Plot Lines: Scott Pilgrim vs The World
For this assignment we were given a list of films and instructed to select a film we'd never seen before. I chose Scott Pilgrim vs The World. We were instructed to watch the film then do research on the context surrounding the film, the actors, its purpose and the reasons for its importance to culture either historic or contemporary.
The second step was to use Photoshop to develop a collage style summary graphic of our interpretation of the film. I created this graphic in response to the main narrative of the film: Scott has to defeat 7 evil X's in order to be with Ramona. Throughout the movie hidden numerical reference's were seen in allusion to the X's, which is why I chose to add the main graphic "zero." In this assignment I mainly experimented in Photoshop with multiple layers and adding filters to these specific layers.
Hours Logged: 7.5
2 for the movie
3 for the questions and research
2.5 on Photoshop
1. Describe the use of environments to frame experiences in the film.
I think one interesting thing about the movie are the scenes of Toronto itself. It has all been edited down to a much more barren, less detailed look that contributes to the comic book vibe of the movie. I also noticed one scene where Scott and Gideon, the 7th ex, were contrasted when they were having a phone conversation. Gideon is using a cell phone in a white suit against a background of bright blue neon wall, while Scott is using a tan old landline phone in front of a drab wood panel wall. This comparison sets up the last fight in assigning Scott as the underdog.
2. Who is the film made for? Speak specifically about the demographic.
I think the demographic for the film was made for the geek culture. I read an interesting review about the film saying, “this wasn’t a film where geek culture was being re-packaged for the majority, like the X-Men films or Iron Man or Spider-Man films.” Myself, being a geek in other ways than a video game geek or animae/comic book geek, find this observation very interesting. I find myself loving the types of movies he describes: the watered down version of the original as to make the film easier to follow and understand for general audiences. It’s interesting for me to see the other side from a geek’s perspective, because I am not a video game geek or animae/comic book geek, so most of the references in the movie did go over my head which made it hard for me to keep concentration.
3. How is sound used to connect audience and characters? (Sound bites)
There are tons of sound bites used throughout the movie. Specific ones I can remember are when after Scott and Ramona kiss for the first time there comes on sound bites of a “Studio Audience” and you hear “Awwwww.” Then the next scene starts with a laugh track and the Seinfeld music theme song. Sound is also used in the scene where Scott runs into Envy Adams at the coffee shop and her intense conversation with Scott is punctuated with the sound of steam.
4. How do they explore video game typology through the X’s?
I don’t know much about video game typology but after doing some research the film explored video game typology through the X’s by small characteristics of their hair, clothing, powers, etc. For example when Roxy is defeated by Scott she explodes into woodland creatures which is a reference to Sonic the Hedgehog series.
5. How are visual effects used to enhance scene impact?
The visual effects are used to enhance scene impact in obvious ways with the “kapow” and word bubbles. Peoples' sentences are punctuated by on-screen comic book text boxes and there are characteristics listed of each person when they are introduced on the scene. In the fight scenes specifically the character’s actions have visual sound effect graphics. Also when people are defeated they also burst into showers of coins.
6. Discuss the relevance of the character’s ages.
I think the relevance of the character’s ages as young adults is important to the film. I think for a geek hitting their young 20’s and thinking of graduating college it’s a sad time for them. Coming to terms with the fact that they may have to leave their “geekdom” behind for the life of adulthood. I think Scott dating the high schooler, Knives, and showing her his geek lifestyle (small garage band, comic book world, etc) is a way of him trying to still live as his high school self.
7. How does the film use video game motifs and cinematography to move along in time? (or Comics?)
The film uses a common video game motif of “moving up in levels” to carry along the film. Each X Scott defeats takes him to another level to defeat the next X. Every time Scott defeated his opponents, coins would fall out and he would be rewarded with points. One scene I can remember specifically when I noticed the cinematography in the background was when Scott broke up with Knives. When Scott broke up with Knives, she fell into her depressed, black world. Scott leaves the black place showing that he wants to leave the awkwardness between Knives and him, and moves further along his journey.
8. Identify the video games referenced and how.
Music from The Legend of Zelda games is heard throughout the film specifically in the dream seen.
Scott uses the trivia tidbit about Pac-Man as a conversation topic with both Knives and Ramona.
Scott beats Matthew Patel, the first ex, with a 64-hit combo, which references the combat of the Marvel vs. Capcom series.
You can hear a booming voice over saying "KO" when Scott defeats an evil ex, just like in mortal combat.
In the scene where Ramona fights her lesbian ex she uses a giant hammer as a weapon like the one Mario uses in the original Donkey Kong arcade game.
How Scott can “level up” after realizing certain things inside himself.
9. How does the film fit into contemporary culture?
I think the film fits into contemporary culture by some of the characteristics of the characters. The portrayal of Scott as a geeky/hipster fits in with a whole group of people these days. I also think in the beginning where Scott is rebounding from a past intense relationship, he chooses to go for a young naïve high-schooler where there’s barely any chemistry, and shows his need to keep this relationship uncomplicated. I think the idea of a complicated relationship is a popular tagline for relationships these days. Hell there’s even a Facebook relationship status called “it’s complicated.”
10. Are there any Easter Eggs in the film? (hint, observe the use of the symbol X and the numbering).
Yes, there are lots of hidden symbols of the letter X and the numbering of the Exes. Matthew Patel, X number 1, has one chevron on his military jacket. Lucas Lee has the Tibetan symbol for “2” tattooed on his neck, wears a belt buckle made of two Xs, and drives a car with the racing numeral 2. Ingram wears a t-shirt with the number 3 on the chest and with three stripes on the shoulders. Scott fights Roxy in a nightclub called “4,” and Roxy also has four rips in her leggings. The Katayanagi Twins each have “5” and “6” stenciled on their cuffs. Lastly, the logo for Gideon Graves’ G-Man Records is made of 7s turned on their sides. Scott also is seen drinking Coke Zero and even wears a T-shirt that says “Zero” on it because he isn’t an evil ex.
11. How is the character “Scott Pilgrim” a cultural prototype?
As I talked about before about how both Scott’s age plays a role and his beginning relationship with Knives both contributes to his character as a cultural prototype. After researching I’ve found that the Scott Pilgrim of the movie is less actively a geek than he is in the comics. In the movie he instead comes off as a slacker hipster kid — he has little life ambition, plays in a band, but isn’t any good at it. He only shows ambition in his fight scenes and winning Ramona.
12. How are the X’s prototypes for characters?
The X’s themselves are prototypes for characters in how they are metaphors of romance and baggage. Examples like the ex who can still “Get into your head” (the chip) to being your own worst enemy (Nega-Scott), the “hasbian” stage of giving up on men, etc.