Take your quarters out of your pocket and line them up on the machine. Insert coin and get ready to play.
Scott Pilgrim vs The World was released to the movie world in summer 2010. A genuine box office flop, it only made half of the budget back in returns. Why are we talking about it? Because it is an absolute gem!!! Now, I know I have a unique taste in movies. Every time I mention some movies I love, other people are confused having either never heard of them, or wondering if we watched the same movie because they hated it. I will be the first to admit that when I first heard about it, I was a little hesitant because I knew it sounded much like a "gamer movie" and I'm not much of a gamer anymore. I'm more of an old school gamer; give me Pac Man, Mario Bros, etc and I'm content. If you give me some of this newer stuff they come up with, I'll be lost. So, I was an afraid that some of the references would be lost on me.
The movie is filled with video game style sound effects and on-screen graphics often show in background or corner. Scott is dating Knives Chau, but pursuing punk haired, Amazon delivery girl, Ramona Flowers. But in order to reach his goal, he must go through levels like in a video game, and defeat each of Ramona's seven evil exes.
Matthew Patel - As soon he wants Ramona, he gets an email from Matthew informing him of their impending duel to the death, which Scott deletes. Matthew shows up at the battle of the bands that bassist Scott's band, Sex Bob-Omb, is performing at and attacks. On screen, battle hits in a similar style of "pow" and "zap" as seen in the 1966 Batman tv series. Gaining points for combo hits and eventual defeat, Scott gets a 1000-point bonus and $2.40 in change as Ramona grabs him and they leave together.
Lucas Lee - Skateboarder turned action movie star filming a movie nearby. Scott's roommate is kinda stalking the actor when Scott and Ramona meet up on the film set, where it is revealed Ramona dated him. Lucas starts tossing Scott around like a rag doll before handing things over to his stunt team to take care of his light work. Scott deals with them as Lucas is walking away, but Scott calls him back and tricks him into a doing grind on some tricky steps leading to his defeat and a 3000-point bonus for the win. Ramona disappears without a trace.
Todd Ingram -Bassist for The Clash at Demonhead, in a band with Scott's ex, Envy Adams. Envy enlists Sex Bomb-Omb to open a secret show for them. Envy dumped Scott a year before. As Clash takes the stage, Todd makes eye contact with Scott and the revelation of the next fight occurs as the lyrics are aimed at him "hello again, friend of a friend, I knew you well". Using his vegan powers -yes, vegan powers! You didn’t know being a vegan gives you special powers? - Todd is swiping Scott away without physical contact being made. A bass battle commences as Scott picks up his bass and starts to riff. Scott is nearly defeated until he gives Todd a coffee with half and half in it, and the Vegan Police show up to remove his vegan powers. 3000-point bonus.
Roxie Richter - After walking home from the Todd battle, we meet Roxie. Ramona was a little bi-curious, Roxie is bi-furious. Roxie is about to throw a punch that Ramona blocks as they pull weapons out and the fight begins. A few exchanges of blows don’t really count since technically Scott has to defeat her with his own hands so Ramona takes control of Scott and swings for him. 4000-point bonus after she defeated.
Kyle and Ken Katayanagi - Twins and the next band in the Battle of the Bands that Sex Bob-Omb has to face. Both bands on stage at the same time, the twins with a wall of amps, literally blow the roof off. A musical fight enlists animalic notes taking shape to do the fighting for them. At the climax of battle, Scott earns an extra life (a "1 Up" graphic comes up on screen as he grabs it). But Ramona leaves with Gideon, the record producer and head of the League of Evil Exes.
Gideon Gordon Graves. -After presumably winning over Ramona, Gideon invites Scott and Sex Bomb-Omb to open his new Chaos Theatre so there is no bad blood between them. Ramona is less than pleased sitting by his side. Showing up at the theatre, Scott levels up by proclaiming his love for Ramona and pulls a flaming sword out of his chest! (Burning love, from the heart. Very visual!)
The band starts to play as Gideon's minions come at Scott from every angle and he fights them off, earning points at every hit. Knives shows up. Not to help Scott, but to fight Ramona! Simultaneous fighting between the four of them until Scott tries to come between the girls and is plunged from behind by Gideon. Game over for Scott.
Or is it?
Remember the Extra Life? Chaos Theatre: Take 2. After a quick rewind, we are dealt a reverse. Scott takes the initiative and phones Gideon to inform him that he is coming for him. Bonus points for taking charge. This time, instead of fighting for Ramona, he fights for himself. Queue the music and Gideon's minions again. A quick knock down before Knives re-enters the game. Scott is learning though. He stops before the girls can fight and makes amends so Scott and Knives and double team to take down Gideon. 7,000,000,000 point bonus!
Amazing cast. Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno, and another person favorite, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist-- trust me, look it up), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Final Destination 3, Birds of Prey), 3 superheroes-- Chris Evans (Human Torch and Captain America), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), and Brandon Routh (Superman, The Atom). Not to mention, the impeccable Aubrey Plaza is an absolute show-stealer! She only in it sporadically, but is one of the best parts. In order to keep a PG 13 rating, they bleeped (or buzzed out) all of her expletive laden remarks.
See clip: (Clip courtesy of Fandango movie clips on YouTube - No Rights Held Or Implied By Melanie's Muses)
It may have been a disappointment in the theatrical release, but has gained some level of notoriety over the years to start the recognition it deserves as a cult classic.
Victory theme. Game over. Roll credits. End scene.
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(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do) Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now also writes guest articles for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features - watch for the upcoming "31 Days Of Halloween Movies" |
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