Stars: 5/5
Video game adaptations have always had a bad reputation in the film industry. Itâs a long and complex relationship that has never truly been cracked with most adaptations ranging from mediocre to unabashed garbage. Thankfully, there is one film that stands out among the rest. Not the movie we needed, but the one we deserved.
Edgar Wrightâs Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Okay I may have stretched the truth earlier because this film is actually based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels by Canadian author and artist Bryan Lee O Malley. So, itâs not a video game adaptation and more of a comic book movie, but there are so many undeniable similarities and sensibilities that the film shares with video games. The eight-bit sounds, seven evil exes, incredible punk-rock soundtrack and boss battle level action bear all of the video game mediumâs trademarks. Therefore, I believe itâs the best video game movie we may ever get.
CinemaBlend
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World isnât just a cult classic. The 2010 comedy ended up being a stepping stone for many of todayâs most famous actors. According to
Scott Pilgrimâs director, Edgar Wright, the ensemble could have included even more future A-listers. In fact, he has a vivid memory of an intense audition from
Michael Cera is, without question, the star of
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but the eponymous hero isnât the only character that ended up having a memorable actor behind him. The movie also features performances from several actors who would go on to become big stars, including Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Anna Kendrick, and even
CinemaBlend
Adapting a comic like
Scott Pilgrim vs. The Worldinto a major motion picture is an epic feat. This is especially the case when such an adaptation leads to a scenario where co-writers Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright could only work with three of the six books in Bryan Lee OâMalleyâs series. Itâs a situation where through outlines, emails and test screenings,
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World had two separate endings to work with, and Edgar Wright still prefers the one that ended up in the film.
I was able to speak with Mr. Wright recently in honor of the upcoming 10th anniversary re-release of
Various characters populate “Person to Person,” but they rarely register as actual people. And while some of their storylines intersect throughout the course of a day in New York, they rarely connect in ways that have actual meaning.
So what’s left? A solid cast whose talents mostly go to waste and a movie that meanders from one moment to the next without much momentum. But if you’re in the mood for something shaggy and loose that won’t challenge you too much, maybe you’ll enjoy writer/director Dustin Guy Defa’s affectionate and sporadically sweet indie. It’s got a low-key rhythm that might provide a pleasing alternative to the noisy spectacle of summer blockbusters. Or it might just seem pointless.
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