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Massawyrm delights in the double meanings and warm gooey center of SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
Hola all. Massawyrm here.
Holy shit. Talk about a film that lives up to its hype. There is something undeniably brilliant about SCOTT PILGRIM, and it has little to do with its blending of pop culture elements with fantasy. In fact, what is ultimately so great about it has little at all to do with its comedy or nearly endless stream of in-jokes. Early on in the process of advertising the film, two elements stuck out to a number of film writers – 1) that Ramona Flowers keeps dying her hair different colors and 2) an overhead shot of two people walking in the snow. These elements seemed oddly familiar. Instantly, people asked: what’s with the ETERNAL SUNSHINE vibe? While this allusion was quickly dismissed once all the 8bit video game insanity hit the web, watching the final product I couldn’t help but see a direct comparison – though not at all in its characters or shot structure.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, with all its Michel Gondry-ness, is a powerful, incredible metaphor for the cycle of abuse many people sign onto when getting into relationships; it is about how readily we fall into patterns and succumb to the same traps. SCOTT PILGRIM is remarkably similar, though it broaches a very different theme. Through its radical imagery and pop culture references, SCOTT PILGRIM is a film about working through your bullshit, while systematically wrestling with the bullshit baggage that comes with loving another human being. It would be easy to dismiss this film as a jokey, fun, hipster romp about a guy who has to fight his girlfriend’s seven evil exes – but that’s not REALLY what this film is about.
As Wright has said in a number of interviews, he sees the story of SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD as a daydream – and that shows through his interpretation of the work as we occasionally see reality, glance away, then return to see the fantasy of the fight. In truth, every single fight scene is a representation of Pilgrim discovering and having to wrestle with another aspect of his girlfriend’s past. While it appears that everything happening is a Slam! Bam! Rock ‘em Sock ‘em fight to the finish, it is really about a guy having to deal with his girlfriend having a famous ex-boyfriend, or having dated a girl or being hung up on an ex. Every scene has two meanings. And the more you focus upon the humor and pop culture references, the easier it is to miss it.
SCOTT PILGRIM is a film more about love, damage and the folly of youth than it is anything else. The tone of the film is surprising. All of the advertising and initial word on the film seems to lend towards the “you’re going to have such a great time” variety, and then you walk in, sit down and find yourself confronted by an unexpected familiarity. Sure, it is every bit as funny, exhilarating and joyous as it appears – but it is so much deeper than it wants to let on. Through sheer, seemingly inane goofiness, this film gets to the heart of the often infantile feelings, petty jealousies and unmitigated juvenility that comes out when addressing the issues of a lover’s former loves. And as cool as the film touts Ramona Flowers to be, we see firsthand how uncool she is when things get heavy. Sure, you can walk away saying “How awesome was it that they turned to coins when they got hit with a sword,” but deep down, there’s a good chance you are going to begin thinking about that girl you dated who’s “first” was with a football player and only dated you because you were a “more sensitive” guy.
Edgar Wright is a mad genius. He has a knack for making films that are seemingly about one thing, but actually play out as something else. SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ are brilliant parodies – but that’s not what this is. This isn’t about pointing out a section of pop culture only to dissect it while providing a perfect example of it. No, this is a very deep, metaphorical film about love. It just also happens to be as scathingly funny as Wright’s previous films. SCOTT PILGRIM is occasionally fall out of your chair hilarious. It puts a smile on your face and keeps delivering with moment after moment until you think you can take no more, only to cap you off with a killer climax; it wants very much to be a good time at the movies.
Each of the evil exes exists on two very different levels. On the surface they are brutish bullies, each with looks and lives that dwarf Scott Pilgrim’s; beneath, they are burnt, bitter and broken about being abandoned by this incredibly desirable girl. Each actor given the chance to speak a word nails it. Most importantly, every member of its ensemble cast evokes a certain charm that will make the audience either fall in love with them or equally despise them for their tortured wickedness. Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Ramona is a delightfully aloof love interest, while Kieran Culkin’s gay best-friend/roommate is equally ridiculously witty. Anna Kendrick is slowly becoming a woman whose performances rivet me no matter how little screen time she gets, and here she commandeers every scene from Michael Cera she’s given – proving once again that she is one of the finest supporting actresses working in her age bracket. Nobody falters here. Everyone delvers. And that goes for everyone *including* Michael Cera.
Cera’s been catching a lot of flak as of late, due to his penchant for playing the same kind of characters – the nerdy, awkward, lovable losers. He is to young angst what Bruce Willis is to action or Humphrey Bogart was to bad boys – not only dependable, but your go-to guy if you can get him. Here Cera is afforded the opportunity to do something he never is: to ramp up to heroism. Scott Pilgrim doesn’t start a hero, but he sure ends like one, and Cera embodies that transformation perfectly – even when he does fall back on old tricks that some are grumbling about.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD is a searing, incredibly touching comedy that hits everything it aims at and works on multiple levels. It is not, as it might appear, hipster-driven popcorn fare, but rather a wonderfully constructed fairy tale with an awful lot to say about the human condition. This isn’t just a great film – it is very easily Top 10 material. There is so much going on here, so much to parse out, that I find it impossible to dismiss as merely fun. SCOTT PILGRIM is brilliant - in every sense of the word. And it should be viewed and digested at the earliest opportunity. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Until next time friends,
Massawyrm
Got something for the Wyrm? Mail it here.
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I loved the books so im sure il love this equally
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Aug 13, 2010 10:27:13 AM CDT
I'm genetically predisposed into loving this film
by jacksbloatedpayroll
And I don't think that it's quality one way or another will affect it. I loved the comics. I've bought into the hype. It seems to hit every nerd gspot in my soul. I'm going in assuming it will be awesome. I wonder if any other talkbackers feel the same way. Once every 4 or 5 years this happens.
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I'm not a Michael Cera hater by any means, but this better not turn out to be some disaffected "meh nothing matters" emo-blandfest masquerading behind alot of Nintendo references. The Gf wants to see it, though, so my pussy-whipped ass will be in the theater soon enough.
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Aug 13, 2010 10:28:35 AM CDT
Aquatarkusman Delights IN Spiting the Collective Editorial Board
by aquatarkusman
By not seeing this movie in any format with extreme prejudice.
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Edgar Wright makes amusing movies that get WILDLY over-rated on this site. I can't see this one being any different.
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I want to see both, but Time and Money are on a premium, and of the two I've decided I'll get more, personally, from Scott Pilgrim.
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That they're WILDLY overrated is a matter of opinion.
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...everyone else, Expendables is on your left.
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Aug 13, 2010 10:34:24 AM CDT
ACtually, I Want to see the Disappearance of Alice Creed
by aquatarkusman
British gangsters fused with Mamet-isms? Count me the fuck in!
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I agree completely. I mean I liked Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but after reading the reviews on AICN I expected them to rival Citizen Kane or the fucking Godfather in terms of greatness.
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This flick is going to be huge.
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OK, glad somebody here seems to agree, even though I'm not here to hate on Edgar Wright. AICN is like a weird little corner of the universe where Edgar Wright is some kind of untouchable God. But the rest of the universe is kinda like, "who? Oh yeah, Shaun of the Dead. That was kinda funny."
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Thanks for being the first review I've read to address the two "proper" (for lack of a better, unpretentious word) ways to view this movie: A) a surface reading, where it's a wild and crazy world filled with action and super powers, or B) the metaphoric reading, where you see that Scott is a naive, immature young man who is working through emotional baggage by imagining it through the lens of his personal obsessions, namely video games and music. Most negative reactions seem to come from people who are falling in between those views and whose criticism (here’s where I’m leveling my best “I’m so disappointed in you” face at David Edelstein) boils down to, “This is stupid, why is Michael Cera suddenly a superhero?” If you want to enjoy Scott Pilgrim (book or movie) you need to either go along with the weird stuff and accept the universe presented as-is, or see it as the delusional fantasy imagined by a character going through something very real for which he’s not really prepared: growing up.
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Anyone old enough to have seen Cobra in the theartre doesn't go to the movies. They'll wait for the expendables DVD in October.
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...this movie will do minimal business. Which is not a reflection of quality, as we can all agree, but seriously, all this hype is reminiscent of Snakes on a Plane or Kickass.
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Having owned a Master System and a Megadrive, being in love with MEW, and enjoying everything Wright has done thus far...
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Everybody is going to want to be a hipster when they see this film.
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before reaching her mid twenties really worth it?
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and a contributing factor was her ex-boyfriend bullshit baggage, will i still enjoy this movie, or will it make me feel like a failure for not rising to the occasion like Mr. Pilgrim?
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Hot Fuzz is certainly overrated but Shaun of the Dead deserves any and all praise it can get.
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Technically, she didn't sleep with the first two(I think?) Funny take though...I lol'd.
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"... all this hype is reminiscent of Snakes on a Plane or Kickass."
Quoting you directly because you are so correct. Destined for massively front-loaded box-office, with 65% drop in the second weekend. I loved Hot Fuzz and bought the DVD; that doesn't mean I want to see everything Edgar Wright directs. Seriously, who wants to see this besides a few residents of some dark, cheeto-stained corner of the internet? -
That's basically the vibe I get from this review.
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"Seriously, who wants to see this besides a few residents of some dark, cheeto-stained corner of the internet?"
Welcome to the Cheeto-stained Mecca of the Internet. -
Those assholes are the ones putting me off going to see this.
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they work on multiple levels, simultaneously. This became clear to me the day I saw SotD in theaters. I've said it for years - the best films are those that can work purely as comedies. Or as action flicks. Or as something else entirely. They are impossible to pigeonhole. Back to the Future is the perfect example of this. It's genre-less because it does damn near EVERYTHING so well. And that's how I feel about Edgar Wright. He's impossible to pin down and that's what makes him so dangerous.
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It's great to finally get a review from a MAN who GETS this movie.
Can't wait! -
Argh.
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But I can't wait to see this either.
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Has to be Sly Stallone. He has successfully turned off thousands of people from seeing this movie through his relentless promoting, guaranteeing a massive weekend for The Expendables. Sly indeed, sir. Sly indeed.
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great review, looking forward to this.
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why does it need to use it some much to sell itself? I believe in candy coated blinders. The pull here is the way it plays with that nostalic crap like to exploit the masses who need to live back then, how cant deal with right now, because now atleast for ten year or so has been living in back then anyways. almost every movie is a remake all most every joke is pop culture based. No one enjoys now as much as they enjoyed then for a fucking reason. Now is lazy and raping back then as much as it can. The Arthur remake will pull the same strings- batman costume delorian more winks at the past. When this game is played I'm always reminded of the Junk Lady from the Labyrinth and how she tried to manipulate Sarah with objects/junk. Ok so Scott is dealing with his new chicks baggage that the big need to see it reason, becuase all guys have to do that in a relationship. Deal with their own and their womans. There are tons of chick flicks like that, but I think I see the other part that people like. This time it's just like one of those chick flick but with the male characters as the lead with some action to keep it interesting. This is why you'll never see a this kind of love for chickflicks, because the male characters are just that characters. The film doesnt revolve around them as a main character. So it's a reverse play on a chick flick with dumb action and lots of pop culture manipulation.
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Thank you Massa.
I'm totally pumped to see this now. It may have an early-20's hipster feel, but clearly it addresses emotional issues that those of us who are a little older would be more prone to appreciate and relate to.
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I'm pretty sure Harry's review, when it arrives, is going to make me want to barf.
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Its official Harry has horrible tastes... gi joe was the worst movie I've seen and expendables was not good..also he apparently hated Inception so Harry is a idiot sellout review...that's all
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This review basically says:"On one level the hero is confronting his girlfriend's past, but on a deeper level the hero is confronting his girlfriend's past.Huh?Maybe I'm just not good at counting levels or something. I could never be one of those inceptors.This flick feels like more of a renter. Might be cute, but I doubt I'll rave all over it.
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Now that's the kind of thing I like to read about a film - that it operates on multiple levels. To clear it up for those who missed it - on one level it's about 'fighting the evil exes' in video game style but on another it's dealing with past relationship baggage. Yes, that's two levels. Because whenever we become romantically involved, we deal with our partner's baggage whether we want to or not. I'll be seeing this with mine.
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This film looks so fuckin' shit. And I think Shaun of the Dead is one of the best films ever made.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2010/aug/13/return-jedi-alternative-film-endings
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Great review! I'm convinced I will go see it now.
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forced & inconsistant?
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this is a perfect movie for the AICN audience. it personifies at least 75%* of the kids who open their arms to this site on a daily basis.
*not a guaranteed # -
And neither is "Hot Fuzz", for that matter. The former is a romantic comedy, with zombies. The second is a fish-out-of-the-water-meets-buddy-cop film.
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... that makes me want to actually see the movie.
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...the marketing has done a very good job of making me think that this is a thoughtless film about lots of crazee camera angles and fights and no actual emotion.
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for not talking about how you wanted to jerk off while watching the movie, and instead provided an intelligently written and informative review.
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the only way there can be peace in the Geek universe with this Expendables-Pilgrim tug of war is for Eat Pray Love to dominate. Julia Roberts stuffing her face FTW
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I actually think that Scott Pilgrim will beat The Expendables in box office AND in DVD sales. The Expendables is a niche market, whereas Scott Pilgrim will get males and females from teens to forty years old. There's probably not too many teen girls that want to see The Expendables, and we all know what drives the music and movie industries...which explains the successes of of things like Justin Beiber and the Twilight "saga". A bunch of 25 to 35 year old guys raving about 80s action stars isn't enough to beat out the teen demographic. Just stating facts...
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You will all go and see 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World'! It's the movie that everyone is tweeting about! Welcome to the revolution...
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And anyone who disagrees with that is just jealous.
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and not creepy in a good way
whatshismumble doesn't like girls and can't act around it -
Just admit it already. Guys will be forced to take their girls to see Eat Pray Love in order to keep the pie hot. No matter how hard AICN tries, this movie will fail and Expendables will not meet its expectations either. What a poor weekend at the movies. I'll wait till these movies show up on Netflix.
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Won't be going to see it, so sorry to disappoint you. All the good reviews still have not convinced me, I just don't see this being good. I could be wrong, and I am sure at some point I will see it, just won't be paying to see it.
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no
even women are sick of Julia Roberts
Her sense of entitlment, her constant yammering about *her*
even the plain janes she was the hero to are sick of her shit
tank -
Aug 13, 2010 12:58:59 PM CDT
I will NOT see this because Jason Schwartzman fucking sucks
by turd furgeson
He ruins EVERY movie he's in.. Would love to see this, This Edgar Wright is awesome, but Schwartzman is my "Brett Ratner." Just can't do it....
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how many times does Harry use the - 'after seeing this film i wanted to lick my dogs taint' or while watching said film 'you couldn't cut my cock with a katana i was so jacked up!' ... it is an embarrassment to read this stuff when a non-sexually appetizing person tries to describe their verbiage as such.
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Pilgrim will destroy on DVD. It's the kind of movie that will sell edition after edition with rabid fans. But I think The Expendables will top it this weekend. I don't think Pilgrim will be in the top two.
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Aug 13, 2010 1:25:36 PM CDT
I fully expect to love this movie, but there's something
by bettercallsaul
about Anna Kendrick that I can't stand. Maybe it's her association with the Twilight movies, or her awful hammy crying scene from up in the air, but I don't understand why she's Hollywood's new it girl. She seems oddly out of place in this movie.
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Aug 13, 2010 1:34:10 PM CDT
Scottpilgrimfan, better get on those Scott Pilgrim "Che" shirts.
by shut the fuck up donny
You'll make a killing!
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He is your master. He is AICN.
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Same for Kick-Ass. Not sure what the deal is - I just fell away from the geek culture or something.
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Sorry.
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to Eternal Sunshine? That movie sucked.
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a bit overacted by Jim Carey and Kate Winslet.
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Where is it?? Or is he too busy sucking off Sly?
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He is the future. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World will be the biggest film of the year.
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Welcome to the revolution...
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is it as hot as when ashton kutcher twatted he was taking a crap
fuck you and the twat you humped in here on -
I will be going to The Expendables. Pre Op Transsexuals, the line for Scott Pilgrim is over there.
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Nothing but positive buzz on Twitter!
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Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is a phenomenon. It is the future of movies.
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The future is now.
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The future is now.
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Its amazing how wrong they are, and I hope they are just fucking around. If they are for real or are plants, then I feel sorry for them.
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The future is now.
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This film is going to be huge.
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I'll wait for Tron Legacy if I want to see video gaming on the big screen. I have no desire to watch a whiny, nerdy boy-man have fantasy's that he is a superhero. Kick-ass = FAIL at the box-office and so will this piece of crap.
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I truly enjoyed Shaun. But Hot Fuzz left me cold and clean shaved. Did nothing for me. Scott Pilgrim seems too juvenile for me - I will wait until it hits the half price theaters
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Some studio employee typing as fast as they can on AICN to try and prop up that box-office. Good luck ! You're going to need it!!!
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Homie wants to be a Boy-man. Looking kinda' creepy with that little boy face.
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entitled LOVE PREY EAT.
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saying Shaft was too black, or Tom Cruise smiles too much.
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Now all we're going to hear is how incredibly artistic this movie is because it's ALL IN HIS MIND. See? Artistic.
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A movie that made me fall asleep. I think I now why critics like it.
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"But as pop culture sits down at the table to eat itself in true post-modern style, with Wright's knives and forks flashing as he serves the film up, something gets lost. Perhaps story; perhaps heart. "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" is bright and broad and amusing and funny, but as Gertrude Stein said of Oakland (and as, let's face it, could be said of Toronto), there's no there there. It's a conundrum: Rarely are we offered such obvious verve and wit and panache and technical brilliance, but it's nearly impossible to truly feel what all that verve, wit, panache and technical brilliance are supposedly trying to convey."
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What kind of self important douche canoe would quote Gertrude Stein in a film review, let alone a review of this film. Who's the pretentious liberal cum bubble that wrote that?
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I liked the deaths, action, humor, and all those stylized mug shots...plus bad boys 2 love?! Ho yea!
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Amazing for the first hour or so. Brilliant actually but after that the movie is so beyond repetition it's utterly boring. The visuals, editing and comedy is beyond on point but the structure sucks big time. The fights become sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo the same. Over and over again with the same effects and video game shit.
The director must have known this because he even has a character at the end of the movie say," the first half was way better then the second." if you listen closely you can hear him say it. -
to me it sounds more that the kid wants to make a relationship with a WHORE,who will eventually leave him for him for someone else making him no8.but i guess since it has Nintendo game references,the concept must be great for a movie.riight.
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SCOTTPILGRIM FAN IS YOUR MASTER. HE IS AICN.
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Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is the future of movies.
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I liked speed racer.. not so sure about this.. we'll see.
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If you're here then just want to let you know that Capone's review is up, master. See you there!
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...Harry's favorite movie of the year -- now and at the end of the year on his Best of 2010 list. I shall refer back to this post at that time. And no one will really care. But I will do it anyway.
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You know, everyone said how great Kick-Ass was also. And they were wrong, too.
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I grew up on the 8-bit graphics of 80's video games; why is it cool to have references to these dinosaurs in a movie? How is this retro BS so appealing that I'm gonna shell out $10 to see this in a theater? I'm completely puzzled. And it stars michael cera being...michael cera. Yeah, there's a real draw. It looks like the same people crowing about this flick are the same ones that couldn't get enough of Kick-Ass; I suspect the box office will be similar to that flash in the pan.
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...to jerk his jizz into the dirt for all to see! WATCH!!! as he questions an adjective! THRILL!!! to his nonsequitor attempts to look like he knows dick about a film! MARVEL!!! at allegations of bias!
Man, Ace, you used to try harder. Your troll-fu has dulled with age. -
Let Harry get paper cuts from leafing through his battered thesaurus for gushing adverbs and adjectives, Massa...here, check this out:
"SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD is a touching comedy that hits everything it aims at and works on multiple levels. It is not, as it might appear, hipster-driven popcorn fare, but rather a fairy tale with a lot to say about the human condition."
Better, no?
All the same, I'm still not seeing this fucking thing, tho... -
Or just too lazy ala movie of the year - Inception. With all the interviews on this site, thought it was a certainty for Harry to review this
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Aug 13, 2010 10:41:45 PM CDT
No release date for Hong Kong or Japan, hell a lot of places
by miyamoto_musashi
This will be another movie that is heavily downloaded or seen on pirated DVDsMovie studios wake up, this delayed distribution model, does not work in a connected world
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thats a stretch
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Yup!
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What a goddamn mess this movie was. It’s Spider-man 3 all over again when there was the potential to make another Spider-man 2.You know, just because a movie is based on a comic book, that revolves around 8-bit videogame references, it doesn’t mean that it has to move at such a pace that people with ADD would start saying “WOAH, slow down there buddy!”. I’ve been looking forward to Scott Pilgrim since I first heard that this was Edgar Wright’s next project and discovered that the graphic novels were excellent, with the exception of Volume 6, which sucked as I have explained why in my review that was posted here. Wright SHOULD have been the perfect man for this job as Spaced, series one, is an absolute masterpiece and I had hoped that Scott Pilgrim could have been the Canadian equivalent. How wrong I was to have hoped. I’ve been saying all along that SP should have came across as a mix of Clerks 2 and Kung Fu Hustle. SPVSTW fails to come even close to either of those moves. The thing that they had, that SPVSTW doesn’t, was a level of pathos and emotional development that came off as genuine and sincere in between all the donkey show and sfight scene’s. There is nothing genuine or sincere about any of the so-called- character development in this movie. I’ve said this before but the thing that made the comic’s great wasn’t the fight scene’s, it was the recognizable moments of human emotion that were on display between all the craziness. You could see Scott Pilgrim grow and develop over the novels. In this movie, SP has to tell us that he’s grown and changed because we sure as fuck wouldn’t be able to tell without him explaining it to us. Amazing fight scene’s and visuals mean fuck all if I don’t care about the characters and I couldn’t give a shit about anyone in this movie. What we are watching aren’t characters but caricatures. Wright was in such a rush to get from one fight scene to the next that the movie didn’t have time to breath and let these people become real. This is a really piss poor adaptation. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the comic’s deal with subspace (why did they even bother mentioning it when it played no part), robots, kung-fu battles and vegan superpowers but that doesn’t mean that some quality drama couldn’t have put into it as Christopher Nolan showed us that you CAN make great drama out of a man dressed as a bat fighting a psychotic clown. SPVSTW fails because Wright has made it into a rapid fire miss-mash of pop culture/video game references in place of any real dramatic content. But then maybe the problem is with the original content itself as O’Malley himself failed to give any proper closure to these characters. At the end, of both the books and the movie, you have no sense that Pilgrim has moved forward apart from gaining a new sword and defeating the ex’s. Oh, both try to leave a question mark about Scott and Ramona’s future, but they still deliver the prerequisite “happy ending” which comes off as a cop out. If I may make a comparison between the Scott Pilgrim movie/books and the Spider-man movies; Scott Pilgrim 1 & 2 feel like Spider-man 1, really good but not truly great. They hit the right notes more then they miss and, although very enjoyable, you get the feeling that it could be soo much more. And then comes Spider-man 2/Scott Pilgrim Vol 3, 4 and 5. Superior in every way. Characters and story are better defined because the creators learned from their mistakes and crafted a much more mature and thoughtful piece of work while still being massively entertaining. Emphasis is placed on fulfilling the traditional structure of “good triumphs over evil” while also adding more emotional depth and moments of quiet introspection that make the characters feel more “real” which grounds them despite all the craziness going on elsewhere in the story. You also get a sense that everyone in the story learns from their own mistakes and grow as people rather than caricatures. Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour is the Spider-man 3 of the series. There is little or no character development beyond the superficialities of fighting the bad guy while trying to save a failing relationship. Scott/Ramona=Peter Parker/Mary Jane Watson don’t feel like they have grown or developed by the end of the story nor have they moved onto another level beyond managing just to stay together. In both cases, I felt that their stories had came to the point where they would have been better off without each other and should have moved on. Scott/Peter becomes (is) a self centered twat who is certain that he must be with the woman they claim to love which, in both cases, was based heavily on infatuation/lust, not on whether they had anything in common beyond physical attraction. Meanwhile, Ramona/M.J. both come off as aloof and, despite showing some affection and claiming to love Scott/Peter, they both seem perfectly willing to drop they’re boyfriends depending on which way the wind is blowing because neither feel like they had any real love for their men beyond what they were getting out of them, be it fighting evil exes or supervillians. Both Scott/Peter seem to be breaking their backs to prove their love for these women while both of the ladies seem to hitch their wagons to them simply due to convenience and nothing more, while being ready to bug out at a moments notice if things don’t suit them which isn’t surprising as they both seem self absorbed, never mind that neither seem to have a problem hooking up with other men. Meanwhile, the villains come off as one note and their defeat feels less like a triumph over adversity then a necessary end to the story. The secondary characters have no development at all. Essentially, both Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour/Spider-man 3 feel like nothing more then action scene’s punctuated by substandard plot devices and generic character moments designed to give the illusion that we are seeing these people progress as human beings when, by the end of the story, there has been no real change from where they were at the beginning of the comic/movie. In both cases, the easy way out has been taken by providing generic “happy ending’s” because the comic/movie’s creator(s) didn’t have the nerve to buck tradition and provide a resolution that, although may come off as downbeat, would have felt more “real” and “true”, thus giving their stories greater depth and meaning while elevating them beyond being a simple comic book/movie which is exactly what had been achieved in Scott Pilgrim Vol’s 3/4/5 and Spider-man 2.
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Aug 13, 2010 11:04:31 PM CDT
if harry reviews this shit and not inception then im leaving
by dioxholsterreturns
for good
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Aug 13, 2010 11:09:51 PM CDT
Im 22 years old and i dont get the 8bit video game references
by dioxholsterreturns
i grew up on Nintendo 64. honestly i dont know why a kid would daydream about fighting hes girlfriend's ex-boyfriends.
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from deadline:
FIRST BOX OFFICE: 'The Expendables' $13M/$34M; 'Eat Pray Love' $8M/$23M; 'Scott Pilgrim v The World' $5M/$12M -
I'm almost euphoric over the failure of this overhyped POS...basically live-action ANIME. Which, in any form, is the vilest of all things.
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im so happy now
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Aug 14, 2010 12:05:36 AM CDT
As predicted audiences dont want to go see that shit
by dioxholsterreturns
no amount of advertisement couldve saved that turdfest.
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http://bit.ly/bjL3rp trailer
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this movie Sold Out for all shows. Around North America, I have no idea. But as a 39 year old male, I enjoyed it immensely, dispite my deep dislike for Cera. He, and therefore his portrayal of Scott Pilrim left me not liking the title character. Fortunately, the supporting characters, the action, the music, the video game references and the story itself were enough to over-shadow Michael, which is not very hard to do, when you're a lead actor with zero actual screen presence.
As for Anna Kendrick. She's really a minor supporting character. In fact, I enjoyed Allison Pill and Aubrey Plaza most of all among the supporting cast.
My personal review of the film is simple. It's definitely worth the price of admission. And that's really all that needs to be said about any good movie. Basically, if something's not worth paying to go see in the theatres, it's probably not a very good movie. -
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Saw SPvtW tonight. Spot on review. I counted 47 people in line to get tickets; 3 for Eat, Pray, Love, 12 for Expendables and 32 for Scott Pilgrim. After the inital 47 I had a smoke and went in for the annoying prepreviews. I don't know what time the other flicks started, but SP reigned for that 15 or so minutes. That's in Nowhere, SE Pennsylvania. SP will own this weekend.
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She's hotter in person. Just sayin'.
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so similar, particularly the central female character. If she's anything like Kate Winslet's self-obssessed whiner I'll hate it.
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Level 1: Fighting and Fucking, Games and Gossip. This is what everyone does. They talk in movie/music/game references. They launch into relationships because they see a guy/girl and have a strong attraction.
2. Ramona runs from her pain. Knives is obsessed with her pain. Kim becomes bitter about her pain. Scott lacks an awareness of himself or relationships because of his pain. Gideon is an attention demanding ass because of his pain. Ramona/Knives/Kim are how girls deal with shit. Scott/Gideon are how guys deal with shit. Meanwhile, Wallace and Scott's sister understand all this and laugh at, goad, and try to help Scott the entire time.
Like the books, Wright took the culture and turned it in on itself. Unlike the books, Wright made a better point. Self respect comes first. Relationships come second. -
It probably would've been more recognizable as film subtext with a lead actor more capable of showing that range.
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Hah! You still haven't retired Massawanker? Shit, you silly prat, you wore that out years ago. It wasn't even clever the first time. Can't believe I managed to piss you off enough to get four paragraphs. Thanks, brother. You just made my morning. That was so worth it.
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I am the king of AICN. I'm never wrong.
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Fuck off!
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Too see people WANTING a movie to fail is sad.I understand if you don't like certain actors or movies but really its unforntunate you rather see something do horrible in the box office than say do good in the b.o. I didn't like Expenables but I do hope it does well so we could possibly get a sequel or more movies like it (wit the ultra violence). If innovative movies fail, then were just gonna get stupid movies for teen girls because you know what, they're HELPING the movie business. With no money comes no product. So if you want movies to fail, you're worse than any die hard twilight fan
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Interesting, thought-provoking review. Not the biggest SPIDERMAN 2 fan, but I see your point.
Between all the hype, I've caught bits and pieces of what you're saying slip out in the midst of the raves: that behind all the movie's glitz and visual inventiveness, the core is hollow and trite, filled with missed opportunities and declarations substituting for actual character development (painfully common these days)...
Keep 'em coming. -
Or did I miss a painfully obvious joke somewhere? I'd believe either one. Also, great review. Enjoyed the movie while watching it, appreciated it more while considering it later. Also, Anna Kendrick is indeed hot. I hear a lot of "jacked up teeth" criticism from friends, but that just sort of reminds me of Jason Alexander's charcater in "Shallow Hal" dumping a supermodel because her second toe sticks out. Fuck it.
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I guess my earlier prediction has proved to be incorrect. SPvtW is trailing behind both of those other films so far.
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Aug 15, 2010 11:05:44 PM CDT
People seeing this movie still waiting for their testes to drop
by madeyemongo
"Scott Pilgrim scored a modest estimated $10.5 million on around 3,000 screens at 2,818 locations, which was less than Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist's $11.3 million opening weekend. It also paled compared to the launches of Kick-Ass ($19.8 million) and Zombieland ($24.7 million), among recent fan boy affairs. Buzz from the Comic-Con crowd and the media may have created unrealistic expectations, but Scott Pilgrim was always going to be a tough sell for the mainstream, given its niche premise and genre-bending. The movie's poster, featuring Michael Cera posing with his bass guitar, didn't help, because it didn't explain the movie and made it seem like a rock 'n' roll comedy, which is an unpopular sub-genre. Distributor Universal Pictures' research showed that 64 percent of the audience was male and 58 percent was under 25 years old."
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