Easy A

Release Date: 17 September 2010
My Rating: B-
Good For: Date Night, People who like comedy mingled with obvious plot lines and little wit, lovers of John Hughes' films from the 80's (Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, etc.).

Let me preface this review by saying that if this were a review SOLELY based on the work of the lead actress Emma Stone this film would have received a much higher rating.
Here's the gist of the film: A girl named Olive (Stone) is a nobody in school until she feigns sexual acts with an unknown boy. This leads to a rise in her popularity as well as an interest from equally unpopular boys who wish to change there own social status. The resulting plot line is an overly-used five act structure that allows the audience to be perceptive and read into the ending well before it's time.

Although this film is far from cinematic royalty, the script allows the characters to really come to life. There is a scene with Stone dancing around her room, I've definitely done that many times before. These kinds of scenes endear the characters to us as viewers. The soundtrack/score also really emphasized the emotion in the scenes. Overall, the actors really made the script and, in turn, their characters work. While this film is slated for a genre label of comedy, the word "teen" should be placed before it. There was not enough humor in the script to warrant Easy A being called a comedy. As for the Hester Prynn references, I was expecting the script (written by Burt Royal) to have more emphasis in the story line.

If you reminisce about John Hughes films and a love you never got to experience in high school, you will probably love this film. If you are tired of cliche high school drama without any new comedic material, I would advise you to stay away from this film at all costs.

Scott Pilgrim VS. The World

Release Date: 13 August 2010
My Rating: A-
Good For: Geeks with a sense of humor; date night
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446029/

When trying to locate a review for Scott Pilgrim VS The World that actually discussed the movie, I was fairly shocked at the consensus. Most of the reviews I have read seem to cover the audience's reaction more than the reviewer's. As a movie fiend, I will try to review Scott Pilgrim VS. The World with as little mention of the audience as possible.

Scott Pilgrim VS. The World brings geek humor to the foreground through the use of exceptionally able actors, good directing and a well written script. The formula is a little different than most geek centered films which was a welcome relief. Scott Pilgrim (played by Michael Cera in his typical role) is an overwhelmingly geeky persona who knows trivia about PacMan and rocks at arcade-style video games. Pilgrim, in an effort to get over his only major girlfriend, pretends to date an equally awkward highschooler named Knives Chau (Ellen Wong). While in this fake relationship, Pilgrim falls for the new girl in town, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Pilgrim is then forced to break up with Knives in order to pursue his new love interest. Once Pilgrim and Ramona begin dating, trouble comes calling for Scott embodied in the 7 Evil Exs of Ramona. The rest of the film should be fairly obvious, although the film has many twists and turns.

Scott Pilgrim VS. The World is based on a comic book series (which I have, admittedly, never read) and features old-school gaming throughout the film. The fight scenes are amazingly well-choreographed and features onomatopoeiae to describe the force of the action. In a sense; watching the fight scenes were similar to watching the previews (computer play) on an arcade screen complete with K.O.s and life/health bars.

The score was also awesome. Featured in the film was old-school punk rock (think The Clash-The Misfits, not NOFX). This added great effect throughout the film, particularly during the fight scenes.

Overall, Scott Pilgrim VS. The World was a really good film. Geeks should be encouraged to see it since the humor is geared toward them. However, there is enough non-geek humor that even the most non-geeky person should have a few laughs. The cast play the characters flawlessly and the characters themselves are incredible.

If you've seen it OR are going to see it let me know what you think!
AJ