I Heart Scott Pilgrim
Posted on August 12, 2010 Posted by John Anderson 18 Comments
As I sit down to write these words, I just got home from an advance screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Given that Scott Pilgrim is a) a movie, b) based on a comic I love by Bryan Lee O’Malley, and is c) steeped in rock ‘n’ roll, I expect you can probably guess it’s a flick that I’ve really been looking forward to. OK, to be completely honest, “looking forward to” is kind of an understatement. I had really high hopes for the movie, and I was rooting for it to capture the spirit, manic energy, tone and, perhaps most crucially, the heart of the graphic novels. I’ll admit that I had some concerns, especially concerning Michael Cera’s ability to believably inhabit the role of Scott Pilgrim as portrayed on the page.
If you share those concerns, or any others regarding the adaptation from the comics page to the screen, I’m here to tell you that you may hereby breathe easily and relieve yourself of any and all fears. Simply put, director Edgar Wright’s onscreen realization of Scott Pilgrim is a triumph, and one that’s not content to merely succeed on every imaginable level, but which scores bonus points with the greatest of ease. Even when the movie deviates from the graphic novels (which, yes, it does at times, just as any truly successful adaptation of a work from one medium to another must, so settle down, Beavis), it preserves the integrity of the source material. (And if you’ll permit me a brief aside, I feel compelled to note that Scott Pilgrim shares this trait of deviating from while at the same time preserving the integrity of the source material with Kick-Ass, my other favorite comics-based movie of the year so far.)
In a nutshell, if you’re a fan of the graphic novels, pretty much everything you loved about the books is present in the movie. In addition to the aforementioned spirit, manic energy, tone, and heart, add to the list: the breathtaking pacing; the charmingly visible sound effects; the attention to detail in realizing the visual flair and design sense of the source material; and, yes, those crucially important video game elements that are seamlessly embedded throughout. It’s all there, my friends, and more. If, on the other hand, you’re unfamiliar with the graphic novels, fear not, for if you’ve ever been young and crushing on someone, you’re perfectly equipped with the necessary tools to adore this movie.
Scott Pilgrim doesn’t strike so much as a single bum note, a phrase which is especially apt given the importance of the believability of the original music in a movie whose title character is the bassist in Sex Bob-Omb, a band whose performance in a Battle of the Bands is integral to the plot. Credit for the songs of Sex Bob-Omb goes to Beck, who did a remarkable job of realizing the sound of a band that had previously only existed on the pages of a comic book (and in the mind’s-ear of its readers). If you’re interested in learning more about the original music of the film, I highly recommend checking out an excellent piece by Todd Martens in Pop & Hiss, the L.A. Times Music Blog.
If you’re a gambler looking to place your bets on the success of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, I’d advise you to bet the farm on Scott. Here’s how I know beyond any doubt that this movie is going to be a hit: when I exited the advance screening, some two-and-a-half hours before the opening “day” midnight screening was scheduled to begin, there was a group of teens already camped out at the front of the line … and every one of them was costumed as a different character from the graphic novel / movie.
Joss Whedon blurbed the just-released final book of the six-volume graphic novel series thusly: “Scott Pilgrim is the best book ever. It is the chronicle of our time. With Kung Fu, so, yeah: perfect.” Substitute “movie” for “book” in that blurb, and Joss could just as easily have been fawning over the movie as, intentionally hyperbolic though they may be, his words are perfectly in tune with the material, striking nary a bum note.
So, yeah: perfect.
I am so jealous right now.
There are no midnight screening where I live. I have to wait a whole 13 hours to see this movie, a movie I’ve been wanting to see for months. And you get an advance screening?
Life can be so unfair.
Of course, it was perfect. It was directed by Edgar Wright, who made my favorite movie (Shaun of the Dead) and favorite TV show (Spaced).
i was lucky enough to walk into the right store on the right day and get a special preview pass a few weeks ago.
That’s awesome you got to see it early. I’m seeing it Sunday morning. I’m behind on the volumes and have been meaning to catch up so it’s time to hit up my library.
I was lucky enough to get a free double pass to the local preview screening here on Monday night.
The movie was all kinds of awesome.
The fact that, even with a week’s notice, I literally could not give away the other half of said double pass is just mind-boggling.
I’m definitely going to see it again with some friends.
Yeah, but did you like the movie?
We’re going to see it tomorrow. We just watched Kiss Ass on Wednesday. I liked it more than my husband did (he really wanted Red Mist to turn to the light side), and we’re both really looking forward to Scott Pilgrim.
Ill-tempered morning grumble: Who the hell plays electric bass with a PICK?
Other than that, you’ve educated me about the film; I had no idea what its derivation was.
Huzzah! I just finished reading the last book a few days ago, and I, too, was stricken with concern over the adaptation, almost to the point where I wasn’t going to see it. Based on your recommendation, though, it sounds like I can’t NOT see it.
My kids both want to see this movie, and it looks fun. I think I’ll definitely take them now! and I had no idea it was originally a comic.
This sucker’s been trending on Twitter for days. Red-hot property of the week.
So much fun. The Boy and I went to see it last night and while I knew something of what to expect, The Boy went utterly cold, and we both had a blast. I suspect the experience was slightly fresher for him than for me simply because he hadn’t even seen the trailer or the comic or the trending topics or anything. In fact, he said, “I kinda thought it was a Mark Wahlberg style move about the trials and tribulations of a small indie band.” He liked what he got much better.)
Linkmeister: I’ve known several bass players who preferred playing with a pick.
Why would you not use a pick? Personally I think that to pick or not to pick is a matter of the mood i’m in at the time, but I don’t think there is a right or wrong option here.
As for the film, I had to wait ’til Saturday to find time to see it, but it was absolutely worth it. The feel of the film was exactly right. Some of the scenes directly taken from the books were brilliantly done. Loved it.
Most excellent to hear that I’m hardly alone in my love of the flick. Tell your friends to go see it!
It’s not going to happen, but how great would it be if “Scott Pilgrim” ended up beating “Eat, Pray, Love” in weekend grosses to become the number one movie in America this week?
I cannot help wondering if an opportunity was missed here, although perhaps unavoidably. In my very humble opinion, Charlotte Hatherley (Edgar’s Ex) would have been the perfect choice to provide the music for Scott Pilgrim. Her style just seems a perfect fit, and she is such a genius muso and technically accomplished songwriter/composer. </sad>
Scott Pilgrim vs The World is Romeo & Juliette WITHOUT the swords… it’s every guys path to find the true love of his (and her) life!! Don’t over think the details. No parents were involved in the plot, to block S & R on their way, in seeking out their ideal life, together. Bryan Lee O’Malley is a genius!
I come from the future to tell you that you wetr wrong. The movie bombed hard.