Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Post Release - Page 10

I can see it. So I understand where you are coming from.

Just got back from a third viewing of the movie. Just so damned rewatchable.

One moment I've loved EVERY time but have forgotten to mention: when Ramona blocks Roxy's kick with one hand leading to their "VS shot." LOVE that moment. Makes me wish I could see a version of the film that has the ending from the book with Ramona being more proactive.

That, and I'm completely in love with the cutting Wright does that goes from the bi-furious line to Ramona pulling out her hammer. Perfect editing that gets me totally pumped up for the coming fight.

And I know the the band battle with the twins has been pointed out as being extraneous by some (and I would partially agree), but I love that the movie gives Sex Bob-omb an opportunity to shine in a way the comic doesn't (if my memory serves). I've gotten goosebumps from that sequence every time I see the 3 characters continuing to rock on as they're blasted by purple dragon gas.

But this is very shaky ground because you could get on a slippery slope and say

"It's Wright and Pope, doing Abrams and Mindel, doing Bay and Admundsen."

I mean let's look at the 3 trailers and you can see the similarity in lens flare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgOLmjhxVVU - Scott Pilgrim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqXd6haFYqU - Star Trek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N2YWRJ-ppo - Transformers

I think I just killed my love for modern lens flare and need to go watch a Kazuo Miyagawa shot film. Perhaps it is so prevalent it has become, expected which is why I don't notice it. My poor, poor eyes...they are failing me.

Don't think Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is your kind of movie? Here is my handy guide to help you decide:

Do you like movies? Do you like to laugh? Do you have a soul? Have you ever been in love? Have you ever broken up with someone, or been dumped by someone? Have you ever cheated on someone or been cheated on by someone? Have you ever gotten into a fight over a girl? If you are a girl, have you ever had a guy fight over you? Do you like garlic bread? Do you dislike vegans? Do you listen to music? Have you ever been in a band? Do you have a friend in a band? Did you play NES? More specifically, did you play Legend of Zelda? Have you ever read a comic book? Have you ever had a cool, gay roommate? Do you have a sister? Do you like Toronto? Do you pee? Do you like kung fu? Sword fights? How about girl-on-girl? Do you like dragons? What about double dragons?

If you said yes to any of these questions, then Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is the movie for you.

It's likely modern technology that leads to the similarity... it may be harder to achieve the look of, say, Alien these days.

Whatever the reason, I still think it's likely Wright really liked what Abrams was doing and made a mental note of it, conscious or otherwise. Despite the fact that, yes, neither invented the technique, and it has been done before. Again, it's a credit to the SP crew that it doesn't jump out as much as Trek.

No I think he hides with special effects better. Abrams wasn't trying to hide it. He used flashlights and whatever to add even more flare. Now that I come to think of it, modern lens flare look is just everywhere in the 2000's and I think I may be desensitized so to speak. I almost expect it to show up and only when its done "ridiculously" as Abrams put it, is when it is noticeable. I'd have to research the lenses and cameras used to see if it is a technology thing or if it is simply digital enhancement.

I wish this movie was longer. That's how much I loved it. And just like in Hot Fuzz, Wright proves himself insanely talented in being able to juggle a very, very, VERY large cast of characters.

I think I've figured out why I dislike the movie, despite liking most of it. For most of the running time, it combines the big fight scenes with small (though still heightened), honest character moments, but the end mostly punts that out the window. The chip is the obvious example, it's such a cheat to let Ramona off the hook just when Scott should be rising above petty blame games (and how is she in his dream in that scene, anyway?). But Scott's assumption that he's (stuck?) back with Knives despite actually wanting to pursue Ramona (with whom he still has nothing in common) is the last straw - he's almost exactly where he started, isn't he?

I never managed to get very far in the comics, maybe they fix everything, but the movie on its own never presents Scott growing up even as it insists that's exactly what you're seeing. He's "living" the same consequence-free videogame fantasy at the end as he largely has throughout, which is the most childish thing I can imagine.

I think to read it that way is to choose to ignore some of the most underlined stuff Wright throws up at the end. "Scott earned the power of self-respect." His concern for Knives - which he certainly never had previous to the end. And I don't think it's a cheat to have Ramona chipped. Especially after her speech about how it was her that was obsessed, not the other way around. And she's the one that actually gets to remove it.

Anyway, I think the end is a starting point for the two, as someone (Dre?) put better earlier in the thread.

Also, "Why wouldn't you be?" -best delievered line?

I would nominate "That's actually hilarious."

I don't think the chip is meant to be taken literally - it's just easier for Scott to process Ramona's obsession with Gideon.

I thought that initially while I was watching the movie, when it showed up in the dream, but then we see it outside the dream as well which is the point when it ticked me off. Of course it's hard to say what we are supposed to take literally in a movie where a man is head-butted into loose change without much consequence (for the head-butter, at least), so you may very well be right about what was intended.

As far as, "The Power of Self Respect," that's something the movie tells us, and my objection is that the things it tells us don't match the things it shows us. He's ready to re-enter his empty relationship with Knives, out of "concern" for her feelings which is a) incredibly patronizing and b) based on not having any ability to tell how she feels, when he doesn't really want to be with her - how much self respect, or respect for anyone, does that really show?

I thought about that too, but you don't actually see the chip when Ramona rubs her neck. You hear a puffing-out and then she rubs it but I've seen the movie twice and I didn't see the chip.

You definitely see the chip.

I don't think it matters anyway. It's a literal metaphor, just like Pilgrim fighting her exes to the death. The real-life take-away is that Gideon is psychologically manipulative and possessive to the point that Ramona can't distinguish what she wants from what he want her to want. The comic-book interpretation is an actual mind-control chip. The two perspectives are mashed up expertly, which is why the movie is sort of special.

Yeah, it passed by quickly but I thought there was a joke in the last scene where the idea that Gideon "really got inside my head" causes Scott to express disgust and turn away and she gets him to stay and express relief when she shows him it was just the mind control chip, no feelings involved.

This is exactly how I saw it. It seemed like it was just a clever time saving short-hand to explain the hold that Gideon had over Ramona. It seems weird to me to be on board with punching Ramona's exes into coins, but to get caught up in the literal implications of a mind control chip. That being said, I haven't read the comic so I didn't bring any of that baggage/understanding to the film.

I can see your point, that interpretation does work and probably is more like the actual intent, but it doesn't actually play that way to me. You get Gideon as manipulative from the performances alone very clearly; the chip seems to me more about reassuring us Ramona is powerless/blameless, so she can stay on the dreamgirl pedestal from which the movie previously seemed to be letting her step down. That's the trouble with metaphors, though, somebody's always going to read more into it than you intended.

Speaking of comic-book interpretation, is the chip actually in the original comics? I'm sure I've read somewhere that it was one of the things changed for the movie.

I think you're making a leap. If the intent was to make her look powerless or blameless they would have made her past and flashbacks black and white as well. She has issues. Scott has issues. They just put a lot of that stuff into a comic or video game context.

I second this nomination.

Fantastic! Enjoyable on every level and even the stuff that maybe didn't work conceptually was executed so well that it didn't matter (the microchip and the subspace highway).

I actually agree with the audience barrier though. It didn't feel like a movie that would be accessible to a large audience. I wouldn't change anything about it but I would only recommend it to some of my friends.

Also Scott getting back together with Ramona at the end kind of negates the lesson he learns, but whatever. Fun movie.

I nominate "Milk and eggs, bitch."

I fell head over heels in love with this movie.

You'll have to watch and defeat Seven Evil Blockbusters before you can continue loving it.

When the Avengers assemble, they'll all have to wait on Captain America, because he'll be too busy getting blazed back in his winnie. Whatever problemns I have with the film, it's failure should sadden me for nothing more than the fact that once again, audiences continue to miss the Chris Evans train. The man is magical.

No chip. The nature of Gideon's connection to Ramona is totally different in the book, and I would consider it spoilery to describe how.

Saw this last night and it was just a complete delight from beginning to end. I was in a packed theatre of late twenties/thirty-somethings and they were completely into it the entire way.

I really feel Edgars made his '1982' film; that is, a truly landmark film much like Blade Runner or The Thing that will die a horrible death at the box office, but go on to be an absolute beloved classic. The kind of movie that kids are going to be inspired by in the coming years and want to become film-makers themselves because of. The Fight Club comparison is perfect in this regard as well.

Anyone notice the three numbers Lucas Lee dials with his gun barrel in the movie on Spike? 555.

I was hoping for a bit more CLOSURE with Envy, but the final exchange between them was very bittersweet.

God damn this film has such a high rewatchability factor. More than Tarantino's Basterds!

"How are you doing that with your mouth?"

Second time around, I noticed something that I couldn't really explain: WHY is Ramona guilty about what she did to Knives? The burden of that is 100% on Scott, she doesn't have to account for it whatsoever. The more I think about it, the more it seems that the screenwriters lost hold of Ramona as the film wore on. This moment seems contrived to give her a redemptive, "I'm not such a jerk anymore" speech that isn't really appropriate.

Well, perhaps, before the events of the film, she just wouldn't have given a fuck about somebody like Knives as long as she got the guy. She certainly didn't give a fuck about hurting either of the twins. It's not her fault that Knives is involved, but maybe even caring about Knives makes that speech appropriate.

I was initially sceptical about Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim but I was happily surprised by his performance here, he nails every facet of the character, the clueless nature, the nervous energy he had was great. Wallace was my favorite character from the book so it was great to see Kieran Culkin blaze across this film and steal every scene, almost.

Out of all the females, in this film, Ellen Wong emerges the winner, then again, I'm probably biased since I found Knives arc in the book to be the most emotionally resonant and it was tough where they were going to take her character but she pulled it off like a champ. The other major female presence Mary Elizabeth Winstead was good and took a relatively unlikeable character and injected some depth there. Kim's facial expressions were great, stonefaced as they were.

I loved the fact that Lucas Lee had the Universal logo theme as his own theme, Scott's multiple use of 'Wow' as Lucas skidded down the rail was brilliant. Brandon Routh's been given a second chance with this film, let's hope he uses it wisely 'he really doesn't' was a superb gag as was the vegan police cameo and high-five.

The real star of this film is of course, Edgar Wright, or at least, the editing. The film was an absolute cavalcade of editing tricks that kept impressing as the film went on, the split screen use to evoke the feel of streetfighter games or fighting games in general, the inclusion of O'Malley's drawings it all just flowed. The fact that Gideon's henchman all had body outlines made out of coins was awesome. That battle of the band's was just amazing, the fact that he turned into one massive kaiju homage was brilliant. There are so many in-jokes and gags in this film, it's almost impossible to keep up. That Mega-Scott was really fucking freaky, with the red eyes and pale skin.

I feel sorry for Edgar in that his next film is going to be so highly anticipated by us film geeks but he's delivered one hell of a film here, a love story about 2 jerks, he's laid down the gauntlet, let's see who pick's it up.

It may also be a simple cast of Ramona empathizing with Knives. Scott in a lot of ways is Knives' Gideon (though less evil and more just a dick). Ramona describes herself as becoming more obsessed with Gideon the more he ignored her until she started to lose herself completely, which mirrors quite closely Scott and Knives' relationship.

Haven't gotten time to see it yet. I hope it's still playing on Sunday. With a low weekend gross like that, it might get kicked out of my theater within 2 weeks of opening.

That seems to be one of the only times the movie actually points out the artifice of the movie's world the way the comic often did with its own.

From here.

Does Comeau's "The comic was better than the movie" count?

Maybe, but to me your example feels like something else.

Anyone else leave the theater thirsting for a refreshing Coke Zero?

I've seen this three times now, with different groups of friends, including a few parents, and everyone's loved it. Trying to spread the Scott Pilgrim love has worked, at least on a small scale.

As it's been mentioned, there's just so much going on to notice and love. I'm amazed it took me until the third viewing to realize that Scott (and by extension, Sex Bob-omb) forms a literal Green-Eyed Monster upon spying Gideon with Ramona.

Speaking of that scene, I think it was the best way to handle the twins. Out of all the exes, they are by far the least important, appearing even in the comic at a time when the League was no longer as big a focus than the start. A smart way to get them on screen and use Sex Bob-omb in a big way. Fun stuff.

Loved just about everyone in the film. Evans' "That's actually hilarious" has already been mentioned, but I loved a lot of Cera's stuff too. A couple of his readings "You're hair. It's so blueeee." and "That's eeeeevilll." slayed me. Thought he was great.

I don't know if this has been discussed or not... but the scene with all the coins at the end when kim pine says "there goes. our deal." and Stephen desperately rushes gather as many coins as he can... Young Neil eats a coin. And it is hilarious.

Haha nice. No doubt this will be awesome on repeat viewings. I usually miss stuff like that the first time. Or first few.

I heard about it in an interview with Culkin. He just stares at the coin for awhile and then eats it. I also dug the Guitar Wolf poster in the band's practice room.

My favorite bit that no one I've spoken to notices: When he says "You know what sucks? EVERYTHING.", he spells out Sux and tilts an 8 on its side using the kitchen magnets.

That got a big laugh in the showing I was at; not one of the biggest by any means, but people appreciated it. I think the best part of that gag, though, is the way you can see Wallace noticing it as well.

Yeah, I noticed that bit and chuckled pretty loudly in the theater. My brother game me a "I don't get it" look and I pointed out the "infinity" symbol. Great little moment.

Sounds like a little of Barry De Vorzon's The Warriors score is going on in the Lucas Lee fight scene, maybe elsewhere, but definitely there.

I know it's a joke, but two things bothered me, and that was one of them.

I also know the exes were metaphors, and I know the coins are a video game trope, but I wanted some context as to why no one seems to care that people are dying all over the place, and the dead people sometimes become coins.

Patel incinerating Crash and the Boys seemed especially callous.

We all know that no one in video games or comics stays dead, but in the context of the movie, all the people that died stayed dead for good (except Scott). I would have loved an epilogue where we see the defeated characters respawn and move on with their lives.

I think it's the same reaction Frank Oz got from Little Shop of Horror's test-screenings: The ending of the stage show didn't work on screen because there was no curtain call.

My other problem was that Ramona and Scott were the least interesting characters in the film.

Looked amazing though.

Yep, the delivery on that just absolutely killed me.

Alright. I saw it a 3rd time last night. Loved it even more than the second time. I've been taking different circles of friends to go see it, and it plays extremely well with each audience I've been with across all demographics. The audiences for the most part seem to really love the movie.

Little detail I stumbled upon that I hadn't noticed until last night: During Ramona and Scott's scene on the bus ("You may have to fight my 7 evil-exes . . .") all of the light reflecting in the background through the windows of the bus, all of them are hearts. Unless I'm crazy. They're all hearts.

According to the i-Trailer, it's all hearts on Scott's side and all Xs on Ramona's.