"Scott Pilgrim" dazzles with effects and soundtrack

"Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" is utterly brilliant for many reasons. At first glance, it might appear to be another addition to the semi-recent comic book-turned-film trend, especially with Michael Cera heading the fairly obscure cast of actors and actresses in a role most people have come to expect of him: the awkward teenager trying to win over a hot girl. Once you look beneath the surface, however, there are a ton of excellent reasons to go see this film and invest in the soundtrack on iTunes.

Director Ed Wright, who was behind "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz", separates here from his normal collaborative partners Simon Pegg and Nick Frost for an adaptation of the Canadian graphic novel series of the same name written by Brian Lee O'Malley. The film focuses on the character Scott Pilgrim, a bassist living in Toronto with his band. He falls in love with an American Amazon delivery girl by the name of Ramona Flowers, only to find out that he has to battle her "seven evil exes" if he wants to continue dating her. Both the original comic and the film insert numerous references to video games from the 80s and 90s, which adds an interesting element to the storytelling and overall aesthetic of the film.    

 The pacing is fast and the dialogue is sharp-edged and witty, quick enough to leave you reeling if you stop paying attention for even a second (not that you'd want to, because the film holds your attention from start to finish). Cera and the rest of the cast step up admirably to the task of filling the comic characters' shoes.  What's more, Wright has somehow managed to create the feeling that you're truly watching a graphic novel come to life, with explosions of light, the occasional voice-over commentator, and raw, honest side notes that keep the characters' deceit in check.

The score, composed by Nigel Godrich, complements the action perfectly. Simultaneously, the soundtrack plays into the story in a way that leaves you salivating for more, with guitar riffs and hard-hitting vocals from bands like Blood Red Shoes, Metric and The Black Lips, which fit flawlessly into the overall feeling of the film. Plumtree's "Scott Pilgrim" is particularly brilliant, especially because it inspired the title of O'Malley's comic. In short: "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" is perfect for fans of comics, video games, music and films that pull you in and keep you interested until the credits roll.

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