"Scott Pilgrim Vs The World" Review
My experience with Scott Pilgrim.
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The Cinema Snob: "Scott Pilgrim Vs The World" Review
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This movie looks terrible...I don't see what all the hype is about. /:
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I think a lot of the appreciation of Scott Pilgrim comes from being a both a gamer and familiar with common internet memes and attitudes.
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I'm both of those things, and this movie still looks pretty terrible to me.
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There are no internet memes in Scott Pilgrim, and the references are so pointless and shallow that anyone gets them.
I feel this is just a niche for hipsters who go "XD RETRO VIDYA GAAAAIMZ"
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You wanna talk irony?
It's so cute the way people continue to say "hipsterhipsterhipster" as if Juno didn't wear out that tired term and finally pin down those who use it as the logical evolution of 12 year olds who go on and on about how they're too grown-up to watch cartoons.
I'm convinced that this movie is going to finally kill this "lolhipsters" fad from overuse. And good riddance. It clearly stopped meaning anything years ago.
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Eh, I dunno Mr. Rubino, I am not sure everyone shares your view of what Hipster actually means. I have always taken Hipster to be someone whose life is steeped in unnecessary and tired irony: wearing horn rimmed glasses in this say and age, wearing shitty band logos on their shirts that they'd never actually listen to, etc. They seem to be the ones pretending to be uncool to be cool, which is pretty retarded and deserves to be derided and ostracized.
Your definition seems to be "plays old video games" unless I missed something in your comment which most certainly is not (in my eyes) a hipster.
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Yep, Rubino definitely has no idea what a "hipster" is.
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I think that if you watched it in a double feature with CHASING AMY you might like it more.
Did your wife like it?
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Totally agree. It has Wright's fingerprints all over it and I loved his contribution. I think the source material is strong, but I'm a Wright fanboy first and foremost. The visuals are like their own character, lots of personality. I think even if the story is too quirky for you, it can be appreciated on a technical level.
Plus, Mary Elizabeth Winstead? Swoon.
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"The visuals are like their own character, lots of personality." So true of Wright's films. I caught SPACED back in like 2004 on Trio(?) and was hooked and brought back copies from my trip to the UK the next year and watched them over and over. The fact that he went on to make SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ just cemented that love of Wright's style.
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Edgar Wright has got a fantastic future ahead of him, he's got great visual style that walks hand and hand with the substance of the story he is telling. Personally, I'd love to see him turn his faux Grindhouse trailer 'Don't' into a full length feature. Cuz that has the potential of being a Hammer film as done by Dario Argento or even Mario Bava. I'm looking forward to seeing Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, largely cuz I think it looks entertaining as hell, and at the end of the day, that's what really matters.
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Jillian really loved it. It's definitely her style of flick. She had a fun time.
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If its not your style the review wont be neutral, don't watch that stuff next time
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Not true, I've like stuff from genres that aren't my cup of tea. This just isn't one of them.
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hey brad here is my other Manimal t-shirt another WWMWD with that jaw part then on the back said damm right he ate him the other is Dr Jonathan Chase head and on the top said Manimal planet
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i hate Michael Cera .Scott Pilgrim meh not my cup of tea
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You do bring up some good points about the characters, and I do agree it's more of a "niche" film that will appeal to a certain audience. All the same, I still enjoyed it.
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This is an ultra-polarizing movie. If there were ever a movie that split opinions, it's this one.
It's a pretty faithful adaptation of the Scott Pilgrim comic books (which are pretty good), but if you're not into 90s-era video games and over the top videogame/comicbook fight scenes, if you're not into this very specific type of comedy, if you're completely unfamiliar to this kind of 'scene' (it's really not hipster and people need to stop calling it that, but it's definitely a specific sort of teenage clique), then you are simply not going to understand or enjoy this movie.
It's kinda odd that this was even made as a major motion picture, considering the books' style and contents are so audience-specific, thus causing the movie to have such a specific audience itself (plus the fact that it's based on an independent comic book series, what's up with that?). I think I'd enjoy it simply as a person who grew up during the 90s and can kinda get that sort of stupid humor (though I do hate Michael Cera). The comic books are probably, like most movie/book adaptations, better.
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See, I love anime, and I still wasn't interested in this movie. The trailer looked stupid, and I really dislike Michael Cera, so I knew I would most likely not be interested in it.
Nice review. It would be funny if Spoony did give this movie a positive review to complete the weird criss-crossing this week.
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Interesting review. I was actually waiting for your review to see if I should see it and not.
I took your advance, looked into the trailer, and didn't like it. Then I guess it's out. Funny thing, I am a bit of an anime fan, but it still didn't work. Trailer wasn't funny at all, which is not a good sign...
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*advice
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Im sorry to say this even based upon his review you should still see it if you grew up playing video games. Also he did not get it so take that in to account. You should check some reviewers on youtube to see reviews that liked it before you dismiss the film.
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I liked it but I can see how one might not. I was never familiar with the comics or old Nintendo games or anything so I don't have too much of an investment in it, But I did really enjoy it in general.
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Where the Expendables was aimed more towards the male demographic (or those who seriously enjoy action)... I saw SPvsTW as being aimed towards a specific generation -- or rather, the much more recent generations of today. It didn't look like it was trying to be TOO mature... It was being serious, but in an immature way. I dunno. But I could totally see where you're getting at; I'll admit, I'm a geek, but just watching the previews made me just a little bit uncomfortable... since... it has no shame in appealing to so many other geeks (and it would seem, to those hopeless romantics).
Still, have to give it some credit for putting on quite a... unique show. That much I can say. But yeah, totally don't blame you if it's not in your tastes; it seriously looks like it wasn't aiming to appeal to the more "hardcore" mature audiences (or, to a lesser extent, older generations)... All about the present, and whatever horrible cliched slapstick humor is brought along with it.
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This is definitely a movie that you can decide on seeing from the trailer.
I didn't really care for the first part of the movie but got into it more as the film went on. But Scott Pilgrim is the least interesting character in the entire movie
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heh the first volume of the comic is the worst aswell
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I'm a fan that read the books before seeing the movie, and I think the books showed a lot more in terms of character development. It explains in depth Kim and Envy's relationships with Scott, as well as showing Scott as the lovable Assh*le he is. It even goes as far to explain (*Spoilers*) That Gideon has the power to mentally distort others, causing Scott to lash out at times, have distorted memories of the past and creating the NegaScott, who is a reaccuring enemy.
The film was good in it's own respect, but the books spent a lot more time on the character's relationship.
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I ain't gonna fault ya dude, I'm a guy who loves those types of movies ;3. But, they do cram in 6 books into a 2 hour movie, so chances are it's got a bit of The Last Airbender Syndrome in it (Lots of source material/character development/plot lost on the cutting room floor).
Um... I'm wondering if now you're even going to glance at the original source material (like what Joe did with Last Airbender), I'm guessing however that it's not going to sway your opinion on the Scott Pilgrim experience. Anyway, I'm not faulting you on having different tastes, and I am wondering what Spoony will say as well.
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I kind of fully agree with your review, Brad, and I really loved this movie.
I feel like this movie, beyond all else, is just a huge love letter to the fans of the graphic novels. Because while watching the movie, I just had no idea how this stood up if you knew nothing of Scott and Ramona's relationship from the graphic novels. And I fully agree that Knives is a far better character than Ramona in this movie. Knives is actually kind of pathetic/psychotic in the graphic novels, even if I still love her character there too.
I'm glad that you concede that it does have it's audience that will find it to be great. It's clearly going to end up being one of those cult kind of movies. My friends have been asking me about this movie all weekend, and I keep having to say I love it...but you probably won't like it. It's just such an oddity of a film to exist.
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Yeah, the thing about Scott Pilgrim is that you kind of have to be part of a very specific culture to like it, which is why it works for me. The reason I like Scott Pilgrim is that Scott himself is kinda like me (Except a bit more of an ass), and his life isn't a far shot from mine.
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I was almost interested me but I am so sick of Michael Serah (sp?) I never liked him in anything and he keeps getting work, somehow. If it wasn't him or it was a character that had some balls, I would love to see it. This sort of over the top video game stuff does appeal to me but even from the trailers I knew I was gonna hate every character in this movie. I made the right choice seeing Expendables.
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The odd thing for me is that I'm 45, in a city dripping with hipsters that I avoid like homeless people and plague carriers, and I guess to me a hipster would never be as, well, human as Scott Pilgrim seems to be (he has enthusiasm and emotions, hipster don't). I even found Knives' comment about Ramona being a hipster puzzling. I think living in a city with SO many hipsters weirdly makes you wonder exactly that word is even supposed to me aside from "I'm too cool to like anything or have enthusiasm and I wear clothes from the decade before I was born."
This is why I love you here Brad, your genuine enthusiasm is why I keep coming back.
I will say that I am surprised with your retro-gaming love that you didn't enjoy that part of the movie. One of the weirdest things I keep reading is that anyone over 30 won't like it, but SO many of the gaming references were from the early and mid-80s (1UPs, coin scores after defeats, set of small bosses leading to a big boss, 8 bit music, etc.) and also quite a few from the 90s and 00s (Tekken was used in SPACED as well, and the girl with the sword has the sword used by Ivy in Soul Calibur).
Still, good review here. I like when people don't like what I like.
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I actually hated the trailer and LOVED the movie. Go figure. (Like really really loved it).
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So since Michael Cera plays himself again in this move then it should be called "Michael Cera vs the World".
I like the graphic novel, it's good. I was afriad of Michael Cera ruining it and I'm guessing he did. Well I'm still gonna see it as a fan of the actual graphic novel and base my opinion on it then. Thanks for the review Brad, it was good to hear your thoughts.
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To each their own. I respect you for this review Brad. It is true, if you see the trailer and aren't interested, keep away.
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I think this'd probably appeal to me, I'm a fan of anime and video games. Plus I checked the sountrack, I too am glad to see "Under My Thumb" there. Brian Jones ftw.
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On one small note, one of the things I honestly appreciated about Scott Pilgrim vs The World is that you actually got to SEE PEOPLE'S ENTIRE BODIES MOVING AROUND DURING THE FIGHTS! The camera isn't trying to make you "part of the fight" and give you a case of "What the fuck is happening?" You basically get classic fight cinematography in a movie with the most unconventional and goofy fight scenes ever. As much as I loved BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT I found the fight scenes overwhelmingly annoying because of the "Let's make the audience feel disoriented and confused! Like THEY are in the fight!" Look, if I want that, I'll get in a fucking fight. I'm here to watch a movie and see some people fight. I want to see some classic camera pulled back watching people fight shit, not have the camera tied on the top of one of their heads. In that regard, as crazy as the over-the-top fight scenes were, we got to see people moving around, throwing punches, swinging swords, kicking feet. That part was just downright fun.
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No no. Most anime IS really bad.
The good series are mostly drowned out by the crap.
I've heard the same thing from everyone: If you like the trailer, you'll like the movie.
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Sturgeon's Law. What else is new?
We celebrate shitty movies, shitty books, shitty games and shitty comic books across the Internet but the mere existence of shitty anime drives some especially stupid people to exclaim anime as mostly shit like that is something totally exclusive to it.
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Brad, usually I enjoy your opinion...but in this case you're just flat out wrong. It sounded like you went into this movie ready to look for things to rip into.
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Yeah what this guy wrote. Not only do you not get that this film is the future of cinema, by referencing the 90s. You also look sort of, unhip, slamming it. Seriously, this film is the median between the cool and the insightful and the other folks who like Pierre Kirby and Ultima.
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Clearly you are unaware that it's still hip to be square.
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Well, I won't tell you that it's crazy, or say that it's nowhere...
couldn't resist...I'll go sit in the corner now
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There's nothing like a Huey Lewis and the News reference. =)
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....Esp. after seeing "American Psycho"
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seriously if this is the future of cinema I will go shoot my dvd player right now.
Also I do not like michael sera as an actor he sucks plain and simple.
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My thoughts exactly
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Whoa, whoa whoa - they finally passed the law that opinions can be right or wrong? WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME.
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its funny:even though u openly apologize for having a different taste...there are still people that will say you are wrong...for having a different taste.
wait...somethings not right... Ô.ô
and yes...its trying to be flashy as hell ...much
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Though I loved it, I find nothing wrong with your take here, internet celebrity Brad Jones. Nice and grounded without being too uppity or holier than thou about it. I never mind when people feel differently than me about movies, I don't get the point, it's all just opinion. It's even easier not to care when the other guy is cool about it.
I know it's not cinematic, but falling for the mystery girl/boy, even if they may be kind of offstandish at first, is a pretty realistic thing. Ditching the person that's madly into you - that you already HAVE - for said mystery person is common as well. As someone who's been the one...left in that situation, it makes sense to me.
I thought Wright did an exceptional job with it, and I too am in the "Michael Cera, UGH" club and didn't mind him here. As stated already, even by Wright himself, it feels like some sort of quirky, spiritual successor to Spaced, and I dig that.
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Aw, Brad... you look so pained by this movie!
I haven't gotten to see it (or The Expendables) yet, but I'll probably still give it a chance... thought, I must admit, I'm going in with adjusted expectations based on your take.
Also: cute shorts.
Ha...
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Meh, it's cool. I can see why some folks wouldn't like Scott Pilgrim. I kinda got confused at the end of it, myself, where he somehow pulls a sword out of his chest whenever he says something mildly insightful in front of Gideon, the guy with glasses that stuck the chip in her head. Its like, "I'm in love, so a sword pops out of my chest" or "I gain self-respect, so a BETTER sword pops out of my chest" I didn't really quite get that, unless the game abstraction of leveling up was supposed to represent in increase in his maturity, or something, and I don't really buy that, either.
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The chest bursting sword thing sounds like something out of Revolutionary Girl Utena, only with less symbolism and awesomeness.
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HA! I knew you wouldn't like this movie XD It's not your fault. It's just not your thing. I'm an inbetween person. I understood every joke and silly reference, but did get lost at times. I'm a half nerd, if you will XD
The moment the movie started I knew a good fraction of the people there would get it. But, in the end, I just threw logic out the window and just enjoyed the ride.
In all honest, It's one of the most faithful adaptations I've ever seen. It succeeded where Last Airbender failed at. But, that came with the price of only appealing to those who already loved the book and those who are into this kind of crazy shit XD
All in all, Scott Pilgrim is ok. Nothing big, nothing to wet yourself over, just ok. Thanks of sharing your thoughts Brad^^
Now if you pardon me, I need to go see what Spoony is going to say. This s going to be great XD
P.S to other commenter: Scott Pilgrim is not an anime/manga.
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I tend to agree with both you and Spoony quite often. I liked both (though the ending fight scene in Expendables gave me a motion sickness), and I like comic books and anime.
To people who emphatically say anime is shit. Defenestrate yourselves. Your opinions are not facts.
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I'm really glad that Brad isn't sucking this movies cock like a lot of people are. Even if this movie was better then I expected it has my favorite one note douche actor in it Michael Cera. I'm even a casual anime fan and I thought it looked like shit.
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Ergh... Sorry, this is going to have to be the first review of yours I haven't watched. I've been reading the comics these were based off of for 6 years and my heart might deflate if I watch it... I see a lot of things above and this whole project has to much sentimental value to me to see it being reduced to "Micheal Cera" this or "anime" that or "hipster video-game crowd" dribble. I doubt you'd put it quite like that but the comments are and I don't think I can do it...
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I liked the mangas, I found them entertaining, but I admit, I haven't been really gung-ho about the movie. I wasn't pleased to hear Michael Cera was Scott, to me, it just doesn't fit. Favorite character from the series is Wallace, and he's really the only reason why I'd see the movie; so thus not enough force for us to pay the money to see it in a theater; we'll wait till it comes out on demand.
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Gah! I am so sick of people calling this movie "hipster"! THE MAIN CHARACTERS AREN'T PRETENTIOUS! They're in a rock band that actually rocks, they don't spend their down time talking faux philosophy to make themselves sound smarter than they are, and they don't write poetry or songs that are supposed to be "deep", and they don't reference things that are currently cool just to make themselves sound cool! Sure I could see hipsters watching this movie liking it, but that doesn't make the characters or this movie itself hipster at all.
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they are aware that it comes across as hipster though and have thrown jokes in about that
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Thank god I'm not the only one that didn't see the appeal in this movie.
I was forced to see it by a majority vote, still didn't like it.
Everything felt way WAY to cliche for my liking.
Wasn't that I didn't get it or anything, It was just too cliche and silly for me.
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I liked the movie, so naturally I'm a bit against your opinion, but I found that you have good reason, you admit the movie is not bad is just not made for you(this show that perhaps you're not a "real" critic, but have a least a real understanding of what a critic should do, which in a ironic way a lot of "real critic don't get).
First, I will go with the subject were I have a real problem. Michael Cera is not playing is usual character which are good and shy guy, where in Scott he play a snarky jerk. Actually Scott is a jerk who put as a facade the usual Michael Cera persona, and thus explaining why he do play that character.
Now for the others complaint I could formulate, they're most related to the comic book and animé reference, and less with the movie.
Scott being a hipster is part of the point of the comic book, because a part of the public are probably hipster. To be more exact, Scott is not just a hipster but a model, having is own indie group, living the life of what hipster idealize, etc... and is the character of a indie comic book, which is the kind of graphic novel hipster usually read. Is one of the reason of why is a jerk, because a lot of hipster are it. The author don't actually try to put Scott as real hero, but more a figure who need to be beat to gain conciseness of what is it. Is tricky as a concept, but is a interesting way to address a comment to a certain group.
The second reason why is a jerk, come from the fact that somehow he know is a comic book character and also the hero(the notion of fourth wall don't really exist), and because of that he can do anything. The whole reason why he need to beat the ex is not for love, the real reason is to gave him a epiphany about himself and the way he treat others. Unfortunately the movie gave him less development, the learning process is lost.
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I enjoyed Scott Pilgrim, but, then again, I was a fan of the comic. It was good for me to see some of the characters, and the comic itself, brought into the silver screen. However, I do know that it's not for everyone. I know plenty of people that couldn't stand the movie.
Only thing I really hated was all the character development for Scott, Envy, and Kim that got utterly chopped away.
And Michael Cera. Goddamn it, Michael.
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I can totally see why you didn't like it. I loved it, but can agree that it is a niche film and you just didn't fit into that nitch. That doesn't make you any worse for not liking it. To each his own, Brad.
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Brad is rocking like fashion's version of a mullet. Business up top, waterpark party, bottom.
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Michael Cera is the antichrist, by the way.
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No he's not. He's more the neighbor of the beast.
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It really seems like its a generation gap in humor and also combined with that this is not the normal movie you seem to like that is probably why you didnt like it
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Invader Zim is HILARIOUS, one of my favorite shows of all time.
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I like invader zim it is immensely entertaining satire on humanity and the united states to me. still the humor is kinda dark and that can make it hard to get at times.
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Brad, I don't know how you came to conclusion that Invader Zim is hipstery, but it really isn't...
Weezer, yes. Daria, yes. Apple products, yes. Trucker's caps, tight jeans, PABST Blue Ribbon, ironic references to old school video games, Whole Foods, and shitty indie rock, all yes.
But Zim just doesn't fit that. Zim isn't a hipster thing. And lest you think that I'm trying to defend something I like against the hipster label, I like Daria (admittedly, I don't think she's any kind of Zen master or anything). But Zim's nothing like Daria.
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Didn't like it? Oh, no, no,no! This will not do! Time to hook your nuts up to a car battery
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I figured you wouldn't have enjoyed this film. It is one of those films that if you like that type of movies from just the view of the trailer, then you'll enjoy it. But if not, then you're just wasting your money. I would rather wait and go see Tron Legacy later on. That movie might be good, only time will tell. Great Review my friend.
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Wow, this movie wouldn't be my type of movie at all.
There is a movie that I'm excited about coming out next weekend. It's called "Piranha 3-D" which is a remake of the 1978's Piranha. I really want Brad to see this because he could review the original as the Snob & then review the remake as himself like "The Expandables" reviews I think Brad would shit his pants watching "Piranha 3-D".
So, anyways, cool video.
Peace!
~Scooter Mike
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As a person who likes anime (the good and the "so-bad-it's-good") and games, I should have liked this movie but, I didn't. It wasn't so much the plot or the characters (I own Crystal Triangle, so I can go along with any silly plot), it just didn't click for me.
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Well Brad i'm not surprised you said this about the movie and you are probably right about but what people haven't realized is that it's a movie adaptation of something that already exists so that being said its probably not gonna be as good as the original in this case the book. Even then it's the same as Kick-Ass it was a good movie but the comic was still better. It is aimed for a more anime audience and i'm sure someone who loved will find something to criticize. Overall you did good on your somewhat review and the people who watch it need remember that it's you, even if it was a fucking amazing you can always find something to critique on.
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Brad, I respect you as a reviewer, but I have to ask, how is this movie "pretentious" or "hipster"? It sounds like a lot of the generic memes 4chan shouts at the comic.
It seems to me to be unabashedly geeky and not under any real pretentious at all. The hipsters, if there are any, are the villains and foils.
If anyone's looking for an alternate POV: http://otakurevolution.com/content/press-start-to-begin-scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-a-story-of-1-up-manship-or-toronto-city-rans
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While I did greatly enjoy the film, I do agree on several points. Yes, the writing and acting for Ramona was pretty disappointing, as was the the chemistry between the characters. I liked the humor, but then I like Invader Zim.
A few things I'd like to clarify, in defense though not to argue with your critique:
1. The point of the seven evil exes is to provide a metaphor for the baggage people bring into relationships. There's the why you were asking for.
2. Scott Pilgrim is a definite douche. That's kind of the point, that both he and Ramona are self-centered douchebags (even if they do have a lot of heart and personality in the comics). It's sort of a slacker type of thing. The comics did it brilliantly, but the film didn't manage it very well.
Don't worry Brad, you're not the bad guy. Leaving the theater, I felt like I'd watched a movie that not a whole lot of people are going to enjoy. It's a very niche audience, and it really helps to be a fan of the source material. The drama that permeated in the comic is gone, and so we were left with the comedy--which means if you don't like this kind of comedy you won't like it. Plain and simple.
That being said, I am sorry to hear you disliked it so much.
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you pretty much said what I was going to say. Especially point 2, the comic (and film I presume, yet to see it as it isn't out in england yet)are never really about scott trying to win ramona, its about trying to keep her and how scott grows from a self centred manchild to a better, fully functional adult. by the end of the comic he accepts his mistakes instead of ignoring them.
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I'm 32 and not much into Anime and i think that i'm simply too old for this movie and i guess that many reviewers who are closer to the 30 than to the 20 (or perhaps even rather to the 15) will have the same problem. That is why i expect there won't be another big difference between Bret's and Spoony's opinion on this one. Judging from Spoony's 'Final Fantasy' reviews, he too has little tolerance for that typical Anime nonsense that 'Scott Pilgrim' seems to emulate.
I haven't seen it and i most likely won't. Still, when i saw the trailer i asked myself too: "What? He ditches that spunky Asian girl for this purple haired version of 'Darlene' from the Roseanne sitcom? No way!"
To me that is more unrealistic than all the superpower stuff going on in the trailer.
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I'm not mad that you didn't enjoy the movie, but I think you kind of missed the point in some ways. Going into ***HEAVY SPOILER*** territory.
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The movie is about two things: Facing your past (and yourself), and growing up. Many elements of the movie (the hyper-reality elements, as you called them) are indications of Scott's continued refusal to accept reality, leading him to do things like abuse his friendship with Wallace. The reason Scott breaks up with Knives, the girl you liked, was that he didn't really have any connection to her to begin with; the reason he starts dating her is because she is a link to high school (Scott is 22 or 23 at this point). She allows him to sort of pretend that he is still in high school, continuing to post-pone adulthood.
The Evil Exs are Ramona's past. They didn't start out evil, she hurt them carelessly, and left them disgruntled. Scott did the same thing to many girls, including Knives and Kim, but holds a hypocritical view of Ramona and Envy. Part of Scott's story-arc is understanding how he has treated girls in the past, learning about himself and trying to make amends.
The other element is growing up, which is a bit glossed over in the movie. He is basically a bum, leeching off of friends, never getting a job, fawning over girls... etc. He basically is a douche, as you said, that's part of his character. By the end of the movie, he moves away, enters a real relationship, and learns to stop attaching value to himself equivalent to the relationship he is in at the time. This is his connection to Knives' arc.
I dunno, I don't want to rant at you. It's cool if you don't like it, it's not the first time I've disagreed with your opinion on something (I liked Friday the 13th V, dammit). I do find it somewhat ironic that you insult the movie by saying that it's too hipster, when you yourself seem to be an 80's hipster that just happens to live in 2010
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"The movie is about two things: Facing your past (and yourself), and growing up."
My most immediate other movie connection with this movie was CHASING AMY. Another friend of mine called it CHASING AMY: THE VIDEO GAME.
Taking the movie's battles literally actually seems odd to me. They are all just shortcuts for Scott battling his own ideas about Ramona's past. The gaming metaphor for this is simply a fun way to represent it visually to an audience. And those swords coming out of his chest are just epiphanies about his own self-centered personality and overcoming them. Maybe because I was the oldest person in the audience it all made sense to me.
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I think my view of this stands at...just because you can make nerdy references, doesn't mean you should. Why?...I feel in some way its playing to the stereo type of fan boy of anime or manga. I know you're supposed to go in to enjoy it and all but I can't help but go "Is this what you see of us?". Seriously, as a fan of manga, why do you like this? I agree with Brad when he says "hipster bullcrap", thats SERIOUSLY what I thought when I saw the first preview. I dunno, I maybe wrong comparatively to another person...I don't mean to sound like an asshole, but I think this movie (On top of the fact Micheal Cera has the acting skills of a gerbil...and even THEN I think a gerbil mighta looked cooler..) was just a cheap cash in on a geeky stereo type.
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The source was written by a guy into all the things the movie references, and the film's director is into such things as well. It comes from a genuine place.
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Yeah, this is SO not Brad's style of movie, no surprises there.
I do take umbrage at this being labeled a "hipster" film though, since it's actually an anti-hipster comedy. I mean, our villain's big bad guy speech is him ranting about how he's so much cooler than everyone else and how he knows what's hip better than we do. And then he gets kicked in the head.
WidgetCraft already touched on some of this, but I always interpreted the League of Evil Exes to be representative of how an immature guy like Scott Pilgrim wants to deal with his problems. Wouldn't it be nice if a relationship were as easy as playing a video game, if all of the obstacles between you and a happy life with the girl of your dreams were straightforward challenges that were numbered in advance and could always be overcome by the direct application of force?
Scott refuses to grow up and the world just sort of conforms to his sensibilities. It couches everything in terms he can understand. But of course as we see in the film, that doesn't really work. More complex, adult problems inevitably intrude on his power fantasy. Even as he wins the "game", he's losing in his real relationship.
This is important because "Scott Pilgrim" (movie and comics) is a story for and about the current crop of 20-somethings, a generation that basically never grew up and now has to figure out how to tackle adult problems with a teenager's sensibilities.
That was probably WAY more than Brad actually wanted to hear about this story, but since he DID ask "Why?", the answer boils down to: "No reason from a logical point of view, but some very important reasons from a thematic one."
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I get the feeling I'm going to go into it and like "Okay, enough with the stylization" because I keep hearing that it's lathered in it. I like comics, enjoyed a couple manga, love 80's and 90's style games, but every part of this movie that I hear about makes me shake my head. I'll check it out on dvd when my family rents it or something, but I have negative interest in seeing it in theaters.
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When I saw you say that it was your turn to be the bad guy, I was bracing myself for you to give this movie I loved a savage beating. I'm glad I was wrong. This is why I keep coming back to you and Spoony. You won't hate on something unless you can back up your thoughts well and fairly.
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Hey man, it's not your cup of tea, I get it. I can respect that. I personally liked it, but it's not for everyone, I agree.
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I am just so sick of Michael Cera being in everything. Ever since Superbad you just can't get rid of him in these teen-character roles. Juno, Nick and Norah, Paper Heart, Year One, and now this, and he's got exactly one character between them!
I haven't seen this yet and I probably won't; might see Expendables. I heard this bombed hard, too, despite the good reviews. I was thinking of reading the books, but they're like $10+ each and there's six of them, so maybe not.
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Brad, it's perfectly okay not to like something. From what I've seen of this overly previewed movie the characters are poorly written and the humor is mostly referential, a style of humor that I find supremely obnoxious.
I might try going to this movie but I'm going to keep my watch ready and if I'm not sold by the 20 minute mark I'm walking out and sneaking into the Expendables.
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While I can't agree with you because I know my Edgar Wright bias is going to make me love this movie, but I respect your opinion, Brad. Thing is, though, Invader Zim is absolutely not "hipster," or what have you. Its creator is a pretentious prick and these days it's being sold to the Hot Topic demographic, but the show itself is fantastic. Don't let the stupidity surrounding it skew your views of it.
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Two words made me hate this film, "Micheal Cera". He's miscast in everything, and is an awful actor.
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I'm a geek in a band... This movie was perfect
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Brad and Spoony don't like certain movies and everyone loses their shit? Cmon!
Honestly, I loved this movie, and I can see where you don't like it. Eh, I wanted to go jump back into my old vhs tapes of Rambo and Commando during Expendables. I just couldn't get into it. I went in after reading the comics, but even my friends that didn't enjoyed Scott Pilgrim. They're just mindless summer blockbusters, nothing to lose sleep over.
To be honest, the only projects I liked Cera in was Arrested Development and maybe Superbad.
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At least Brad won't have a 2 or 3 hour long shitfit on twitter and then into a stream about this shit, and the comments on this are a whole lot more neutral than on Spoony. And a good part of this is folk going WHAT, HIPSTER BULLSHIT, I'LL MURDER THOSE FAGGOTS
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Dude, Brad, don't feel bad about voicing your opinion over something that's popular that you don't like. There are some things that click for people and some things that don't. Overall, I thought it was a pretty fair review. That's actually what I like about your current movie reviews. You don't sugarcoat your thoughts or anything and I can really respect a reviewer like that.
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You have NOTHING to apologize for, Brad. The guy who plays Scott Pilgrim does look the same in every movie and I have never had to seen one. You can tell from just a glance that that's true. He always plays some guy who likes some annoying young emo girl (Juno, Nick and Norah's infinite playlist, this stupid piece of shit movie). Seriously, this is what's popular today, the youth of America like people who are bland boring douchebags who care about how wonderfully cute they are as they wallow in their meanigless shallow lives.
And yes I know I sound pretentious as I say this but really it's true. Young females probably watch all those men tear each other apart for that one girl and project themselves into that role similar to Bella in Twilight. It's really all calculated to appeal to the worst ways of thinking. Just watch Zombieland again if you want to watch young main characters who aren't constanly acting like stupid smirking trendy idiots.
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Man you shouldn't apologize for your opinion, it's ok to hate on a movie if it doesn't contradict your previous views :S. Coming from an anime watcher and the trailer that I saw, it doesn't even come close to good anime. I mean yeah from an action POV it kind of does but character wise, it's kind of similar to anime of the 2000s till now which I don't consider on par with the 90s and 80s with some exceptions.
But no man even as an anime watcher, I can't say fan cause that term feels restrictive and closed minded, the movie looked like it was made for some generation I don't give 2 shits about and they won't in 10 years. Yeah the movie can be seen as an metaphor for how complicated sometimes love can be and you just want to make it more simple, but fuck that. The characters look like some hipster, douchey, listen to Tokyo Hotel, whiny, emos and I can't sympathize to this kind of superficial, commercial and classifiable with lack of personality generation now and never did in the past.
Again don't apologize that much for your opinion even if people won't respect it.
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If you pair this title with "Hipster", then frankly, I don't think you know what a hipster is.
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I love when people say they don't like anime. That's like saying you don't like movies. Of course, about 90% of animes are shit, but aren't movies exactly the same? Why is it no one just fucking realizes that "anime" isn't a genre?
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You have a valid point. Anime is an art style distinct to Japan. But people can say they hate Anime, just like I can say I hate sports. Most people who say they hate Anime say it because they don't like the art style in general, like why I hate sports in general because I hate having to keep up with all the rules.
I personaly love Anime, but I do not degrudge those who say they dislike anime.
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Thank you for making it clear that it's just your opinion that you're promoting concerning the film- some reviewers have blasted the movie just on the basis that they didn't personally enjoy it, and I'm glad you're willing to differentiate the two positions. Besides, I kinda figured this sort of movie really wouldn't be to your taste, given what you reveal about your favorite kinds of movies through your reviews, so this review isn't all that surprising.
Personally, I loved Scott Pilgrim. And I'm far from a pretentious '90s hipster type- quite the opposite, I'm a self-described comic book geek with a history of 8-to-16-bit gaming. And ironically, I HATE anime and manga... but this movie really worked for me. I didn't feel it was trying to be pretentious (which is the feeling I get from manga/anime that usually turns me off of it), but rather that it was vivacious and full of energy, though very clearly a film made for a certain demographic... which I just so happened to be a part of. I thought it was a movie more for old-school gamers than anime buffs (though the amine stuff wasn't lost on me), but the point is, I really, really liked it.
Thank God this movie has a trailer that's actually tonally accurate to the movie itself; I hate going into a movie- like, say, Terminator 3- expecting a dark, somber movie, and ending up watching a goofy quasi-parody. So I agree: if the trailer turns you off the movie, watch something else instead. But if you feel jazzed to see Scott Pilgrim after sitting through the spot, you're definitely going to love the movie- and for the love of god, GO SEE IT! Eat Pray Love should not be #2 at the box office!
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I didn't know this until I walked into a Borders bookstore at the mall, but Scott Pilgrim is actually based in a Manga (Japanese Comic Book) and from with I heard the Books weren't really even that good. It does explain the whole having to defeat the evil ex-boyfriends, and one ex-girlfriend. It's a classic martial arts genre like you would see in Manga and Anime.
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... no? Scott Pilgrim is western, even if made by an Asian American.
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I think this review best illustrates why, when it comes to movies I have yet to see, I definitely trust your judgment over Spoony's or somebody like Angry Joe. While I like them both, you're the only one who seems to be able to make the distinction between a movie being objectively bad and one that's just not made for you. That seems to me to be the most responsible kind of critique - who is it made for, what is it trying to do, and did it accomplish that? If you like these kinds of movies, is this a good or bad example of the type of movie you like? With Spoony, because he doesn't make that distinction as much, his reviews are ironically more subjective, even as he tries to be a more objective reviewer. It's like if he doesn't like a movie for whatever reason, he then finds as many reasons to say it sucks. You almost have to figure out, to what extent are my tastes aligned with his that I should give weight to his opinion, and this is the mark of poor criticism. I disagree with your personal opinion about both the Expendables and Scott Pilgrim in terms of your own enjoyment of the movies vs. mine, but had I seen your reviews before I saw both movies, I still would have been much better informed about what to expect, and whether or not I was in for something I'd like.
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i gotta second that one.even though i dont allways agree with brad...he's just the better reviewer.and yes i like joe and spoony.but if it comes for valid criticism ...brad wins
well...at least joe openly admitted(in his expendables review) that he may not be the best movie critic...while spoony just kinda fades actually from reviewing the movie to outright bashing it...for all the wrong reasons.
especially the comparison with "strike commando" and the "real life character vs. action hero" thing he did made me laugh.if you dont know what i mean:go watch his expendables review right now
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i blame his migraine
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Brad,
So Hipsters are now people that dress like home-educated chess champions. There's no jazz cigarettes or anything like that involved. It's people in corduroy trousers reading comics and stuff like that. And instead of sex they have chaste infatuations with slightly slutty girls- admittedly they are great.. So basically being a hipster is a form of inverted machismo verging on self-imposed neo-retardation. Is it just me who thinks this is actually sort of sick and weird, like people who listened to Devo at an impressionable age and didn't understand that it was drug-addled bitter hippie satire.
And I'll tell you what's wrong with Twilight. Lack of female nudity and exploding heads. This is in fact what's wrong with most teen horror.
And Brad Shorts are inexcusable. Shorts are Satan's a slippery slope, leading you to an eternity mowing the lawn and fishing.
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hmm... scott pilgrim or expendables?i gotta say i would most probabably go for expendables too.well... i didnt go to see any of them cause they are not yet released in germany.
this movie kinda feels like its a movie a lot of my friends will like so ill probably go watch it anyway.but it is as u said:there is just sooo much flashy stuff going on and this kind of humor applied in this movie feels like it would totally fail on me(and i kinda liked shawn of the dead).
it will be like ...me sitting with my friends and watching (for exapmple) an episode of "Coupling".they will probably laugh their asses off while i just sit there and think about what other stuff i could possibly watch or do right now.so yeah...i think i'll be with u on this one
about the expendables:this movie feels a lot like its stallone sending a big "thank you" to all the fans of these cheesy 80/90's style action flicks giving us the whole package in one movie.
so ill probably gonna be very soft on that movie given the fact that im a huge fan of many of those flicks.damn it...i wanna see it now^^ but its gonna be realeased in 10 so its not that bad
so thanks brad for kinda speaking my mind XD ...greeting from germany.
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I haven't seen this movie yet but I understand that it is a movie made by nerds and it targets specifically the nerddom. I might enjoy it but it's probably going to be a guilty pleasure at most.
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Sounds like it was like Napoleon Dynamite. Supposed to be really good for nerds but doesn't really work.
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By the way to you Zim fans, its garbage merchandise is sold at Hot Topic, so it is fucking "HIPSTER"
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No, that only makes it something from which companies feel they can profit.
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Why did he fight her seven exes? That's like asking why did El Topo fight those for assassins?
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I was cautiously optimistic about this movie but went into it with the possibility of it fully sucking. And I freakin' loved it! Don't get me wrong, I hate hipster and "indie" culture more than just about anything but this movie worked on every level for me. I go into a lot more detail in the review on my blog but I'm willing to put this at #2 on my running list of best movies of the year under Kick-Ass. I definitely enjoyed it more than The Expendables as there were no lulls in the action or storytelling, unlike The Expendables which almost made me fall asleep when someone wasn't getting shot or kicked or blown up.
But kudos to you Brad for taking the high road (as much as possible) and understanding that it just might not be your thing instead of blindly hating everything about it.
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Quick list:
1) Cera's not playing the same character in this film. Like you said, Scott's kind of a douche. I haven't seen all of Cera's movies, but those I have don't have him playing someone this unlikable.
2) There's a big difference between Scott and Ramona and Edgar and Bella: Twilight wants us to believe it's pairing is real true love. Scott's pairing is intended to be naive and immature.
3) Fighting the exes = boss battles = dealing with baggage. The movie can't make this any more obvious.
4) Only with the appearance of this film have I started hearing the word "hipster" over and over again. I live in Texas and keep very much to myself, so "hip" is something I really don't understand. I enjoyed Daria, but I never thought of it as "hip."
5) Thank you for recognizing first and foremost that you "don't get it." I am surprised, however, that you couldn't identify come very obvious metaphors.
6) My only gripe with the film concerns stiff line delivery. The script itself was fine, but for whatever reason nearly every character sounds like they popped Valium before each take. I got used to it about half-way through though.
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Ill take the gal to see this
Anyway Brad don't let Spoony get you down, I mean he lived with his parents untill he was 28
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I don't get it. What part of recalling happy memories about certain movies, games, and TV shows through either mannerisms, life philosophy, or even apparel is "hipster"? What does that word even mean anymore anyway? It's almost as if the word only exists for one group of people to deride another group of people for enjoying something the first group doesn't understand.
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okay, I liked this movie (But I Loved the comics its based on) and I hate everything you mentioned like Daria and all that other hipster shit.
My only problem with this review is that you couldn't accept the fighting evil exes thing. I've seen you talk about and love a movie where people fight waves of zombies in a hospital but this...THIS was just TOO silly
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Brad, about anime, i think you should watch "High-school of the Dead", it's an anime with Romero Zombies and a lot of typical anime fan service (which is i guess some kind of Japanese modern form of sexploitation). I think i would really enjoy to hear your opinion on it, whether you like it or not.
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That's still kind of too "anime-ish" for me to recommend to someone who's not into anime. Something like Cowboy Bebop or Baccano would be better, as it doesn't use too many anime tropes.
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THANK YOU!
All my nerd friends will not shut up about the movie/comic. And my exact reaction was "What? Why?" I just don't get it. I love Edgar Wright and can tolerate Michael Cera, but I just don't get the appeal.
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I do agree with on the romance not making any sense, i just didn't buy it at all, but i think that's another throwback to video games, what do Mario and peach have in common, the only difference being that the movie introduces the character a bit more, so you can't just have the blank slate romance
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brad, what are your oppinions on the kid who plays the scott pilgrim guy? id love to know. i mean, he was OK in juno, but thats only because his character required him to be like that. i personaly dont like the kid.
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ooh feat!
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I mor eor less had the same thoughts about the film.
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Zim is kind of an acquired taste. I like it myself, but when I show it to others, I either get "yeah that was awesome!" or "what is wrong with you?"
As for Pilgrim, Cinema Blend had a great discussion as to why the movie flopped in theatres compared to other movies. Essentially it boils down to the target audience being a type of person who doesn't really exist. Hipster under-30 anime & indie music fans that also happen to be 80's video game geeks and like musicals.
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Box-Office-Bob-omb-5-Reasons-Scott-Pilgrim-Vs-The-World-Failed-To-Find-An-Audience-20168.html
It sounds like Pilgrim is something that will turn into a cult classic.
I liked the idea when I saw the first trailer, but as a 32-year old, I'm part of a strange breed. I like anime, I like 80's video games, I like 50's musicals, and I don't mind Cera (maybe I just haven't seen enough to be sick of him, but I liked him in Arrested Development/SuperBad).
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Daria and Invader Zim aren't funny?
Someone's taste is all in his mouth.
Heh he, Still love you though man. (And I mean that pre-neo-sincerely.)
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I made a twitter update not too long ago mentioning, "Am I the only one who wants to see The Expendables this weekend?" I know it's being panned, but I'll take it for what it is; an action popcorn flick.
I like anime, but I like anime when it's not being anime (if that makes any sense). My favorite titles don't rely on typical anime tropes to make it good, but rely on visual storytelling, engaging characters, among other aesthetics. (ie: Baccano, Monster, Cowboy Bebop, Perfect Blue, etc) t
I think you really hit the nail in the head why I'm not too interested: Unlikeable characters, stupid motivation, and a nonsensical plot point. The effects look fun, but there's really not point to it when I'm not interested.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The Expendables, however, would be one I'd pay to see just to see Cera's ass get whooped.
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I do like 'Invader Zim' and (some) animes, so maybe I'll give this one a shot (but I'll admit,'The Expendables' does look better).
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As others have said, you really don't need to apologize for your opinion. While I haven't seen the film, I did see the trailer and it looked so awful I couldn't even look at the screen (well, you could say I DIDN'T really see the trailer). I think it's a lot better to just be honest about a movie you didn't like than to fawn over it sycophantically without gathering some perspective on it first. You really do make it sound awful, though. Why would anyone like a film with completely one-dimensional characters who don't even have any facial expressions? Or a film which is so much like a video game that it actually has meters and HUDs appearing on-screen for no apparent reason?
Incidentally, this film represents a HUGE sell-out on Edgar Wright's behalf. It bombed at the box-office too, which surprised me.
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Don't be afraid to go against the majority - be "the bad guy" if you want to. It's better to stick to your guns than try to be "nice". Your integrity is too valuable. And don't compare yourself too much to Spoony - you have similar traits but you seem to be quite different people as far as your reviews go. Your style seems to be to go with what you like and don't always analyze it that much, Spoony is very analytical and also seems to like being "the bad guy". I think you're doing a great job by just being you and most viewers that know your style and preferences know that you will rate some movies higher just because of your taste (that's how I feel at least - feel free to tell me otherwise) - and that's perfectly fine since it makes sense. Watching your reviews I feel that you - as a viewer - have to know these things. Again, don't apologize, just be YOU
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why is the typface bold
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It's niceness of these sorts of films that gets me. Who watched Superbad and thought Cera was the best thing in it? The best thing in that movie were the police officers and Mclovin!
And if they're going to make live action anime/manga. Why not do the good ones. The ones with lots of multi-donged monsters, naked girls and weird stuff.
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As a huge Daria fan(I worship that show), anime fan, and overall child of the late 90's, this movie doesn't appeal to me at all. It seems like glorified geek fan service(for a lack of a better term). Is the acting good? Is the story good? Does it matter because It has a bunch of references? I haven't seen it yet, and I'll probably end up watching on DVD. But I have a funny feeling that this will end up being nothing but a big budget fan fiction. Not unlike Twilight, except targeted at us geeks instead of tween girls.
This reminds me of Lordkat's review of Zombieland:
http://www.lordkat.com/vlog-070210-forums-netflix-and-dieting.html
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I thought it was very well made, I also think the writing was just terrible for the most part, it felt like a really bad cheap teen version of No More Heroes. While the writing was really bad I think the actors and directors comedic timing was and delivery was so well done it made up for all of it. I went in this moving with the exact same felling you did from watching the trailers.
I saw the trailer for The Expendables and thought it could be fun, hated it.
I saw the trailers for Scott Pilgrim and thought that it looked like the most annoying teen shit, liked it quite a bit.
While your review was fine, other people who haven't seen the movie and just hate it because of the fact that they want to, go away. (prepares for everyone who did what I just said to tell me off)
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I HATE these kinds of movies. These "new age 'indy' films".
Napoleon Dynamite was actually good from my point of view, but movies like Scott Pilgrim piss me off.
Seriously, Edgar Wright did this? Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are personal favorites! Why does he turn around and make such crap?
I also hate these movies targeted towards this new age crap. I'm fairly young, so I'm in the same age group where the females ALL like Twilight.
There's only one thing with Michael Cera that is AWESOME.
That is Arrested Development. That show is the kind of "new age" stuff that I WANT to see. Michael Cera wasn't the same character in AD as he is in other films. I'm ready to see the movie, where Cera will finally do something important or good again.
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Funny, I couldn't stand Napoleon Dynamite... I thought it was a new age indie film that was pointless.
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Nice shorts, Brad. C:
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I'm sorry to say this Brad but maybe you are just too old. Also I'm not sure if I can take your reviews seriously anymore especially when you said you like the Nightmare on Elm Street remake because it has a opening title sequence.
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Also what the hell is a hipster? I love this movie but I don't consider myself a hipster or whatever.
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I didn't like "Elm Street" because it had an opening credit sequence. "Scott Pilgrim" had an opening credit sequence and I didn't like it. I was commenting on the lack of credit sequences, and anyone can tell that wasn't my basis for liking that movie.
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Hey man whatever that's what I got out of it I see no other reason to like that movie other than that reason. But I will give you one thing the Bifurious joke was stupid when looking back on it.
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I hate everything Hipster, more or less, but I get the feeling that being the 90s child I am I will love this movie when I see it next week. This will be my cup of tea. I almost always agree with you on movies to, so it's funny that I don't this time.
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I love how the fans are trying to sard to justify this movie, probably because it bombed pretty hard. It's the Speed Racer fandom all over again.
Anyway, I think you nailed it. Every point you brought up was an issue with me too(although I havent seen it, from the trailers, I know I will hate it. Bifurious? BIFURIOUS!? Who wrote that?!)
But you acknowledge that its not bad as much as it simply isnt for you, which is what makes the review great. Dont get why so many fans can't accept that.
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This is a movie for gamers and anime fans, so if you're neither of those, then you won't get it. It's also based on a comic book, which is why it looks like a comic book. So if you don't like that, you're not going to like this movie.
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I felt this way about the trailers as well, but the movie I found... Enjoyable. Didn't love it, but didn't hate it. It's well made, funny at times (I agree, the humor for the most part is not funny.)
Though, the comparison of Ramona to Bella... I think that's a bit harsh. Though maybe I'm just biased since Ramona's the hottest character I've seen in any game, movie, or anything like that. I mean, yeah she's kinda a bland character and a bitch, but she still has enough depth and emotion at times that I didn't hate her character.
Still, I agree with your review, but to a much lesser extent.
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I enjoyed both movies this weekend.
Both were over the top, mindless fun.
Yes, the Bi-furious line was lame but the humor was good.
Ironically, the other characters and not Scott are what makes this film.
A shame this movie didn't fare better but it'll do in the long run.
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To be honest, the expendables is a cheesy constant winking towards the mid 80's. Scott Pilgrim is the same to the Mid 90's... I just don't know why you didn't make the connection. I know i'll love it because I'm 20 and so that's my time.
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I half agree with you. People are nostalgic about the wrong bits of the 80s. I liked the Expendables because I liked Action movies. They were just fun things to watch. But to me the 80s were post-punk, hardcore, horror films, big black and moral panics. Nostalgia should always be tempered with reality, The 80s had interesting fun stuff, but were also boring. I still like old school hip hop, but there was loads of really dull things like Jack is Back and Sade. This by the by is what American Psycho is about, Phil Collins and Huey Lewis are bad 80s. People who don't see this are mistaking personal nostalgia and comfort for a snap shot of the times as they actually were. The 90s for instance were actually a period of social turmoil, anti-capitalist movements, grunge and drive by shootings. At twenty you actually grew up in the noughties, so what you are feeling is closer to vague childhood memories, The 90s started off fine then got very dull.
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SCOTT PILGRIM IS MORALLY WRONG.
because its against nature.
Nature wants people to have sex, be nice to each other and kill and eat things. Not sit around having ironic nostalgic feelings for terrible era's of pop culture. No one ever had there adrenalin pumped by corduroy.
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Gotta agree with Rory.
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Brad I am like you I will watch a review from some one who didn't like a movie that I did and someone who did like a movie I didn't. This time it's your turn lol Spoony I think has had two reviews like that so yeah lol
On Scott Pilgrim I knew it wasn't gonna be your taste man I wasn't even thinking you would go see it this week man cause it really isn't anything you would have liked. Except I thought maybe some of the over the top fight scenes ( I would like to hear something on that
As for me I really liked the movie. I thought the jokes were funny, I thought the characters were interesting (Michael Cera is a Douche but I didn't think he was enough of a douche to for me to hate more then I liked) I also liked Mary Elizabeth Winesteads performance it's more subtle acting I think. Overall I really liked this movie.
Now I want to tell you the best way to think of this movie cause I think you may get it alot more. Think of it as a mix of a parody and a musical film. That may sound weird but hear me out. Edger Write has Brilliant parodys each one immerses you in it's world while also pointing at it self and just saying HEY I AM SUBTLEY PARODYING MYSELF! This is a movie like that, a parody of Hipster movies where in music is a weapon, Hipsters have superpowers and Vegans can control matter. I think Edger write did a good job doing something like that here. It's saying I know this shit is ludicris, you know it's ludicris so lets just get sillier.
And one the musical level. In musicals, a points people will all of a sudden just break into song and after words will never mention it again. In this movie instead of breaking into song they just all of a sudden start fighting and once it's over No one's going to mention it again.
So I hope this at least tells you of a good mind set to think of this movie in. I love this movie I think Edger Write is one of the best directors in the bizz right now and I would put this up with all 3 of his major successes counting Spaced
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Hipster? More of a geek/nerd flick. I agree with mrginger. It's a parody within itself.
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Well, Brad thinks Family Guy is funny. So I think I'll stick to his take on 70s and 80s trash (the area he is a god in) and not modern comedy and satire (the area he is weak in).
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If you like the film it's fine, but you can't deny that it is aimed at hipsters. That's like denying Conan was made for fantasy nerds or 8 mile for rap fans. I personally can;t stand the style and hence I can't enjoy the film no matter how well it's made. It;'s the same way I'm not going to enjoy a gay porno or anime, no matter how well it is made, because it isn;t my thing.
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What the hell is a hipster? Also comparing a "good" gay porno to a good anime is pretty stupid man.
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It's all the same to me
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So good animated stories with drama and action such as Gungrave or Noir type of shows like Cowboy Bebop equals gay porno?
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I just wtched a Cowboy Bebop clip and the animation isn't what I'd call good.
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I absolutely loved this movie, and I thought it was better in movie format than a comic. But yeah, I agree... you really have to just "get it" to enjoy it, and I'd say that about the comic as well (which I read but didn't care for as much). I'm not a "hipster", but I guess I am just the sort of geek this movie was made for.
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Brad, no offense, but do even know what the word "Hipster" means? The word described a trend back in the late 90's early 2000, but now its lost ALL meaning and is just used by people trying to trying to find a new label to slap on people who have alternative tastes. I hate big budget Hollywood garbage and love Troma films, exploitation movies from the 70s and zombie flicks....guess that makes me a hipster.
If a Hipster is a Pretentious Prick, wouldn't "The Snob" be the ultimate Hipster? Now, I know that "The Snob" isn't really you, it's just a character you play on the internet. But, if I had to point fingers at "Real Hipsters", it be your buddys at TGWTG, specifically Linkara. I hate that pretentious fuckwad. Brim Hat, blazer with a t-shirt underneath screams self-important hipster douchbag to me. I'd rather live with Napoleon Dynamite than that fucker.
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lol correction: "I'd rather live with Napoleon Dynamite, than watch that fucker.
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No "hipster" nowadays isn't used to someone who doesn't like mainstream things There are many sub-cultures that are anti-mainstream anyway. Hipsters are trend following morons. It's hard to actually define them but they genreally think that the stuff they're into is intellectually superior to the "primitive" stuff the rest of society is into, listen to indie, retro rock or heavily distorted post-rock, dress metrosexually, revel in irony, hang out in coffee shops with their laptops while smoking cigarettes, and most importantly read Pitchfork. It is used as a derogatory term and nobody will ever admit to being one.
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I'm pretty sure Daria would hate this movie too.
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i whole heartedly agree with you, tho, i am an anime fan...and i really didnt like this or the comic. i did like the game tho, and i mostly think it was because i did not have to see what the characters were thinking or hear/read them speak.
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I got a chance to see it a week before release and I have to say that I absolutely loved it. I loved the humor, I loved how true it tried to be to the source material, I loved the acting, I loved all of it.
THAT SAID! I totally understand someone not liking it. This is just not a movie for everyone. First off you have to be in a position to get the jokes. Which means you have to play not only video games but OLD video games as well as probably read comics. Furthermore you have to be at least loosely familiar with the demographic that this movie is aimed at. Which doesn't seem to include you. Finally, even assuming you're down with all of this, you have to be willing to accept the director tweaking with the very reality of the world for no reason other than he can and he thinks it's entertaining. This is a movie in which killed characters turn into coins and veganism gives you psychic powers. This concept of eschewing a solid root in reality is well known to comics, but has only been experimented with in film a handful of times. Quite often to poor effect (see Across The Universe). As such, people new to this kind of entertainment will likely be thrown for a real loop.
So I really can't be mad at you for not liking this one as I understand your side of the argument really clearly.
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Really, most of the appeal is for Gamers, people who liked the Comics, and Hipsters. Like, for example, Why does he have to fight her exes? It's a parody of many old-school Beat 'em Ups, where you have to fight your way to your girlfriend. Anyways, you should try the Comics, Cinema Snob (or Brad, if I may call you that), much better story and character development. But you're right, it's either your style, or it's not. PS: I liked this movie, and I loved Invader Zim. Good Guess Brad!
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Oh yeah, and "I'm a little bi-furious!" is one of the worst lines in the movie and the quality of the rest of the lines are much better than that.
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Sorry you didn't like the movie, but I was glad that you were respectful about it. Too many movie reviewers bitch and act smarmy, but it's nice to know you're not like that.
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I'm glad to see an honest review about this movie that actually aligns with how I felt. Although I'm a fan of the comic books, Daria, Invader Zim and love video games... I also didn't like this movie. I didn't hate it. I just thought it was kind of pointless. Initially I went into this movie hyped and excited. I thought the trailer looked great. But I hated the pacing and was really irritated with how pointless the characters were. Also there were all of these things in the background where people were making fun of hipsters and I'm like, man, who wants to see jerks giving other jerks the finger? This is about the lamest gang fight ever.
So yeah, I'm glad someone felt the same way. To be honest, I'm surprised I did.
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the plus side is you didn't hate it. lol
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Yeah, I don't know if I'll bother with this. I haven't really been too impressed with Edgar Wright's stuff. Hot Fuzz has a great Blu-ray edition, though, if you're into special features (cameo by QT on the disc, doesn't hurt). Michael Cera is a little bitch. I hate how his last two films have tried to make him into some kind of bad-ass. Oh, and I didn't like Kick-Ass either, and this is for the same crowd. The Expendables was every bit as fun as Brad mentioned. I can't wait to see it again.
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You spent a lot of time defending yourself because your Expendables review differed from Spoony, but you don't have to apologize for it; we don't come here to watch Spoony and Noah, we're here to see the Cinema Snob and Brad! Besides, Spoony isn't exactly the person to emulate when it comes to quality lately. Keep doing your thing man, you're awesome! And congratulations on your 100th episode, you've worked hard for it and been through a lot of shit.
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I love this movie, as a gamer, a bass player, and all around geek. My advice is that people should give it a chance and check it out. I thought I was really was going to be into Expendables and not like this movie, but it completely flipped so before passing judgement "WATCH THE MOVIE".
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All your complaints are fixed in the books. The characters are way more developed and Gideon has this big master plan with this giant machine.
6 books = alot of time to build a story
2 hour movie = not much time.
Should have been a Scott Pilgrim one and Scott Pilgrim 2, or another hour added to the movie.
I really liked the movie, the books are better.
I am not a hipster at all, Im a geek.
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By watching the trailer I think this movie looks super crap riding on a lame novelty.
If I want to see a good film with surrealist moments in it I’ll watch The Big Lebowski again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz2ET5K6zY0
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Hey snob, i love you. You know i do. I have the same exact same tastes for the most part including our love of the cheesy italian cinema and crappy martial arts cinema but this is something you kinda have to read the comics to get. It's basically an almost perfect reproduction of that. That being said, the comic isn't everyone's cup of tea. It's a guy who puts his fandom on the page and really is just a nerd's fantasy put on paper. You have to realize also that scott is supposed to be a douche. He's supposed to be an asshole, he IS an asshole, but he's our asshole. He's us if given the same exact situation and pigheaded one track mind. He only wants one thing, ramona's love.
I personally loved the movie. Really. I found it and kickass to be the best movie's i saw this year (tho i'm very biased towards my comic book films). Check out the comics some time, seriously, less hipster than the movie seemed (tho i didn't find it that way at all).
I personally thought edgar wright did probably the most fantastic job of anyone i've ever seen adapt a comic to film, and this includes sam raimi. Yes, i went there.
I only have one other complaint snob: you don't have to defend yourself. Seriously, and i'm not placing my lips on your starfish, you are a critic. You're supposed to be critical. You are allowed to not like something and you don't have to apologize to us. I saw both movies this weekend, and honestly, i prefer scott pilgrim. Does it make me any less of a genre fan or a good judge of cinema? Not nearly. You shouldn't feel that way either. Don't beg for our forgiveness if you didn't like something. We come to you for the controversy and to hear what you think about something, not to re-affirm that someone agrees with us. Seriously, i'd much rather hear you rip on a movie i loved with a passion (which you did, i fucking loved all the tombs of the blind dead movies) than hear you beg for forgiveness on something the majority liked.
You're seriously one of the only reasons why i still hang with the TGWTG guys. Usually i just pop on your site rather than go to the main site. You and spoony are my favorites, just don't compromise your integrity by apologizing for not liking something.
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Deadpool you are the fucking man! I couldn't have said it better myself, fantastic. I too only visit Brad and Spoony, and I can't figure why everybody keeps calling this a hipster flick. It's a gamer flick.
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One thing I forgot to mention. *SPOILERS* One thing missing from the review which is probably the reason of spoilers, is the fact that Scott realizes he should be fighting for himself instead of the girl. Fighting for what is right, instead of for what you want. Also the battle between The Sex Bob-oms and the twins is a really powerful metaphor for the music industry. You have this little ass band playing with their heart and soul against these mega corporate giants doing little or noting completely destroying them in the first round. Great movie.
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One thing I forgot to mention. *SPOILERS* One thing missing from the review which is probably the reason of spoilers, is the fact that Scott realizes he should be fighting for himself instead of the girl. Fighting for what is right, instead of for what you want. Also the battle between The Sex Bob-oms and the twins is a really powerful metaphor for the music industry. You have this little ass band playing with their heart and soul against these mega corporate giants doing little or noting completely destroying them in the first round. Great movie.
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Such a tired plot
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its OK to hate this film brad, ill hate it with you. Fanboys will be fanboys. Oh also the books sucks to, dumb story's and bad art.
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Brad...don't be afraid to tell your constituents that the movie sucks balls....The edgier the better...
I agree with your assessment....It is utter balls. Stagnantly so.
Good day sir.
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I was starting to think there was something wrong with me. My friends all want to go see this movie and love it, but it just looked stupid to me. I'm glad i'm not the only one out there!
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Scott is supposed to be a douche. The point is that both Scott and Ramona are supposed to grow up because of their experiences. Also the whole story is supposed to take a year and a half, not a week. A lot of character development was cut due to time. This whole thing would have been better as 2 movies. It would have made a LOT more sense to people that haven't read the comics.
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Never read the comics. Never liked anime. I loved this movie, a whole hell of a lot.
I don't care if Brad didn't like it. I respect him and I enjoy this stuff and a difference in taste isn't gonna change nothing.
That being said, He should have left it at "I don't get it". If you got it, the movie works magic. If you didn't, you're going to be annoyed. You're no bad guy for just not liking it.
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I don't understand the whole hipster scene but I loved this movie. And yes I do like anime, video games, Invader Zim, and Weezer. Do I think I'm a hipster? Hell no, I'm just your average geek. I don't actively seek out indie music to prove I have different tastes than everybody else. But when I hear something I like whether it be from the radio or the local open mic night, I'll tell people about it. One of my favorite scenes from the movie was the bass battle. I do like some mainstream stuff as well like superhero movies (Spider Man, Iron Man, Kick Ass) and things like that. I also did read the comics before the movie and found them enjoyable. I'm not faulting you for not liking it seeing as though I'm 18 and you're in your low 40's(?) so there's obviously some cultural differences between us. This movie was clearly made for me and not you. In the same way the Twilight films are made for my younger sister and not me.
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If it's aimed at people our age (18-20) then why make references to games that we were able to play when we could barely walk?
The comics are barely even less deep than the movie, with even more shallow references (sometimes even incorrectly) to video games that the target audience probably never played.
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If you were a hardcore gamer geek (like I am) no matter what age, you get the references whether played the game or not. I'm 18 and one of my favorite games came out the year I was born (Sonic). And how are the references shallow? Most of the references are not even towards a specific game but gaming in general. And in the current generation where the Wii is the most popular gaming console, and has the Virtual Console, classic and retro games are being played now the most they've been played since their respective consoles died out.
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Thank you thank you thank you i feel better now that i know that im not on my in dislikeing this movie.
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I never even heard about Scott Pilgrim before I saw the trailer, but when I saw it I really wanted to see it, and still do! But since I live in Portugal well I can't yet... bleah! I thought the idea they used for the trailer to just make it seem like a cliché love story and then all of a sudden everything turns upside down and it's nothing NORMAL! I really think if the guys behind this idea for a trailer are also behind the movie, then the movie should be awesome! I just haven't seen it yet so I can't give an opinion =/
Also the Game looks AWESOME!
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You should watch Golgo13 the professional.
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Just saw Spoony's review of Scott Pilgrim....time for the next internet epic battle: Spoony vs. Brad!! LOL!
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Don't compare this shit to anime, besides theres a lot of animes that are shit, there some very good animes that surely has nothing to do with this piece of shit. I'm a huge anime, I guess I can say, but I'm fan of good animes, and I hated this piece of shit, childish, teenager emo shit, this is just like Justin Biber and shit of these standards.
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I like all the things that are referenced, but hate that they were referenced in such a Cliched hipster fashion. All the anime and video game references were for the most part, insulting entry level crap. Real anime and video game fans should realize this. These aren't references to games and anime that fans like. These are references to games and anime that HIPSTERS like. As a huge anime fan I found it insulting. As a huge video game fan, particularly of classic gaming, I hated the abuse of the "Retro-chic hipster gaming" cliche. And these complaints extend to the comic which I didn't like either.
But then again, I'm not the target audience. I may be old enough to remember the games referenced, but my pants aren't tight enough for this movie. I'm punching the next pastel wearing motherfucker who brings up "Old-school nintendo".
To make matters worse, I fucking despise Micheal Cera. I despise his lack of range, and I don't really like his delivery. I've never found him funny by himself. He works well when paired with a comic foil, like Johan Hill in superbad, but is too weak to stand on his own. Dan Akroyd, he aint.
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Also, it's not a Brad was right. It's not a Geek/Nerd flick. It's too heavy handed and over the top for that. It's a flick for the self-proclaimed "Nerdy" Hipster.
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Lazenby favorite James Bond? Addiction to Chic-Fil-A? Hate shorts?
We are very much the same Snob =)
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Brad I get were your coming from I cant stand hipsters but this movie made me squee alot. I didn't watch it for the story I as far as I'm concerned its the same movie as Juno. I watched it to nerd out.
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Don't feel too bad for not liking this one, it's a niche movie and it's not for everyone. It spoke to me as a kid who grew up on 80's and 90's video games and I appreciated all he references, in what other movie are the bad guys going to turn into coins when they get defeated?
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Daria is a zen master and i love zim, holy shit, I'm going to love this movie
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It's Twilight for guys!
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LoL, I love anime and I hated this movie...=P
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I understand where you're coming from. That sort of "hipster" style. Hipster doesn't quite describe it, but it's hard to quantify and it SUCKS HARD. Quirky Hipster? I was going to see this, despite it all, because I love Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz is my favourite film, along with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly), and then I saw this poster.
http://www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hr_Scott_Pilgrim_Poster.jpg
No. Nu-uh. Fuck that. "An Epic of Epic Epicness"? This movie is an asshole. This is the equivalent of going clubbing in flamboyant 70's pimp clothes
and then speaking with a heavy lisp, hissing as some girls while the bouncer turns you into chunky meat paste.
Invader Zim didn't fall under this style though. It 'was' similiar...sort of...vaguely...I think the main difference was that it was just as self-aware as Pilgrim, but less smug about it. More randomly, violently chaotic , rather than the sort of smug, hipster attempt at self-parody/geek culture when you see Scott punching some guy with a comic book effect appearing on-screen.
Off to watch Spoony's review now
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This was =< Youtube comments.
I mean really.
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they also did have to take ALOT of the content from the books out, like I started to notice big difference starting during the third evil ex,like, he was supposed to cheat on envy with that really bitchy girl, and she was the one who punched the highlights out of Knives hair, with a bionic arm, and the extra life was supposed to revive him right there, they took out almost everything from the fourth and fifth books
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The trailer alone, makes me want to harm my self what piece of fuckin trash
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I like both yours and Spoony's reviews, but I have to agree with you here. I've seen commercials and trailers and images from the comic and it just looks stupid to me. I hate anime, facebook, and texting. It just looks like stuck-up tween crap. It looks like the Justin Beiber of movies.
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Then you clearly know nothing about the source material and even if you got your hands on it would be far too dense to appreciate it.
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Brad, I like your Cinema Snob movie reviews on old crappy movies where you make jokes and stuff. I don't really get this "review" though. Just going on camera for 20 minutes and saying "I don't get it" over and over isn't really a review... This was an amazing movie. Your comparing it to Twilight makes me nerd rage a little.
I like you a lot though. You have a very nice voice and a great sense of humor.
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They should make a tea drink after Scott Pilgrim.... that tastes horrible.
then it really wouldn't be your cup of tea
lol
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Seeing how this movie is adapted from 6 200+ page novels, I know they were not going to be able to squeeze every little thing into this flick. I still found it enjoyable. Just repeating "I don't get it" over and over again isn't much of a review.
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Dear Mr brad Jones. I have lost respect for you sir. I have lost respect.
The comic books are some of the best things since..... well ever. and the movie is one of the truest adaptations of a comic book i've ever seen.
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I don't know why people think the comics were great. They were average at best and the art was awful.
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I gotta say Brad, I usually agree with you on how you review movies... but this time I whole heartily disagree with you, Expendables was just plain awful and Scott Pilgrim is among one of my favorite movies. I felt Scott Pilgrim was a kungfu romantic comedy movie that was mostly for people in their early to mid 20s, something that is rare today, the characters are more human then any other romantic comedy I have ever seen or heard of, they all have flaws and seeing them overcome their flaws in such an over the top way is what makes this movie so enjoyable. Sorry you didn't enjoy it but I truly believe this was an "epic of epic epicness"
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I'm on team Cinema Snob on this one. The movie sucked. As far as the "Pee bar" and other shenanigans akin to that, they were randomly thrown in for no reason. I guess pretentious would be the word? This movie was a slap in the face and so was Spoony's review. The review was basically him explaining as if to a 4 year old the message of the movie. The movie was fucking boring either way. I have the feeling all this drama is staged just like that wrestling Spoony's into.
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Yep, after all the wrestlemania and now this, I'm not sure if I can take Spoony's opinions seriously anymore. I mean I'd understand if he thought the movie was decent or even liked it, but the way he was gushing over it...ugh.
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I'm glad someone agrees with me about the wrestling, lol. I don't want to be a total bitch so this will be the last thing i say about this movie, I play video games more than anything else, this movie banked on my sensibilities, and I was betrayed. The DLC game was quite nice though
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A lot of my favourite films failed at the box office and waving receipts at people as a sign of artistic gubbins is a bit pathetic. But in this context.
The Expendables killed this at the box office, metaphorically humped its corpse and then got a couple of Caligula's most sluttish whores to do a pee dance on it.
But this actually ensures that Scott Pilgrim will live on as a cult classic like Blade Runner and the Thing.
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I love you Brad, and I respect your opinion on this movie, but you broke my heart. See? -holds up SHATTERED PIECES OF PAIN-
;-;
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I really don't get this "review" if you can call it that. I really enjoy your videos and reviews most of the time but I HATED the expendables and thing Scott pilgrim is one of the best. I can tell you definitely didn't get the whole thing from the way you go on about the main character to the whole video game retrospect and "hipster" element. It's basing itself perfectly around a video game and a comic, adapting from it's source material greatly. The fighting to just plain little things in it are hilarious. I've seen spoonies review and stuff like how Ramona just appears in places, and bring out gigantic weapons from nowhere for battle sort of add to that old video game style. When you mention stuff like the Pee bar and the bad jokes you bring up the WORST parts of the jokes and the WORST parts of the movie. Sure some of the jokes weren't funny, in the way they're sort of out right trying to be jokes, but there's parts of it that are subtle and parts of the jokes that while stupid, are made on the note that this movie isn't SERIOUS. Really the problem with it might just be your perception of the movie is that it is a serious piece or you're relating it to something of a far different style. and from that all I can say is... how can you do that?
Anyways I guess you can say "I just don't get it", but I don't find your point in this review. Sorry, just me, but yknow.
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My squee moment was the Final Fantasy 2 baseline... and the name of the band, Sex Bob-omb... and the Legend of Zelda intro song... and the Universal logo at the beginning... and Pee Bar... and, uh... I basically had a 2 hour squee moment with this movie.
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Spoony obviously love it... Although you guys seem to have a similar taste, maybe you're just not nerdy enough to like this film. Although I'm somewhat a fan of both of you guys, Spoony will have to admit that his geek factor is most definitely higher than yours
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i like invader zim >_>
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A lot of this is a response to your follow-up.
Firstly, I see what you mean by pretentious when you explain it the way you do in the follow-up, and I agree, but I still really enjoyed the movie.
About the characters, I thought the point was that the characters were so human that they didn't stand out as anything but regular people. The humanity of the people attracted me because I relate to the way they are finding their identity in love and life after high school. I actually felt the connection between Ramona and Scott as a kind of tentative, I'm-finding-myself-as-you-find-yourself relationship rather than some Let's-be-together-forever crap like in Twilight.
I found this film realistic in its portrayal of the characters despite the unrealistic plot (fighting the exes). I think the exes thing is a bit metaphorical and thought it worked well in the context of the movie because of the wonderful directing. I found every scene to be a pleasure to watch and I thought the CGI in the movie was done well despite the fact I don't like CGI. The game/manga/anime feel really made the CGI and the plot itself work for me. It seemed to add a finesse to what could have been a clunky discord between the reality of the characters and their actions and the odd plot.
You're very right about the strength of the anime influence. I'm not much of a gamer and I've never read a manga and I only know mainstream anime, but at the same time I do know a bit about these things from friends and the internet and so I wasn't lost during this movie. I felt the anime type feel really worked for this because anime tend to be about crazy shit happening with characters acting like it's normal.
The point where I got scared and though, "shit, what am I watching?" was when the first ex started to sing, but that soon passed and I really found myself getting into the style of the movie again.
I hate Invader Zim, and I only think Weezer is okay, but I really loved the novelty I thought this movie brought to the cinema and hope to see someone kind of improve on this kind of a feel, whether in the anime-like influence or in the directing which I found to be beautiful.
I disagree with anyone who thought Knives and Scott had a "realer" relationship in the context of the movie (I have not read the source material though I am mildly interested) because as much immaturity as Scott displayed, it was a more mature immaturity than what Knives displayed. I know he cheated on her, but Ramona was kind of his like next step in life, and by the end him going back to Knives wouldn't have bothered me but Ramona was right about Scott being what she needed and I think by the end it's obvious that the very act of going for her was what he needed. He stepped out of his comfort zone and it paid off for him in the end. Knives will be okay, I think. I think that is part of her journey too.
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i don't think the problem wit pilgrim is that it's pretentious or artsy. plenty of great films could be called pretentious. Blue Velvet, pure art fart cinema. Clockwork Orange, classical music, pastoral v urban symbolism and multiple film techniques. No hint of nasty horrid Art in that one. I think Pilgrim just isn't very engaging because the comedy is flat, the performances are stilted and the fantasy hasn't got internal logic. What it feel most like is those those late Sixties early Seventies messes like Magic Christian. Films that tried to look youth orientated and trippy, but plodded because they didn't actually have a point or story. It feels like an attempt to manufacture a cult movie rather than a film that gains a cult.
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Scott Pilgram was a great film and yes i understand it's a different taste for other people. I think the 6 books compiled into 2 hours is a stress, but hey it turned out great! I read the books and I understood why/what/and how of the film, but please "hipster" has no point in this film, there is no point of hipster in this film.
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I completely agree with you Brad. I find it interesting that you never commented on the length of the movie. Even people who liked it thought it was to long. I, honestly, grew out of the phase that this movie is targeting and those who like this are likely hipsters who haven't really faced life yet. There is nothing wrong with video games and anime but they are not things that should make your life. If I saw this movie 5 years ago I would have praised it but not now. Another thing, What was the deal with Michael Cera, how did he go from socially awkward video game worshiper to someone from Street Fighter with super powers? Seriously guys, this is Michael Cera, do you really see him like that. I know we all want super powers but none of us normal people socially awkward people like Michael Cera are getting them. As well, the weakness of the villains were just stupid. Our hero was obviously too noob (hahahaha see I can fit in) to beat the exes so he has to exploit their weaknesses making him super awesome? Why is no one explaining or questioning how people went from normal to super powers. I did, however, enjoy the little greater Toronto area references in this movie being from there myself but Romonas area code of her phone number was a New York area code and not one from Ontario or even Canada. I found that odd. I doubt she would be paying all that long distance with his delivery girl job keeping her American phone code. I did however love the character of Scott's homosexual roommate. He was hilarious. I was very surprised to hear that Edgar Wright directed this. The creator of Hot Fuss and Shaun of the dead made this. I didn't think Mr Wright would make an appeal to video game fans. In conclusion: If you loved this film and praise it, you really need to get out more.
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My friend and I watched this movie, and we walked out as soon as the Bollywood dance sequence began. The best way to describe this movie would be "unfunny". It is not really a matter of material so much as it is execution, and the execution in this movie was very poor.
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The whole point of the fight scenes in this movie are to be over the top, cliche, strange, and out of nowhere. If you havent read the graphic novel, then you dont get that. So to say you dont like the movie because of its fight scenes, then you really didnt get it. The whole point of this story is to personify the "I dont care" feeling. Scott doesnt care about anything and is a slacker. Ramona is this character who thinks she's un-attainable to everyone. So when the two meet, they're both fascinated by each other in their own ways. That's the reason why Scott asks Ramona on the bus, "Can we make out now?" Because he doesnt care about people's emotions. So saying this movie is unfunny and pretentious, then I hate to say it, but you just didnt get it. Because the comedy is there, and its done perfectly. This story only serves to make fun of the hipster generation, in an over the top, video-game styled angle. I dont mean to sound like a jerk, but you just didnt understand the movie....
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I read the comic, apparently it's some sort of Canadian style thing, starts out normal then there's unusual stuff, followed by weird and f-ing impossible stuff while having a comic, manga, cartoon, or anime feel. I had linked Scott to that Fly Boy and Ms. Place thing before I figured out it takes place in Canada. It's still fun if nothing else, and doesn't let you get bored or figure everything out.
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Hey man, no need to apologize for your opinion. You can dislike Scott Pilgrim, if anyone hates you for not liking a film, they're morons.
Loved Scott Pilgrim, especially the whole aesthetic. Guess I just don't mind hipsters.
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Just read it Brad.
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Brad, there's a difference between a fair reasonable critique of a movie, and then there's outright trolling. Your review is the latter.
Frankly and first off... Wow. You are so wrong about this movie. Every word of yours, I think every reason you listed for not liking this movie was wrong, formed wrong, and you are wrong. I'm sorry.
You went into this movie biased against it, you forced yourself to be biased against it, you sat through it determined to be biased against it, and no criticism you made of the movie was even remotely accurate.
You basically use this review as an excuse to mold your own ignorance of a movie blowing right over your head, and fashioned it as a weapon of blissful ignorance to bash a movie you never intended to give any sort of a chance.
Every criticism you had about the movie, seemed pulled out of thin air, fabricated from nothing. I can respect people's opinions if I can see how they even came to them. Here, I see nothing close to that.
Your criticisms were wrong, biased, misplaced, misjudged, trollish, and every string of logic you used to even come to this viewpoint sounds predetermined to having made up your mind before watching it.
I struggle to possibly make sense of a single point you've made and where you're coming from. We didn't see the same movie. We could not have.
Every word of yours was wrong here. From your bad assumptions, your misguided misunderstanding of the movie, and your incoherent logic to coming to conclusions that make zero sense and seemingly don't even apply to this movie. And then basing your opinion on these things.
You are just wrong. You could not be more wrong. It isn't just because I disagree. Your reasoning was below shit here, and the path taken to reach these conclusions are ludicrous. I think somehow you stumbled into the Bizarro-world screening of Scott Pilgrim and mistakingly reviewed that, here.
With this (pathetically reasoned) review I think i've lost immense respect for you, as I think you've officially sunk as low as Armond White and his contrary-for-the-sake-of-it, troll reviews. You both use the same criteria for your non-points, after all, almost exactly.
Deeply disappointed by this biased, unfair, ignorant, contrarily trollish-for-the-sake-of-it review that lowers your credibility considerably.
If you had made one claim about your dislike of the film... at least one... that somehow I could even remotely see where you were coming from, I would have respected it even if I didn't agree.
But your points were made-up bashing horseshit, your review was made-up horseshit, and if your intention was to sit through a movie, not pay a single seconds attention to it, then walk out and wring your hands at the first chance to troll the people that actually did bother to pay attention to the same movie, then congratulations. You succeeded, Brad.
However, if your intention was to give a fair review of a movie with reasonable expectations in mind, than you failed. Miserably.
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I loved Scott Pilgrim, and I know that you're not the only one not to like it. These other people need to calm down though and quit being more immature than the movie itself. The Expendables was decent, but the climax ruined it because it was another action scene with rapid camera shots where you cannot tell what's going on. Although I found some enjoyment in both this and The A-Team, I'm still not a fan of the kind of action that unintentionally confuses you. Even the director of Kick-Ass hates this kind of action.
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I agree. Total hipster garbage.
Was not in the least bit funny, and where's all the originality people claim it has? Throwing sprites on the screen has been done before. Also, Scott Pilgrim is a whiney little bitch in this film. They should've got the kid from Kick Ass or the one from Zombieland instead. They at least had personality.
Really wanted to like it (Huge retro gamer), but it just wasn't very good.
This movie is for kids with ADHD who are easily amused by pretty colors and cgi sprites, and don't care if all the characters are one dimensional, or that the story is lame. So in other words, Irate Gamer fans probably love this film! XD
Oddly enough, I really did like the PS3 game, though.
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Hey, fuck you, Weezer's an awful band and Scott Pilgrim would rip Weezer apart.
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I was dissapointed with the movie, although I didn't nearly hate it as much as you did(I've seen much much worse). There were quite a few parts that made me chuckle like some of the video game references. But as the movie ended I didn't feel that I saw anything really memorable. I constantly thought: "This is a live-action anime flick with someone playing a video game and I'm just watching".
Edgar Wright has done better
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99% agree with this review, the 1% being because in my opinion,i consider it a bad movie instead of not just appealing to my tastes.I could mention a few movies that don't appeal to my taste,yet i can sort of show respect to its merits. This movie is crap,it has no story,no characters, nothing, it's merely a situation put on screen for the purpose of drawing puns to try and make people laugh, and try it does,and too hard. There's stuff here that might have worked if the movie was such a damn whiny mess.I read someone mention the word "anarchic",and "ahead of its time",i can only assume that those people have not watched too many movies. This movie does not work neither in its action sequences,not the love sequences. I can understand the whole "awkward" feeling that is trying to be conveyed when presenting an attraction between social misfits but here,what we have is not even awkward, but more like randomness;suspending disbelief to accept that Ramona has 7 exes,ok,but to swallow the fact that they would fight for her?? As far as the geek standing up for himself aspect, i would rather watch Three o Clock High or something, at least that movie had characters in it, and the kind of comedy that makes people laugh, not this pretentiousness dressed as "comedy". Nowadays,geekiness is a popular thing,which on one hand explains how this square can get girls,yet on the other,even a geek like Pilgrim would probably diss Ramona for being a dead fish. I think that the only semi-effective characters were the scenery chewing Evans as Lucas Lee, and Wallace the gay roommate... it isn't that they gave great performances,it's just that they were at least the most credible within the mess that is this movie.
There, i let it all out, just like you did brad...i hated this movie,and to answer one critic who claims this will be "the norm 10 years from now", i say that 10 years from now,people will look at this piece of cheese and say "trapped in its own period of time".
Anyway,keep up the great work on the site, Brad.
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I am so glad you didn't like this movie. I keep getting told this movie is the epitome of our generation and I thought it was the worst utter crap I have seen this year. It certainly isn't the worst movie ever but people like it soooo much and it is just plain awful. I can't stand Michael Sera anymore. He plays the same hipster, insecure, neurotic douche bag in everything and now it's so passed the point of annoying I can't even look at him. God bless you Brad for being a critic with the balls to finally put this shit fest in it's place.
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LOL! I like Weezer and I still didn't like that movie!
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Some the comments on here completely miss the fucking point. This movie isn't hipster unless you consider anything having to do with classic videogames hipster. That being said, as a fan of the comics I thought the movie was fucking atrocious.
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So glad u didn't like this movie, Micheal Cera needs to go
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I enjoy anime a lot, and I despised this movie. I'm really glad I'm not alone here in thinking it's a terrible movie. And I'm not saying it's not my type of movie; it's just bad. Thanks, Cinema Snob.
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Lol. I knew you weren't going to like this movie when you started the review talking about The Expendables. I loved the movie myself though, it was my favorite movie of 2010. Though I totally disagreed with this review, it was still enjoyable like the rest of your reviews I've seen.
I loved Chris Evans, I'd love to see a whole movie like the scene where he was in the phone booth.
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Brad, I can see that you're trying to walk on eggshells here, but I have to tell you, you don't need to do that. Scott Pilgrim was a terrible movie. I saw it, expecting some clever writing, but what I got was pretentiousness and no plot. Why did he have to fight 7 exes??? Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter had better plots for big stupid fight scenes. Scott Pilgrim is one guy's half baked idea suped up with special FX. Neither the guy nor the girl was worth it and why was everyone dressed like a hipster? Are there no real adults in this world? Weren't some of the exes cast, a bit too old for the part? Ramona's got to be like in her 20s. Both Schwarzman and Evans are pushing 30. The video game stuff seemed to be thrown in as half hearted attempts to make it a "Gamer movie." Zelda Music does not = funny. Living with a gay guy in the same bed is not edgy, it's just stupid. After the 2nd fight, I wondered, 'Do I really have to sit through 5 more of these?' Just awful movie. No need to hold back on this Brad. Great job.
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Although I disagree with you Brad I can understand where you're coming from.
Hey at least you didn't say this is as bad as twilight(lets face it I don't think there were a lot of movies that can even come close to that train wreck) Anyway I liked this movie probably because i'm a 90's kid. I get all the refrences (and there is a LOT of them if you pay attention) and i loved the comic this was based off of. I understand why a lot of people don't like it but I do and I think thats ok.
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If Roger Ebert had reviewed the film, it would have gotten a 2.5 stars, imo! :/
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I don't think liking this movie has anything to do with age. In fact, the characters (in the books as well) seem to exist in a 90's world but with the odd modern thing thrown in.
I don't see myself as a hipster, I've never been of any particular tribe. I just like the things I like. The age argument that people invoke is fucking ridiculous.
You don't wake up one day and think 'I'm too old to enjoy stuff' and if you did, you'd be a twat.
Anyway Brad, even though I like the movie, I enjoyed your review too and I can see why it may get those feelings in people. I myself liked it MUCH more on the second viewing. The first time, I found it a little pleased with itself.
As for the fights, I just take them as metaphor for dealing with a new girls exe's when they pop back up. The evil ex thing has certainly happened to me! No kung fu happened though.
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Hey! I love invader zim but this movie was such crap and I completely agree with your review there was nothing special about that chick and I felt that most of the cast was so unlikeable except for a few of the supporting cast. I really don't get the appeal of it at all.
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It's a movie that plays to the "nerds" who shop at Hot Topic and claim how geeky they are.
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