Hello everyone! Contributor Boog here, with my first post to the Geek Streak Blog. Generally I will be weighing in on films, books, and music, as the thought takes me. First, however, I need to subject you to what should be considered required geek viewing of the latest generation of films: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
For those of you who have never heard of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, here is a trailer, and a link to the comics that inspired the movie:
Looks interesting right? Now, for the warning: SPOILERS! Kind of, anyway.
As I settle in for the credits on my second viewing of this film, all I can think is one thing: I was absolutely right with my first impression of this movie. Everything about this movie screams production value, and here that comes across as an almost obsessive love for the source material, and the reference material, which includes Zelda, NES in general, 80's music, indie punk rock, Anime in general, comic books, all being thrown at you so fast you are scanning the screen constantly to see everything. And that was most likely the problem with this film in theaters. Nothing quite this visually frenetic had really been presented to US audiences before, and they, quite literally, had no idea just what the hell was supposed to be going on. I love this film, however, and readily place in my top five films of all time.
The dialogue is spot on, but I would expect no less from Edgar Wright. The man knows how to write a funny script, and he knows how to direct a funny movie, especially one with so surreal a plot. The plot is the film's strong point, in that it is so simple and surreal, you simply take it at face value right away, and instead concentrate on the characters and the relationships being presented, especially Scott, Ramona, and Knives. The casting here was perfect, as Micheal Cera once again plays his strong point, the nerdy lead he didn't need to even try for in Superbad and Juno. Mary Elizabeth Winstead does well as Ramona, putting forward more of the strong attitude she showed in Live Free or Die Hard, and to a lesser degree, Sky High. Ellen Wong, in what basically amounts to her first performance, does very well, and should be recommended for more films, as I for one hope to see more in her body of work soon.
Now for the music. Holy crap the music!!! Once again, it's rare when a film gets put together with such care. Everything here is excellent, with musical cues from video games, references in music to dialogue and characters, and references in dialogue to music and composers. Beck, for one, features prominently. And before I forget, while talking about all the other high points of this movie, what about the fighting? Well, the action choreography is stellar, matching, and then in some cases surpassing, most of the best fight choreography on film I've ever seen outside of the peak films in Jet Li's and Jackie Chan's career.
So in closing;
Visually, this film in stunning, well shot and framed, all of the visual effects and comic sequences only add to the film, and the fight choreography is superb.
Dialogue wise, this film is well written, quirky fun, with plenty of quips and witty retorts by all.
Sonically, this film is a feast for the ears. The music is usually either bass driven rock, or something from a video game. If you don't like bass guitars, or video games, this soundtrack isn't for you, but don't let that stop you from seeing this film anyway.
Plot wise, this film is simple and straightforward. Here, that is only a benefit, as it has a large cast, and is very dialogue and visual effect heavy. As the cast, dialogue and effects are all very well put together and worth your attention, I, for one, am glad that they decided not to add anything to the pretty much single plotline this film has, as that would've ended up the film equivalent of putting a kid with ADD in a room with nothing but Pixy Stix, Mountain Dew, and a puppy. Entertaining, to be sure, but would only end with the audience numb as they watched the ensuing chaos.
Go buy this film. Now. Stop reading, and go get the DVD, Blu-ray, 8mm slide projector, voodoo shaman, or whatever it is you need to have the experience that is this movie. Hope you liked my first review, the next one's going about a disappointment of epic proportions.
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