Scott Pilgrim Vs the World

I have loved comics and video games since I was very young, mainly the X-Men comics and the old school Nintendo and Sega games such as Mario, Legend of Zelda and Sonic the Hedgehog. As a young child these fantastical worlds can’t help but draw you in and capture your imagination. The worlds these characters live in always draw you in and the art style in comics and games are still just as iconic now as they were 20 years ago. Nowadays many people have been hoping for a movie that captures the art style and world of these genres.

Unfortunately some film developers also thought that this world of super-humans and aliens would be a great place set a movie. They spewed out terrible movies such as Superman Returns, Batman and Robin, The Mario Brothers, and many more terrible movies. Only a few have managed to capture that essence such as Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. These two films grasp what Batman is and have made to great adaptations of the comic. There have been a few other mediocre films based on comics (Spiderman films) but they have all been made more serious and never got the over-the-topness of the comics.

That was until I saw the trailer of Scott Pilgrim Vs the World near the end of March and just from watching it I knew the film was going to be a great film. The trailer showed the world was similar to how a comic shows it, so when the phone rang little words saying ring would be floating above it and also how some of the fights were played out with references to other comics and video games. Scott Pilgrim Vs the World even had the composer of the Legend of Zelda music make a remix exclusively for the film. Though I was a little doubted by it’s statement of being people’s new favourite film and thought that it might just be hyped up to much.

The story line is deceptively simple; Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) falls for Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her. Along the way, Scott must also deal with his own ex, Knives Chau and get his band, Sex Bob-Omb, to the top of the Battle of the Bands in order to win a record contract from the elusive G-Man.

To tell his story, Edgar Wright the director of the movie uses just about every tool in the modern filmmakers' repertoire to bring Bryan Lee O'Malley’s comic to the screen. The origins of Ramona's exes are told in comics form, while a narrator occasionally reveals information to the audience and to add to the fights they begin with a fighting game style "VS" tag appearing on screen. Though mostly shot on complete sets or practical locations, the film is constantly augmented by special effects designed to recall comic book design including motion lines and lettered sound effects. The latter is particularly exciting and fun to watch, as the film has a modern sound that mixes with added visual cues, the visually augmented SMACKs and CRASHes enhancing the goings on, transporting the fights to a place few other films can go.

So now you expect me to tell you everything is perfect good work Edgar Wright. Unfortunately the film was not that big a hit in the box office only reaching fifth place in it’s first week and dropped down to the tenth place by the second. The major problem with this film is the script and as I said earlier the story line is very simple and repetitive. This causes the fight to become less exciting and more tedious. The story just can’t keep you captured and is only boosted by it’s graphic design.

A teenage audience is clearly what this film is looking for and it’s a shame not as many people as was first thought actually went to see this movie. Overall I say the film is perfect for all teenagers especially those who like comedies and comics. I can’t say it’s the best film in the world, and it’s definitely not for those who want a deep story. However it is a film where the phrase "there has never been a film like it" can be gleefully and accurately be applied as it is in the case of Universal Studios' Scott Pilgrim Vs the World