DVD Reviews

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - Blu-ray Review - Clips Added!

By Jeff Swindoll Nov 10, 2010, 11:26 GMT

$Game on! Scott Pilgrim just met the girl of his dreams…literally. But in order for them to date, he must defeat her seven evil exes -- a rogues\' gallery -- including an infamous skateboarder, a vegan rock star and fearsome identical twins! From the genre-smashing director of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead comes “a true original” (Entertainment Weekly) powered up by wit, action and groundbreaking visuals that you$

Game on! Scott Pilgrim just met the girl of his dreams…literally. But in order for them to date, he must defeat her seven evil exes -- a rogues\' gallery -- including an infamous skateboarder, a vegan rock star and fearsome identical twins! From the genre-smashing director of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead comes “a true original” (Entertainment Weekly) powered up by wit, action and groundbreaking visuals that you ...more

Scott Pilgrim has to go through many levels before he’s able to date the girl of his dreams. This videogame inspired mash up features some grand comedy and even grander set pieces as the hapless Scott battles in the name of love.

Against everyone’s [including his gay roommate Wallace (Kieran Culkin) and sister Stacey (Anna Kendrick)] advice, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has recently started dating high-schooler Knives Chau (Ellen Wong).

A year ago Scott had a bad breakup with Natalie (Brie Larson) - who went on to change her name to Envy, joined the band Clash at Demonhead, and become very successful. Scott is still playing bass for the struggling indie band Sex Bob-Omb with lead singer Stephen (Mark Webber), drummer Kim (Alison Pill), and their groupie “Young” Neil (Johnny Simmons).

Scott’s involvement with Knives is more of a buddy type relationship, not that Knives thinks that way. However, all that changes when Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) literally roller-skates into his life. She’s the girl of this dreams and he begins his ham-fisted attempts at pursuit.

Surprisingly, Ramona and Scott start seeing each other, but then he discovers her secret when her ex-boyfriend Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha) bursts onto the scene. To continue dating Ramona, Scott has to defeat him and her seven other evil exes, Lucas Lee (Chris Evans), vegan Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh) who is dating Envy, Roxy Richter (Mae Whitman) her bicurious adventure, twins Kyle (Keita Saito) and Ken (Shota Saito) Katayanagi, and the founder of the league Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman). Let the battle begin!

If you’re either a gamer or remember fond days at the local arcade then Scott Pilgrim will go head to head with your nostalgia of those times. Since I was watching mine on my PS3, I almost wanted to grab a controller and battle those evil exes.

The film is based on a multi issue graphic novel by Bryan Lee O’Malley that has been adapted by Edgar Wright who directed Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Scott Pilgrim is a stylized, fast moving visual wonder that has both heart and comedy. Michael Cera plays his nebbish persona and you wonder what all those gals see in him, but it still makes him an unlikely hero that is closer to our lacking reality than a perfect, invulnerable video game hero. Ellen Wong plays Knives as a naïve character, but she’s also very endearing and cute. If there wasn’t that massive age difference you kinda want happiness to happen with her and Scott.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Ramona as every gamer’s multi-colored haired dream. Each of those evil exes also brings some character to their vignettes as well as each having a stylized battle to go through. Some of them are more compelling than others, but it’s still a fun ride from evil ex one to the big boss.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (1.85:1). Special features are in high definition unless noted.

The film has four commentary tracks: the first is with writer/director Edgar Wright, writer Michael Bacall, and graphic novel creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, the second is with Wright and director of photography Bill Pope, the third is from actors Michael Cera, Jason Schwartzman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong, and Brandon Routh, the fourth and final is from actors Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Kieran Culkin, and Mark Webber.

U-Control offers storyboards and there’s also a separate trivia track (pointing out all the references to video games, etc.). Next are 27 minutes of deleted scenes with an optional commentary from Wright, 19 minutes of alternative footage (in standard definition), and 7 minutes of “Bits and Pieces” improvisation (SD). “Scott Pilgrim vs. the Bloopers” is 10 minutes of flubs (SD).

In the “Documentaries” section you get a 50 minute making of, a 16 minute “Music Featurette” (SD), and the 3 minute “You Too can be Sex Bob-Omb” (SD) that shows you how to play “Garbage Truck.” “Pre-Production” (SD) has 15 minutes of pre-production footage, 36 minutes of animatics, 8 minutes of rehearsal footage, 3 minutes of “Props, Rigs, and Sets Montage,” 14 minutes of casting footage, and hair and makeup tests. “Music Promos” (SD) has 9 minutes of music videos and 9 minutes of remixes.

“Visual Effects” (SD) has 14 minutes of before and after footage with optional commentary by supervisor Frazier Churchill, 1 minute “Roxy Fight Ribbon version” that has the character using a ribbon instead of the razor belt, and the 4 minute “Phantom montage hi-speed footage” of slow motion footage. The 5 minute “Soundworks Collection” covers the sound design (SD). “Trailers” has 19 minutes of trailers, TV spots, and videogame trailers.

The 4 minute “Scott Pilgrim vs. the Animation” (SD) is an Adult Swim bit from Cartoon Network to promote the film. “Blogs” is 45 minutes of Wright’s video diaries (SD). “Scott Pilgrim vs. the Censors” (SD) is 4 minutes of footage that has been adjusted for TV viewing.

There’s also a massive gallery of pictures and promo material. The disc is also BD-Live enhanced and you can download either Pitch Black or Tremors for a limited time. Disc two is a DVD copy that is also a digital copy.

Scott Pilgrim is a delightful off the wall romp through the levels of a stylized videogame. Though in some rocking tunes and you have a really fun time. It’s loaded with special features so you’ve hit the jackpot.