Movie #276 Scott Pilgrim vs The World

I have already done a blog on Scott Pilgrim vs the World, so here is my 3 Reasons:

Reason #1. The transitions.  How this movie gets from one scene to another is rarely by cutting or fade in and out.  It is the most creative use of transitions I have ever scene.  And the best part is that they are mostly in service to the story.

Reason #2.  Michael Cera.  I know some people hate on this guy, but I don't understand it.  They say he only has one character, they geeky shy guy.  First off I think Scott Pilgrim was a real departure from that.  He plays a prick and a really unpleasant dude.  Secondly, John Wayne is also said to only have on character and he is an American icon AND a fantastic actor!  That's right, I just compared Michael Cera to John Wayne.  Take that Ebert!

Reason #3.  The 7 Evil Ex's.  The supporting cast consists of wonderful talent and that is summed up by The Leauge of Evil Ex's.  Ramona's past romantic interludes.  Some are better than others, but all fill their roles very well and provide depth and a video game like structure to this film.  And finally I mean that in a good way.

I will say this about this movie.  A friend came over to the house the other night and we wanted to have some background noise on while we talked.  We started with Mars Attacks.  Then halfway through I started showing off my Bluray player and we watched a little of Night of the Hunter and The American on Blu.  All the while we were talking and having a good time.  Then I put Scott Pilgrim in and we both instinctly shut up and watched the whole thing through almost without talking.  Other than to comment on how cool everything on screen was.

I give Scott Pilgrim vs The World ★★★★.

Movie #138 Year One *2009*

Jack Black - Zed
Michael Cera - Oh
Juno Temple - Eema
June Diane Raphael - Maya
Harold Ramis (Director)

I first saw this prehistoric film in a second run theater south of Chicago.  I was on a business trip and the days activities had been cut short so I did what I usually do and that is look for a theater that is playing something that I haven't seen.  Year One was on my list to watch mostly because of Michael Cera.  I am not a big Jack Black fan, but some of his more broad work is acceptable.  Year One is not one of those films.

Year one is the story of a couple of misfit cavemen.  They are kicked out of their tribe and forced to seek a life else where.  From this point on the films premise is "What would happen if these two were to come into contact with bible characters"?  How funny would it be if a caveman met Cane and Able?  How many laughs could you get out of a caveman interfering with Abraham and his sacrifice?  The answers are not very funny and not many laughs.

Normally I am down with spoofing the christian religion.  I remain unaffiliated and therefore can take pleasure in mocking, spoofing, poking fun at, and generally laughing at all the worlds religions.  I think where the movie went wrong is instead of taking the comedic rich material already printed in the bible, they added the caveman element wrecked the whole thing.

Jack Black is just not funny in this.  His shtick grows tired before he even gets out of the forest.  Michael Cera (my boy) manages to get a few laughs with his near perfect timing and "shoe gazing hipster of a caveman".  Even cavemen had to be teenagers at some point right?  There are a few good bits with some big name cameos.  Paul Rudd and David Cross play Cane and Able in a gag that made me laugh a little.  Hank Azaira is funny as Abraham (even though his part goes on for WAY too long).  I don't know what the heck Oliver Platt is doing in this film, other than not being funny.

The female roles in this movie have little to do, but the actresses who played them make the most of what they are given.  I thought both June Diane Raphael and Juno Temple were lovely and mildly funny.  As a whole the movie kinda stinks.  I watched it this time with the kids on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  There are worse ways to pass a rainy weekend.  The film is directed by Harold Ramis of Caddy Shack, Stripes and Ghost Busters fame.  He didn't live up to that collection with this film.

I give Year One ★★.  I have to steal a line from someone I read when this film came out.  Apparently comedy wasn't invented until year two. Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.

Movie #58 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

I have been teasing this review for over a month now.

Last weekend I watched Scott Pilgrim vs. the World on DVD with my special lady.  I had already seen this film twice in theaters.  I hoped she would enjoy it and it sounded like she did.

Scott Pilgrim is based on a comic book series by Bryan Lee O'Malley.  It is the story of a slacker in his mid twenties living in Toronto.  He is the bassist of an indy rock band called Sex Ba Bomb. When the movie opens he is dating a Chinese high schooler named Knives Chow.  Much to the chagrin of his band mates.  He later meets (quite literally) the woman of his dreams.  The technicolor haired Ramona.  He begins his pursuit of Romona while stringing Knives along.  There is of course one catch.  In order to date Ramona Scott has to battle and defeat Romona's 7 Evil Ex's.  That is to say a collection of Romona's past 7 lovers.

This film is a fan boy's wet dream.  First off you have the fact that it is based on a comic book.  Then add the director of Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.  Throw in the near ultimate "manic pixie dream girl" Mary Elizabeth Winstead (no disrespect meant towards Zooey Deschanel).  Include a kick ass indy rock soundtrack, and for good measure structure the entire film in a typical video game format.  Complete with about 100,000 video game references.

I was gaga over this film.  It definitely has it's flaws, but I thought the pacing was perfectly furious.  This film has the best editing of any picture I have seen year.  The segways were inspired.   Conceptionally the film was a masterpiece.  I have seen a lot of movies that have the troupes of video games, but never a movie totally embracing video games to the point of once a character is killed off they disappear and coins drop on the floor.  Then the director (Edgar Wright) and O'Mally had the irreverence to have their characters acknowledge this and pick up the change and even complain that it isn't enough for the bus ride home.

Michael Cera plays the title role of Scott Pilgrim.  He is not far from his wheelhouse with this role.  An insecure, duffus slacker.  Winstead as Romona is good in her portrayal of a complicated character.  The scene stealer in the film is Kieran Culkin as Wallace Wells, Scott gay room mate.  There weren't really any bad performances in the movie and there are a lot of small roles that are critical to the story.

The battle sequences do grow a little repetitive, but I thought they did a decent job of providing a special niche for each ex that set them apart.  Brandon Routh was especially good as ex #3 with his vegan super powers.  Jason Schartzman is the 7th and final ex.  Pay attention and there is a very subtle Q-Bert reference in his battle scene.

This movie was a flow at the box office.  I read online a reviewer that had 10 reasons that no one went to see Scott Pilgrim.  His most interesting point was that "people over 30 don't want to listen to a 20 something sitting around whining about his problems and they can no longer relate to that slacker attitude.  While it is a movie made for the early video game players so today's youth didn't understand the Mario Brothers and Zelda shout outs".  I thought that was a very astute observation.

I have to say I loved this movie.  The kinetic editing, the powerful soundtrack, Romona is sexy as hell and I have a bit of a man crush on Michael Cera.  Like I said earlier this movie has it's fair share of flaws, but it has totally consumed me 3 times now I am looking forward to seeing it again.  This movie along with Inception (review soon to come) might be enough to launch me into Blu Ray.  I give Scott Pilgrim vs. the World  4/5 stars.  Check out the trailer to see for yourself.