I loved watching Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. (For reference, last I checked, I was about halfway through the original comic. Have webcomics been doing similar things for years? Yes. It's still quite good.) I just wanted to make that clear, because most of this review is going to focus on three of its major flaws. The whole movie is very fun, very funny, clever, visually unique, and relentlessly geeky.
That said? Three problems.
1. The central romance between Scott and Ramona is shallow, rushed, and moreover, completely overshadowed by the genuinely appealing character of Knives Chau (17 years old), Scott's original girlfriend. (Incidentally, her actress has a strong future in cinema. She'd better, anyway.) We have no compelling reason to root for Scott, in winning Ramona's heart or winning against her Evil Exes, and Ramona herself doesn't become very sympathetic until later in the movie. That the movie can still be so entertaining in spite of its weak central conflict says something, and sets it above many other shallow "love" stories. In fact, come to think of it, it's a lot like a video game that way...
2. [After a second viewing — with subtitles, which helped considerably because this is a very packed film — I must retract my complaint about Gideon's lack of apparent villainy throughout the movie. I also maintain my praise for his actor, who remains punchably slimy, and my favorite Evil Ex, Todd.]
3. The ending isn't bad — I've seen much worse — but it doesn't seem to mesh with the rest of the movie. (I have heard good things about how it was originally going to end, but what's there is there.) I understand that it makes more sense after a few hundred comic book pages of development.
In fact, all three of these things are handled better in the comic. However, don't let that stop you. Taking for granted its status as a shiny, multimillion-dollar film made to entertain, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World both deserves and needs more love. Your other movies will understand.
"She has the capacity to geek..."
I loved watching Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. (For reference, last I checked, I was about halfway through the original comic. Have webcomics been doing similar things for years? Yes. It's still quite good.) I just wanted to make that clear, because most of this review is going to focus on three of its major flaws. The whole movie is very fun, very funny, clever, visually unique, and relentlessly geeky.
That said? Three problems.
1. The central romance between Scott and Ramona is shallow, rushed, and moreover, completely overshadowed by the genuinely appealing character of Knives Chau (17 years old), Scott's original girlfriend. (Incidentally, her actress has a strong future in cinema. She'd better, anyway.) We have no compelling reason to root for Scott, in winning Ramona's heart or winning against her Evil Exes, and Ramona herself doesn't become very sympathetic until later in the movie. That the movie can still be so entertaining in spite of its weak central conflict says something, and sets it above many other shallow "love" stories. In fact, come to think of it, it's a lot like a video game that way...
2. [After a second viewing — with subtitles, which helped considerably because this is a very packed film — I must retract my complaint about Gideon's lack of apparent villainy throughout the movie. I also maintain my praise for his actor, who remains punchably slimy, and my favorite Evil Ex, Todd.]
3. The ending isn't bad — I've seen much worse — but it doesn't seem to mesh with the rest of the movie. (I have heard good things about how it was originally going to end, but what's there is there.) I understand that it makes more sense after a few hundred comic book pages of development.
In fact, all three of these things are handled better in the comic. However, don't let that stop you. Taking for granted its status as a shiny, multimillion-dollar film made to entertain, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World both deserves and needs more love. Your other movies will understand.