A set of reviews. One of Scott Pilgrim, the other of... Scott Pilgrim?
So on Saturday I went to see Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. By Sunday I finished reading the books. Now, I mused over which I liked more, which did 'it' better. I've come to the conclusion that they both did 'it' better in different ways, each one has its faults and advantages.
The whole deal.
The book tells a better story, it's a longer timeframe so nothing feels so rushed and crazy like in film. The film condenses a year of events into a week. And if it wasn't for Mary Elizabeth Winstead being very nice to look at you would wonder why Scott went through it all. For the movie's credit the way they condensed it didn't hurt the overall plot too badly (like some comic to film, book to film, TV to film moves). The film is a wonderful experience due to the music, the effects, and the shooting all being wonderful. Every actor is perfect too.
The Hero
Scott Pilgrim is a much nicer hero in the film, he's able to say a few actual comebacks, and he isn't a complete jerkbag like in the book (even if that is due to things). He's less believable as a person... but only in comparison, he's still more believable than most people in existence in films. Sadly the film left out the line about Scott being the best fighter in the Provence so we can only assume Scott's fighting ability is based on Wallace telling him to fight.
The Girl
Ramona V. Flowers... oh how being played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead makes the film make so much sense. She's wonderful in the books, and her character is perfectly mysterious. But fighting seven evil Exes for her makes more sense when the first date involves Mary Elizabeth Winstead in only her underwear as... yeah, best. scene. ever. Anyway, the condensed film cuts a bit of her development (like everyone not Scott) but the ending fight covers it up and gives what it needed.
Seventeen Years Old
If anyone other than Scott got development, it was Knives Chau. She went through the awkward transformation that most awkward teenagers went through. Going from the child their parents want to the person they wish to be. The suddenly ninja was out of nowhere in both medias but... everyone knows kung fu in this world so that's not an issue. I honestly like how they did Knives and Scott in the film better than the books, the book gives her more story and more time to develop from Scottaholic to her own woman. Okay, I swear I will not mention the time thing ever again.
Scott's other not so Evil Exes
Kim and Nat weren't too important in the film, except for Nat's break-up being the thing that set's Scott's emotional status for why he's dating Knives. She's softer in the film... a little, makes her less evil. Kim's relationship with Scott is just as unimportant in the film. Both characters make more sense in the books, and go so much deeper. They almost aren't needed in the film.
Stills, Young, and the very Gay Roommate
Stephen Stills and his rise to stardom is a backseat plot you can watch, but it wasn't that important in the books anyway. Wallace is there for Scott the entire time as standard and is WONDERFUL, there's not much difference between either product for these two. The big change is Young Neil, who has a lot more personality and use in the film. His own 'coming of age' story can be seen and I loved it.
Bollywood Pirate, Skateboard Star, Psychic Vegan
The first evil ex was a total joke fight, both versions. He was more of a joke in the film because it really took no work at all to defeat him and Scott did it all on his own. Lucas Lee's defeat in the book makes very little sense why he'd do the skateboarding trick. This ex I give the film all the props, as it became a great bossfight ending with a guile trick. The Multi-mook melee Lucas gave him with his extras was another nice change. Todd's fight in the book was better, but its all about his defeat in the movie. Scott didn't get rescued, he won.
Bi-furious, Double Dragon reference goes here
Roxy's fight in the film... okay Mae Whitman with an Ivy Whipsword vs. MEW with a giant hammer is a beautiful scene. When it became Scott's fight to win it lost a bit... but they moved the Power of Love to the end of the film. The twins fight would be so fun to watch while stoned... I mean- The twins in the book were more menacing but the fight in the film was a nice thing to watch, especially since the band was robbed of their part in the fight with Matthew Patel. Part of the issue is the perfect actors for the twins... don't speak English. Also the repeated robot attacks can't be done in a film that was already nearly 2 hours long.
Triple Gs
Gideon Graves, unlike the others where I back and forth I will do the movie and the book as two sections:
The whole deal.
The book tells a better story, it's a longer timeframe so nothing feels so rushed and crazy like in film. The film condenses a year of events into a week. And if it wasn't for Mary Elizabeth Winstead being very nice to look at you would wonder why Scott went through it all. For the movie's credit the way they condensed it didn't hurt the overall plot too badly (like some comic to film, book to film, TV to film moves). The film is a wonderful experience due to the music, the effects, and the shooting all being wonderful. Every actor is perfect too.
The Hero
Scott Pilgrim is a much nicer hero in the film, he's able to say a few actual comebacks, and he isn't a complete jerkbag like in the book (even if that is due to things). He's less believable as a person... but only in comparison, he's still more believable than most people in existence in films. Sadly the film left out the line about Scott being the best fighter in the Provence so we can only assume Scott's fighting ability is based on Wallace telling him to fight.
The Girl
Ramona V. Flowers... oh how being played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead makes the film make so much sense. She's wonderful in the books, and her character is perfectly mysterious. But fighting seven evil Exes for her makes more sense when the first date involves Mary Elizabeth Winstead in only her underwear as... yeah, best. scene. ever. Anyway, the condensed film cuts a bit of her development (like everyone not Scott) but the ending fight covers it up and gives what it needed.
Seventeen Years Old
If anyone other than Scott got development, it was Knives Chau. She went through the awkward transformation that most awkward teenagers went through. Going from the child their parents want to the person they wish to be. The suddenly ninja was out of nowhere in both medias but... everyone knows kung fu in this world so that's not an issue. I honestly like how they did Knives and Scott in the film better than the books, the book gives her more story and more time to develop from Scottaholic to her own woman. Okay, I swear I will not mention the time thing ever again.
Scott's other not so Evil Exes
Kim and Nat weren't too important in the film, except for Nat's break-up being the thing that set's Scott's emotional status for why he's dating Knives. She's softer in the film... a little, makes her less evil. Kim's relationship with Scott is just as unimportant in the film. Both characters make more sense in the books, and go so much deeper. They almost aren't needed in the film.
Stills, Young, and the very Gay Roommate
Stephen Stills and his rise to stardom is a backseat plot you can watch, but it wasn't that important in the books anyway. Wallace is there for Scott the entire time as standard and is WONDERFUL, there's not much difference between either product for these two. The big change is Young Neil, who has a lot more personality and use in the film. His own 'coming of age' story can be seen and I loved it.
Bollywood Pirate, Skateboard Star, Psychic Vegan
The first evil ex was a total joke fight, both versions. He was more of a joke in the film because it really took no work at all to defeat him and Scott did it all on his own. Lucas Lee's defeat in the book makes very little sense why he'd do the skateboarding trick. This ex I give the film all the props, as it became a great bossfight ending with a guile trick. The Multi-mook melee Lucas gave him with his extras was another nice change. Todd's fight in the book was better, but its all about his defeat in the movie. Scott didn't get rescued, he won.
Bi-furious, Double Dragon reference goes here
Roxy's fight in the film... okay Mae Whitman with an Ivy Whipsword vs. MEW with a giant hammer is a beautiful scene. When it became Scott's fight to win it lost a bit... but they moved the Power of Love to the end of the film. The twins fight would be so fun to watch while stoned... I mean- The twins in the book were more menacing but the fight in the film was a nice thing to watch, especially since the band was robbed of their part in the fight with Matthew Patel. Part of the issue is the perfect actors for the twins... don't speak English. Also the repeated robot attacks can't be done in a film that was already nearly 2 hours long.
Triple Gs
Gideon Graves, unlike the others where I back and forth I will do the movie and the book as two sections:
- The books: Gideon is a complete monster. His ex girlfriends are kept on ice in the ceiling of his club, he's mentally invaded Ramona to control her. He's mentally invaded Scott to spy on Ramona... and to screw up Scott's memories. He stole the power of love from Scott! Everything about him was a horrible person, he was the only ex that was a completely evil person that needed to die.
- The film: Getting Ramona was his only goal, but he was still the most evil of the lot. He set-up his lair and everything just to take everything from Scott. He had a chip placed on Ramona's neck to control her. He killed Scott while he was talking to Ramona and Knives. However... the shorter version of the fight, and the fight being Scott and Knives instead of Scott and Ramona, I think it made the victory sweeter. Also his destruction... coughing up a coin? Very nice touch. De-ressing, also nice.