Inception is to The Matrix as Scott Pilgrim is to Fight Club?

[John C Lyons]

After I saw "Inception" for the first time the thought popped in my mind. Then when I got out of "Scott Pilgrim" this weekend I knew I couldn't be dreaming.

It's 1999! Or in other words: two really cool movies came out this year that will hopefully inspire the next generation of filmmakers...

Read my blog post, as it's too long to paste here, then come back and share your thoughts: http://erieentertainment.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/film-is-it-1999-all-over-again/

 

[Drew Ott]

Enjoyable read, but the analogy you make ("Inception is to The Matrix as Scott Pilgrim is to Fight Club?") isn't very well supported, IMO.

Inception and The Matrix are similar because they are box-office successes that blend action and sci-fi? Scott Pilgrim and Fight Club are similar because they're relative box-office failures that push the boundaries of visual style (is this even true of Fight Club?), contain social commentary, and star actors who are rising to fame?

I don't really understand the connection. I think every year since 1878 (ok, maybe more like 1915) has had at least two really cool movies that inspired future filmmakers.

 

[Dave W]

Not seeing the connection either. I'd say Scott Pilgrim is failing at the box office because it's not that great a film, not because people aren't appreciating it properly. Comparing it to Fight Club seems like a very big stretch of the imagination.

 

[Kholi]

I disagree that Scott Pilgrim is failing because it's not a great film.

Transformers, at its heart, is not a great film. It sure as hell didn't fail.

Michael Cera seems to be the reason why, and the marketing plan.

I don't think Scott Pilgrim is any worse a fun feature film than Transformers was. If not a cinematic equal in the area of visuals, pace, tone, and a competent popcorn product. It simply went up against Old Faces (Expendables) and real chic flicks (Eat, Pray, Love).

With the word of mouth that the movie is generating, it may be a backward box office success, RISING in the coming weeks versus falling.

 

[John C Lyons]

Inception and The Matrix are similar because they are box-office successes that blend action and sci-fi? Scott Pilgrim and Fight Club are similar because they're relative box-office failures that push the boundaries of visual style (is this even true of Fight Club?), contain social commentary, and star actors who are rising to fame?

I don't really understand the connection. I think every year since 1878 (ok, maybe more like 1915) has had at least two really cool movies that inspired future filmmakers.

You spelled it all out there. Those are the basic connections as I typed them. I'm not saying "two cool movies came out this year and that's never happened before" I'm saying two cool movies that will strongly connect with 20-something's (in a way other than big, mindless explosions which is a norm and nothing unique or interesting), advance the medium, inspire through these advances in editing, sound, visuals, and share the same basic traits with these other two movies a decade ago. For me this is the first time in hollywood cinema since 1999 I feel this generational peak. The year's kinda shi* for mainstream movies, but these two excite me.

And if you don't think Fight Club changed anything and it's style hasn't been poorly copied 100 times since '99 then I wonder what movies you've been watching the last decade.