The End (I) (2005) User Reviews

Not So Much A Short Film ...

[Theo Robertson · 7/10 · 3 August 2005]

.... More of a surreal sketch

I might have problems trying to write ten lines on a short film that lasts less than two minutes but here goes

As Bob rightly pointed out the entire sketch takes place with a man sitting in an office . Bored he moves the globe on his desk very slightly and then ....

It's difficult to view this as a short film as such - It resembles a very surreal sketch more in line with the humour of MONTY PYTHON , IT'S A SQUARE WORLD or one of those Marty Feldman shows from the late 1960s . There's no explanation for the events but it actually works and I found the pay off highly amusing despite the consequence involved . It's certainly one of the better shorts I've seen in the past few days though I have to question the criteria that it be classed as a short film since THE END seems more at home in an abstract comedy sketch show

Simple but quite good

[bob the moo · 2 May 2005]

An office clerk is bored and starts to play with the globe on his desk. The effect is instant as the world outside his window goes pitch black as he moves the globe through a few degrees. The realisation of the power he has hits him hard – but is it too late to use his powers for good? Funded as part of a programme that requires the films to be 90 seconds long or less, this short does what is required by having one joke to make and delivering it in a punchy way. It doesn't totally work but the initial concept is good for about 80 seconds and the final punch line is good and drew a laugh from me. I don't think it compares to some of the best of the funding stream (Le Cheval 2.1 takes that) because it is rather simple and lacking anything more than one static shot but it still just about works. What t should be praised for is making itself enjoyable and memorable on a budget that must have barely entered three figures.

Overall this is an OK short but not really worth hunting down if it takes much time. It is simple, funny and effective even if it does feel very basic and not all that memorable.