Now in wide release, the Scott Pilgrim vs the World movie has taken the world by a fair amount of storm in amazing graphics, references, and overall managing to adapt the material from Bryan Lee O'Malley's work, which has been praised by everyone, including Joss Whedon. It wasn't an easy task. Any fan of the books will tell you that it seems impossible to fit the series in it's entirety into a two hour time frame. However, that is exactly what director Edgar Wright did.
Was he successful? For what he kept in, it was almost like he lifted the characters exactly. However, numerous subplots, set ups, and even characters were ejected. Most of them seemed beneficial to give the story evenness, while others felt like missed opportunities. Many wished Wright split it into two.
As a fan who noticed at least 10 curios, I happen to be on that page. However, my love for Wright's back catalog (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, Asylum, Spaced) makes some corners easy to forgive as what he kept actually looked like legitimate love for the source material.
So, let's begin.
ROUND 1
Exhibit A: In the movie, Scott Pilgrim is talking to Ramona Flowers about drugs. He claims that he doesn't do them unless she did.
Exhibit B: In the book, there is a running joke that Scott is uncomfortable with smoking and any time he is confronted, he overreacts and calls them the devil.
Verdict: While it's an alteration of the character's innocent belief standards and ruins one of the better running jokes of the series, it lacks importance to the actual plot, so it can be forgiven since a routine involving his naive drinking behavior managed to stay in.
ROUND 2
Exhibit A: In the book Knives Chau's father also wishes to fight Scott Pilgrim as he believe he is still dating Knives. He is first seen attacking him unexpectedly as he walks home.
Exhibit B: Knives Chau's father doesn't make an appearance in the movie and instead is replaced by Scott being ambushed by Evil Ex #4: Roxy Richter before Scott fights Evil Ex #3: Todd Ingram. This happens after Scott defeats Ingram.
Verdict: While the placement of the ambush is out of place to the books, the move could be forgiven. Also, in order to properly use Knives Chau's father in the film would've created an excess that would've pushed this film into Watchmen territory, where the excessive violence would've just gotten boring. However, while I am cool with the misplacement, the two parter idea would've helped to use Knives Chau's father effectively.
ROUND 3
Exhibit A: In the book, Kim Pine works at a video store where Scott Pilgrim and his roommate Wallace Wells rented movies, including a bunch to better understand Evil Ex #2: Lucas Lee.
Exhibit B: In the movie, there is no video store.
Verdict: Pine's character was tragically underdeveloped in the movie as I felt she was one of the most important characters in the story. While there were shout outs to Lee's film career, the video store would've been an effective addition to help develop Scott's character and relationship with Pine.
ROUND 4:
Exhibit A: In the book, Evil Ex #3 Todd Ingram is said to have punched a hole in the moon for Ramona Flowers. It is later revealed that there is another hole punched in the moon for Scott Pilgrim's ex-girlfriend Envy Adams.
Exhibit B: Only one hole was ever mentioned of being punched in the moon, and that was for Ramona Flowers.
Verdict: For the story, it worked and would've been overkill had the moments that followed been included. However, this is another one of those moments where you wished this was a two parter.
ROUND 5:
Exhibit A: In the book, Scott Pilgrim is devastated that he lost Ramona Flowers and goes on a Sabbatical with Kim Pine to Northern Canada. Ramona simultaneously does and admits at the end that she was kind of a bitch.
Exhibit B: No sabbatical. Instead, the story goes straight from fighting Evil Exes #5-6: Kyle and Ken Katayanagi to Ramona returning with Evil Ex #7: Gideon Graves and Scott's band Sex Bobomb signing to his label. No sabbatical was ever mentioned from anyone.
Verdict: Once again, Scott's relationship with Pine remains vague and underdeveloped. It would've ran long, but once again, two parter, two parter.
ROUND 6:
Exhibit A: In the book, Scott Pilgrim's band Sex Bobomb is recording an album over the course of the series.
Exhibit B: In the movie, no album is heard of being recorded and is instead replaced with a plot of getting signed to a major label.
Verdict: Probably one of the best substitutes in the movie as it would've been dragged down with the entire recording process, which takes away from the central theme.
ROUND 7:
Exhibit A: Evil Ex #1: Matthew Patel breaks out into awkward song with a group of winged cheerleaders backing him up.
Exhibit B: Same thing, but no song.
Verdict: While it almost seems to be going for a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory shit writing of the music, it easily fits his character and the routine is forgivable in it's awkwardness.
ROUND 8:
Exhibit A: In the book, Scott Pilgrim is forced to move out, get a job, and wake up within reasonable hours. Basically, he moves in with Ramona, works at a diner, and grudgingly wakes up on time. Also, there is a land lord who is evicting them.
Exhibit B: In the movie, there is never talk of his new employment or even obtaining a job. There is talk of moving out, but he is never seen gone for more than a day at a time, rarely in Ramona's apartment. However, there are a few jabs at him being told to wake up on time, though nothing comes of it. There is a brief mention of eviction, but no talk with the land lord.
Verdict: This is what made the book dynamic. It was about Scott's progressive maturity and taking on responsibility. If he had taken on a job and got those few scenes at Ramona's apartment, I am sure it would've benefited his character instead of making the film like a straight forward movie of fighting exes for girls.
ROUND 9: Exhibit A: In the book, when Scott Pilgrim fights Evil Exes #5-6: Ken and Kyle Katayanagi, there is an elaborate plot of kidnapping Kim Pines and saving her.
Exhibit B: In the movie, it's more of a Guitar Hero battle where Ken and Kyle fight against Sex Bobomb for the record contract.
Verdict: It's a good substitute, but once again, I believe it would've worked as a two parter, if just to give Kim Pine more significance than what she got.
ROUND 10:
Exhibit A: In the book, the final battle manages to go into Ramona Flowers' subspace where Evil Ex #7: Gideon Graves is booted out by Ramona's past. He is later defeated once he loses control over her.
Exhibit B: In the movie, there is a mention that Graves has control over Ramona, but instead of entering subspace, Ramona has a chip planted in the back of her neck, which she just rips off. There is no subspace battle and is instead replaced with a petty fight between Knives Chau and Ramona Flowers, which was done earlier on in the books.
Verdict: I still think the movie's ending was more anti-climactic. Also, it wasn't very well wrapped up. By that point in the books, Knives and Ramona had worked out their differences. It also just made Ramona look like a trouble girl who didn't learn too much. Also, the wrap up with Scott forgiving Pines for the past seemed a little out of place as the two had little of a relationship through the entire movie. To say the least, I felt the ending held nothing to the books. The movie's felt more generic and obvious. I also just wanted to hear the line "You'll always be my Clash at Demonhead".
However... THE MOVIE WAS AWESOME!!!
To see it come to life is an experience. Sure, there are numerous flaws (maybe contributed to limited source material being available during filming), but they can be forgiven for what director Edgar Wright did use.
What he did have was indeed impressive and almost everyone looked like a match. It still is in talks for best movie of the year alongside my votes for Inception, Get Him to the Greek, The Runaways, and Kick-Ass. Go see it... NOW! And read the books, too.
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