The great thing about sequels is they give us a chance to go back and revisit past films that we may have enjoyed. To recall a time and a place both haunting and familiar, to hear memories once again pass by our ears we'd though were long since forgotten, and by chance catch a glimpse of a faint and ill-defined specter that only upon careful consideration some time later we realize to have been ourselves all along. It's fitting, then, that 'At Worlds End' indulge itself in similar flights of nostalgic fancy; not over the two films in its series, but over the past of the filmmakers themselves.

For the uninitiated, 'At World's End' is the concluding chapter of the Cornetto Trilogy, a series of films that started all the way back in 2004 with 'Shaun of the Dead.' If you think that wasn't all that long ago at all, I'll remind you that if you went to High School with it then you'd be preparing for your ten year reunion this coming Winter. 2007 saw 'Hot Fuzz,' and the two creative minds behind the series splitting off to pursue fame in the glittering glory of Hollywood. Simon Pegg would re-teamed with his perpetually-inflating comedic partner Nick Frost in the atrocious 'Paul,' as well as popping in for much-needed comic relief as Scotty in the not-quite-so-atrocious Star Trek re-launch, while Edgar Wright gave a valiant effort to bring the impossible to life in 'Scott Pilgrim -vs- the World.' Now, six years later, they've reunited for a final round. But the uninitiated need not stop here: Like the previous films, World's End has little-to-nothing in common with its predecessors beyond a couple running gags, genre satire (this time taking a shot at science fiction), and most importantly inspired filmmaking.

Shaun of the Dead is undeniably the best of the trilogy, and remains so even with the release of World's End. It was made by movie fans on a mission with something to prove, and for one and a half glorious hours they poured every ounce of their considerable talent at an unsuspecting audience. I can not start to talk about how good it is because I won't be able to stop, but the best way I've found to describe it is 'unfair.' Unfair to anything that would come next, which in this case was Hot Fuzz. While not a poor movie by any stretch of the imagination, Hot Fuzz would prove to be a second round: Refreshing in his own right, and certainly just fine to give you a good time, but at this point the party's already started and you're looking around for something to throw darts at. These two films both came at important points in the careers of Wright and Pegg, times when they were fresh rising stars eager to expel a young lifetime's worth of ambition as quickly as possible. It would be unfair to expect At World's End to match its predecessors in that sort of madcap, fearless enthusiasm. Wisely it makes no attempt to do so, and it is a far better film for it.

It feels far too early for a retrospective on two careers still relatively this young. Neither are even of the age to have a proper midlife crisis yet: In fact, this is only Edgar Wright's fourth feature film as a director. But At World's End proves to be just that, feeling more like the final observation of a dying celluloid legend than the sugar-addled expulsion of careers still very much in their teens. The comedy is here, yes, but now it is more subdued and better incorporated into the film's structure. There is plenty of action, but unlike the previous films these scenes seem content to just come and go, leaving very few moments of 'eww!' and 'ah!' to stand out from the rest of the movie. Pegg and Frost remain a brilliant comedic duo, but here they play characters that appear to have the intention of subverting their natural chemistry, and as a result their relationship thrives more on conflict than comedy. These changes leave a film that is distinctly less enjoyable than the previous two films, but undeniably more cohesive. Which only goes to compliment the true message at the heart of World's End: Maturity.

If that sounds like a bummer I assure you it's not. Maturity to Wright and Pegg is not what it is to the rest of us, and reliving one's past glories can still be a blast when those past glories were such a riot the first time around. Especially when one is not as far removed from those riotous instincts as they may fear. The blessing of time is perspective, and though that comes with losing the rebellious spirit of youth it is also comes with the bounty of insight: Perhaps you are not having as good a time as you remembered and wished to relive, but by recognizing that absence you come to realize just how much you've grown as a person, and recognize finally just who you really are. To come to terms not with who you were, who you want to be, but who you are- that is the true essence of maturity. And it is only then that you can truly experience freedom and all the joy that comes with it. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz may have been celebrations of life, but At World's End is a celebration of the freedom to live. It's a slight change in perspective, but it's one that makes all the difference, if you ever want to keep living that is.

It may seem like I didn't describe what this movie was about. At all. That's because, like the previous films, this one is a tad bit twisty and I'd rather not spoil any of it if at all possible. Rest assured, though, that it is zany, unique, hilarious, and crucially: smart. There will be plenty of discussions to be had about elements that were a maybe a bit clunky and set-ups that didn't quite pay-off, but with an ending like this I can't imagine those complaints amounting to anything more than a petty drunken quibble.
8/10