MovieChat Forums > Hot Fuzz (2007) Discussion > The World's End or Shaun of the Dead?

The World's End or Shaun of the Dead?

posted 3 years ago by abigolcwock (517)
39 replies | jump to latest

Whenever a see a discussion on what's the best of the trilogy, it's pretty boring because basically everyone picks Hot Fuzz. So I thought it would be more interesting to compare the other two, as they're still really good movies even if they're not masterpieces like Hot Fuzz. I personally don't know which one I'd choose, maybe at the moment I'd go with The World's End, but I go so back and forth on these two that it ain't a sure thing. If anything I'll say that The World's End has much higher highs, but some real lows. I feel like a lot of the dialogue is too Marvel-esque if that makes sense, maybe a few too many quips that don't get a laugh out of me. But it also has probably the most powerful scene in the series, where it's revealed that Simon Pegg's character tried to off himself and that's why he was so reluctant to show his scars earlier. Plus, while Shaun of the Dead is just a solid fkn movie and is better paced, I don't think it gets any real laugh out of me.

And don't be that degen that says "actually Hot Fuzz isn't my favorite, I like X more". I don't give a fuck, this thread is asking you to compare the two movies in the title.

[–] mav100000 (340) 3 years ago

Tough question really, but for now, I would say World's End by a hair. Every time I see it I like it more and the dialogue is great. Plus, like you said, some great moments but also some low ones.

[–] olioz (3307) 3 years ago

For me Shaun of the Dead is the best of the three.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Yep. The OP was drunk.

[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 2 years ago

even Simon and Edgar Wright admit Hot fuzz is superior in the commentary. they compared Shaun to high school, and Fuzz to university where they matured and perfected their craft.

in Shaun the main character essentially ends where he began. in other words he experiences zero character developed. he Was a lazy homebody who took refuge in the pub at the beginning. he was a lazy homebody who took refuge in the pub during the outbreak.

in Hott fuzz Nicholas Angel is a completely cop. ironically he has learned to be a small town cop, be less strict and do things for the greater good. meanwhile Constable Butterman has learned a lot from Angel. TO take his ob more seriously, to do real police work, and to be a hero.

[–] samoanjoes (50963) 2 years ago

even Simon and Edgar Wright admit Hot fuzz is superior in the commentary.

Everyone one this site admits you're an idiot.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

"SotD" I think, but not by a big margin.

Both films fall apart in the last act, but "HF" has the bigger collapse.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Hot Fuzz is the absolute BEST of the trilogy, no contest.

[–] Burk48917 (10983) 3 years ago

It isn't a trilogy. Only idiots think it's a trilogy.

[–] olioz (3307) 3 years ago

But it is. The Cornetto trilogy.

[–] Burk48917 (10983) 3 years ago

Just because the director labeled it as such to bundle a blu-ray set, and use that term for marketing, it doesn't change the long accepted use of the term in movies. They are stand alone movies,and if they qualify as a trilogy, so do dozens of other movies that have never been called that, for obvious reasons.

[–] capuchin (2670) 3 years ago

You've never heard of thematic trilogies?

Kieslowski's Three Colours Trilogy or Bergman's Faith Trilogy, or Polanski's Apartment Trilogy, Rossellini's War Trilogy? Von Trier's Depression Trilogy... &c? &c? &c?

It's long been accepted that trilogies can comprise standalone films. I don't think there's any serious doubt that The Cornetto Trilogy qualifies as a thematic trilogy.

[–] Burk48917 (10983) 3 years ago

What is his "theme" then? Also, why aren't Scorcese, Tarantino or John Hughes movies labeled that way? They carry a much tighter theme than these do. It's just marketing, sorry.

[–] capuchin (2670) 3 years ago

This is what you said earlier:

It doesn't change the long accepted use of the term in movies. They are stand alone movies

I've demonstrated to you that there is a long accepted use of the term 'trilogy' in movies that includes thematic trilogies. They're a thing. They exist. You can have standalone movies that together form a trilogy. Many, many directors have done so. Your assertion that there was a long accepted use of the term that somehow excluded such a thing was simply not correct.

Whether you personally accept Edgar Wright's Cornetto Trilogy as a trilogy or not is entirely your own affair. That you can't detect the thematic similarities between the three movies is immaterial.

I'd accept that it's partially marketing; but it's not 'just marketing' because the connections between the movies are in the movies, not just the marketing campaign for the movies. There was a creative decision to connect the films together as a thematic trilogy (symbolically represented within the films by the references to Cornettos.)

[–] Burk48917 (10983) 3 years ago

You didn't really answer anything i asked, you are just deflecting.

[–] capuchin (2670) 3 years ago

You didn't really ask me anything worth responding to. I haven't 'deflected' anything. This isn't a debate. I'm just giving you information. What you choose to do with it doesn't concern me much.

[–] moviechatterer (13307) 2 years ago

That you can't detect the thematic similarities between the three movies is immaterial.

not really
You've never heard of thematic trilogies?
you are talking about thematic trilogies
the clue is in the name
those examples you gave have a theme

If the so-called cornetto films dont have a theme - they dont qualify

[–] capuchin (2670) 2 years ago

If the so-called cornetto films dont have a theme - they dont qualify

Correct.

But if they do, they do. And they do.

[–] moviechatterer (13307) 2 years ago

aha! now we're getting somewhere ...

[–] capuchin (2670) 2 years ago

Well, not really.

Or at least nowhere new. I already said eight months ago further up the thread:

I don't think there's any serious doubt that The Cornetto Trilogy qualifies as a thematic trilogy.

And this, which you even quoted back to me:

That you can't detect the thematic similarities between the three movies is immaterial.

I didn't mean that 'one' can't detect the thematic similarities. If I had meant that, I would have said that. I specifically meant it didn't much matter if the person I was responding to could or couldn't detect the thematic similarities between the three films -- they're still obviously there.

However, I'm delighted to clarify for those who need clarification: The Cornetto Trilogy is very definitely a thematic trilogy, and very obviously designed as one rather than simply marketed as one afterwards.

[–] moviechatterer (13307) 2 years ago

well i guess the impact, meaning and relevence of
That you can't detect the thematic similarities between the three movies is immaterial.
changes depending wether said thematic similarities exist for the film in question.

Now that we've established that , for this film, they do exist ,
perhaps you could shed some light on what these themes are?

[–] capuchin (2670) 2 years ago

perhaps you could shed some light on what these themes are?

Watch the films. Or read about the films. Or both. I'm not here to spoon-feed you. The thematic similarities aren't exactly arcane.

[–] moviechatterer (13307) 2 years ago

I've seen 'em

zombies
police
aliens

no similarities or themes.

The Three Colours trilogy (French: Trois couleurs, Polish: Trzy kolory) is the collective title of three psychological drama films

at least they are the same genre!

[–] capuchin (2670) 2 years ago

Three parody genre films transposed to an English (sitcom) setting, celebrating British pub culture, and each centring on contemporary male friendships, all in their own way about achieving delayed adulthood, written by and starring the same people -- sharing repeated jokes and references.

No thematic links at all(!)

[–] moviechatterer (13307) 2 years ago

Oh I see ,
So David Zucker's "Top Secret","Airplane!" and "Naked Gun"
are a trilogy too?

[–] capuchin (2670) 2 years ago

You're being wilfully obtuse, which is deeply tedious. So we'll stop now.

[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 2 years ago

because an auteur director occasionally using the same themes, isnt the same as a auteur consciously and intentionally making a thematic trilogy.

[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 2 years ago

agreed. even Edgar and Simon said so

[–] gbu (545) 3 years ago

SOTD out of those 2 mainly cos i love the homage to the zombie genre and the laughs are pretty constant.
I do really like TWE has a great cast and very funny but im still not convinced on the 'jump to the future' apocalyptic ending.

[–] Drooch (5333) 3 years ago

World’s End is easily the best of the three.

Shaun is a muck-about by a talented young geek given the keys to the candy store for the first time.

Hot Fuzz is very funny but the relentless MTV ‘whoosh-bam!’ editing is fucking annoying, the action scenes are a choppy mess, and the horror style gore feels out of place for an action movie parody.

The World’s End is Edgar Wright maturing as a filmmaker. The dialogue crackles, the gags are constant, the storytelling is more focused, the action scenes are phenomenal - clear, long takes with impressive choreography. Pegg and Frost have matured into solid actors too and can finally really sell the ‘serious bits’.

[–] JoWilli2 (855) 3 years ago

Shaun of the Dead by leaps and bounds.

[–] Anotherday (6879) 3 years ago

I like Shaun of the dead best. Must be in the minority here.

[–] brrrrStickem (64) 3 years ago

For me it is
1. Hot Fuzz

2. At World's End

3. Shaun of the Dead (Really enjoyed this on my first viewing, but when I re-watch it, it just doesn't do much for me)