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Friday, August 27, 2010

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Director: Edgar Wright
UK release: August 2010
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Alison Phil, Anna Kendrick, Johnny Simmons, Ellen Wong, Kieran Culkin, Brandon Routh

IMDB page



He said:

As I am sure Helen is going to tell you below; this is not a film that fits into any one genre or niche. While it hasn't found an audience in theatres you can bet your loose change that it will have a huge DVD following.

The film is well paced and edited, and the character development is outstanding. There is not one character in this film that you are introduced to, that you then won't remember an hour later when they show up again.

The two cameos that amused me the most were Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) and Chris Evans (Captain America, The Losers and Fantastic Four franchise) mostly due to the fact that scrawny little Scott Pilgrim managed to hold his own against them!

This is a fun film with a great soundtrack and exciting visuals that take hold of you from literally the spinning of the Universal Productions at the beginning of the film. This is a great film to see with your friends and will definetly be part of my film collections as soon as it is available on DVD and BluRay. I give this film [[[4.5 out of 5]]]

She said:

It took me only three or four minutes to know that I was going to love this film. And it took me only half an hour after that to understand that I was watching one of the cinema highlights of the year. Despite what the poor Box Office figures might suggest, Scott Pilgrim vs The World is a funny, original, unique and genre-breaking film. And I for one loved it.

The thing that really stood out for me about Scott Pilgrim was the genre defying style and structure; this is a film that isn't based in reality, yet I didn't feel like the label of fantasy would do it justice. Scott Pilgrim takes your idea of film and then tips it on its head, adds a bit of comic book, mixes up some video game, throws in some ironic indie rock and finished with a twist of sitcom. Then kaboom! You have a completely new genre.

Fascinating to watch for many reasons, Scott Pilgrim is rich in detail from cultural references galore to visual Easter Eggs (ala the third evil ex wearing a t-shirt with a 3 on it). Much like musicals show us what reality would be like if omnipresent bands started playing music randomly throughout your day, Scott Pilgrim shows us what the world would be like if cartoon strips were real.

Overall I am incredibly impressed by this film, and what a wonderful way fro director Edgar Wright to move into Hollywood. But then again with hits like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz under his belt I really didn't expect a disaster from him. This film made me smile with its wit, charm and above all its unashamed propensity to push the boundaries of cinematic convention. I give this film {{{5 out of 5}}}

They said:

Even if it turns out not to be your thing this film is worth a watch for its hyperbolic take on a fantastically original story. It also deserves kudos for having the credits sequence at the start of the movie. He said she said loves a bit of 'old school'. We give this film {{{9.5 out of 10}}}

QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS: What is your favourite comic book / graphic novel adaptation to date and why?

11 comments:

  1. I'm kinda surprised you said this was as good as it is. Never knew Michael Cera could carry a film that well.

    But it can't be better than Sin City right

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  2. @Nicholas - I am a big Cera fan. I have to admit, he hasn't chosen a wide variety of roles but I don't see this as a bad thing. I think what he does - he does very well. He has helped bring together a new cross-comedy genre which isn't black comedy and isn't slapstick but it definitely funny!

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  3. I said:
    Can't wait to it to be released (IF it'll be released) in theaters in Brazil.

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  4. @Q - You'll be pleased to know it is due for release on 15th October in Brazil! Hopefully that date will stick :)

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  5. I trust you two, so I shall go see this for sure. :) I mean, I've recently come to really love Michael Cera in Arrested Development. I may be a teeny bit of a fangirl

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  6. @Beth - I have been ordered to watch that show by my friend who has also become a Cera fangirl from it!

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  7. Oh hey, a film I actually did get to see!

    "It took me only three or four minutes to know that I was going to love this film." Ditto. Might've even been sooner. Honestly, the trailer had me pretty sold on its awesomeness, and I was glad to not be disappointed. A few of us were wondering if that was Johnny Storm in there, though Mr. Superman/temporary 'Chuck' cast member I spotted in the trailer, so I knew he was in it.

    My favorite comic book adaptation to date? Well, I might say this very movie, but I honestly didn't know about the comic until opening night of this movie, and though I want to badly, I haven't yet read it.

    So I think I'll have to go with Spider-Man 2. Spidey 2 pretty much embodied everything a Spider-Man movie should be, from start to finish.

    @Nicholas C - Yes, this movie can and is better than Sin City, as far as I'm concerned. I loved Sin City, and it adapted the comics well, but as a movie, I like Scott Pilgrim better. Maybe it's just a taste issue (I love gritty noir to death, but I tend to enjoy quick wittiness more), but that's my opinion.

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  8. I've seen it twice.

    My favorite comic>Bigscreen adaptation may have been this one. But I was unattached to the comic before seeing the movie so they may be a big part of it, I didn't grow up loving Scott Pilgrim, whereas I tend to at the very least have a good familiarity with the other comic book characters.

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  9. I've seen it once.. but I'd see it again, if free time permits. Kim and I really loved it.

    I liked that they looked around at all genres and said.. screw you, we're doing our own thing.

    It could have easily gone one way or another, but they had the perfect mix of storyline, special effects, videogameness, comedy and soundtrack/music and that made a great movie.

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  10. @Adam - I agree with what you say about the grittiness versus wittiness. I like these dark, dystopian kind of worlds but Scott Pilgrim is just quick and fresh.

    @Bobby - I didn't know much about Scott Pilgrim either, other than that my friend Ross LOVES it. Maybe thats why people like it but it isn't getting big bucks...

    @Will - Yes, definitely this could have failed miserably and just become a mess. But it was done very slickly. I love it!

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  11. Saw it again the other night. Still loved it, and was able to pay attention to details that had slipped me by completely the first time. There's still something ethereal and magical about the whole experience, though. The visual style, the story, the acting and everything is all just so...wow.

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