THE HACK: cheap views on pop culture

Top Ten Films of 2010

10. Shutter Island

9. Kick-Ass

8. True Grit

7. Let Me In

6. Never Let Me Go

 

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One

 

4. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

3. Black Swan

2. The Social Network

1. Inception

Scott Pilgrim and the Metaphors and Stuff

I've been in love before. Twice, actually. Both times involve me and a friend. Yeah, yeah, yeah - I fell in love with my friends. In my defense, they were pretty cool girls. Both were close to me during high school.

I've also had about a dozen crushes. Each girl stole my heart and my head and kept me glue to them. I became infatuated with one, but because I thought her so out-of-my-league I never did anything. I never once made a move. I did, however, become friends with her.

I've often wondered what would have happened if I had revealed my feelings toward her. Every time I do think about it, each scenario ends with my heart being broken. Sad, really. I mean, it's my fantasy for crying out loud. Still, sometimes, no matter how great the fantasy, real life can drop it's ugly head in to shake up the party (wow - too many cliches there).

Edgar Wright's adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim series is just that. It's a fantasy that cannot escape the pain from the real world.

The world of the film (as well as the comics) is essentially the world of a video game. Still, it's all metaphor for relationships. Scott (Michael Cera) is kind of a son of a bitch. He treats girls like crap and has the nerve to complain about the "baggage" that comes with his current girlfriend, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). This could be most guys, really. The fact that this romantic dramedy comes in the guise of a fantasy-action film is what makes it masterful.

This is something that could pull in an entirely different audience than what most romantic films draw. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World lures its audience in and gives them an honest look at how people move within the world of modern romance.

Because, let's face it, romance isn't easy; at least, not for most. It's tough. And, yeah, sometimes it may feel like your constantly fighting "battles," but in the end, it's about the willingness to fight those battles.

Also, for some of us, we don't get the happy ending. We don't get to hold hands and "try again." Some of us are Knives. If so, we have to learn to move on. Of course, some of us our Wallace and just enjoy life. Some are Julie. Some are Envy. Some are (Young) Neil. The point is, Scott Pilgrim is our world. Each character represents one of us.

This is one of the most exhilarating films I have EVER seen. And, I mean that. Just look: I used all caps for the word "ever." From the Universal Pictures opening to the opening credits (man alive, I love this movie's soundtrack), this film had me and never once let me go. As a metaphor, it worked. As a romance, I worked. As a fantasy actioner? Hell yes. It worked.

Michael Cera has never been better. Winstead was a dreamy as always. Ellen Wong was adorable, and I would have considered myself the luckiest guy on the planet had I been able to date her when I was 22. Aubrey Plaza was great as Julie (loved the censor-box). Beck's music was awesome. And, Wright? The gentleman deserves an Oscar nod for directing. Along with Martin Scorsese (Shutter Island) and Christopher Nolan (Inception), he directed his ass off and made one of the best films of the year.