Questions are courtesy of http://faculty.mansfield.edu/wkeeth/Film%20Review%20Questions.pdf. The first double punch review of The World’s End can be found at http://superhyperwafflepunch.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-worlds-end-double-punch.html.
1. What interesting facts or ideas does the movie bring to mind? What other films have you seen which might bear on your understanding of this film? To what contemporary events does the film refer?
Waffler 1: A lot of these characters are outcast from society and how popular culture has defined them. This is shown well by how both the heroes and villains used communication to create conflict. I do think current events like school shootings and how internet bullying is affecting young adults.
Waffler 2: Kick-Ass 2 brings the idea of the consequences of trying to be a super-hero in terms of violence and loss in your private life. The Dark Knight or Spiderman 2 are two other films which deal with the same themes of power and responsibility which affected my understanding of the film. The contemporary events is the rise of social media and the loss of privacy, as well as the cops treating all costumes as villains (with respect to racism).
2. Do you remember a particular, concrete, or special object/image in one shot or throughout the film? What is its significance?
Waffler 1: The first image of Jim Carrey as Colonel Stripes. His appearance showed us what being a real hero is about.
Waffler 2: I remember the image of Hit Girl getting dumped in the forest. I think its significance was showing that she is not invulnerable despite all her skills.
3. What is the basic argument of the film’s plot? What themes (an abstraction or generalization about life, humanity, and human interactions) underlie the plot? What does the film show about the people and their values? What is the general set of assumptions upon which the film is based?
Waffler 1: I feel the theme of the movie is about overcoming doubt. That to be a true hero you must fully believe that you can do it, no matter the struggle. But be warned- there will always be an asshole to try and stop you.
Waffler 2: The film shows that good people will act good (and vice versa) to the limits of their abilities when pressed. It also shows that being a hero has consequences and is something that needs to be taken seriously.
4. Who seems to narrate the film or what point of view seems to be presented?
Waffler 1: The sequel seemed split between the three main character - Hit Girl, Kick-Ass and The MotherFucker, and about them finding their true calling even if it’s rather unusual.
Waffler 2: The point of view that seems to be presented is centred allot more around Hit Girl and her struggles growing up despite being able to wipe the floor with criminals. It also shows the point of view of Kick Ass as he finds a community of superheroes to belong to.
5. Who are the film’s main protagonists and antagonists? Why do they behave the way they do? What was the general theme of each character’s development?
Waffler 1: Each character had to overcome certain aspects of who they really were. For Kick-Ass it was about taking responsibility for making superheros mainstream. Hit Girl dealt with acceptance and how, even though she found ways to function within society, she is a real hero. For The MotherFucker it was about control of this life and turning super villains into a real threat when all the obstacles were out of his way.
Waffler 2: The films main protagonists are Kick Ass and Hit Girl. They behave the way they do because they want to feel special and it is how they have been brought up, respectively. The main antagonist is Red Mist and he wants revenge because his father died in the first film. The general theme is that being a hero or villain has consequences.
6. Does the film have any significant political dimensions and leanings? What is the role of cultural, social, political, and economic history in interpreting the movie’s possible meanings? How are sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, and nationality addressed in the film?
Waffler 1: The movie used stereotypes about people race, religion or ethnicity to describe super villains in a humorous manner which I think didn't work. It was about he importance of knowing the difference between right and wrong and that being a hero is about the simple things like helping people.
Waffler 2: I think the main political leaning is when the cops decide to treat all costumed heroes as villains. This could have a dimension such as racism (i.e. treat all non-whites a certain way legally). Different nationalities and orientations are addressed by being ignored. There is a diverse range of characters, but their differences are ignored and it is based more on their actions The cultural impact is the struggle for people to feel significant and special in current society without a privledged birth, which is why Kick Ass puts his costume back on.
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