Scott Pilgrim...WTF??

[Admiral_Young]

Scott Pilgrim isn't about having female role models...this isn't a comic book superhero film in the traditional sense. Romana and Knives along with the other limited amount of females in the film and the comics are really just your typical young adults. I don't think O'Malley ever intended his female characters to be strong female role models of the sort. This isn't Buffy or Xena.

 

[Mr Light]

Hell, I wouldn't say there's any good MALE role models in it either Scott is a slacker adulterer!

 

[Admiral_Young]

There aren't any good role models lol.

 

[Arpy]

Yeah but Scott was a funny, clever, talented, and a fighter in more ways than one...he was empowered. His main fault - the way he treated Knives - he regretted...that is by the end he regretted it.

 

[Mr Light]

What about the way he treated Kim? He had a history of treating his girlfriends poorly.

 

[David cgc]

Scott Pilgrim isn't about having female role models...this isn't a comic book superhero film in the traditional sense. Romana and Knives along with the other limited amount of females in the film and the comics are really just your typical young adults. I don't think O'Malley ever intended his female characters to be strong female role models of the sort. This isn't Buffy or Xena.

I'm just remembering the bit in one of the comics when all the guys are out and surreptitiously buy Knives beer and Steven Stills says it's because it's hilarious. There's a giant caption box reading "NOTE TO YOUNGER READERS: HE IS LYING. UNDERAGE DRINKING IS NOT HILARIOUS."

 

[Pilot Ace]

What about the way he treated Kim? He had a history of treating his girlfriends poorly.

Scott's history of mistreating his own exes is highlighted quite well in the comic books and Wright does a good job of hinting at that while not having the time to fully address it in the movie. It develops into a nice parallel of Ramona's ex problems which is why the moment you start addressing it in any detail it expands and would require a lot of screen time to do properly.

Safe to say, Scott is supposed to be something of a douchebag.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Safe to say, Scott is supposed to be something of a douchebag.

Exactly. What I think makes the character work is that you're still rooting for him despite him being flawed and being a douchebag. I attribute that to Michael Cera's peformance as well as the writing. To me, that seemed like a lot of teenagers or young people. They could very well be nice people, but a lot of them are douchebags. It doesn't make them horrible people, it just makes them flawed and obviously going through a transitional period in their lives which I think Scott is going through in the film.

 

[firehawk12]

I've always assumed the point was that he had his own baggage because of his crappiness as well, it's just that it's not manifested into the whole evil ex's thing.

 

[Destructor]

It seems the people who don't like it or get a "WTF" moment from it are in much greater numbers than those who do like it.

Yeah, the world is composed of morons. I'm slowly getting used to the fact.

 

[stueyross]

I mean, again, if it's not your cup of tea, that's perfectly fine, but if reading about someone younger than yourself is already straining your empathy muscles too much, maybe you should exercise them a little more.

My "empathy muscles" are fine thank you for asking. I appreciated some of the jokes, especially the gamer humour but Scott and I just didnt click and I originally asked what it was that people liked so I could see what I was missing, thats all. Sheesh some people. You'd think I'd broken into their house on xmas day and pooped on their kids from some of the responses I've recieved for not liking SP.

 

[stueyross]

So is it just the comics you didn't like, or did you not like the movie as well?

Not seen it yet, am definitely going to check it out though

 

[Admiral_Young]

Been thinking about the role model thing and have come to the conclusion that one could argue the fact that the characters in the comics and film could be considered anti-role models. Despite O'Malley's world containing concepts like subspace and vegan powers and things like that they're pretty normal young adults. Scott is self absorbed and kind of aloof about things. His journey in the books help him to realize what an arse he's been to his ex's and maybe why Romana is so important to him. She represents his maybe one chance to get it right this time.

 

[stueyross]

Actually thats one of the things I like about SP, the fact that the characters actually do act and speak like real people, something quite the opposite of the way comic characters usually are seen. The banter between Scott and Wallace is really nice, that honestly did remind me of my friends and I and how we grew up....and ok....the way we still act now

 

[JoeZhang]

Been thinking about the role model thing and have come to the conclusion that one could argue the fact that the characters in the comics and film could be considered anti-role models. Despite O'Malley's world containing concepts like subspace and vegan powers and things like that they're pretty normal young adults. Scott is self absorbed and kind of aloof about things. His journey in the books help him to realize what an arse he's been to his ex's and maybe why Romana is so important to him. She represents his maybe one chance to get it right this time.

I also think that's why Romana is the town bike rather than the virginal figure you get in a lot of these books.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Actually thats one of the things I like about SP, the fact that the characters actually do act and speak like real people, something quite the opposite of the way comic characters usually are seen. The banter between Scott and Wallace is really nice, that honestly did remind me of my friends and I and how we grew up....and ok....the way we still act now

I absolutely agree. My friend compared the dialogue to "Juno, but turned up to 10" and I had to disagree. I felt the dialogue in Juno was contrived and really forced, that type of 'wink, wink, aren't we cute and clever' dialogue that never really gelled with me. However, I really enjoyed the banter and dialogue with Scott Pilgrim. I can't quite explain it but like you said to me it felt natural and effortless. It reminded me of conversations I've had with my friends.

 

[Admiral_Young]

My friends and I talk a lot like Scott does with Wallace...I think that is one of the reasons why I so love the comics is that despite the fantasy elements it is grounded in reality and deals with real people. You could see yourself hanging around and getting along with these people. At least I could myself...

 

[Dusty Ayres]

I'm already planning on seeing it again too.

I've only read the first volume of the series and thought it was okay, although not mind blowing. But, I thought the movie was fantastic. Best time I've had in the theater this year. Now I have to finish reading the books...

I plan to see it again on the first of September.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

My "empathy muscles" are fine thank you for asking. I appreciated some of the jokes, especially the gamer humour but Scott and I just didnt click and I originally asked what it was that people liked so I could see what I was missing, thats all. Sheesh some people. You'd think I'd broken into their house on xmas day and pooped on their kids from some of the responses I've recieved for not liking SP.

Sorry I didn't mean to sound abrasive.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Sorry I didn't mean to sound abrasive.

Hm, that's not very Internet of you.

I saw the movie over the weekend and enjoyed it. I wish it had done better in theaters, if for no other reason than it would be swell to encourage studios to expand their horizons in terms of comic adaptations.

I just shake my head at people gloating over its failure. I hope they're not the same people who complain about Hollywood lacking originality every time a remake is announced.

But in the end, I got a movie I liked and six great volumes of comics. I can't really ask for more than that.