Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Comic Action Done Right

When we watched Scott Pilgrim vs the World in class one morning, it was the first time I had ever seen it. I'd never read the comics, I'd never seen a trailer, and I had zero clue what was going to unfold. After finishing the film, I felt like I had just read a comic and watched a movie and played a video game all simultaneously. It was an intense rush of drama, action, pixels, and hardcore punk.

Edgar Wright is a master at fast action, his quick cuts, zooms, and uses of slow motion all combine for an effect of reading an action packed comic, with each panel saturated with effects. 

What works well for me is the pacing of dialogue. The awkward phrases of Michael Cera fit so well in delivering concise dialogue. It never felt like there was any filler or boring monologue, everything moved with purpose and intention.

What also helped the film succeed was how it didn't take itself too seriously. So many video game films pan out to be god awful because they stay serious and don't ever play off of the things that people enjoy about playing the games themselves. Edgar Wright played off of the goofy random action of the comics, and decided to use that instead of focusing on following the story set up by the comics to a tee. 

The movie is a great example to all future adapted films from games or comics that you don't have to lock yourself to the already written story. Instead, use features that audiences enjoyed from the comics or games themselves and try to apply that organically.

All in all it was a fantastic film that I hope inspires producers to take a chance on more indie style types of films and subjects like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.