DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Manga Mavericks
HTML https://mangamavericks.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: The Tavern
*****************************************************
#Post#: 510--------------------------------------------------
Scott Pilgrim movie/comic review.
By: Lumaria Date: February 28, 2016, 6:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to Scott Pilgrim.
It has great ideas but it gets lost in the way. I'm going to
review it in hopes of figuring out what exactly is wrong with
the series.
Comic Review
And nothing says it better than Scott Pilgrim comic series/film.
Scott Pilgrim follows the titular character who is 23 and is
dealing with a break up over a year ago. To recover he dates a
17 year old high schooler Knives Chau but only to quickly meet
the girl literally of his dreams Ramona flowers. During the
entire comic, it talks about Scott's livelihood within his band,
while dating Ramona (and cheated on Knives briefly until the
break up). And soon after beginning to date her he finds out
Ramona has seven evil exes.
One of the key moments in the story that tries to tie Ramona and
Scotty together is that Scott first meets her in his dreams and
sees that she's real. But during a second dream realizes that
he's dreaming when he meets her. When they begin to speak in the
real world she admits that she uses "subspace" to travel and his
brain happens to intersect the fastest routes. (This is
important for later).
The comic at first started very poetic and whimsicle. Had enough
time to get a good idea about the characters and the pacing of
the story. When I read it in black and white, it had a Retro
rocker feel. However in the color edition, things feel more
dulled down. It still gives off similar mood but loses some of
the impact. The biggest problem I have with the comic is how the
story makes huge shifts in pacing and tone the moment one the
evil exes. Things get ridiculous, characters don't question the
insaneness and even become part of it. In the Scott Pilgrim
world anything can happen and be accepted as fact.
Things like Ramona and one of the evil exes were once coeds and
are considered ninjas, but the only thing they both share is
they Rollerblade and wield weapons.
But I'm sure most people knew that coming. The problem is that
it doesn't always work or fit well. For example: the seven evil
exes don't progress the same fashion. We start off with #1 being
the most absurd with each ex being just slightly odd.
The story still tries to be serious and it slowly starts to act
like a coming of age. The problem is the characters never really
grow up. Scott acts childish, throws trantums and very rarely he
says something smart. Ramona at first acts too cool for him but
gets jealous over the smallest of things. There are a few
characters I really like. Such as Wallace. His dialogue feels
the most consistent. Everyone else sounds roughly the same. And
of course the problem is naming a character "Knives" as if it
was normal. Not one person questioned the oddity of her name.
Everyone accepts it. Additionally, birth dates heights and other
personal info of these characters mentioned within the story
fluctuates. Which is annoying.
One of the biggest gripes I have with Scott Pilgrim is the
infamous "glow" scenes. In both black/white and color, Ramona
would have a glow around her head and the reader would not know
why. It was also to suggest that she had it only when she was
mad. In the final volume it is revealed that the glow is a
product of the final evil ex. The glow is basically something
that makes people hate others through insecurities. Or what I
can gather. The comic does a horrible job of explaining it and
it's barely noticeable. This is where the series drops it
completely. It doesn't even recap all the events Ramona had the
glow on her head to give some readability.
Film differences
The comic spans over roughly a year while the film condenses it
to about a few weeks give or take.
The movie quickly cuts out the extra dream scenes and uses only
one (the first dream encounter). I would argue the film didn't
give it justice but then again, neither did the comic since it's
only one dream less. The film does a better job of showing
immediate attraction.
The movie adds an ongoing plot such as battle of the bands in
order to get a record deal. Something a little more grounded to
help the story move along without focus. The seven evil exes
are actually a lot cheesier but also amusing to watch and read.
But after the fourth one, they just didn't bother making them
personal anymore.
The ending is completely different from the comic but once again
they don't learn or change. I liked however that the film tried
to cover up some of the hang uuos Such as Ramona not being able
in battles with the exes even though she's capable due to it
being a battle for Scott.
Important characters are missing because it had to be condensed.
But overall it was more enjoyable than the comic.
[B]Overview[/b]
The comic was based on Brian Lee O'Malleys life with the
intention of making it more exciting and fun. He refers to
shonen manga as his inspiration and other events in his life,
one of which was finding out his ex wife had a number of exes
before.
Brian Lee O'Malley's work was always seemed odd or just
something missing. I've read his shorts and they are interesting
and unique. But they work well as shorts rather than long
series. Scott Pilgrim's beginning feels like a good ongoing
series. But the fatal flaw to his writing was constantly
changing it up rather than trying to build on something
consistent based on what he already introduced in the first
volume. The final volume tries to go back to it but after so
much randomness it didn't feel the same.
I noticed he also added and turned characters gay just for the
heck of it. It pissed me off.
His entire writing process for Scott Pilgrim felt childish. I
definitely think he's not suited for ongoing series as he will
only randomize it.
#Post#: 512--------------------------------------------------
Re: Scott Pilgrim movie/comic review.
By: Crackhead Johny Date: February 29, 2016, 6:07 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
It took more than 6 tried to watch the movie. Finally after a
liter+ of vodka I managed to suffer through it.
The problem I had simply put, was Michael Cera. It seemed to me
hit hit the "I will kill myself if I play another hopeless
loser", Like Anthony Michael Hall did after Weird Science,
Vacation, Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc.
So then someone who perfectly plays a hopeless loser went on to
play Johny B Goode (foot ball superstar), A bully in Edward
Scissor Hands, and that may have been it until they quite
miscasting him and he vanished until he aged enough to not be a
hopeless loser.
Michael Cera can play nothing but the loser. Anything else is a
horrific miscasting. So Cool musician/martial artist was about
as far wrong as you could go. The one advantage was you spent
so much time wanting to stab out your eyes and ear drums
whenever he was on the screen that any faults with the movie
were easily missed.
Cera needs to accept Cera and never make this mistake again...
Or he live at the gym and can become Carrot Top... ewww.
I have heard the comic is really good but after the movie, I
can't go near it.
#Post#: 513--------------------------------------------------
Re: Scott Pilgrim movie/comic review.
By: Lumaria Date: March 1, 2016, 1:19 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Crackhead Johny link=topic=62.msg512#msg512
date=1456790833]
It took more than 6 tried to watch the movie. Finally after a
liter+ of vodka I managed to suffer through it.
The problem I had simply put, was Michael Cera. It seemed to me
hit hit the "I will kill myself if I play another hopeless
loser", Like Anthony Michael Hall did after Weird Science,
Vacation, Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc.
So then someone who perfectly plays a hopeless loser went on to
play Johny B Goode (foot ball superstar), A bully in Edward
Scissor Hands, and that may have been it until they quite
miscasting him and he vanished until he aged enough to not be a
hopeless loser.
Michael Cera can play nothing but the loser. Anything else is a
horrific miscasting. So Cool musician/martial artist was about
as far wrong as you could go. The one advantage was you spent
so much time wanting to stab out your eyes and ear drums
whenever he was on the screen that any faults with the movie
were easily missed.
Cera needs to accept Cera and never make this mistake again...
Or he live at the gym and can become Carrot Top... ewww.
I have heard the comic is really good but after the movie, I
can't go near it.
[/quote]
I thought he had a strong start but he reverted back to the
loser. And I believe Michael cera played relatively well
compared to his other loser roles. But I agree.
I think you will hate the comic a little. Its not Michael cera,
but it feels even more generic.
#Post#: 517--------------------------------------------------
Re: Scott Pilgrim movie/comic review.
By: Orchid Date: March 9, 2016, 7:43 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I never watched or read this comic. It doesn't look appealing. I
remember seeing it next to the manga section of the bookstore
and gave me this weird vibe.
#Post#: 519--------------------------------------------------
Re: Scott Pilgrim movie/comic review.
By: Lumaria Date: March 16, 2016, 2:51 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I believe that was around the time of the ris of OEL mangs too.
Rem manga artist was becoming fairly popular
*****************************************************