Movie Review: Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Edgar Wright is a funny man. His works include Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. If any of you are familiar with these films then you know they are very humorous and full of energy. His newest work, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (based on the popular comic) is really no different.

The film stars Michael Cera who plays Scott Pilgrim, a socially awkward 22 year old who has some serious girl troubles. For one thing he has a crazy, 17 year old Asian girl friend. He also has a crazy ex-girlfriend who happens to be a rock star. But those are the least of his problems. Enter Ramona Flowers, the girl from Scott’s dreams. She has the face of an angel, rides roller skates everywhere and her hair even changes colors every week and a half. Scott knows he has to have her. But there is a little something blocking his path. (Seven little somethings actually)

These “somethings” are her seven “Evil ex boyfriends”, all of whom have been hurt by Ramona in the past and want vengeance. Scott soon learns that to win Ramona’s love he must defeat all seven of these evil, evil people. Thus the story of Scott Pilgrim kicks off. I give it points here for its pacing, and its originality. Since the originality speaks for itself, let’s talk about the pacing.

It is my belief that everyone inhaled as much caffeine as they could before making this film. At least that’s what it feels like. But don’t worry, because in this situation this is a very good thing. The film is very quick, witty and fun. It changes its subject of attention very frequently and that’s what makes it funny. The characters are just so lovably random. You will be laughing almost nonstop throughout the film. The good thing about the humor is that it is witty and different each time. They rarely repeat a joke and while a few lines may be too corny to laugh at…the good far outweighs the bad. This film will have you laughing out loud and maybe even have you crying silently. (Yes there are some touching parts. But it’s touching in a good way.)

Michael Cera does an excellent job as Scott Pilgrim. I am the first person to admit that I am not a big fan of this actor, mainly because he plays the same awkward lovable character in every film. He reprises this role yet again, but it works this time. You will laugh more at Cera than you ever thought possible. His witty dialogue and loveable-awkward self are perfect for the role of a boy looking to win a girls love by any means necessary. Other notable performances include Jason Bateman as Gideon, one of the evil ex boyfriends and Kieran Culkin as Scott’s gay roommate. While I only mentioned a few, there are many other notable performances. Each actor lends his or her own personal touch to this imaginative, vibrant and hilarious world.

Like I just mentioned above, the world this film takes place in is very stylish and imaginative. But that is speaking modestly. This is the best and most creative take on a comic book I have ever seen in a film. While Sin City was almost a shot-for-shot remake of the comic, this one does it better than Sin City did. The onomatopoeia come on screen when things happen just like in a comic book, the enemies turn into coins when defeated, and the fight scenes look like something out of Dragon Ball Z. The combat sequences are heavily influenced by Anime. Lets just put it this way: if a comic book and a video game had a baby, and that baby somehow grew into a movie…this would be the film. There are elements from both video games and comic books everywhere. They literally make up the feel and essence of the film. So, if you are a person that is a fan of comic book s and video games you will enjoy taking a trip to the Scott Pilgrim universe. The fight scenes are over the top and crazy and the overall look and feel of the world is happy, energetic and fun.

This is truly the film for the 21st century nerd. If you grew up with comics and video games, you will completely love this film. It is packed full of video game and comic references. It has a very witty and sometimes juvenile sense of humor and it has loveable characters. If you are a person who hasn’t ever picked up a video game or a comic, then this film wont mean as much to you, but you will still enjoy it. If you are a person who loves video games and comics then you will totally love this film. It is designed from the ground up for a longtime gamer and comic fan and it is the most realistic comic to film adaptation of all time.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a very well done feature that is just a lot of fun.

It looks as though you have won your epic battle vs. the world, Scott. Well done.

5/5 – Must See

Movie Review: Charlie St. Cloud

I was in a rather cheery mood when I noticed the armies of teenage girls lining up to see Charlie St. Cloud. “This will be a perfect place to meet women,” I thought to myself. But then I realized I was there and I had a job to do, so I turned my attention to the movie screen. That was a bad idea.
Let’s start off with the story. Charlie St. Cloud is a golden boy played by Zac Efron who is very good at one thing; sailing. He also has a very close relationship with his brother Sam. One night, they are in a car wreck and young Sam kicks the bucket. Charlie is very sad about this, so he runs away and pouts in the woods. Between his sobbing, he stumbles upon the spirit of his younger brother Sam. He then remembers his promise he made to the young boy that he would play baseball with him for one hour every day until he leaves for college. So he does this…for five years. Then, our main character meets the female known as “Tess” played by Amanda Crew. From there conflicts arise, and things happen. But I don’t want to go into that. It really isn’t worth any of our time

I really don’t blame Efron for the failure of this film. At the end of the day, he really isn’t that bad of an actor. He has gone a long way since his High School Musical days, and I commend him for that. Honestly I am not really sure who to blame. The film just doesn’t work. The core issues lie with the dialogue and the pacing. Like I said earlier Efron (or really anyone in the film for that matter) is not a terrible actor. He just isn’t given much to work with here. As far as the pacing goes, the film just feels clunky and out of place. You have a car crash, and then minutes later he stumbles across the ghost of his dead brother. Just like that. No explanations, no character development. We are just rushed into this story and expected to go along with all of what’s happening. This same thing happens with the films “plot twist”, if you will call it that. The reason for me saying this is because (just like before) they just kind of throw it on you. There is no tension, and hardly any foreshadowing to what actually ends up happening. It is almost like the film makers just decided what would happen last minute. A lot of the film makes it seem that way. Now don’t get me wrong, there are many scenes in this film that are touching: like some of the scenes with Charlie and his brother and Charlie with Tess. There are also some funny side characters. Unfortunately the good weighs out the bad in this situation. Although there is some good.

Let’s go some more into the acting. Efron and Amanda Crew have some great on-screen chemistry. Like I mentioned earlier, they don’t have a lot to work with but they do indeed work with it. They are one of the few couples in movies that you actually like to see on screen together. Much more could have been done on the part of Charlie Tahan, Charlie’s little brother. But again, I do not blame anyone here. 9/10 child actors cannot act, and the remaining one usually grows up.
I see what they were trying to do with Charlie St. Cloud. I have seen this type of movie before, only it worked. There was a lot of room for improvement here, especially since they had people that could act. I was not writing this review with resentment, but with understanding. But, if you want a cheesy romance that involves a shirtless Zac Efron then this one is for you. I don’t want to be as merciless as to give it a 1/5, because some people might enjoy it. A little bit.
But, at the end of the day, it truly deserves a 1/5 rating.

Movie Review: Salt

Salt is a film that suffers from a thing I like to call “Cinematic over Marketing Disorder.” This is when a film is so over promoted and so shoved-in-everyone’s face for such a long time that people end up hating the movie before they even see this. Salt, staring Angelina Jolie, had a very severe case of this disorder. In all honesty, I cannot think of a reason why I saw this film. If there was some kind of reason it is defiantly not related to “pure enjoyment” or anything like that. I had planned to go and see it, and then spend the next four months mocking it. I had planned to do that.

What I found was a film that wholly entertaining and very fun, despite being bogged down by this horrible marketing plague.

Salt centers around a girl with the last name of “Salt.” What a horrible fate that must be. Anyway, Mrs. Salt gets told early on in the film by a Russian man that she is a Russian spy. Of course she doesn’t think she is, but everyone else around her does. So she runs. While my writing and the trailers for the film make that sound like that is all that happens in Salt, it is not. I am afraid I cannot type more, because I would then start to spoil the film.

While the above text is in fact a basic (very basic) plot outline I can’t and won’t even begin to describe what happens next. For one thing, it is far too complicated and it will spoil the movie viewing experience for you. I don’t want to do that. So to summarize the plot in a few words; exciting and unexpected.

If Salt does anything right (which it does) it nails the action sequences. This film is very exciting and fast paced. There is punching, kicking, shooting, stabbing, explosions, ect… It’s all there, and it is all awesome. A lot of times, films can’t use action sequences as their main crutch to pull them through. This one does that, not entirely though. Like I said earlier the plot is strong so both elements complement each other very nicely. It’s very well paced thanks to the writing, and the action sequences and the interrogation scene at the start are well directed by Phillip Noyce.

As far as the acting goes, it is solid on all sides. Jolie does a very good job convincing us of certain things at certain times, and fooling us about certain things at certain times. There aren’t any standout performances by some of her co-stars but they do their job and do it well.Liev Schreiber doesn’t have a whole lot to work with, nor does Chiwetel Ejiofor, becaused, understandably, the focus is all on Angelina Jolie and as I’ve already said – she delivers.

There really isn’t anything that stands out to me from the score, but again it does its job providing tense music during appropriate times.

In short, Salt is a very entertaining film that got me by surprise. In all honesty the trailers and promotions did it no justice and it is a film you should go see. It is a hands down excellent action film.

4/5

Classics Reveiw: Pulp Ficiton

There exist few films that are like Pulp Fiction. Now that I think of it, there are none like it at all. It is completely original. Some might think calling a film that came out in 1994 a classic a bold statement, but those people haven't seen this film. Those who have seen it will agree that it is in fact a classic and very worthy of such recognitions.

Pulp Fiction centers around the lives of several individuals. Jules And Vincent, played Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta, are two of these people. They are both hit-men working for a man Marcellus Wallace. They are after a special briefcase. On one mission Jules is saved by what he thinks is divine inspiration. So he then tries to quit taking, and start giving. While this isn't the films main plot, it is one of the many stories that are told in the film. Another is the story of a champion boxer played by Bruce Willis who wins a fight he was supposed to throw. He then is on the run from none other than Marcellus Wallace. Again, both of these stories aren't even the half of what happens in this film.
Of all of the many characters and stories, they are all linked and connected by one thing or another. Now the characters don't have one big reunion or anything, but almost everyone runs into everyone.
The unique thing about this film is that it doesn't play in chronological order. As a matter of fact, the opening scenes are right before the "ending" of things (chronologically speaking.) This is a very interesting way to view the film, and it could have easily turned out horrible. But it doesn't. It is fun to see who is alive and when, when they are killed, and what you know they are about to go and do.
It just makes the movie watching experience all the more enjoyable.

The acting in this film is amazing. The highlight performance has to be from Samuel L Jackson. He does an amazing job supplying dark humor and a human side to the eccentric hit-man Jules. All of the other characters do a great job. Heck, even Uma Thurman was good in this movie. And that's saying a lot.

This film has a certain charm to it that is unmistakable. Now, I use the word "charm" lightly. I mean when you have characters yelling the F word as loud as they can and blowing each others heads to bits,you really cant say that is "charming". But, when you hear Jule's rant on "Big Kahuna Burgers", or Butch's famous line to his girlfriend "Its not a motorcycle baby, its a chopper" you cant help but smile. Now I could go on for days, because almost every single moment in this movie is pure gold. It is packed full of funny dialogue and memorable moments. This is one of those movies that is quoted (and misquoted) again and again and again.

Quentin Tarantino has to be one of the most talented directors in Hollywood today. His ability to make almost anything he touches turn to cinematic gold. This ability is as uncanny as it is amazing. He has a style that is nothing like anything we have seen before. Pulp Fiction best showcases this style and is therefore his best work.
Pulp Fiction is one of those films that you see and you don't forget. It is truly a cinematic experience, and you really get what you take out of it. But everyone gets something, I assure you that.

With solid performances and dialogue, Pulp Fiction is a must see. This is one of those movies that puts the viewer through a journey that they probably haven't been on before. A journey of Hit Men, and champion boxers. A journey of 1950's dancing and greed. Oh yeah, almost forgot. A journey with tasty burgers. Unfortunately no amount of praise can truly do this movie justice. It is truly an original that you need to experience to fully understand what I mean.
However after saying all of that, I will simply say that Pulp Fiction is one of the greatest movies of our time.

Movie Review: Inception

Inception is one of those movies that you have to see to really get what everyone means when they say "Dude, you have to see it!! Using that statement I guess you could say this entire review is obsolete. I still encourage you to read it anyway, because you love me. Anyway, lets get back to the review.

The movie centers around a man named "Cobb". Cobb is what they call an extractor. Basically what Cobb does is he enters peoples minds via dreams to extract information from their heads. He is very good at doing this. The best, actually. Cobb also has some problems that go along with this talent. One problem is, is that he lost almost everything he ever had doing this (i.e. the ability to see his family). But, he discovers a way to get it all back. His way back is called "Inception." What is this Inception I speak of? Well, it is going into someones mind and planting an idea, rather than taking one. Of course when they get there everything goes crazy and things aren't what we expected.
There are a lot of things this film does right. I don't think I will mention all of them, because there are a lot of things to mention. But, I shall mention some.
First off, the acting is solid. I wasnt really a Dicaprio fan until I saw him in Shutter Island. Now I cant get enough of the guy. He does a wonderful job playing the troubled protagonist. He adds a certain level of mystery to the role. Overall, he ends up being likable and you want him to get back to his family. Juno's Ellen Paige plays a young apprentice of Cobb's. Her character is smart and resourceful. Not to mention a little clever. Paige pulls this off well. Joseph-Gordon Levitt plays Cobb's partner in crime Arthur, who really doesn't say much. This kind of character is perfect for Levitt. The character has that same melancholy, "semi-depressed but happy at the same time" thing going for him that he had in 500 Days of Summer.

The storyline of Inception is rather confusing. It will jump far ahead of you waiting to catch up, so be ready. This film is one that you will need to see again. Not to fully understand it per se but to see things you may have not seen before. It is much easier to solve a puzzle one you have all the pieces. This movie seems to know something you don't know, and has a lot more going on than you think it does. As I mentioned earlier, this film stays several steps ahead of you. You will not be able to guess the ending, so the climax of this film is intense.

The action scenes and CGI are also very cool. Even though this thing has basically everything that is standard to today's action films (chase scenes, gunfights) they make them engaging and interesting. I'm not saying that scenes like these are bad, but to some people they can get old. They aren't in this one. You will be rooting (and worrying) for the hero's all the way through. The plot, characters, and action stay fresh all the way through.

As for the CGI, it complements the story unlike some films we have seen. Nolan doesn't add too many effects, but just enough in my opinion. They really add an extra effect of "coolness" on to this film. One of my favorite sequences in the movie is the zero gravity battle sequence in the hotel.

Overall, Inception is a very smart action film. It is cleverly done, and it will have you thinking even after it is over. The acting is great, the action exciting, and the plot complicated (in a good way). If you want to see something completely original, see this film. I assure you that you will want experience "Inception" more than once.
5/5 Stars

The Star Wars Retrospective: Episode I

When it comes to Star Wars, I guess you could say I am a bit of a fanboy. I have hundreds of action figures and other memorabilia, and I was a member of the offical fan club for about six years. I knew I was getting ripped off when I recieved a letter in the mail that read
"There is a disturbance in the force, your subscription has run out! I then knew it was time for a chage in the balance of my force. har har har...

Anyway, I am at my Grandparents house for a week. For whatever reason, they happen to own all six of the Star Wars movies on DVD. Plus they have a very large television. And surround sound. Yes. So guess what Im doing all week? Thats right; super Star Wars marathon extravaganza! As I watch each of the films, I have decided to do kind of a retrospective review thingy on each one. I wont give them an offical rating as much as I will discuss them and leave it open for talk in the comments. I watched Episode I first, so I shall write about that one. Anyway, here goes.

There are alot of things I could say about Episdoe I. I could say that the acting seems terribly forced by Anikan Skywalker. I could say Jar Jar Binks is the most annoying thing to ever exist. Ever. I could say that every time I see Mace Window now I think he looks better with a Jerhi Curl like in Pulp Fiction than he does bald. I could say all of these things and be correct. I guess what Im trying to say is...you can say a lot about this movie. Love it or hate it, it is...different. I really dont want to take a definate side here, but out of all the films this has to be the "worst". That being said I do not entirely hate the film, as I mentioned earlier I am in fact a fanboy; so I kind of like all the films. There are several issues with this movie. One being the acting and the other being the CGI. The acting is rather stale at parts and its like, 90% CGI. Wow. Take that Avatar. While it does have its mishaps, I still enjoy watching it. Ray Park does a pretty good job with stunts as Darth Maul. I will give him that. And Liam Nesson does a fair job as Qui Gon Jinn,a fairly pointless character but a good one to have around. The lightsaber battles are pretty cool, to say the least. The thing that gets me the most is how out of character Anikan Skywalker is. I just felt he should have been more angry than he was. He is like that in later prequel films, and I would have like to seen a little bit of it here. He is rather chipper for a man to later kill hundreds. Luckily we see a more angry Anikan in the other two prequels. But, it is intresting to learn where all of these people come from. It is also fun to see all the cameos like Jabba The Hutt that appear in the film.

I guess all that Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is, is a filler film. It is neccessary to the plot but isnt as good as the old ones. It is still good, though. At the same time, maybe it isnt quite fair to compare it to the originals. They really captured lighting in a bottle with that one and it is really hard to replicate what they did there. But, it is what it is. Of course the other two prequels were somewhat better than this one. But we will get to that in another post.
Well, Im off now. Ill be back tomorrow, or something.
May the force be with all of you.
-Toad Sage

Recent happenings of The Toad Sage

Hello readers(if you are out there). Welcome to another post by The Toad Sage. I haven't come across any new media lately so I thought it would ramble for a bit in this post. Lets see...what have I been up to lately?
Well, last night I was up until 2-ish reading the complete history of the Sith. That's Star Wars stuff, for those of you who don't know. I cannot decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing. But I think its a bad thing. Its not that I care, I have pretty much embraced this whole "dork" thing and I am quite proud of it.

I really want school to start. I have been missing it! Summer is fine for the first few weeks but it kind of loses its point after a while. Oh well. It seems I must wait like everyone else.


In other news, I am filming a documentary! What is it about? Nothing, really. I have just been prancing around my school and surrounding areas filming everything I come across with my best friends. It is pretty cool. I am rather new to the whole video editing thing so it isnt turning out exactly how I want it. But I will get better. Part of the problem is the program im using. I am using the default program that came with my camera (its a Flip) and it really isnt made for movie making. I think it is made more for mashing clips. I will do what I can with it!

Im not sure what movie I will see next but stay tuned for more reviews!
This is The Toad Sage, signing off.
Stay Gold, everyone.