Universal Studios

Release Date: November 19, 2013

Run Time: 218 minutes

 

 

        Apocalypse films have riddled our cinemas in the last decade, but in a surprising turn of events some of the most successful of this summer have been comedies. This is the End was as Hollywood as possible, while the somewhat similarly titled The World’s End is the final film in the extremely popular British films directed by Edgar Wright. The World’s End is the final film in the Cornetto Trilogy (also known as the ‘Blood and Ice Cream’ Trilogy), which began with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

 

        Keeping true to the themes of male friendship paired with a melancholy about youth lost, The World’s End is a fitting end to the trilogy. Simon Pegg serves as our narrator, and the film’s most volatile and unpredictable character, Gary King. Struggling to adjust to the idea of being an adult as he reaches middle-age, King convinces his former cohorts of youth (Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan and Paddy Considine) for a return visit down memory lane. They attempt a pub crawl 20 years after they failed it the first time, and somehow become entangled in a robotic overtaking of sorts.

 

        The ways in which these three films interact with each other is worth investigating, and I could spend this entire review remarking on the clever connections. All three star Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, whose friendship is central to each narrative. Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End both imagine an apocalypse which must be survived by an adult male protagonist living an irresponsibly youthful existence. Both Hot Fuzz and The World’s End involve a small-town conspiracy uncovered by an outsider. There are many connections between the three, but they all also stand on their own.

 

At the same time, it seems as though the criticisms given to Hot Fuzz were taken into consideration while making The World’s End, though it may not have been for the best. While Hot Fuzz seemed slow starting, The World’s End may show its hand too early. Or perhaps these actors and the dialogue is just far more interesting than any way the robotic invasion can be elevated.

 

        The Blu-ray combo pack comes with a DVD and a digital copy in HD Ultraviolet. Exclusive to the Blu-ray is over an hour of material built into the U-Control feature. There is picture-in-picture storyboards, a trivia track, deleted scenes and outtakes, tips for signs and omens within the film, additional commentaries, featurettes and more. The DVD also has a more generic making-of featurette, which is also included on the Blu-ray, along with a main commentary featuring Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg.

 

       

Entertainment Value: 8/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 7.5/10

Historical Significance: 6/10

Disc Features: 8/10