Revisted - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

I can't say enough, how much I truly love this film. A film based in a weird yet beautiful world, centered around a story of self discovery and love. I didn't truly discover this film actually, it more or so fell onto my lap. It was Black Friday and I went with my sister to Target to catch any deals. As we roamed through the people infested store with family's running to get the last TV, I wandered to the Electronics department to see the video game section. Nothing appealed my interest so I started to walk back when something caught my eye. It was a shiny red rectangular cover belonging to a dvd in the sale pile. I picked it up and load and behold, it was Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and upon looking at the cover I immediately bought it without a second hesitation. You can defiantly say who ever was the cover designing for the DVD did a good job and I still have the DVD to this day. The film holds a special place in my heart and has caused a great effect on me. It led me to love Edgar Wright as a director, looking at his past works and not being able to wait for his new upcoming movies as well as the all-star cast and following their prosperous careers. It also introduced me to more Indie punk music and made me even read the Scott Pilgrim manga distributed by Oni Press which was just as great as the film. The film caused a very big ripple effect in my life and became a life changing movie for me and you cant really say that a lot about films these days.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World came out in 2010 which seems so close yet so long ago. It was of course directed by Edgar Wright who, like his previous films, seems to amass a cult following with each of his major motion pictures. The film was based on the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O'Malley who in fact was writing the ending to the manga as the film was being written. The story sets it's stage in Toronto, Canada where we me Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera), a slacker musician who stumbles upon Romana Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and battle her seven evil exes to win her heart. The film released and well bombed by only grossing 47.7 million to it's 90 million budget. Though the film didn't bomb because it was bad, but rather the poor advertising and general knowledge of the film's premise, created its slow downfall. Besides all this the film grew a cult following after it's theatrical release for Edgar Wright's beautiful and whimsical visual style as well as the cast's perfectly delivered humor and not to mention it's great score.

The story begins in Toronto, 22-year-old Scott Pilgrim is a bassist in Sex Bob-Omb, a floundering garage band created by him and his friends, each unique in their own way. To the disapproval of his bandmates as well as his roommate Wallace Wells and younger sister Stacey Pilgrim, he begins dating Knives Chau, a 17-year-old high-school student, and tries to defend himself by saying it's a serious relationship. However we learn that it's more of a fling than pure love and Scott uses it to fill a empty gap in his love life made by his ex. Scott meets an American Amazon delivery girl, Ramona Flowers, having first seen her in a dream, and loses interest in Knives almost immediately, but doesn't break up with her before pursuing Ramona, not to break her heart. When Sex Bob-Omb plays in a battle of the bands sponsored by record executive Gideon Graves, Scott is attacked by Ramona's ex-boyfriend Matthew Patel, one of seven. Scott defeats Patel and learns that, in order to date Ramona, he must defeat the remaining six evil exes.

Scott breaks up with Knives, who blames Ramona and swears to win him back by killing her. Scott defeats Ramona's second evil ex, Hollywood actor and skateboarder Lucas Lee, played hilariously by Chris Evans, by tricking him into performing a dangerous stunt. He defeats her third ex, super powered vegan Todd Ingram, ex-superman, who is dating Scott's ex-girlfriend, Envy Adams, by tricking him into drinking half n half. Todd is arrested by the Vegan Police and de-veganized (I told you this world is a bit quirky). He than retreats to a club to catch a breath where he defeats Romona's fourth ex, Roxy Richter, with Ramona's help, as Scott refuses to hit a girl, by touching the spot behind her knee.

Scott starts to become tired and aggravated with Ramona's dating history, resulting in Ramona breaks up with him saying he might as well be the eighth. At the next battle of the bands, Sex Bob-Omb defeats Ramona's fifth and sixth evil exes, twins Kyle and Ken Katayanagi, in a epic adrenaline filled bout earning Scott an extra life. Ramona gets back with her seventh evil ex, Gideon. Sex Bob-Omb accepts Gideon's record deal, except for Scott, who quits the band in protest. Gideon invites Scott to his venue to gloat as Sex Bob-Omb is set to play at the Chaos Theater. Resolving to win Ramona back, Scott challenges Gideon to a fight for her affection, earning the "Power of Love" sword. Knives interrupts the battle, attacking Ramona, and Scott is forced to reveal that he cheated on both of them. This leaves him open for an attack where Gideon kills Scott and Ramona visits him in limbo to reveal that Gideon has implanted her with a mind control device. Scott uses his 1-up and re-enters the Chaos Theater. He makes peace with his friends and challenges Gideon again, this time for himself. He gains the "Power of Self-Respect" sword and disarms Gideon. He apologizes to Ramona and Knives for cheating on them, and Scott and Knives join forces to defeat Gideon. Free from Gideon's control, Ramona prepares to leave. Knives accepts that her relationship with Scott is over and, at her encouragement, he leaves with Ramona through a door of space and time, to the unknown future.

The story is weird and quirky as any story thats based on manga is, but it's heavily rooted in real problems and issues. Scott isn't perfect, and throughout the movie he fights evil ex's and himself in an attempt to try and fill the gap left by Envy. When he finally meets Ramona he goes on a path to win her heart creating the destruction of his relationship with Knives. The only reason he defeats Gideon and earns his happy ever after is by earning his self-respect by making peace with both past and present as well as with his friends and Knives. This lets Scott finally achieve what he had been striving for the entire movie, a fresh start. He been kicked in the mud and left behind Envy which leads him to a destructive path of dating people, but with no true love intent. As the film closes, he gets the opportunity and begins his long waited relationship with Ramona. The film is directed beautifully, has a killer score, and an all-star cast to boot. The only reason that you shouldn't watch this movie is if you hated everything that I just wrote, but if you were even intrigued just a little about the weird world of Scott Pilgrim, then please go see this wonderful movie. This has been Revisited, thanks for reading. Ricardo Signing off.