Blu-ray Review: The World's End

This is the kind of film that gets more rewarding with each viewing. Subtleties in the character language and environments are lost until a second go 'round. That may be the biggest reason The World's End is deserving of a Blu-ray rent or purchase.

Being a fan of the prior two films in the "Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy" (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) it is quite easy to fall in love with Edgar Wright's final installment in this loosely connected three-peat. 

The film is made up of two parts. Part one starts off with a flash back narrated by Simon Pegg's character, Gary King, telling the tale of five friends attempting a legendary pub crawl consisting of 12 pubs and 12 pints. We then see Gary in the present. He hasn't made anything of his life, stuck living in the past while his friends have moved on to their careers and families. 

In an attempt to recreate the past, Gary "gets the band back together" with a little manipulation upon the friends he hasn't seen in ages. So the first half of the film is basically one man, Gary, attempting a previously failed pub crawl, and four men half heartedly along for the ride. 

But things inevitably take a turn rather quickly from a simple pub crawl to a pub crawl while avoiding and fighting alien robots filled with "blue stuff." This movie is insane (in every good way possible).

There is a level sophistication found in the script that comes full circle the more you watch the film and pay attention to the little details (look for signs around town and foreshadowing in the dialogue, as well as items and themes also present in the earlier films). This is British wit at its best, and Wright's camera work is quick and funny as always.

There are more than three hours of special features to watch; the "making of" and "special effects" additions were entertaining. Also included is a feature called "Signs & Omens" which goes through all the hidden clues in the movie.

My favorite part of the special features is in the "making of" featurette when they show clips from the other films, comparing and contrasting iconic parts with the fences, ice creams and other parts with the actors.

If you're a fan of the work of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, this is a simple must own Blu-ray. But if you are not familiar with their work, The World's End is still a stand alone, fantastically outrageous, sci-fi comedy.

Movie: 3.5/4   Special Features: 3/4   Overall: Must Own

-Kyle Schwab