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For me, the trio of Pegg/Frost/Wright only work best when they’re all together. I wasn’t drawn to Paul and I didn’t get Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, only managing to get halfway through it before calling it a day, as it just didn’t work for me in any way. To be fair, I’m not a big comic book fan, so the style it portrayed just looked way too outlandish, but I had a feeling that would be the outcome when I tried it.
If I had a slight niggle – and this isn’t a spoiler – it’s that the credits begin with The Housemartins‘ Happy Hour, which in a way is fair enough as it’s a song about drinking in pubs, which is what the film is about. However, it then goes onto The Sisters of Mercy‘s This Corrosion which would’ve been a far stronger kick at the end – especially given *how* the film ends – and also because Gary’s favourite band is The Sisters of Mercy. I’m not sure what would’ve followed is, as it needed a further song to play during the end credits, but the Housemartins feels a bit twee by comparison.
And, yes, when I’m in the cinema, I’m one of those people who stays for the end credits – and, damn, did the Sisters of Mercy sound wonderful booming out through the auditorium.
The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 theatrical ratio and looks stunning. With bold daytime scenes leading to pin-sharp evening scenes as all hell breaks loose, I couldn’t find a single flaw to the print. For the record, I’m watching on a Panasonic 50″ Plasma screen with a Samsung BDP1500 player.
Audio-wise, the DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack really delivers. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz proved Edgar Wright knows how to deliver in an action-comedy and it continues here, whether it’s explosions leading up to the finale or effective shots like the pints being pulled early on.
Go to page 3 for the extensive extras.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.