Let me start off by disclosing that I was high when I did this. I wrote down some thoughts I had as I watched but did not go very detailed. If you want to try this, the sync point I used was 0:00:22, the moment the Universal Pictures logo fades. The album is longer than the movie, so expect “Lily (My One and Only)” to end after the end credits.
In honor of my favorite band, for the 30th anniversary (new box set release) of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, I wanted to try something different. Similar to Dark Side of Oz (the experience of syncing Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd with The Wizard of Oz, I had a Mellon Collie x Scott Pilgrim vs. The World viewing. For this, the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (which features references to The Smashing Pumpkins) is experienced muted while listening to SP's landmark double album. While the runtime of each do not match (the album being slightly longer), the overall emotion tone of the movie turns the story into a romantic drama it wasn't originally, versus the comedic comic book adaption it aimed at originally. This idea comes from a conversation between Edgar Wright and Bryan Lee O'Malley, which Wright asked what album à la Dark Side of Oz that O’Malley would pair, the answer being Mellon Collie.
Here are a few moments that caught my attention:
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Muzzle During the apartment date, Scott has is more subdued than you thought he was. Especially when he plays his song for Romona.
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When Envy calls, I started crying. He wasn't prepared to have her reach out.
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Take Me Down This brings the relationship with Knives to an all time low at this stage. Scott is simply dejected by Envy reminding him of their past.
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Where Boys Fear to Tread A dual purpose song that expresses Scott's fear and anxiety of having to see Envy and Knives' personality turn to win his attention. Scott completely dreads having to see The Clash at Demonhead. Knives goes out to intimidate Romona.
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Bodies Right as "Black Sheep" ends, everything comes crashing down, and hard. Everyone in the room is there and forced to witness the unfolding chaos.
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Thirty-Three A juxtaposition of an intense fight that is turned silly by the uplighting track.
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In the Arma of Sleep Scott headbutts Todd, and we feel the emptiness and tragedy. He no longer seems like a person glad to win a fight. Scott is tired of the constant survival tactics he must resort to in being close to Romona, unable to come to terms with the bloodshed.
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1979 Just a fun fight between Roxy and Romona.
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Thru the Eyes of Ruby Scott is now in disbelief and apathy when he earns the extra life.
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We Only Come Out at Night The Knives and Scott team up is given a goofy jaunt which makes the scene feel a bit more intense. They work together and it feels good.
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Beautiful A reflective but uplifting moment for Nega Scott and Romona, making you not hate the guy.
Overall, the album doesn't sync up perfectly but it gives a different experience than the one audiences got back in 2010. You ignore the comedy which urged you to dislike its main character and gave a moody romance. In replace of goofy sound effects from video games and vibrant comic book special effects, you get a surreal looking survival for love and life. This experience gave me a different appreciation for the album which cycled through different emotions purposefully.