Hot Fuzz was a film that I was particularly looking forwards to. Being an absolutely massive fan of Spaced, I enjoyed Shaun of the Dead, and hoped that with Hot Fuzz the team could only get better.
And I wasn't disappointed.
Ok, so I'll start off by saying that unfortunately Hot Fuzz is nothing compared to Spaced and the same goes for Shaun of the Dead; but they are nonetheless enjoyable: full of laughs, film references, the general atmosphere and good old British feeling humour. (The way humour should be; not shit like Norbit, Epic Movie, and most of the other crap that comes from America.)
Hot fuzz is definitely a black comedic romp, and not afraid about it either full of extreme violence and the like, but at the same time, boasting an amazing cast of (well-known) British actors I was amazed at all the familiar faces (though unfortunately no Peter Molyeneux! Who was apparently supposed to be in it) with the likes of Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Jim Broadbent, Kevin Eldon, Bill Bailey, the very strange Timothy Dalton, Adam Buxton (from Adam and Joe), Julia Deakin etc etc
Then on top of these guys the film had good humour and a nice story attached, which not too many British films have achieved recently... well that and it isn't a Richard Curtis film!
The only hole I'd poke at Hot Fuzz was it was a little long, but it wasn't like POTC2 waiting for the film to finish, it just seemed to be a rather long film, with some if the scenes dragging on just a tad... it may have been the editing; at some points where everything went much too fast, and others dragged, so the editing was a bit oooh.
*entering opinion mode*
The Video game factor -
Now, stop me if I'm wrong -I know Catherine feels the same way- but the film really brought into itself, the tone and feel of a videogame (more specifically a linear scripted FPS) This of course came about at the shootout towards the end; but I'm not talking about the blatant FPS camera in Shaun of the Dead, but the actual feel of a First Person Shooter.
I am a little unsure of how to describe it; I suppose it was the act of having people continuously jump out with guns, needing to be disposed of... please if anyone also felt this when watching, tell me.
Possibly the funniest part of the entire film came about in the 3rd act; and no doubt a few people may have not found it very funny; as the taboo of attacking old people is indeed strong, but when Nicholas attacked the old woman (who was, in all fairness, pulling a shotgun on him) the whole cinema erupted in an chorus of laughter; everyone found it hilarious. In the film’s defence –and in the defence of the audience- it was subverting the norm; and it was done in a humorous manner.
Being the brain-child of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, Hot Fuzz was also full of many many references; of course most of these were to cop films (of which I do not hold much interest in) but there were two references that I relished in.
The first one was said by the lady at the hotel, mistaking Nicholas for her husband telling him that "You've always been here" ala the Shining which was cute.
And then there was the Chinatown reference (which Catherine didn't even spot! Ha!) Where Danny told Nicholas to "Forget it Nick, it's Sanford" while I quietly snickered to myself, I do not believe many of the audience got the joke.
One of the simplest gags in the film was the crossword puzzle the old woman was working on in the hotel; and this to me, really felt like something that you would find in Spaced.
The other random note that I wanted to mention was something said in my script workshop, where plants are involved, one particular guy (don't remember who) once said, if you see a gun in a film, eventually someone is going to fire it, and so I thought it was cute when they apprehended all the firearms, and I thought (though obvious) those are going to be used at some point, I just thought it was clever, rather than have them appear out of nowhere.
I give it a Cptalbertwesker rating of 8/10
I believe that, that is all I have to say, I realise this is not my usual review style, but screw that, I prefer writing in a more laid back style. Hope you all go see the film and enjoy it as much as I did! And here’s to more from Pegg and Wright!
2 comments
Comment from: Catherine Member

Comment from: Andrew K Lawston Visitor

The chap who 'once said, if you see a gun in a film, eventually someone is going to fire it' was Chekov, I believe. In correspondence IIRC. I had the exact quote and reference once, I think I put it in my MPhil thesis.
What am I doing here? Wandered in off a google search, guv.
Hehe yeah I feel that way about the game thing, but then again you said that :P Ya could say it was kinda like a shooter, so like time crisis like, as it was they get to an area, kill bad guys, move to next area.
But yes I must say I enjoyed the film too.
WEIRDO: Yes you are very right, and for it, you get a picture of Time Crisis in the entry... I meant to put pictures in it originally... but forgot, sorry!