Watched Scott Pilgrim Vs The World last night. I thought it was pretty awesome, though it was the Zelda music that really got to me.
I also watched Shutter Island last week. It was ok, I suppose, though I think I had more fun making fun of DiCaprio's accent and attempts to grow a beard than the actual movie.
What was the last movie you've seen?
Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
Zeiram. I remember when they used to show this on the Sci-Fi channel in the 90's.
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OldSchool_Boy
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Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
I agree 100% with this. My favorite part of the movie was the literal Battle of the Bands. AMAZING!Mod_Man_Extreme wrote:SCOTT PILGRIM WAS BADASS!
This is seriously now my second favorite movie of all time behind the Back To The Future trilogy.
final fight cd wrote: moral of story: when in a shady part of town, don't ask random thugs where the sega is at.
Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
I become very wary when something gets so much positive reception. Also, it seems everyone is keen on videogame in-jokes nowadays, but when you consider Mortal Kombat held the #1 spot at the box office 15 years ago it's not that 'hip' to reference videogames in movies. Still, Scott Pilgrim seems like something to get on DVD when the time comes.
Thy ban hammer shalt strike 
Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
I'm with you on this one. I've tested the waters of the Scot Pilgrim hype with the game and have been generally let down, and the movie seems like it may lead to the same conclusion. Furthermore, everything that people have suggested is good about it (the video game references in particular) hasn't indicated at all that the actual story itself is any good, that the direction is interesting, that the acting is good, etc.Pulsar_t wrote:I become very wary when something gets so much positive reception. Also, it seems everyone is keen on videogame in-jokes nowadays, but when you consider Mortal Kombat held the #1 spot at the box office 15 years ago it's not that 'hip' to reference videogames in movies. Still, Scott Pilgrim seems like something to get on DVD when the time comes.
Other than game nods and juvie humor, is there anything else of merit here? Granted, you can go pretty far on those two things - but when the movie is being hyped here and elsewhere as the best thing EVAR, I find it hard to believe based on what I've read and seen. I'd even venture that there are much better comic book-based films...
Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
dsheinem wrote:
Other than game nods and juvie humor, is there anything else of merit here? Granted, you can go pretty far on those two things - but when the movie is being hyped here and elsewhere as the best thing EVAR, I find it hard to believe based on what I've read and seen. I'd even venture that there are much better comic book-based films...
I agree. People also liked Transformers and the newest Terminator movie. I tend to not expect anything good from Hollywood anymore Just more remakes, CGI fest and comedies full of frat boy humor.
Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
Ordered Mondo Macabro's Bollywood Horror Collection Volume 3.
It includes two films.
First is Mahakaal (The Monster), a Bollywood take on Nightmare on Elm Street.
Second is Tahkhana (The Dungeon), which is about two reunited sisters and others who seek treasure, which is inside the lair of a monster.
It includes two films.
First is Mahakaal (The Monster), a Bollywood take on Nightmare on Elm Street.
Second is Tahkhana (The Dungeon), which is about two reunited sisters and others who seek treasure, which is inside the lair of a monster.
Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
Robocop 3
Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
Munich
Sale thread (please buy!): http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=19428
Re: What was the last movie you've seen?
Fine, I'll delve a little deeper on Scott Pilgrim. Spoilers follow.
First, it is a modern youth culture film, playing off what appears to have become the norm for popular culture these days: video games and anime lend extremely heavy influence, to the point that audio queues, plot points, and visual stylings are pulled directly from popular games and Japanese animation. Of all of the incorporated queues, I found the Legend of Zelda references to be the most well used, though other references (such as defeated Exes bursting into coins when they are defeated while Scott keeps earning bonus points) are excellently executed. It's supremely satisfying to watch Scott defeat an enemy to a resounding "KO" as the screen flashes bright red. It is also a film centered partially on counter culture, as homosexuality and bisexuality are given lip service via Scott's gay and exceedingly sexually active roommate and Ramona's fourth Ex, and Vegan culture is satirized in the third Ex.
But onto the plot: it's ridiculous and heavily modeled off of video game tropes, which require a significant suspension of disbelief. Scott is dating Knives, but falls for Ramona the instant he sees her in a dream on roller skates. He meets her, manages to woo her (rather lamely as Scott is an incredible loser), and then is forced to break off his relationship with Knives, which has just started to truly develop. But Ramona's last love interest has developed the League of Evil Exes to control Ramona's love life, and Scott is forced to battle it out against them in ridiculous and flashy fight sequences. Unable to understand Ramona's troubles, he loses her to Gideon and is forced to fight for her return (she can't help it, there's a microchip controlling her lodged in the back of her head. I told you it required a suspension of disbelief).
But as Scott comes to terms to handle love and accept Ramona's past, he fails to understand himself. At a key moment, Scott is killed. But having previously obtained a 1up, and with the foreknowledge of what is about to happen, Scott manages to come out on top, obtaining self respect (in the form of a sword) while apologizing for his failings and shortcomings in his relationships. Ramona and Knives also learn about themselves in the process, and ultimately all is forgiven. If you want a film comparison to the final fight, it's Run Lola Run with a hard video game edge meets a coming of age tale.
I've already mentioned the use of video game music and sound effects, but the film also focuses heavily on the Indie garage band scene in Toronto, with fake bands such as Clash at Demonhead, Crash and the Boys, and the band Scott plays bass for, the Sex Bob-Ombs. Battles between bands and musicians become heavily stylized and quite literal in a few instances. The battle with the Vegan was a particular favorite, especially in conjunction with the humor regarding Vegans in general (after all, Vegans are simply better human beings).
That's not to say there aren't moments where I cringed while watching the film: while I typically do this in awkward situations in films or television series, and Scott seems to wander into them quite often (it's a personal thing, I dislike watching characters become extremely embarrassed), there were a few little places where I rolled my eyes. The synchronized dancing of the first evil Ex and his demonic groupies had me shaking my head, but I believe I was supposed to be doing that. I also really wasn't that impressed with how Scott defeated the fifth and sixth evil Exes, but I would have preferred a literal fight to the music battle that occurs.
So basically the ultimate underdog discovers the true meaning of love and self respect. That's what it boils down to. Now, to approach the disappointments of those who have previously posted decrying the film because we just so happened to focus on the video game parts, I'd like to take a moment to address that issue. I am extremely glad that this film was able to incorporate those elements successfully, because I feel it shows a) the growing acceptance of video games in society, b) the potential for video games to influence another medium, and c) in my mind lends credence to the "games as art" debate, because now games are openly influencing other art forms in front of a major audience, as opposed to the niche communities that attend shows like I Am 8-Bit or the various followers of DeviantArt. Yes, it's flashy and ridiculous, as are so many of the games we play. At the same time it captures so much of what a video game feels like to me: Scott interacts with his world in the way a video game character would, and as he is the protagonist, we as the viewers and players are him and are watching ourselves move through this world that breaks the laws of science but is ultimately reality - hyper stylized, but reality none the less. The largest complaint I can see against the film is that the video game tropes are not understood or are critically bashed, which would signify to me that that particular viewer was not receptive to video games in the first place and therefore rejected the reality imposed by the movie. The second would be the inability to sympathize with characters, which may in fact be due to age, as the characters in the film are all in that awkward phase of self acceptance and self realization that occurs in the late teens and 20s.
If you dislike it based solely on the fact that it has been hyped up considerably, I'm sorry but that fault lies with you and not the film. I get the same way about certain things, and it generally only ends in me ruining something for myself that I likely would have enjoyed. This can be attributed as the reason why I've never read a Harry Potter book and made it a point for years to detract from the Halo series every possible chance I got.
As for there being better comic book films, I'd agree, but that's only because I consider Road To Perdition one of my favorite films ever made.
First, it is a modern youth culture film, playing off what appears to have become the norm for popular culture these days: video games and anime lend extremely heavy influence, to the point that audio queues, plot points, and visual stylings are pulled directly from popular games and Japanese animation. Of all of the incorporated queues, I found the Legend of Zelda references to be the most well used, though other references (such as defeated Exes bursting into coins when they are defeated while Scott keeps earning bonus points) are excellently executed. It's supremely satisfying to watch Scott defeat an enemy to a resounding "KO" as the screen flashes bright red. It is also a film centered partially on counter culture, as homosexuality and bisexuality are given lip service via Scott's gay and exceedingly sexually active roommate and Ramona's fourth Ex, and Vegan culture is satirized in the third Ex.
But onto the plot: it's ridiculous and heavily modeled off of video game tropes, which require a significant suspension of disbelief. Scott is dating Knives, but falls for Ramona the instant he sees her in a dream on roller skates. He meets her, manages to woo her (rather lamely as Scott is an incredible loser), and then is forced to break off his relationship with Knives, which has just started to truly develop. But Ramona's last love interest has developed the League of Evil Exes to control Ramona's love life, and Scott is forced to battle it out against them in ridiculous and flashy fight sequences. Unable to understand Ramona's troubles, he loses her to Gideon and is forced to fight for her return (she can't help it, there's a microchip controlling her lodged in the back of her head. I told you it required a suspension of disbelief).
But as Scott comes to terms to handle love and accept Ramona's past, he fails to understand himself. At a key moment, Scott is killed. But having previously obtained a 1up, and with the foreknowledge of what is about to happen, Scott manages to come out on top, obtaining self respect (in the form of a sword) while apologizing for his failings and shortcomings in his relationships. Ramona and Knives also learn about themselves in the process, and ultimately all is forgiven. If you want a film comparison to the final fight, it's Run Lola Run with a hard video game edge meets a coming of age tale.
I've already mentioned the use of video game music and sound effects, but the film also focuses heavily on the Indie garage band scene in Toronto, with fake bands such as Clash at Demonhead, Crash and the Boys, and the band Scott plays bass for, the Sex Bob-Ombs. Battles between bands and musicians become heavily stylized and quite literal in a few instances. The battle with the Vegan was a particular favorite, especially in conjunction with the humor regarding Vegans in general (after all, Vegans are simply better human beings).
That's not to say there aren't moments where I cringed while watching the film: while I typically do this in awkward situations in films or television series, and Scott seems to wander into them quite often (it's a personal thing, I dislike watching characters become extremely embarrassed), there were a few little places where I rolled my eyes. The synchronized dancing of the first evil Ex and his demonic groupies had me shaking my head, but I believe I was supposed to be doing that. I also really wasn't that impressed with how Scott defeated the fifth and sixth evil Exes, but I would have preferred a literal fight to the music battle that occurs.
So basically the ultimate underdog discovers the true meaning of love and self respect. That's what it boils down to. Now, to approach the disappointments of those who have previously posted decrying the film because we just so happened to focus on the video game parts, I'd like to take a moment to address that issue. I am extremely glad that this film was able to incorporate those elements successfully, because I feel it shows a) the growing acceptance of video games in society, b) the potential for video games to influence another medium, and c) in my mind lends credence to the "games as art" debate, because now games are openly influencing other art forms in front of a major audience, as opposed to the niche communities that attend shows like I Am 8-Bit or the various followers of DeviantArt. Yes, it's flashy and ridiculous, as are so many of the games we play. At the same time it captures so much of what a video game feels like to me: Scott interacts with his world in the way a video game character would, and as he is the protagonist, we as the viewers and players are him and are watching ourselves move through this world that breaks the laws of science but is ultimately reality - hyper stylized, but reality none the less. The largest complaint I can see against the film is that the video game tropes are not understood or are critically bashed, which would signify to me that that particular viewer was not receptive to video games in the first place and therefore rejected the reality imposed by the movie. The second would be the inability to sympathize with characters, which may in fact be due to age, as the characters in the film are all in that awkward phase of self acceptance and self realization that occurs in the late teens and 20s.
If you dislike it based solely on the fact that it has been hyped up considerably, I'm sorry but that fault lies with you and not the film. I get the same way about certain things, and it generally only ends in me ruining something for myself that I likely would have enjoyed. This can be attributed as the reason why I've never read a Harry Potter book and made it a point for years to detract from the Halo series every possible chance I got.
As for there being better comic book films, I'd agree, but that's only because I consider Road To Perdition one of my favorite films ever made.
