Review of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

There are not many films that I think are worth the trek to a movie theater and the 13 bucks for a ticket. However, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is an exception to this rule, in fact I have seen it a total of 4 times in theaters.
For me Scott Pilgrim is a perfect marriage of old and new. It combines nostalgia such as 8 bit graphics and music from classic games like Legend of Zelda with fast-paced anime style fight choreography and indie rock. To quote a panelist at a Q&A about the film, it is an "Action-muscial". Each time I left the theater  after watching this wonderful film I felt a surge of energy and my passion for making media was rekindled. This film took several years to make it to theaters and all of the pre-production time really paid off. There are so many little details that you can examine upon multiple viewings and so much spectacle to take in. Everything from the choreography to the music, the set designs and the costumes play an integral role in making this film feel like it  belongs to the world of graphic novels and old school video games from which the script was born.
Several different aspect ratios were used in the production of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World in order to make it look more like panels in a comic book. Fight scenes use 72mm film to give it a film within a film effect and make the highly stylized fights seem even more spectacular. The special effects are all way over the top and very cartoon like to stay true to the source material. This tickles the film's target audience who feel like they are being let in on an inside joke as the word "Love" pours out of Knives Chau's mouth and becomes a physical cloud that Scott must brush away.

The performances are all spectacular, and though many doubted the abilities of Micheal Cera to bring this iconic character to life, he proved himself. This role is unlike the typical Michael Cera characters that we have seen in the past. Yes Scott is nerdy and awkward, but he also has a strange sense of self and a confidence that comes out of left field. Cera was able to bring to the screen nuances within the character that I did not initially pick up on while reading the graphic novels. He offers the viewer a much more objective view of Scott's character, so while the audience is rooting for Scott all along we can see more clearly when his actions and choices are less than perfect.

Sound plays an important role in the film as well. It is the film's score that gives many scenes their nostalgic and or comical qualities. The target demographic grew up playing NES and spending their days in crowded arcades. Many of the sounds from our youth are incorporated into the film. From Ninja Ninja Revolution's anouncer remarking "K. O.!" (a game created for the film that is a cross between DDR and mortal combat) to the 90's tunes of Plumtree we are reminded of special memories.
Everything in this film is larger than life, yet the film does not take itself too seriously for even a second. This is the beauty of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.