Movie Review: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

I'm gonna be up front with you all.  Though I risk losing some e-credibility by speaking my mind on a movie that's become a uniting beacon of righteousness for self-proclaimed internet "nerds" everywhere; I have to say that there's something about Scott Pilgrim vs. The World that just didn't work for me.  My mind wants to blame Michael Cera, who's been playing the same Michael Cera since being birthed by Jason Bateman in the early part of the 21st Century.  Maybe it's the fact that I'm from Iowa, or the fact that I'm fat, or the fact that I don't wear faded t-shirts with logos on them, but there's just something about the guy that I can't really relate to at all.

But I don't think Cera's the entire problem I have with the film.  I've very much enjoyed Superbad, Arrested Developement, and Juno, and in each of those cases I felt Cera was essential to the material's success.  Seeing him pushed as a hero here doesn't work for me, but after pondering the film for a day I'm left thinking that he had less to do with that concern than I originally thought.  The more I think about the film, the more I realize the story - as adapted from a comic - comes off as another lazy love story that assumes that "quirky" characters don't need to be deep or interesting as individuals.

 Should I really be looking for something deeper in a Hot Topic-friendly comic adaptation?  Maybe not.  The story centers on apparently unemployed 22-year old Scott Pilgrim (Cera), who's part of a band and is dating a 17 year old Chinese girl (Ellen Wong, who seems to be having a ton of fun in one of the film's better roles).  He doesn't want to be dating her from the start, so when he sees Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) at a party, he falls in love with her.  Apparently she's literally the girl of his dreams (there's a funny line about some kind of subconscious hallway that's never expanded on), so he begins that stalker love trend we've seen since John Cusack bought a boombox.  Ramona has her defenses set to receive, and thus they begin dating, only to find that Scott has to fight Ramona's 7 Evil Exes before he can date her.

It's a fun story, but people are reacting to these characters as if they're family members or loved ones, and I don't get why.  The side characters are pretty entertaining, but there's little aside from Scott's t-shirt collection and knowledge of music (a must for any prospective romantic stalker) and Ramona's changing hair colors that make their relationship any different from any other characters in teen films.  Director extraordinaire Edgar Wright does a fine job of blurring this dynamic with his skillful recreation of the hip/indie scene and video game love that was expected from the film, but after the film ended and I thought about it for a few hours, the underlying plot seemed like just another film in which infatuation is assumed to be synonymous with love.

From an entertainment standpoint, I wasn't disappointed with Scott Pilgrim as a film.  There's a lot of fun action, cool special effects, and some great moments where side characters steal the show.  Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, and Brandon Routh all bring laughs; and a cameo by one of my favorite dudes (I won't name names, but I've been saying that he makes every movie better since Deep Blue Sea) was the highlight of the film for me.

Maybe I'm just the jaded dude who's sick of Cera's shtick and lazy "romances".  I laughed at the film, I enjoyed Edgar Wright's direction (though the pacing seemed a bit slow at times), and admire the originality of it all.  But when the whole story is about a guy fighting for the woman he loves and we know next to nothing that makes the guy or the woman interesting, I start to wonder what people see that I don't.

Maybe Scott Pilgrim will become more likeable to me on repeat viewings - it definitely offered enough fun and originality for me to give it another chance - but for now I'm left feeling disconnected from that which is supposedly so incredibly cool.  I guess I really am from Iowa.

(P.S. - Yes, I'm aware there's an Iowan in the movie.  But he graduated from high school with more than 57 people and probably never fed a pig.)

(P.P.S. - One last serious question: Is the music Scott and his band "play" really supposed to be "good"?)

We're going to Disneyland!

Well...when I say Disneyland, I mean Disney World.  And when I say we, I mean Narcosleepy and The H-Bomb.  Not The Mike, of course.  Who else is gonna hold the internet down?

So, the married half of (O)PP's staff are gone away for a week, leaving myself and our mysterious fourth blogger to take the steering wheel of this site and drive it straight into your hearts.  Like a stake, only of happiness. 

The duo will be checking in from time to time (I won't drop names, but one of them already texted me to say "There are huge boobs everywhere at disney."), but you might expect a bit less from us over the next week.  Between last week's craziness and this week's vacation, we've all been a little swamped.

In the meantime, I want to take care of some housekeeping duties.  Big thanks to Zach of ZforZombies.com and Morgan of The Kid in the Hall for spreading some love to (O)PP during our first few weeks.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

So, since I'm running this mofo at present, do y'all have anything you want from (O)PP?  More movies, more music, less videos, etc.?  Please let us know (like, you could even use the comments below or the facebook or the twitter!), so we can keep having fun and rocking your universe!

(For example, I'll be giving y'all my controversial review of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World tonight!  BEWARE!)

In music news......

It was recently announced that the title of the new Weezer album is going to be Hurley, paying homage to the character on Lost. And who will be gracing the cover of the new album, but Jorge Garcia! Here is what Jorge had to say:

"How awesome is that! It totally put a smile on my face, to say the least. It ranks right up there with getting my own action figure."

Jorge also gave some insight as to how this all happened. He met Rivers Cuomo backstage at the George Lopez Show and asked if he could take a picture with him. Jorge added:

“And then two months later I get an email from my manager saying, ‘Listen, Weezer contacted us and they want you to be on the cover of their new CD…I thought that was really cool.”

Super Cool!! Here is the cover:

Quote of the Day

I tend to think of action movies as exuberant morality plays in which good triumphs over evil.

Sylvester Stallone

Quote of the Day

The cool thing about being famous is traveling. I have always wanted to travel across seas, like to Canada and stuff.

Britney Spears

Morning Music: Diamond Eyes

THE DAY IS HERE! Let us begin with The Expendables' theme song...and some Rambo action. BOOM.

Artist: Shinedown

Album: The Expendables Motion Picture Soundtrack (?)

Quote of the Day

My boss seems to think that my hair is gonna fall off & go into the ice cream. This hair ain’t movin’ my dude. 150mph on the highway on a street bike… it doesn’t move! What makes you think it’s gonna move in a gelato shop?

-Pauly D

10 Year Old Singing Sensation!!!!

I Don't Understand Sometimes

There are a few things I understand on this planet. I understand how to be a student as I have been a college student for around a decade now. I am sittin here, right now as I type, watching Jersey Shore. I just don't understand why in the world I love this show. I am breakin' down laughing so hard at these cats.

In any given night this show is on, you can guarantee the words grenade, land mine, situation, gym, tan, and laundry. Also, you can count on a vicious fight between an on and off again couple. This is classy TV. One person calls the other word the b-bomb (or biatch), then the other person leaves cuz they are extremely sad and pouty. Following this barrage of swearing, booze is sipped and dancing is exchanged...As I am watching now, the words "Bronx Zoo and hyena" were just used as they are tossing around a fake boob that reminded one of them of a "chicken cutlet." I frickin love this show, for the shear mindlessness that it produces. As I am sitting here giving you a play by play of the action, I don't really have to even think about what to write about.

So, in honor of the Awesomeness of Jersey Shore and delinquent behavior...I am giving myself a nickname. I am thinking "The Exclamation." I'm that long extended line with a dot under it that makes any statement scream with both meaning and enthusiasm. I am the same level of the punctuation you need to use when you want to yell. If you want to really scream via typing...you can type in all caps and have many exclamations...like so...BOOOOYYYYYYAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Notice me...all those exclamation points after booya...notice how I am putting the awe in awesome. I am the grammatical tool you use to proclaim all that is righteous and "bangin."

In closing, I have no idea why or how I even like Jersey Shore...but Damn it is hilarious.



Narcosleepy Out

Movie of the Day: The Trigger Effect

If you follow the news and/or weather at all, you probably saw some stories about "Historic Flooding" in Iowa today.  The majority of that flooding occurred in the city where 75% of this blog's staff lives; Ames, Iowa.  As far as I know, the three of us are alive and well, and didn't face too much damage from the runaway water.  If we know what's good for us, we won't be drinking tap water for some time (Thanks a bunch, broken water main!), but we're going to live on despite the inconveniences to our daily routines.

As the events of the day in Ames unfolded - and as I worked to deal with a myriad of transportation, sanitation, evacuation, and problems during a 13+ hour shift at work - I was reminded of the society-gone-astray thriller The Trigger Effect.  It's a movie that landed on my radar back in the summer of 1996 (Which is completely my favorite year, but that's a different story for a different time) thanks to the presence of my beloved Elisabeth Shue and a mixed review from Siskel & Ebert that got me interested in the idea of the film.

Written and Directed by David Koepp, The Trigger Effect opens with a wonderful tracking shot that shows how easily anger can be transferred from person to person in a populated setting.  A waiter trips over a cord, spills on a man who doesn't speak English, who then bumps into someone else, who then argues with someone else, and so on.  It's all simple human frustration; the kind of thing that happens every day.  But it's something we rarely stop to witness, and Koepp's camera does a fine job of pointing out the ease with which our frustrations can boil into aggression.

What happens when we let these frustrations gain momentum?  What if we always take the easy way out and avoid them?  Those are the questions raised as The Trigger Effect moves on to its setting event, a blackout that shutsdown large portions of L.A. and its subrubs and leaves a married couple (Kyle Maclachlan and Shue), their sick daughter, and a family friend (Dermot Mulroney) fighting for their survival against a sea of troubles.  The movie references predators that feed on the weak in early scenes where we see coyotes eating dead animals and get a quick glance at George Romero's Night of the Living Dead (another film in which normal people let their frustrations boil over while facing a change in their reality), but shocks us by making the human condition the host of predatory behavior.

And that's what made me think of The Trigger Effect today.  As the river banks rose and conveniences that we take for granted disappeared, rumors spread throughout the town.  People took to the streets in search of safe water, and I'm sure more than a few people cursed their neighbor in frustration.  While I have faith in my town to not reach the extremes of The Trigger Effect - which definitely has its characters act in a highly metaphorical and illogical manner - I think the message the film sends rings true for Ames today.

In extreme conditions, we have to remember that most everyone is having a bad day.  We seem to lose sight of that too often.  We point fingers at others and believe that everyone's out to get us, but deep down inside we're all just fighting to survive and trying to feel like we still have some control over our lives when the things we thought were certain suddenly become variable. 

The Trigger Effect never quite understands these facts entirely, the same way most people - including myself -  don't understand them entirely.  But I like where its heart is.

Also, I love Elisabeth Shue SOOOOOOOO MUCH.

Quote of the Day

“The only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the first one was useless.”

Chamfort

Morning Music: Over the Hills and Far Away

And now, the oddity that is/was Nightwish.

 

Artist: Nightwish 

Album: Over The Hills and Far Away

Quote of the Day

Remember, sex is like a Chinese dinner. It ain't over 'til you both get your cookie.

Alec Baldwin

Trailer Alert! The Avengers (Premake Edition!)

A while back, a really cool trailer - pieced together from a bunch of '50s films - showed us what The Empire Strikes Back would have looked like in the 1950s.  Now, with The Avengers movie coming our way in just under two years, a "premake" of that film has a trailer online!

Feel like you didn't get everything in that video?  Didn't catch the significance of Uatu the Watcher, or know why Yul Brynner looks like Charles Xavier?  This version of the video comes with some notes that spell out all the Marvel action at play in the video!

 

Awesome, right?

IMDB goes Mobile! (aka, The Mike Can Leave His Apartment And Feel Safe!)

OK, maybe it won't display EXACTLY like that (my guess is that somebody f'd up the word "nikto"), but IMDB has finally released its own mobile website (m.imdb.com) for phone-based browsers.

This has long been one of the biggest thorns in the side of movie nerds, or at least in the side of a movie nerd named The Mike.  But really, we've all been there.  We're with friends, watching whatever we're choosing to watch, and someone goes "Isn't that the guy from Trog?" or "Where have I seen that detective before?".

Now, I've long been a big fan of what I call "the phoneternet" - I actually went about two years without actual internet thanks to it.  But for some reason, IMDB has never made that transition to this awkward medium of information sharing that I've grown to love.  So when those questions come up and the laptops aren't handy, or when you're arguing over who played the Predator in that 1987 classic (No, it wasn't Jean Claude Van Damme, alright!  He dropped out of the movie and was replaced by Harry himself, Kevin Peter Hall.) at dinner, it was difficult to get to the info.  Wikipedia was the easier source to use, too!  And they're totally not as reliable as IMDB!

Now, despite what appears to be a toddler version of the mobile page, those questions can be answered with a bit less frustration.  Thus, we say thank you to you, IMDB!  You've made the world a better place for nerds and cinephiles everywhere, and you've made us as excited as that weird chick from Harry Potter!

No hablo?

I Want Me Some Of That MONSTERS Action.

The fine folks over at Magnolia Pictures and Magnet Releasing were kind enough to send the first images of the US poster for the independent monster film that's simply titled Monsters. This was already one of my most anticipated films of the year, and a breathtaking poster only adds to the mystery of what looks to be a potential companion to Cloverfield and District 9.

Directed by Gareth Edwards and starring a two person cast of relative unknowns Whitney Able and Scoot McNairy, Monsters will premiere via On Demand services September 24th.  The theatrical premiere in the states will follow on October 29th, following the same release schedule Magnet has used for the likes of District 13: Ultimatum, George Romero's Survival of the Dead, and Neil Marshall's currently on-demand Centurion.

What say you, members of the (O)PP Brigade?  Check out the official site and/or the trailer below, and let us know what you think!

Quote of the Day

Several hard-core Star Wars fans who had tickets for the first showing actually said that when the movie finally began, they started crying. Mainly because they realized that it's 22 years later, and they still haven't lost their virginity.

Conan O'Brien

For the Cyclone Fans!

Quote of the Day

It's official, Arnold said he will enter the race for governor. At least that's what everybody thinks he said.

David Letterman

In movie news...........

Why does Hollywood feel the need to remake classics?!?!? Money??!? Lack of ideas?!? Most likely it is both. There are soo many remakes over the years that have upset me, I could go on and on! When Tim Burton remade Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 2005, I boycotted the film and am still boycotting it to this day!! I just recently got wind another remake that will be added to the mix is My Fair Lady! A spectacular film that should never be touched! Emma Thompson is committing a crime by writing the screenplay. In addition to that, Emma recently had the audacity to criticize Ms Hepburn. Here is what she had to say:

"I was thrilled to be asked to do it because, having a look at it, I thought that there needs to be a new version. I'm not hugely fond of the film. I find Audrey Hepburn fantastically twee. Twee is whimsy without wit. It's mimsy-mumsy sweetness without any kind of bite. And that's not for me.

"She can't sing and she can't really act, I'm afraid. I'm sure she was a delightful woman - and perhaps if I had known her I would have enjoyed her acting more, but I don't and I didn't, so that's all there is to it, really."


I have loved Emma throughout the years, but her distaste for the fabulous Audrey makes me question my admiration of her. Does anyone else share these feelings of remakes/My Fair Lady?

Morning Music: I Wish I Was The Moon

It's been like two weeks since I used Neko here. No mas.



Artist: Neko Case
Album: Blacklisted

Comedy Corner: Sunday Night Saturday Night Live

Because, like us, it's just a bit off.

Quote of the Day

Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.

-Mark Twain

For the Sports Fans

Tim Tebow gets a Friar Tuck 'do from his veteran Broncos teammates this week at training camp.

Quote of the Day

There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane:
Either you have diarrhea, or you’re eager to meet people who do.

Henry Kissenger former US Secretary of State

Morning (?) Music: Lawyers, Guns and Money

Few things make me happier than the lyrics of one Warren Zevon.



Artist: Warren Zevon
Album: Excitable Boy

Quote of the Day

"The Mini-Winni, part of American tradition, and today on the cutting edge of design and function in a Class-C motorhome. Do you believe any of that SHIT?"

-Jack Rebney

Morning Music: Nowhere Fast

I so want to go see C.H.U.D. and drink milkshakes with 1984 Diane Lane.



Artist: Fire, Inc.
Album: Streets of Fire Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Movie of the Day: Whiteout

The Mike here, and I'm not gonna lie to you. I watched this movie because a) I love when movies are set in snowy places, and 2) Kate Beckinsale is really hot. So that's out of the way.

Though it was advertised as a horror film, Whiteout is your basic "female cop on the trail of a killer" film, which plays like a tamer version of Taking Lives (with Angelina Jolie) or Murder by Numbers (with Sandra Bullock). Those films both had some interesting twists psychologically, even if they were a little muddled, while this one just has the fact that it's set in Antarctica as a twist. It's, surprisingly to me, based off a graphic novel - and I have to imagine there was more to that story than was put into this drab movie.

Director Dominic Sena (making his first big-screen feature since Gone in 60 Seconds and Swordfish were summer hits) doesn't offer a lot if interesting visuals (except for the last few moments of the film, which feel tacked on), and the supporting cast (The Spirit's Gabriel Macht, Armored's Columbus Short, and veteran cool guy Tom Skerrit) seems wasted on the dull script. Ms. Beckinsale is adequate in the lead, and is quite cute, though she seems skinny compared to how she's appeared in more luscious roles. (Kate, you can come over to The Mike's Lair for a cheeseburger anytime.)

There's not much really wrong with the movie, there's just little that's interesting. There's a bit of amputation and the moment when Beckinsale's character has a DVD copy of the giant-spider classic THEM! in her room excited me, but that's about it. I'd say you're safe skipping this one, even if Ms. Beckinsale looks pretty good.

For the Sports Fans - Dude Perfect: Summer Camp Edition

Quote of the Day

Here's something to think about: How come you never see a headline like 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?

-Jay Leno

(That is an excellent point!!!)

Trailer Alert! Who Killed Captain Alex?

Yes, it's Uganda's first action movie. And it has a 4-year-old narrator on crack.

Just watch.



LALALALALA ACTION!

Do you smell what Piranha 3D is cooking?

There are very few movies I am looking forward to this summer. I have been watching movie trailers hoping to get excited for something, but alas, here I am not looking forward to much. Today, I am watching TV not studying like I should be when I saw the trailer for Piranha 3. The tagline for this film jumped out at me: "There is something in the water." Listen, few movies have a tagline that I even remember. Then this happens...MIND BLOWN.

This film stars Elisabeth Shue. Ever since Adventures in Babysitting, I have been massively infatuated with her (sorry H-Bomb). Add her to the mix of a swarm of Piranha's that will liquify people, I am pretty much in love. Adam Scott also stars in the film. This cat has been on fire lately with an amazing performance as Derek in Step Brothers, along with a great role in the show "Party Down." These two together reminds me of an epic combo in our past human history, Adam and Eve. Add in a rockin cameo by Eli Roth as a wet-tshirt emcee, Richard Dreyfuss, Jerry O'Connell, and Ving Rhames, this movie could indeed rule.

Now, if you are ready for Awesomeness, press 1 on your keyboard. If you aren't ready, I would stop reading this post. If you chose the second option, I understand as awesomeness can be scary. The plot of this flick is flippin fantastic. The story takes place over spring break where there will be drunken partying and probably nudity for no reason. A tremor underneath the water of this prehistoric lakes unleashes prehistoric fish that have survived over the years. These fish are pissed, and they are 3D Piranhas. This is the kind of plot that will have people dying in various inner-tubes and boat like devices. All I have to give is a huge thumbs up to this plot. Hopefully, I am not overhyping this flick, but I am expecting big things...and you should too!





Narcosleepy out

Morning Music: Fantasy

Oddly enough, I have that same outfit. Twinsies!



Artist: Aldo Nova
Album: Aldo Nova

LOST lives on!!

For those of you crazy LOST fans that can't seem to let go, you are in luck! LOST: The Official Show Auction and Exhibit will be held on August 21st and 22nd in Santa Monica. If you bring enough bling, you could be one of the lucky ones to take home a piece of memorabilia from the show! Just think how jealous your friends would be!

Quote of the Day

I think they should have a Barbie with a buzz cut.

-Ellen Degeneres

In tv news...........Ricky Gervais to replace Steve Carrell on The Office?!?!??

As most of us hardcore Office fans know, next season will be the last season for Steve Carell. When I found out this news, my heart shattered. How could the show possibly go on with out our beloved Michael Scott?!?!? Well the good news is, they are toying around with the idea of bringing Ricky Gervais in to The Office when Carell leaves. As you may or may not know, Ricky played David Brent, the crazy boss in the original UK series. I personally find it to be a brilliant idea and the only plausible way the show could survive.

Executive Producer Paul Lieberstein (aka Toby) says:

"We talked about it today for a while. It's not the leading idea… [but] it's not a dead idea. I don't know how David Brent could take Michael Scott's place because it would be a little bit too much of a coincidence that a documentary crew was also following him. He was also fired for incompetence [in the U.K. Office], so we'd have to create some back story for what happened. There would be some things to deal with. On the flip side, you have someone who's incredibly talented and who has played with a level of realism that's the same as our show. It wouldn't be like we would be taking a character from Cheers, like Norm, and putting him in the show. If Dunder Mifflin needed to replace Michael Scott, they'd consider both internal and external candidates. And we will show them considering both. We'll kind of start [the replacement process] and put it in motion. I don't want Steve to go, and if he decides he wants to stay, I will be very happy with that."

And has for what Gervais had to say:

"As David Brent would say, 'Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt …' As I would say, 'Why would I get up at 6 a.m. five days a week for seven years when I can hire someone else to do that and still get my syndication money?"

With Gervais though you never know if he is being serious or not. I would love to see Carell stay, but if not bring in Gervais. He is absolutely hilarious!

Morning Music: Apeman

I think this might be my theme song on some days.



Artist: The Kinks
Album: Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Vol. 1