Summer Movie Musings: Ghostbusters

Greetings!

I saw this "controversial" new film the weekend it came out with my partner. I mentioned in a recent geek out post, but I wanted to get around to giving some more detailed thoughts on the movie. Also, I say it was "controversial" to say that I don't believe it was, but I know other, less open-minded people did.

I enjoyed this movie. It's not the greatest film ever made, but it doesn't have to be. It's a perfectly fun summer movie that honors its past, and paves a positive way forward for the future. It allows for more diverse representation in our heroes and media in general, and I think it provides positive role models for young women.

We've had a lot of nostalgia marketing lately, with reboots, remakes, and repackaging of all the things we loved from the 1980s and 90s. Some of these efforts are done well and others are not. It's really 50/50 for me usually whether or not it feels like pandering. Stuff like the Jump Street movies are fun, things like the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies are not. Stuff like Jurassic World is decently fun, things like another Indiana Jones moving being in the works or something like Independence Day: Resurgence feels unnecessary. Just because Star Wars did it pretty well with The Force Awakens doesn't mean we need some other franchise movie that picks up 30 years too late.

If we're going to have more reboots, I'd want them to be done well and in a fresh way like Ghostbusters. Star Wars and Star Trek and many other reboots have struggled with simply rehashing old story lines with a shiny new veneer. Ghostbusters embarks on a new path and has clever humor and good action. It's just a good movie on its own outside of any of the female empowerment aspects of it, that is just a nice bonus.

I hope you enjoyed Ghostbusters if you saw it. I hope others go out and see it to enjoy it and to support making more movies like this.

Thanks for stopping by!

Weekly Geek Outs - 07/22/16

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Orange is the New Black, Season 4

I finished this most recent season this past week, and while I'm late to the party, I have a lot of feelings. The death of a beloved character, combined with some hard to watch moments left me a little frustrated, along with the continuing lack of development of most of its chronically underused and brilliant ensemble. What was at first a bold move for a TV show, has now become a burdensome weight; this large cast of diverse women characters now begs to be explored, but there is a main narrative to follow to drive the show forward. Also, with three more seasons already greenlit, we know we're going to have roughly 39 more hours of this show to get through. The narrative seems to be moving at a snail's pace for me while also suffering from the weight of everything else I mentioned. I enjoy this show, and feel it has so much potential (especially with how the season ended). I'll be curious to see how it goes, but if it doesn't improve, it is bordering on The Walking Dead territory for me (meaning it is really just not doing it for me anymore, may put my watching of it on pause). It definitely has time to change course. I just think it needs to figure out an endgame, focus more on other characters, and try better to balance the darker aspects of the show.

• Ghostbusters

I saw the new Ghostbusters movie with my partner over this past weekend and I really enjoyed it. I made sure to watch the original film before seeing this one, and I feel like I prefer the newer one. Not to say the original 1984 film is bad, but it is definitely showing its age and just hits on a different target than the new reboot. The new film is funnier, the action is better, and the effects are better thanks to improved CGI (can't really hold that against its predecessor). The original Ghostbusters will always be there, but this new, female driven movie will hopefully embark on its own journey and create some positive new role models for young women going forward. Go check it out!

• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

This show is awesome. It is quick, smart, silly, and a really original format for TV (musical comedy). It wasn't something I thought I'd like at first, but after watching through the first season on Netflix recently, I'm a fan. It has some clever feminist lines and great running gags that you have to keep an eye out for. I'd recommend this show to most people. I'm sure it is not for everyone but this sort of show is right up my alley. My partner loved it too and it was a lot of fun to watch together. It is also an hour long each episode, which is surprising for a comedy but it helps to fit a lot into the season's 18 episodes especially with the musical interludes.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 10/31/14

Welcome to this spooktacular week in geek!

Bad Halloween puns aside, this week I wanted to highlight some of my favorite geeky horror films. Most of them have some sort of comedy element to them but are still fun Halloween watches with friends or family. Hopefully you've seen them all but if not, I highly recommend them all!

• Shaun of the Dead

This is one of my favorite movies of all time in general and was what I thought of first when I thought up the idea for this post. It's a classic British comedy with zombies (or zomedy, see what I did there?!) from 2004 starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in their first of the "Cornetto Trilogy" of films that recently concluded with The World's End. The movie has a lot of great gags, is full of heart, and is all in with the action. I love it and you need to watch it if you haven't before (or even if you haven't watched it in a while).

• Ghostbusters

This classic comedy from the 80s is a supernatural romp with some comedy legends like Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Harold Ramis. I still find it a fun ride these many years later and it is a cultural touchstone for sure. The theme song alone is awesome and worthy of any Halloween playlist!

• Alien

This one is a little different since it holds a unique place as a sci-fi horror film from back in the day. It inspired several sequels and prequels and is an awesome movie. Starring Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, we were first treated to the Alien back in 1979 and the movie still holds up very well. The basic premise is that Ripley is a lone survivor on a ship lampooned out in space as a vicious creature kills all of her fellow crew members. Weaver rocks in this movie and she definitely gets to play a great, strong, female character here. Check it out if you haven't gotten around to it, it is well worth your time.

Thanks for stopping by!