The New Ghostbusters - Part 9

[Teelie]

I'm leaning towards seeing it in the theater now that there are some actual reviews of the movie itself, not just comments on the trailers or judgemental opinions of it going around based solely on the fact some see it as a vehicle to remake an icon of the 80's with female leads instead.

The reviews are encouraging that it will be a decent though not great movie. I wasn't expecting a great movie. I am still not excited about it nor do I care whether it is "pointless" just so long as it is entertaining.

If we judge movies by some arbitary value of contribution then a lot of good, entertaining movies would be pointless. Then again we wouldn't have a half-dozen Transformers movies each increasingly worse than the previous. Tough call there.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Good.

I love when people can't help themselves.

 

[Zero_Effect]

It's tracking pretty low for opening weekend, around U$S 40M, so it would fall very short of financial expectations

Paul Feig films tend to have legs though. That 40 million opening could get them 140+ million.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Let's see if the reviews stay decent. That could effect the box office.

 

[Teelie]

I love when people can't help themselves.

It comes off to me as this smug, superior attitude that if they can't enjoy this movie it deserves to bomb and is a terrible movie.

Why people want a movie to fail is really hard to understand sometimes.

For instance, I really don't care for the Twilight movies. I've never seen them, I have no plans to ever see them but I could care less if other people enjoy it and make a hundred of them. I would feel sorry for the people involved in making it but I wouldn't say I want the movies to fail. There is something that feels wrong with that kind of mentality.

 

[Victarion]

Wow, I was right. It looks like this might do better than expected.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Wow, I was right. It looks like this might do better than expected.

Stop bragging.

 

[Matt]

Feig never...NEVER said that if someone doesn't like the finished product they are sexist.

He hasn't outright said it but the implication has underlined every interview he has given for this movie. Feig is not a stupid man. He is insecure and egotistical (at least that is my opinion of him based on his media appearances, his need to answer the "haters", etc) but he is not stupid. Every word he has spoken on this movie has been calculated and designed to set up that implication. He doesn't need to outright say it.

This is Paul Feig:

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It comes off to me as this smug, superior attitude that if they can't enjoy this movie it deserves to bomb and is a terrible movie.

Why people want a movie to fail is really hard to understand sometimes.

For instance, I really don't care for the Twilight movies. I've never seen them, I have no plans to ever see them but I could care less if other people enjoy it and make a hundred of them. I would feel sorry for the people involved in making it but I wouldn't say I want the movies to fail. There is something that feels wrong with that kind of mentality.

There are movies I have wanted to fail, but that was if they were awful and I had an emotion investment in it. Like Superman, Star Wars, etc. A hope for a change in direction if they didn't do enough money. This movie isn't exactly looking awful right now, and people are still acting like it is the worst movie of the year. The bitterness speaks to something a bit more then being upset it might be bad.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

He hasn't outright said it but the implication has underlined every interview he has given for this movie. Feig is not a stupid man. He is insecure and egotistical (at least that is my opinion of him based on his media appearances, his need to answer the "haters", etc) but he is not stupid. Every word he has spoken on this movie has been calculated and designed to set up that implication. He doesn't need to outright say it.

This is Paul Feig:

Anyone is of course ridiculous. Plenty? No doubt. The reaction isn't in a vacuum Matt.

 

[Xrated48]

Feig never...NEVER said that if someone doesn't like the finished product they are sexist.

Could it actually be, that the reviews are accurate? They pretty closely align with what AllEights and I have said about the movie based on the test screening we both saw. While he didn't enjoy it overall, and I did enjoy it overall, we have consistently agreed on the movie's strengths and weaknesses. I'm not sure why people are so attached to their personal narratives that they cannot accept that it is not a disaster of a movie...not is it a masterpiece. It will never come close to the original, but it's better than Ghostbusters 2 and some of the other films that have come out this summer.

My opinion...it's not amazing, but it has moments of brilliance and was ultimately enjoyable. Oh and the marketing is the worst...the worst.

No but indicated that if you don't like it your sexist.

 

[Matt]

Anyone is of course ridiculous. Plenty? No doubt. The reaction isn't in a vacuum Matt.

Just as this movie seems to be better than detractors would make it out to be, I think the number of detractors driven by misogyny is far less than advocates of the movie would have you believe.

I think the negativity is more grounded in terrible trailers coupled with the fact that the source material is a sacred relic of pop culture. It looked like Feig completely butchered a movie that is beloved and regarded as one of the best comedies of all time. Of course people were going to react negatively. I think very little is based in sexism. Its there, but not much.

 

[JtheDreamer]

It comes off to me as this smug, superior attitude that if they can't enjoy this movie it deserves to bomb and is a terrible movie.

Why people want a movie to fail is really hard to understand sometimes.

For instance, I really don't care for the Twilight movies. I've never seen them, I have no plans to ever see them but I could care less if other people enjoy it and make a hundred of them. I would feel sorry for the people involved in making it but I wouldn't say I want the movies to fail. There is something that feels wrong with that kind of mentality.

Has nothing to do with being smug. I don't like how a property like this is being forced to homogenize with Paul Feig comedies. I also take issue with actors/actresses being forced down our throats ... i.e. McCarthy and Wiig. I say the same about male actors (cough Kevin Hart cough).

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Just as this movie seems to be better than detractors would make it out to be, I think the number of detractors driven by misogyny is far less than advocates of the movie would have you believe.

I think the negativity is more grounded in terrible trailers coupled with the fact that the source material is a sacred relic of pop culture. It looked like Feig completely butchered a movie that is beloved and regarded as one of the best comedies of all time. Of course people were going to react negatively. I think very little is based in sexism. Its there, but not much.

Except this would reject the reaction when they announced they were making an all female Ghostbusters.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Has nothing to do with being smug. I don't like how a property like this is being forced to homogenize with Paul Feig comedies. I also take issue with actors/actresses being forced down our throats ... i.e. McCarthy and Wiig. I say the same about male actors (cough Kevin Hart cough).

That you would compare McCarthy and Wiig to Kevin Hart says a lot.

 

[Sithborg]

Just as this movie seems to be better than detractors would make it out to be, I think the number of detractors driven by misogyny is far less than advocates of the movie would have you believe.

In total numbers, sure.

But in terms of the vocal ones, I have seen far too much in different geek areas to dismiss it.

 

[terry78]

I cheated and read the novelization at the store. If they maintain that it won't be as bad as we make it to be. Also it ended on a cliffhanger that fanboys are either going to love or hate.

 

[Xrated48]

Just as this movie seems to be better than detractors would make it out to be, I think the number of detractors driven by misogyny is far less than advocates of the movie would have you believe.

I think the negativity is more grounded in terrible trailers coupled with the fact that the source material is a sacred relic of pop culture. It looked like Feig completely butchered a movie that is beloved and regarded as one of the best comedies of all time. Of course people were going to react negatively. I think very little is based in sexism. Its there, but not much.

Agreed 100% their are more reasons like the terrible cast in this film. I don't hate them because they are women i just don't like the actresses.

 

[Xrated48]

Except this would reject the reaction when they announced they were making an all female Ghostbusters.

That's because they cast terrible actresses and nobody wanted another film let alone a reboot to a beloved film from 80's. It had nothing to do for the most part with sexism.

 

[Matt]

Except this would reject the reaction when they announced they were making an all female Ghostbusters.

If internet rage/love/etc represented anything more than a vocal minority, Snakes On A Plane would have shattered box office records and Avatar would have bombed.

That you would compare McCarthy and Wiig to Kevin Hart says a lot.

Wiig, I disagree with. McCarthy, I think its a fair comparison. Hart's whole schtick is "I'm short, black, and I react to things in an over the top way." Conversely, McCarthy's whole schtick is "I'm fat, I'm a woman, and I react to things in an over the top way." Both represent broad comedy.

Further, Hollywood has forced them down America's throats because they represent safe comedy. Kevin Hart's comedy is based primarily on race, but it doesn't challenge racial conventions or societal perceptions in the way that Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and other great black comedic actors have. Similarly, Melissa McCarthy's comedy is based primarily on gender roles, but it doesn't challenge conventions or norms the way other great female comediennes have. Instead it is "I'm fat and I fart!"

Like I said, both are very broad and very safe. They are a way for Hollywood to pat themselves on the back for being progressive without ever really pushing the envelope and making progress.

So I don't think the comparison is that far off base. That is not to say there is not merit to their comedic styles or that either is inherently bad. But the comparison is not egregious.

Wiig falls into another category. I can get not liking her comedic sensibility, but it is not the same as a Kevin Hart/Melissa McCarthy type of situation.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

That's because they cast terrible actresses and nobody wanted another film let alone a reboot to a beloved film from 80's. It had nothing to do for the most part with sexism.

Wiig and McCarthy are not terrible actresses. To even imply it shows a ridiculous bias. One is responsible for arguably the finest comedy in the last 10 years, and the other was the star of the another contender. This was after years of fantastic service on SNL for Wiig. But of course to know that, you'd have to be familiar with the work of these two women.

 

[Kyle]

I cheated and read the novelization at the store. If they maintain that it won't be as bad as we make it to be. Also it ended on a cliffhanger that fanboys are either going to love or hate.

If it's what I think and read, don't really like that. But only because I'd like it to keep original to some degree.

Spoiler

If it's the same villain, I don't know how different they can make it. Sure some films do the same thing, but I'm sure a lot can agree 'Into Darkness' going all 'Wrath of Khan' was part of that film's downfall. Unless they just take the name and basics and run as far away as possible from a somewhat remake and learn from where JJ went wrong with that film ('Into Darkness').

Glad to see Top Critics on the rise. Both basically giving it the same, 6.4/5/10. Interested in seeing it on Thursday again. Wonder how SONY is going to damage control the damage the marketing department did, because with a good marketing campaign and these reviews it could have brought in a heck of a lot more money.

 

[danoyse]

Folks...just a reminder to not post images with cursing in them. Thanks.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

If internet rage/love/etc represented anything more than a vocal minority, Snakes On A Plane would have shattered box office records and Avatar would have bombed.

They are the ones making noise. That is the point. We are complaining about what was said, not the people who don't speak and thus we have no idea what they think.

Wiig, I disagree with. McCarthy, I think its a fair comparison. Hart's whole schtick is "I'm short, black, and I react to things in an over the top way." Conversely, McCarthy's whole schtick is "I'm fat, I'm a woman, and I react to things in an over the top way. Both represent broad comedy.

Further, Hollywood has forced them down America's throats because they represent safe comedy. Kevin Hart's comedy is based primarily on race, but it doesn't challenge racial conventions or societal perceptions in the way that Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and other great black comedic actors have. Similarly, Melissa McCarthy's comedy is based primarily on gender roles, but it doesn't challenge conventions or norms the way other great female comediennes have. Instead it is "I'm fat and I fart!"

Like I said, both are very broad and very safe. They are a way for Hollywood to pat themselves on the back for being progressive without ever really pushing the envelope and making progress.

So I don't think the comparison is that far off base.

Wiig falls into another category. I can get not liking her comedic sensibility, but it is not the same as a Kevin Hart/Melissa McCarthy type of situation.

McCarthy has two comedies of the decade to her name, and her work on Gilmore Girls was very different then her usual comedy now. I get that she decided she wanted that paper, but that doesn't change her talent and when she has shown it. Hart I haven't seen him in anything that compares to Bridesmaids and Spy.

Wiig, I agree with you on.

 

[danoyse]

And no, don't post the same image again with cursing blocked out.