Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

[AutoAym]

I read this review and was left in a state of disbelief. Disbelief enough that i went digging through the recesses of my memory to remember my login info for the forums here so I could comment specifically on this review. Then i had to take several moments in an attempt to collect my thoughts and allow my emotions to dissipate themselves somewhat.

In short: This review reads like it was written by an unabashed, rose-coloured-glasses-wearing fanboy of the source material.

There's nothing at all wrong with passionately loving something, nor with evangelizing something that you feel was genuinely overlooked by the masses.
But to call the movie perfect? And to then dismiss everyone who finds fault with it as not 'getting it' ?

I have to call foul, sir.

I had no prior knowledge of Scott Pilgrim before seeing it in the theatre. But as someone who's spent nearly three decades with a videogame controller in his hand, i figured that it'd be entertaining enough that i'd enjoy it. I was wrong.
Yes, i caught the numerous references throughout the movie (like the videogame boss battle music cues when Pilgrim fought the exes). But, like Family Guy, just referencing something doesn't make it funny.
Yes, some of the graphics used during the movie were funny as hell. But they can't be expected to substitute for plot or character development.
And as the movie unfolded, I was left with questions. Such as:
Why was Pilgrim willing to (literally) repeatedly risk his life for a girl he just met?
Why is Mary Elisabeth Winstead acting like she took lessons from the Star Wars Prequel cast?
Why should we care about anything that happens to any of these characters (ESPECIALLY Pilgrim)?
Why is Michael Cera playing the exact same character he's played in everything he's ever done since Arrested Development?

The Blu-Ray release may very well indeed be the technical achievement of the year, with an unbeatable combination of technical presentation and numerous special features. But the movie itself is nothing close to the perfect score you gave it and i think the review should reflect that.

[erich]

I appreciate your response, AutoAym, and I hope you can appreciate mine.

I never dismissed anyone who dislikes the movie as not "getting" it. The closest thing I said was that if you don't know the cultural reference points, you probably won't get as much out of it. As you know, a review is one person's opinion. You are certainly entitled to yours. I have heard people's criticisms of the movie—that it's emotionally shallow, that the characters are underdeveloped, that it's all style and no substance. I just happen to disagree. At no point did the movie hit a sour note. At no point did the story lose momentum; or the characters, visuals, and action stop being fun to watch. You didn't like the acting. I did. You thought Michael Cera was just being the same Michael Cera we've seen before. I thought he showed more depth and subtlety in this role than in anything else he's done (including Arrested Development). You thought the pop cultural references were there for the sake of being there. I saw them as a vital part of the film's visual vocabulary—and an impressive move towards actually acknowledging the cultural touchstones that lots of self-professed "geeks" know and understand.

To knock me for giving the a perfect score (I'd also note that I never actually called it "perfect"), is to misunderstand what we do as reviewers. My experience with Scott Pilgrim as a movie and a home video release was as flawless as I could have hoped for. I am not a "fanboy" of the source material; I read the series for the first time a couple of months ago, and while I enjoyed it, I won't be getting Kim Pine tattooed on my backside anytime soon. I realize that giving anything a "perfect" score is big deal. I didn't make the decision to do so lightly. But I stand by my review and I believe the text explains my position. And now, I guess, so does this post.

[HGervais]

+1
My favorite film of the year. Edgar Wright made a classic. It is a film that is both visually inventive & exuberant while also being quite dark & emotionally complex. That and it is funny. Pop culture is the vocabulary that Wright has dealth with on every project he has been involved with and he uses that vocabulary in some pretty amazing ways. I'm really looking forward to having this tomorrow.

I appreciate your response, AutoAym, and I hope you can appreciate mine.

I never dismissed anyone who dislikes the movie as not "getting" it. The closest thing I said was that if you don't know the cultural reference points, you probably won't get as much out of it. As you know, a review is one person's opinion. You are certainly entitled to yours. I have heard people's criticisms of the movie—that it's emotionally shallow, that the characters are underdeveloped, that it's all style and no substance. I just happen to disagree. At no point did the movie hit a sour note. At no point did the story lose momentum; or the characters, visuals, and action stop being fun to watch. You didn't like the acting. I did. You thought Michael Cera was just being the same Michael Cera we've seen before. I thought he showed more depth and subtlety in this role than in anything else he's done (including Arrested Development). You thought the pop cultural references were there for the sake of being there. I saw them as a vital part of the film's visual vocabulary—and an impressive move towards actually acknowledging the cultural touchstones that lots of self-professed "geeks" know and understand.

To knock me for giving the a perfect score (I'd also note that I never actually called it "perfect"), is to misunderstand what we do as reviewers. My experience with Scott Pilgrim as a movie and a home video release was as flawless as I could have hoped for. I am not a "fanboy" of the source material; I read the series for the first time a couple of months ago, and while I enjoyed it, I won't be getting Kim Pine tattooed on my backside anytime soon. I realize that giving anything a "perfect" score is big deal. I didn't make the decision to do so lightly. But I stand by my review and I believe the text explains my position. And now, I guess, so does this post.

[AutoAym]

Fair enough

We clearly disagree on the merits of the movie itself, and that's fine. The only thing about your response that i'd take issue with is that you basically dismiss all criticism about the film out of hand. I'm genuinely curious as to why you think so many people had problems with the pacing, or the length, or the acting, or the character development? It's clearly something that you've encountered before in your defense of the movie.

[erich]

The only thing about your response that i'd take issue with is that you basically dismiss all criticism about the film out of hand. I'm genuinely curious as to why you think so many people had problems with the pacing, or the length, or the acting, or the character development? It's clearly something that you've encountered before in your defense of the movie.

Oh, I don't dismiss your criticisms at all. Believe me, I've had major problems with movies that other people love. I just had a different experience with the movie than you did, and things like acting, pacing, length, and even character development are surprisingly subjective. A movie is only as effective as the experience you have with it. I'm not mad that anyone doesn't like Scott Pilgrim. This kind of out-there, stylized movie is very much a "love it or hate it" thing. Plenty of people love it, and plenty of people hate it.

It seems like the divide really comes down to character development. Since Wright has a limited amount of time to get a lot of narration and information across, he uses a lot of shorthand, much of it visual. This movie doesn't have much traditional character development, mostly because it doesn't slow down long enough for that. It didn't bother me, though, because I thought it fit the living in the moment, video game aesthetic. Scott and his friends just aren't that deep. I can totally see, though, where you would want something more substantial. I happened to love the rhythm and momentum Wright was able to create by not getting bogged down in character reflection.

[HGervais]

It seems like the divide really comes down to character development. Since Wright has a limited amount of time to get a lot of narration and information across, he uses a lot of shorthand, much of it visual. This movie doesn't have much traditional character development, mostly because it doesn't slow down long enough for that. It didn't bother me, though, because I thought it fit the living in the moment, video game aesthetic. Scott and his friends just aren't that deep. I can totally see, though, where you would want something more substantial. I happened to love the rhythm and momentum Wright was able to create by not getting bogged down in character reflection.

I'd go further than you. I think Wright shows us everything we need to know about the two leads. I think part of the problem with people's reaction to this movie is neither of the leads start out as very likeable characters and by the end of the movie we are left to think there has been some growth on the part of Scott & Ramona but their happiness together is left very much open-ended. And we aren't really sure just how much different they are. I would argue there is a lot more complexity going on than most people are giving this movie credit for. Bill Gibron summed it up best when he said in a year that saw a lot of misunderstood movies Scott Pilgrim may be the one most misunderstood.

[Andrew Forbes]

I'd go further than you. I think Wright shows us everything we need to know about the two leads. I think part of the problem with people's reaction to this movie is neither of the leads start out as very likeable characters and by the end of the movie we are left to think there has been some growth on the part of Scott & Ramona but their happiness together is left very much open-ended. And we aren't really sure just how much different they are. I would argue there is a lot more complexity going on than most people are giving this movie credit for.

Word. Anyone who didn't see character development in this movie wasn't paying attention. So, actually, AutoAym, you didn't get it.

As for why Scott would risk his life for a girl he just met: if you're not willing to accept life-and-death battles as an exaggerated representation of emotional duress, I don't know what to tell you. He's not literally willing to die for her, he's infatuated and acting stupidly and getting hurt in the process. And sometimes he's a dick about it.

[AutoAym]

Oh Noes! I didn't 'get' the movie! I am Heartbrokens!

Erich, thank you for your responses. We remain with opposing views of the merits of the movie, but i do very much appreciate you taking the time to clarify your position as well as how you arrived at your scoring for the Blu-Ray release. I'd still take issue with the score itself (as by it's nature, a 100/100 infers perfection, even if you don't actually call it perfect) but i can now take into account how you arrive at your scores for when i read your reviews in the future.

Harold, you remain as opinionated and as passionate as I remember.

[Andrew Forbes]

Oh Noes! I didn't 'get' the movie! I am Heartbrokens!

Dude, maybe a sarcastic response makes you feel superior, but the point wasn't to insult you, it was to let you know that you're not giving the movie its due credit. Dismissing it as a simpleminded comedy that wasn't meant to have any significance beyond nonsensical battles and VG references robs you of a worthwhile cinematic experience. Maybe you still won't like it, but at least allow that it's not just about CG battles and whiny hipsters.

Here's a movie that undermines the exclusive, narcissistic side of indie hipsterism as much as it celebrates the fun and flair of the culture. It presents flawed people who grow into flawed people with potential. It's not only made with visual style but with visual wit. To say it just references video games as easy gags is way off the mark. It uses the aesthetic trappings of a specific youth culture to dramatize human emotional experience. It has the balls to be about selfish, douchey people and has faith that the audience will invest some understanding in these characters who are a good deal more human than the average cookie-cutter heroes of genre movies (where stubble and a drinking problem pass for depth).

And Michael Cera absolutely does not play the same character he's played since Arrested Development. He relies on many of the same mannerisms, but that's hardly the same thing.

Sorry if I come off strong but, yeah, I am kind of tired of the movie being dismissed as just another piece of hollow, twee, indie-kid candy.

[erich]

Erich, thank you for your responses. We remain with opposing views of the merits of the movie, but i do very much appreciate you taking the time to clarify your position as well as how you arrived at your scoring for the Blu-Ray release. I'd still take issue with the score itself (as by it's nature, a 100/100 infers perfection, even if you don't actually call it perfect) but i can now take into account how you arrive at your scores for when i read your reviews in the future.

Thanks. I appreciate that. I'd add only that review scales don't from 0 to "perfect"; they go from 0 to (in our case) 100. I felt that Scott Pilgrim deserved the top score our scale allowed, so that's what I gave it. Nothing in this world is perfect. Not even me (insert winky face here).

[Steve T Power]

I wish the numbers would vanish... vanish and burn... vanish, and burn in a special kind of hell... a special kind of hell reserved for horrible, horrible people, and numbers.

[AutoAym]

Andrew:

My response wasn't to infer superiority, more to attempt a humourous response to posts that I felt were a little defensive and condescending in tone. Clearly, i missed the mark. As to the body of your replies, would you consider the possibility that I did, in fact, see what Edgar Wright was attempting to do in terms of visual storytelling and that I still found the film wanting in terms of how that style progressed the story and character development? I spent the last 1/3 of the movie as viscerally angry at it as any movie i've since The Matrix Revolutions for it making me feel i was being pandered to in terms of storytelling. I don't require characters to be sympathetic. I do need them to be empathetic/interesting enough for me to care about what happens to them as the story progresses and for me, I spent almost the entire film's running length wondering why I should care about any of the characters in SPvTW.

To be fair, I can't stand Michael Cera as an actor (even if he's not Xeroxing his characters, he carries over enough of the same characteristics from role to role that I feel the criticism stands) and I'm also the only person I'm aware of to have walked out on Shawn of the Dead.

Hope that clarifies things.

[AutoAym]

I wish the numbers would vanish... vanish and burn... vanish, and burn in a special kind of hell... a special kind of hell reserved for horrible, horrible people, and numbers.

Well you're a judge, Steve. Isn't there some sort of special panel or conclave or something that you could convene to send the numerical ratings to the Hell of Meaningless Numbers?

[HGervais]

I'm also the only person I'm aware of to have walked out on Shawn of the Dead.

Hope that clarifies things.

Oh boy does it. You seem like a nice enough person but man....I've broken up with girls over less.

[HGervais]

I wish the numbers would vanish... vanish and burn... vanish, and burn in a special kind of hell... a special kind of hell reserved for horrible, horrible people, and numbers.

Steve...I've been saying that for 10 years and yet, the numbers remain.

[Steve T Power]

I wish the numbers would vanish... vanish and burn... vanish, and burn in a special kind of hell... a special kind of hell reserved for horrible, horrible people, and numbers.

Steve...I've been saying that for 10 years and yet, the numbers remain.

Those damn, damn numbers...

[Boba Fett]

Hey Erich,

Edgar Wright tweeted a link to your review; that should get you more than a few views.

@edgarwright:
DVD Verdict Review - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Blu-Ray) Level Up! Collector's Edition dvdverdict.com/reviews/scottp… via @dvdverdict

[Steve T Power]

I wish the numbers would vanish... vanish and burn... vanish, and burn in a special kind of hell... a special kind of hell reserved for horrible, horrible people, and numbers.

Well you're a judge, Steve. Isn't there some sort of special panel or conclave or something that you could convene to send the numerical ratings to the Hell of Meaningless Numbers?

Hush child... the walls have ears...

[erich]

Hey Erich,

Edgar Wright tweeted a link to your review; that should get you more than a few views.

@edgarwright:
DVD Verdict Review - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Blu-Ray) Level Up! Collector's Edition dvdverdict.com/reviews/scottp… via @dvdverdict

I saw that. I know I should maintain some kind of journalistic aloofness, but it was pretty damn cool! And I can't complain about the 2000-plus page views yesterday.

[AutoAym]

I'm also the only person I'm aware of to have walked out on Shawn of the Dead.

Hope that clarifies things.

Oh boy does it. You seem like a nice enough person but man....I've broken up with girls over less.

Harold, I'd call you out for being overly judgmental, but then I'd have to stop using The Princess Bride as my own personal litmus test.
So please, carry on.

[Dimwitted]

Just another piece of datum...

My local, friendly BR dealer can't keep it in stock. He told me today, with much chagrin, that he'd looked at his demographics, read up on Pilgrim and figured that his wasn't the "gamer" type clientele and he'll only get a few copies. He was surprised that it sold out in a few hours and he's had a ton of inquires since. He's scrambling to get more. I think that it and Kickass are playing out just like predictions... not great B.O. but are doing killer sell through. This will be a hit but it will take some time.