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The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Will Smith column [The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa]
(Hawk Eye, The (Burlington, IA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 29--I found out long ago that lamenting the lack of quality video game movies is pointless. Trying to twist a creatively thin video game premise such as a sexy, butt-kickin' treasure hunter into a two-hour long movie with dialogue and fleshed out characters always results in disaster. Believe it or not, the "Tomb Raider" movies starring Angelina Jolie are considered the upper echelon of films based on video games, and both films are atrociously boring and pointless.
Before I saw "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" this past weekend, the only quality video game movie I could name was the 2007 documentary "King of Kong," which focuses on the world's two best "Donkey Kong" players.
Now I can safely say there are two video game movies worth seeing. This week I dust off my college film class chops for a Scott Pilgrim movie review, followed by a look at the equally impressive downloadable video game.
"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" currently in theaters. Rated "PG-13."
Though she may not have caught every "Legend of Zelda" reference, my wife's ability to enjoy this movie is a testament to a new-found geekiness I've been pushing on her since the day we met.
"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" definitely has a limited appeal (as can be seen in its poor box office numbers), but this tribute to classic 1980s video games is definitely my favorite movie of the year. And I would guess that goes for the majority of the hard-core gaming population.
The one thing "Scot Pilgrim" doesn't have going for it is an easy description. Is it an indie spoof? An action flick? A nerdy romantic comedy?
It's all three of those things, and a helluva lot more. Based on the comic book of the same name, the movie follows a shiftless 22-year-old Canadian slacker (Michael Cera) who just happens to meet the girl of his dreams while dating a 17-year-old high school student. Part of the drama (and the fun) is watching Pilgrim squirm his way through a tactless break-up so he can date Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who has seven ex-significant others that must be defeated in one-on-one combat.
I know. It sounded like a normal movie until that last bit. And that's the true genius behind it.
Where "Scott Pilgrim" breaks new ground is it's complete adherence to classic '80s video games. We first meet Pilgrim wandering through his apartment as "The Legend of Zelda" opening theme plays behind him, marking the first time Nintendo has allowed use of their licensed music. His standard pick-up line involves telling the story of how "Pac-Man" was originally titled "Puc-Man" in Japan, but was changed in American arcades for fear that vandals would change the "P" to an "F."
I laughed not only because the story is true, but because I've told it to at least half a dozen people myself. I never dreamed of using it to pick up girls, though.
That's only the tip of the nostalgia reference iceberg. The film is bursting with visual video game flair that looks mesmerizing when mixed with real life footage. As Scott Pilgrim uses the bathroom, his "Pee Bar" depletes. When he needs an extra life, a pixilated portrait of his head (the universal symbol for 1-Up) floats in the air for him to snag.
But the real set pieces of the movie are the battles, which play out like a one-on-one fighting game, complete with an opening screen and the flashing abbreviation "VS." Every time Pilgrim defeats another enemy, they burst into coins.
It doesn't get any more iconic than that. I'm an outspoken critic of most computer-generated graphics (just because they look so bad), but this film turns computer effects into an art form. Just goes to show what can happen when technology is put in the right hands.
Such a balance between goofy comedy, "Matrix"-style kung fu scenes and video game nostalgia could have easily been a disaster, but director Edgar Wright's practiced hand keeps the visual comedy at just the right pace. Wright's love for the subject material is captured in every scene, keeping the movie smart, crisp and respectful. His previous comedies "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" displayed the same intelligence and passion, and this latest film only cements his legacy as spokesman for my generation.
I could continue to gush about this monument to geekiness, but that would only spoil more of the fun. This movie may not be for your parents, spouse, other friends, etc., but that only makes the niche "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" fits into that much cooler.
Finally, we have a definitive video game movie. And Hollywood had nothing to do with it.
Four out of Four Stars
"Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game" available for download for $15 for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Rated "T" for Teen.
It's no secret that video games based on movies are, for the most part, absolutely terrible. But the video game version of "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" retains all the wit and energy of the film, making it one of the best downloadable games to date.
The concept is incredibly simple. The player takes control of Scott Pilgrim or one of his cohorts in a side-scrolling, beat-'em-up adventure similar to classic '80s and '90s games like "Double Dragon" and "Final Fight."
Unlike those games, however, Pilgrim's game features a role-playing style leveling system that teaches you new moves as you go.
The real appeal here is the stunning visual style, which combines the pixelated look of old Nintendo games with big, beautiful character models and animation that developers couldn't even dream of during the '80s.
Just be warned that the game is nearly impossible if you don't have friends to play it with. Many of the enemies are easily defeated through combos that bounce them back and forth between players, and the ability to revive your friends makes things a lot easier.
If you're a Scott Pilgrim fan, you should already own this game. It marks one of the few times where the movie and game (which have different plots) work together to enhance the overall experience.
Four out of Four Stars
To see more of The Hawk Eye or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thehawkeye.com.
Copyright (c) 2010, The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa
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