eliaswub

The plot resonated with my young, insecure self and still does even as I've gotten older. While Scott is, on paper, fighting an external force of evil exes, the real battles are fought inside. As Scott learns to be honest with himself and others, as he becomes more accepting of his flaws, he gains power and confidence and earns the support of his peers. It's a strong message for young men struggling with the transition to adulthood, that the toughest obstacles cannot be faced without the help of others. There are a few moments in this movie with harmful tropes (like rewarding the peeping tom, for example) which pollute the message somewhat. Overall though, I got a lot of value from this story.

It portrays the underground music scene accurately. The dark venues, alternative outfits, gritty green rooms, and home practice spaces- the vibes are spot on, and as a concertgoer and performing artist, it is fun to watch a dramatization of this culture. The video game styling is frosting on the cake. It is so cleverly done and I have yet to see another production do it better.

Scott Pilgrim grabs your attention and holds it until the end. The editing is fast paced, the production is interesting, and jokes are frequently made. If you normally struggle to hold your focus during a movie- you'll probably find this one engaging.

Maomao is a refreshing main character. She is intelligent, decisive, independent, and unafraid to confront or criticize her peers. She has her weaknesses though and won't hesitate test herbs on herself or drink poison for the fun of it! She is utterly unphased by the advances of Jinshi (whose beauty swoons every other girl), causing him to take interest in her.

The emotional tones are well placed. I feel the humor, sadness, anger, and excitement of the characters. It presents serious themes with enough room for the audience to process them, and it pokes fun by humorously portraying characters as cats or mice to reflect their personalities.

The show is set in an imperial Asian country and it injects all the taboos and social conventions from that time. It's interesting to see how this class-heavy, patriarchal environment affects the character's motives and decisions. Certainly a unique setting that is incorporated into the plot very well.