Viewing Journal: 8/13/2010

222) SCOTT PILGRIM 

                    VS. THE WORLD
(2010 dir. Edgar Wright) Date Seen: August 13 2010

 

Edgar Wright successfully transitions Bryan Lee O'Malley's comic series to film. With literal flying colors. It's drenched in vibrant primary colors as characters clash in mid-air; like an SNES rendition of classic wuxia moments. The action here is turned up almost to the same hypnotic degree as the Wachowski's underrated '08 masterwork SPEED RACER. Some of the edits are almost identical. 

I was worried this movie was going to come off as a mere Xerox of the series' illustrations, but it thankfully also captures the humour and spirit of those texts. Infantile as the movie may be, I think it's a kinetic and timely piece of pop art. All thanks to Wright's inspired directing. Not everyone will be able to connect with its sense of play, but I think many will find it more than amusing. I haven't laughed quite this hard at fight choreography since Stephen Chow's KUNG FU HUSTLE. Or possibly Ishii's ELECTRIC DRAGON 80,000 VOLTS. It's hilarious. Like an already over the top arcade beat 'em up on steroids. 

Much of the film's appeal rests on its surface at first glance, but underneath all the assaultive visual flair is a childlike heart. I believe it portrays rather accurately what it's like to obsessively crush on someone in your late teens/early twenties and sort of be oblivious to other people's feelings. Pilgrim's love is reckless, misguided, and naive..but ultimately sincere. Scary, I know. 

Can't wait to see it again