Name of the Film: Scott Pilgrim Versus the World
Date seen: 23rd January
Format: DVD
Scott Pilgrim never came out at the cinema in Hong Kong and now you can buy it on import dvd so I guess it never will. Which is a shame because the strength of the gamer culture over here means that I think it would have done well. Plus Knives Chau is all kinds of awesome and a chinese audience would have responded to that.
Scott Pilgrim (played by Michael Cera) is an unemployed twenty year old slacker who is a bassist for a band... And he’s dating a high schooler! That is until he meets Ramona Flowers, the new intriguing girl in town. Everything seems fine with his new girl until he is confronted by the League of seven evil Ex’s!
Let me ask you, did you ever own a SNES? The Nintendo games console from the mid 90’s? Well I guess Edgar Write did because this films plays like a love letter to classic platform games. Scott Pilgrim is every bit the modern Mario, dispatching end of level bosses on his way to get the girl.
I have to confess that I haven’t read the comics that the film is based on and I understand that they differ in some spoilerific ways. And so for those that have read them I guess you may see this film differently but I think it is excellent. Almost note perfect.
The visuals, music and characters all synch perfectly into a fun, involving and effortlessly charming story.
However I did say almost note perfect. The only real problem comes in that Ramona Flowers seems a little... Well... Er, bland. Why do all these guys go crazy for her? She is aloof and that is enough to drive men crazy it would seem.
This would be a disaster if Scott wasn’t such a well rounded character but because he starts the film as an insecure, immature, average young guy it is believable that his head would be turned by the enigmatic new girl in town. And this is the main drive of the story, it is as much about Scott’s growth as it is about his battle to date Ramona.
The visuals are a curious mix of the Batman tv show from the 60’s and Super Mario. Every time they are used they are brilliant, adding to each scene rather than distracting or cheapening the story taking place.
The music similarly is a perfect fit with subject matter. The only exception to this is the song by Matthew Patel that seems a little... Well clunky.
Ultimately any quibbles I raise here are tiny and unimportant because this is a fantastic film. Edgar Wrights best? Definitely up there with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Slick, funny and smarter than it looks, this is cult cinema at it’s best. I can only hope it kicks ass in the dvd sales because I want more films that are as inventive and unique as this!
Did I enjoy the film? Yes it is awesome.
Would I recommend it to my friends? Yes the movie night is already planned.
Will I buy it on DVD/Blu Ray? Already have.
If it was a mate would I let it date my Sister? Of course, happily so.
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