19 FILM REVIEWS Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cries out to be labeled awesome, a level it doesnt quite reach. But it conquers fabulously watchable just fine. B Rated PG-13 for stylized violence, sexual content, language and drug references. Directed by Edgar Wright and written by Wright and Michael Bacall (from the graphic novels by Bryan Lee OMalley), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is an hour and 52 minutes long and is distributed by Universal Pictures. It opens in wide release on Friday, Aug. 13. dont know, he paints and thats pretty much all he gets for his character development. The ruling principle of this movie seems to be getting as many tight shots of as many tough-guy faces as possible, so when things arent being punched or exploded theyre being explained in super close-ups that put us staring at the enormous face of, say, Willis or Li. One scene cuts the faces entirely and just does cuts to eyes Stallone, Statham, Li, maybe a stand-in or two that close up, whos to say? And when our heroes arent shot as though the cameraman were looking for sinus infections, theyre shot in fight scenes so dizzying that you find yourself wondering things like, Who just knifed who in the face? and Didnt that helicopter blow up already? Its like the cameraman was in the fight, being kicked in the gut while lying on the ground but still filming, of course, because this isnt a movie for wussies. To say the acting is bad is not so much an understatement; it erroneously suggests that anybody here is acting. Its more like theyre playing pretend, as if, instead of being asked by their daughters (or, you know, granddaughters) to play princess tea party theyve been asked by Stallone to play explodey knife party. They are pretending, or in the case of Schwarzenegger, who shows up to saunter into a church, backlit by a golden glow, looking like the robot reincarnation of a Ronald Reagan/Jesus hybrid, just talking while smiling. It looks like they are having a crazy blast of fun time but I doubt anybody was stopping a scene to get Director Stallone to go over their motivation again. So, good movie? Not as such, no. But, you know, so what? B- Rated R for strong action and bloody violence throughout, and for some language. Directed by Sylvester Stallone and written by Stallone and David Callaham, The Expendables is an hour and 43 minutes long and is distributed by Lionsgate. It opens in wide release on Friday, Aug. 13. The Expendables(R) Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World By AMY DIAZ The York Independent Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (PG-13) Michael Cera, saddest of the sad sack hipsters, must fight a squad of evil ex-es to win the heart of the alternagirl apple of his eye in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, a dizzying circus of a movie. Scott Pilgrim (Cera) is in his twenties but dating a high schooler named Knives Chau (Ellen Wong) and shares a room so small that he actually shares a bed with roommate Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin). Scotts job appears to be slacking around Toronto and playing with the band Sex Bob- omb, which is not thrilled when he starts bringing Knives to practice. Soon, however, Scott is over his infatuation with young Knives and into Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a taciturn young woman who works at Amazon and has ever- changing hair colors. She also has seven evil ex-es who, because the most recent ex is eager to have her back, have declared a series of duels against Scott Pilgrim if he wants to be with her. A discovery that is a mixed bag for him on the one hand, thats a lot of fighting for somebody who looks like Michael Cera. On the other hand, it means he and Ramona are, at least on some level, dating. Gideon Gordon Graves (Jason Schwartzman) is Ramonas most recent ex, the one who wants her back. Other exes include an action star and a superhuman yet not terribly bright rocker (Brandon Routh, who just keeps getting more fun). Close your eyes and Scott Pilgrim sounds like an arcade. An arcade where they play indie music. Which is on purpose the visual style of this movie is all comic books (its source material) and video games. When Scott is able to defeat an ex, he is rewarded with a pile of coins. In the movies big final fight, he makes use of an additional life (thanks to a 1-Up that appears next to a pixilated, early-Nintendo-era-styl version of his face) and a few powers that he gains thanks to things like discovering self-respect. It is cute, funny and occasionally really annoying. This is one of the few movies where an enthusiastic crowd pretty handily got in the way of my enjoying the movie. Shut up, crowd, I kept thinking. This movie is by itself a marching band, some elephants and a Mini Cooper full of clowns. It does not need a whooping audience to keep things energized. Which means I dont know what, in terms of your vs. my movie-going experience. Perhaps those coming fresh to this story, not readers of the graphic novels from whence it came, should see the movie at some quiet weekday matinee. Edgar Wright, the director here, is also the director of Hot Fuzz and just as that movie references, skewers and loves the overheated action movie, so does this movie poke gentle fun at the things it references video games, indie music, comic books, Toronto. It is sweet at times, delightfully smart at times but also frequently gimmicky. I 70 percent liked what was happening and 30 percent wanted to like it, making the movie something like moderately more enjoyable than not. Michael Cera might have exactly one speed George Michael from Arrested Development, slightly grown up but it works here. He is definitely believable as a guy whose sole experience at kicking butt involves a joystick (and yes, joystick this movie has a very retro- alternative, early-1990s feel; I half expected a Nirvana reference). And what the movie lacks in magnetic leads it makes up for in delightful supporting characters Anna Kendrick as Scotts mildly sympathetic sister, Wong as a broken- hearted school girl, Aubrey Plaza as a nay-saying acquaintance who appears everywhere, and of course, Culkin, as a gay lothario/life mentor. You name a major action star from the last 30 years and youve got a 50-percent chance of naming a cast member of The Expendables, a movie co-written by, directed by, starring and featuring thorough butt-kickings of and by Sylvester Stallone. So, yes, in case you havent seen the trailer, the list: Stallone, of course, and also Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, particularly sneery Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, a particularly bad-ass Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke and in delightful little cameos, Bruce Willis and the governor of California, one Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who probably gets the best meta joke of the bunch. Some of these bang-punch-ka-boom guys are good mercenaries (led by Stallone), some are bad mercenaries (led by Roberts). All participate in the comic relief that fills the scenes between stuff blowing up and guys getting punched. Occasionally, Stallone or Rourke or some combination will attempt to ruminate on what this gun-for-hire life means to their souls (which, yeesh, fellas). For no particular reason Statham gets a very small, very underdeveloped side plot about a girl (Charisma Carpenter) he likes. There is some even more shakily constructed stuff about a girl (Giselle Itie) in peril in some Cuba/Colombia-ish island country. And there is a dictator (David Zayas) of said country who is supposed to be, what, crazy? Or layered? I Cyan Magenta Yellow Black WHERE TO SEE THE FLICKS For films and showtimes, call the theater. Wells Five Star Cinema 7 75 Wells Plaza, Wells, Maine (207) 646-0500 Regal Cinemas Newington 15 45 Gosling Road, Newington, N.H. (603) 431-4200 The Music Hall 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, N.H. (207) 436-9900 Smittys Sanford Cinema & Pub 1364 Main St., Sanford, Maine (207) 490-0000 Smittys Cinemas Biddeford 8 420 Alfred Road, Biddeford, Maine (207) 283-4500 The Cinemagic & IMAX in Saco 779 Portland Road, Saco, Maine (207) 282-6234 Cinemagic Grand Stadium at Clarks Pond 333 Clarks Pond Highway, South Portland, Maine (207) 772-6023 Leavitt Theatre 259 Main St., Ogunquit (207) 646-3123 19 WE WILL PAY YOU $500 Bring us your best deal if we cant beat it on any in-stock new Ford, we will pay you $500.00. Its that simple. Starkey Fords Lowest Price Guarantee: IF YOU CAN FIND A BETTER DEAL Price Sells Cars! Are you so busy you cant stand it? Are there not enough hours in the day? We shuttle everyday to all the Yorks, Ogunquit, Wells, South Berwick, Kittery & Eliot. SERVICE CONVENIENCE FREE Shuttle Service in the Seacoast Area! SAT. Service 8 - Noon All major credit cards accepted 054901 WE SELL & SERVICE ALL MAKES & MODELS FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC 1-877-395-FORD WWW.STARKEYFORD.COM RT 1, YORK MAINE... SINCE 1955 19 August 13 - 26, 2010 The York Independent
1 York The Independent The hometown voice of the greater York region FREE INSIDE: THE LATEST ICE CREAM TIPS FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS! SEE PAGE 21! Free PATHwAy www.yorkindependent.net PAST Table of contents, Event Listings, 11 2 Op-Ed/Letters, 10 Local Art, 12-13 Not budging further TO THE April Aug. 13
2 PUBLISHERS NoTE Two miles, too many stories By DAN SZcZESNy The York Independent Through the months, as Ive explored and worked in the Yorks, I constantly found myself walking from place to place on one path or anotherparticularly in the summer, when parking was scarce and the sound of waves on ro
quit community news Healthy seashore, or not? Water tests raise questions about local beaches By MADELEINE STAUB The York Independent Sun, surf, sand, and bacteria. The Natural Resources Defense Councils 20th Annual Water Quality Beach Report makes it look as though beach-goers who frequent local b
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Q&A AUDREY GOTTLIEB DANE KALLOO PHOTO THE PHOTOGRAPHER By TARYN PLUMB The York Independent Camera in hand, she watches the world. Europe, Africa, South America, the U.S.chronicling shepherds tending sheep; women draped in colorful fabric; fields of ruffled sunflowers; umb
darkroom process? The magic of putting a piece of paper into the developer tray after exposing it without being able to see any picture at all. And all of a sudden the image you exposed starts forming in the dark with only the light from the red safe light. To this day, I still get excited if I wat
PATHway cover story PAST Cyan Magenta Yellow Black TO THE DAN SZCZESNY PHOTO A view looking back from the far eastern end of the Cliff Walk toward York Harbor Beach and the Stage Neck. Two miles of walking along the waters edge passes through three centuries of York history hes impossible to miss.
Wiggley Bridge. Be sure to stay on the trails, though! Is there anyone in York who doesnt know the Wiggley Bridge? According to local lore, an original bridge was built over Mill Dam around 1896. The current bridge, built in the 1930s by a North Berwick company that also made seats for baseball sta
8 PATHWAY TO THE PAST TWO MILES OF WALKING, THREE CENTURIES OF YORK HISTORY Lindsay Rd. Heres a map of key spots along the nearly two miles of pedestrian paths that skirt both the York River and the Atlantic Ocean. The paths are all free and open to the public. e e e e e e e e e e e e e Bar Bar Bar
9 Rd Sco Wo od brid ge an or Dr Gr an dM Sent ry H ill Rd tt A ve DAN SZcZESNy PHoTo DAN SZcZESNy PHoTo DAN SZcZESNy PHoTo Take these unique steps down to the water along Fishermans Walk. Just be sure to not get caught in high tide! Charles Lindbergh docks his cruiser, named Mouette, along what was
10 Continued from page 7 10 Cyan Magenta Yellow Black need of a good trimming and pedestrians have to battle thickets The Belvederes own skipper turns to me and says of Capn full of bees that push out over the cliffs. Dan, This man is a miracle, just amazing. We dont have a landscaping history, Wetz
11 listings Send us your listings! List your event in the York Independent for free! Listings are run on a space available basis. Send complete information about your event, including exactly when and where it takes place, any admission charges, and anything else necessary for readers to take action
12 VISUAL ARTS LISTINGS The Clown, 659 US Route 1, York, will host a Summer Wine Tasting and a Meet The Artist night on Friday, Aug.13, from 5 to 8 p.m. Taste wines perfect for all things summer and meet artist Lisa Dombek. For more informa- tion, call The Clown at 351-3063. The York Art Associati
13 Come enjoy our Maine Lobster Shore Dinners, Fantastic Fresh Seafood, Choice Steak, Chicken, Pasta, Homemade Wild Maine Blueberry Pie and more... Daily Chalk Board SPECIALS! Lobster Mac & Cheese Lobster Tails & Filets Mignon Crab Cake Summer Salad Nubble Lighthouse Point York, Beac
14 Food THINKING OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT BOX Farm 2 Fork Project results in innovative dining experience By SARAH GRANT The York Independent Imagine an alternate universe where restaurants as we know them do not exist. Instead, altruistic chefs share their knowledge and talents in temporary residenci
15 Eat here FOOD LISTINGS Send us your listings! Got a food-related event coming up? Wine tasting? Chicken BBQ? Send the info to yorkindependentgmail.c Listings run on a space available basis. served each week at 5:30 p.m., and followed by karaoke for $7. Chix Shoots meals are served each first and
16 MY KIND OF SHOW SUNSET BOULEVARD STUNS By JENNIFER L. SAUNDERS The York Independent Have you seen Sunset Boulevard yet at the Ogunquit Playhouse? If not, this weekend is your last chance, so pack the paper up and go get your tickets. You can read while youre waiting for the show to start. After a
17 Music listings WHOS PLAYING, WHEN & WHERE FRIDAY, AUG. 13 Dave Berry Band, Inn on the Blues, 7 Ocean Ave., York Beach, Maine (207) 351-3221. Eastern Sound Orchestra, 7 p.m., Ellis Park, York Beach, Maine (207) 363-1040. Deely Stan vs. the Guv Nors, 8:30 p.m., The Landing at Pine Point, 353 Pin
18 CAR TALK BY TOM AND RAY MAGLIOZZI Is dream car from high school a good idea today? a covered dust collector in the garage. And (2) the Avanti was known as a muscle car in its day, so could I expect it to still be as strong today? I know I m not. Finally, (3) in the vast experience you both have w
19 FILM REVIEWS Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cries out to be labeled awesome, a level it doesnt quite reach. But it conquers fabulously watchable just fine. B Rated PG-13 for stylized violence, sexual content, language and drug references. Directed by Edgar Wright and written by Wright and Michael Ba
20 THE PET coNNEcTIoN LOOKING FOR A HOME If youre interested in adopting any of these animals or if youd like to know whos available for adoption, please visit the Animal Welfare Society Web site at www.animalwelfaresociet or call 985-3244. Mattie Meet Mattie, a 7-month old Mixed Breed. Mattie is a
21 NEWS OF RECORD OBITUARIES Ruth H. Caine Ruth H. Caine, 86, died at York Hospital on Thursday, July 29, 2010. Born on November 24, 1923, she was the daughter of Wilbur and Clara (Roberts) Henderson. Following graduation from the Univer- sity of New Hampshire, she worked 45 years for the N.H. Depar
Classifi ed Ads $8.00 per 15 words. Payment is due when ad is placed. We accept cash, check and all major credit cards. 22 Call 363-8484 x3, email classifi edsyorkindependent.net or stop by The York Independent offi ce, 4 Market Place Drive, Suite 215 York Village Business Center with access from Ro
2 COMMUNITY SERVICE Donations, volunteers needed York Hospitals Meal Delivery program is looking for volunteer drivers with dependable vehicles and good driving records to deliver meals during the day. Drivers are reimbursed for mileage and also provided with a free meal. Anyone interested should c
24 Realty One Office: 439 US Route One York, ME 03909 84 School St (intersection of RT 1) Ogunquit, ME 03907 Each office independently owned & operated & 207.363.2497 Toll Free: 800.272.4366 OGUNQUIT Celebrate these Sweet Days of Late Summer and Back-to-School Excitement! OGUNQUIT OGUNQUIT Shore Ro
