Action-Adventure Edgar Wright's BABY DRIVER

[Man in the Suit]

Scott Pilgrim AKA an editing masterclass.

 

[titansupes]

Scott Pilgrim.

Ah, cheers.

Yeah, I saw about 15 minutes of that once and then changed the channel, so...

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Ah, cheers.

Yeah, I saw about 15 minutes of that once and changed the channel, so...

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Can't help it S man... The being high part. Cuz came through with some sticky icky.

As for the rest... Yeah, the trailers, the concept itself... So far it does nothing for me. Great cast and all but... meh. Of course that's not me saying the movie is bad or will be received poorly. But it's me truthfully saying the trailers and story description so far haven't blown up my skirt.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Scott Pilgrim AKA an editing masterclass.

It may well be... But I felt no attachments, sympathy or empathy to any of the characters, their situation or journey. Production design was sweet. SFX was on point. There's some great funny moments and action but... I didn't care about these people at all, in fact I kind of actively dislikes most characters in the film. Lots made me laugh but in the end... I just didn't care.

 

[terry78]

A couple reviews I read said hipsters will love it, haha. I think it was the Variety one and the IGN one, I forgot which.

 

[Sithborg]

Well, I figure there are some self loathing hipsters out there.

 

[redhawk23]

Nevermind.

 

[Sithborg]

Scott Pilgrim was pretty much a take down of hipsters.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Scott Pilgrim was pretty much a take down of hipsters.

That hipsters did not understand the irony of, and then thought it was pro hipster.

 

[redhawk23]

Scott Pilgrim is not a "hipster" filmunless being in a band and playing videogames makes you a hipster. By 2010 the term had begun to make less sense, by now it's totally meaningless.

 

[StormC]

As someone who read the Scott Pilgrim comics, I feel like the barebones adaptation done by the movie would leave a lot of moviegoers finding the story emotionally shallow. Thankfully it was well directed and edited so it was still a fun movie, but pretty much the equivalent of a theme park ride in terms of story and emotional engagement.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

As someone who read the Scott Pilgrim comics, I feel like the barebones adaptation done by the movie would leave a lot of moviegoers finding the story emotionally shallow. Thankfully it was well directed and edited so it was still a fun movie, but pretty much the equivalent of a theme park ride in terms of story and emotional engagement.

This was part of my issues with the film. So the original comic fleshes the characters and story out some more I assume?

 

[StormC]

This was part of my issues with the film. So the original comic fleshes the characters and story out some more I assume?

Very much so. It's mostly a slice-of-life story with a big focus on the everyday interactions of the characters. The video game/evil ex stuff is mostly a backdrop, although towards the end it builds towards the climax with Gideon as it does in the movie.

It ran for six years so it's not exactly a quick read. The film adaptation just touches on the evil ex battles and gives lip service to the supporting characters.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

As someone who read the Scott Pilgrim comics, I feel like the barebones adaptation done by the movie would leave a lot of moviegoers finding the story emotionally shallow. Thankfully it was well directed and edited so it was still a fun movie, but pretty much the equivalent of a theme park ride in terms of story and emotional engagement.

I love the books. Read them before the flick came out. I also played the awesome game, and collected both version of the books.

The movie is a rather perfect adaptation of the themes and the characters, outside of Stephen. It also has by far the best version of the twins and ending. Of course there is a less character work, it isn't 6 volumes long.

Its Scott and Ramona's story, and nails it.

 

[StormC]

See, I didn't like the movie ending. Found it too simple and quick after everything that happened in it. I enjoyed the comic's ending much moreso. I wonder how the original ending with Knives would have played out.

Didn't care for the movie version of the twins either, but it isn't like they were exactly full of depth in the books either.

The movie's a fun abridged version of the comics, but it didn't have enough going for it as its own film in terms of story.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

See, I didn't like the movie ending. Found it too simple and quick after everything that happened in it. I enjoyed the comic's ending much moreso. I wonder how the original ending with Knives would have played out.

Didn't care for the movie version of the twins either, but it isn't like they were exactly full of depth in the books either.

The movie's a fun abridged version of the comics, but it didn't have enough going for it as its own film in terms of story.

But I thought the problem was a lot didn't happen in terms of story...

I don't know what is simple and quick about it. The entire movie builds to the idea. Of Scott becoming an adult and thus being ready for a legitimate relationship with Ramona. Same for Ramona, who now has a legit chance to have a relationship.

The film is a really strong character study, played with the backdrop of a love story, that kills it in all areas of filmmaking. It has more then enough story (the movie packs so much into each scene in terms of story and character), and it is Edgar Wright's best film imo and one my 10 favorites.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

But I thought the problem was a lot didn't happen in terms of story...

I don't know what is simple and quick about it. The entire movie builds to the idea. Of Scott becoming an adult and thus being ready for a legitimate relationship with Ramona. Same for Ramona, who now has a legit chance to have a relationship.

The film is a really strong character study, played with the backdrop of a love story, that kills it in all areas of filmmaking. It has more then enough story (the movie packs so much into each scene in terms of story and character), and it is Edgar Wright's best film imo and one my 10 favorites.

Shows how subjective the film experience is. I felt none of the emotions, thought the characters were mostly *****e cut outs, flat and one note for the most part, especially Romona. We've all had the "thunderbolt" moment with someone we end up head over heels for. I just felt the movie did a really piss poor job of getting across the initial attraction on Scott's part or the continuing longing that pushed him to want to fight for her. In fact, if the film had treated the relationship stuff the way the fight material was handled I'd probably enjoy it more as I would be emotionally disengaged from the get go with no expectations. But it's obvious the film wants you to take the relationship stuff seriously to a point and not understanding the attraction in the relationship, finding most characters off putting ect. I had zero investment in these people, even when they said funny things or did cool stuff.

The film has it's entertainment value in other ways for me but if they offered to remove all memory of the flick because I was running out of hard drive space in the ole' noggin? I'd probably delete it no problem.


In fact given some of what I have heard in reviews for this movie... I'm kinda thinking that my reaction to SP might be mirrored here as well. I hope not, but like I stated before, nothing that I have read or seen so far is blowing up my skirt. I hope that's not the case but... It happens. Not every director whose work I like always lives up to my expectations every time out of the gate.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Shows how subjective the film experience is. I felt none of the emotions, thought the characters were mostly *****e cut outs, flat and one note for the most part, especially Romona. We've all had the "thunderbolt" moment with someone we end up head over heels for. I just felt the movie did a really piss poor job of getting across the initial attraction on Scott's part or the continuing longing that pushed him to want to fight for her. In fact, if the film had treated the relationship stuff the way the fight material was handled I'd probably enjoy it more as I would be emotionally disengaged from the get go with no expectations. But it's obvious the film wants you to take the relationship stuff seriously to a point and not understanding the attraction in the relationship, finding most characters off putting ect. I had zero investment in these people, even when they said funny things or did cool stuff.

The film has it's entertainment value in other ways for me but if they offered to remove all memory of the flick because I was running out of hard drive space in the ole' noggin? I'd probably delete it no problem.


In fact given some of what I have heard in reviews for this movie... I'm kinda thinking that my reaction to SP might be mirrored here as well. I hope not, but like I stated before, nothing that I have read or seen so far is blowing up my skirt. I hope that's not the case but... It happens. Not every director whose work I like always lives up to my expectations every time out of the gate.

Its Mary Elizabeth Winstead. It was never hard for me to understand that bit. t:

I always felt they got Scott's abandonment issues across well. Envy scared him, but then it becomes a big question of how much of Scott's character flaws stem from that relationship and how it ended, and how much is it him being a slacker and jerk in general (all his past relationships). But the results of that relationship definitely made him clingy. Little things like the haircut scene more then hint at this.

Also Ramona and Envy mirror one another in their "unattainableness" for Scott, at least early on. What Envy became, where as what he thinks Ramona is (the really cool mystery girl, with the roll blades and colored hair). Impressing Knives is easy. It is not work. Different with Ramona, so by that very nature, fighting for her is a thing Scott would do. This is why Scott earns the Power of Self-Respect when he is actually able to take on Gideon for himself. Its not about Ramona, Knives, Envy or anyone else.

I don't see the movie as them being in a legit relationship or even greatly in love. They both have a ton of baggage and neither is ready for an adult relationship. Scott's not a grown up and Ramona is running from her past, a bit childishly at times. That is what makes the ending work so well imo. They finally can meet on even ground, as whole people, and take that first step into an adult relationship. Something neither has experienced, but something they both earned for themselves through what they go through in the movie.

If Baby Driver is Scott Pilgrim good, it might end up my favorite movie of the year, even with a Rian Johnson Star Wars movie on the way. But if you are erasing bits from your memory, I'd leave this bit. That is some good score:

[YT]nXDxs7It7oI[/YT]

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Its Mary Elizabeth Winstead. It was never hard for me to understand that bit. t:

I always felt they got Scott's abandonment issues across well. Envy scared him, but then it becomes a big question of how much of Scott's character flaws stem from that relationship and how it ended, and how much is it him being a slacker and jerk in general (all his past relationships). But the results of that relationship definitely made him clingy. Little things like the haircut scene more then hint at this.

Also Ramona and Envy mirror one another in their "unattainableness" for Scott, at least early on. What Envy became, where as what he thinks Ramona is (the really cool mystery girl, with the roll blades and colored hair). Impressing Knives is easy. It is not work. Different with Ramona, so by that very nature, fighting for her is a thing Scott would do. This is why Scott earns the Power of Self-Respect when he is actually able to take on Gideon for himself. Its not about Ramona, Knives, Envy or anyone else.

I don't see the movie as them being in a legit relationship or even greatly in love. They both have a ton of baggage and neither is ready for an adult relationship. Scott's not a grown up and Ramona is running from her past, a bit childishly at times. That is what makes the ending work so well imo. They finally can meet on even ground, as whole people, and take that first step into an adult relationship. Something neither has experienced, but something they both earned for themselves through what they go through in the movie.

If Baby Driver is Scott Pilgrim good, it might end up my favorite movie of the year, even with a Rian Johnson Star Wars movie on the way. But if you are erasing bits from your memory, I'd leave this bit. That is some good score:

[YT]nXDxs7It7oI[/YT]

 

[StormC]

But I thought the problem was a lot didn't happen in terms of story...

I mean, enough still happened that the characters would logically need a little time to detox. The movie never really gets a chance to breathe as it jumps along from ex to ex. So it's more difficult to emotionally invest in what's going on. I watched it as someone who read the comics, and it left me thinking that non-fans must have felt out of the loop.

 

[HammerDown]

TOMATOMETER
100%
Average Rating: 8.4/10
Reviews Counted: 45
Fresh: 45
Rotten: 0

 

[DarthSkywalker]

That was rather perfect Krypton.

 

[HammerDown]

TOMATOMETER
98%
Average Rating: 8.4/10
Reviews Counted: 51
Fresh: 50
Rotten: 1

First rotten.

 

[Sithborg]

I am so there tomorrow night.