This weekend over at San Diego Comic-Con, the attendees of Hall H were greeted with glimpses of the eighth Batman movie since 1989, the eighth and ninth X-Men films since 2000, and, of course, everyone is waiting for word on the sixth Spider-Man movie since 2002. There’s a certain stagnation within the geek culture that lends itself to embracing the familiarity, shunning ideas that may be considered bold or different. No other place is this more apparent than the online reaction to the first official photo from Paul Feig’s new Ghostbusters movie. Within moments of the image appearing online, a swarm of comments alternating between dismissive and pure vitriolic are flung in the direction of the movie. But why? Simply, it’s because the new Ghostbusters are women.
Now I know that if you’re disagreeing with me early on, you’re likely thinking, “I don’t like the new Ghostbusters and it has nothing to do with women, I just love it from my childhood.” Which is, frankly, bullshit. First of all, people played videogames as children and I’ve seen no impassioned pleas that Pixels will somehow denigrate their beloved video game icons. And more to that point, Adam Sandler, Josh Gad, and Kevin James have nowhere near the record of quality films as Melissa McCarthy or Kristen Wiig. Also, we’ve seen the trailers for Pixels and, well, it looks awful. Meanwhile, the anger sparked by the new Ghostbusters is based off a couple of photos. A few more photos and we’d have a whole second of footage! While the costumes look like good ol’ Ghostbusters garb, that one glaring difference draws the ire of a vocal minority – their gender. You don’t have to be an internet sleuth to find casual uses of “cunts” and “bitches” in relation to these new Ghostbusters. But tell me again how it has nothing to do with gender.
While the internet has turned upon the four women now donning the canvas jumpsuits, they’re quick to forgive the men behind some of the most pedestrian and middling superhero cinema to date. Zack Snyder, who I call Michael Bay 2.0, has only made one movie that wasn’t based on some preexisting property – the borderline incomprehensible Sucker Punch. Snyder is a great stylist, but he’s not an adequate storyteller, yet fandom extends him seemingly limitless goodwill. Or what about Bryan Singer? Working on his fourth X-Men film, Singer once again took over the franchise after it was injected with life once again following Matthew Vaughn’s First Class and returned to the same drab style that he brought nearly a decade prior. And still people are looking forward to Singer’s X-Men: Apocalypse. Going even further, what about Ryan Reynolds? The actor is enthusiastic, and I can fully respect that, but it’s not like he’s a leading man with this lengthy roster of memorable roles. He’s already played Deadpool once in the abysmal X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and though Deadpool does look really promising, the lack of skepticism surrounding a character that’s already been screwed up once and being handled by a first-time director says a lot.
All of this placed in contrast to the reaction toward the new Ghostbusters is stunning. Director Paul Feig, who is co-writing the film with The Heat writer Katie Dippold, has an incredible résumé. He directed the wonderful Bridesmaids and Spy , and created the great series Freaks and Geeks. As far as the cast is concerned, I’m not too familiar with Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, but my lack of familiarity doesn’t mean that it’ll be awful – sometimes saying “I don’t know” is much more effective than a blind opinion. Both Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy have proven themselves to be phenomenal comedic and dramatic actresses. The sci-fi comedy Paul, which Wiig co-starred in, is a better geek film than anything featuring Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern, R.I.P.D., X-Men Origins). McCarthy and Feig’s collaboration from earlier this year, Spy, is better than any superhero film I’ve seen all year.
What gets lost in the perpetual outrage cycle is the modern era studio filmmaking. There was always going to be another Ghostbusters, it was just a matter of what and when. For years, Dan Aykroyd desperately tried to get Ghostbusters 3 off the ground, not even deterred when Harold Ramis died and Bill Murray was vocally opposed. Following the underwhelming Ghostbusters 2, which jumps through hoops to basically get the characters to where they were at the start of the first film, do we really need to go back there again? Even as Aykroyd’s intentions for a third film faded, Sony was going to do something with a property that they owned. Instead of making a tired rehash, they hired a smart director with a great track record of directing funny women in smart, nuanced roles – it’s a different, bold, and exciting direction. Or would you rather have Brett Ratner’s Ghostbusters starring Jai Courtney?
Most importantly, just because you consumed a piece of culture in your youth doesn’t make it sacred. Youth is an important time in our lives and shapes who we are, but we grow older and endless attempts to recapture a moment long gone is a tragic exercise in futility. Asking artists to make their work fit within a narrow, personal definition isn’t merely irrational, it’s entirely impossible. No matter what interpretations of beloved characters follow, they can’t change your connection with the original. There’s no need to feel threatened by different takes on favorite characters. But while you may object to the modern nature of studio filmmaking, where everything old is new again, you can’t say that the open revulsion towards this new Ghostbusters has nothing to do with sexism. What is inherently male about Ghostbusters? Nothing. Unless you like to think of those brave macho warriors who run away, arms flailing, screaming when they first encounter a ghost. Put the fifth guy in the Batsuit in 27 years and there’s a collective cheer. Give four women some proton packs for the first time ever – freak out. Though we all get wrapped up in trailers, casting news, and set photos, we can’t ever truly judge a movie until, you know, we actually see it. Crazy, I know, but writing a movie off based on a picture is even crazier.
Actually no.. the issue is not the fact that they are women. Breasts and Vaginas have nothing to do with why this movie is so far looking to be a severe failure. Let me clarify it for you, Author.
For my first point. The hate is not because of gender nor nostalgia. It’s simply because it’s got all the ingredients needed to make a bad movie. Let’s start with the comedy. The jokes are completely dry and unfunny. I have shown my two nieces the latest trailers. They are 10 and 5 years of age and the jokes in there didn’t make them smile or laugh. If anything, the opening joke with the ghost puking on the lady was and I quote “that’s stupid, yuck!”. The rest of the jokes are just simply not funny. Especially the “Power of Patty compels you” gag. It’s slapstick that was missing the context of the joke. All it boils down to is making jokes that have been done time and time and time again just because they used to work the first few times around.
Secondly, the casting was a bad choice. Not because the main cast is female but because they can’t deliver what is expected in a character. Do not get me wrong, each of these women are perfectly competent comedians and I quite enjoy their respective materials. But they were poorly suited for the casting of a new Ghostbusters team. The chemistry between them looks false and the characters themselves are not even characters. They are character archetypes done badly. The biggest offender has to be the Sassy Black Woman archetype. You know what the difference is between the character done in this movie and say… Whoopi Goldberg in the movie Ghost?… Whoopi Goldberg was a sassy black woman who brought more than just a bunch of one liners as street smarts to the table. She brought depth to her character and we didn’t just see another black woman with a fast mouth. We saw a legitimate person with thoughts and feelings and a personality.
Thirdly, the Nostalgia in the original Ghostbusters is indeed a big factor, but it’s not the be all, end all of this trailer. People tend to forget the original Ghostbusters was quite silly too. But there was a set of choices done in the film that made it absolutely memorable. From a catchy intro to making a 100 foot tall marshmallow man look absolutely terrifying and yet hilarious at the same time. It wasn’t just about the jokes or the scares. It was about four people trying to make a living based on what they were good at. Hell, even the black character type in there wasn’t just sassy one liners either. Ernie Hudsons portrayal was a means for the audience to connect with the film. Hudsons character was the every day man who did not have a scientific background. He was a means for the audience to understand what is going on. For example the twinkie scene in the first Ghostbusters film. The explanation in that scene alone was only possible because Hudson asked the similar kind of question that the audience would be asking. So when people say that this Ghostbusters film isn’t as good as the original, maybe it’s not just simply nostalgia but perhaps a little more.
To finish it all off… Who the hell cares if the team was all men or women? As long as they can deliver and make the film work, then they could be a collection of genderless dolls for all people care. It’s not a matter of hating women, it’s a matter of knowing when a film is bad and identifying the real reasons behind it instead of simply waving around the sexist or racist cards. Maybe you should study films a little more before you decide to go criticizing the rest of humanity, no?
If you think this is about them being women, wait and watch the movie. As far as the trailers are concerned, the jokes are flat and lame. The graphics may be better than the old movies, but the old movies left you with that nostalgia about the movie because the graphics were blah at that time. But let’s be honest, it’s not he fact that their women…it’s the fact that the script sucks and so do the jokes.
Why do gay guys always have the need to side with women?
What a load of bull crap.
Have you seen all the bad publicity it’s getting? You’re saying everyone hates women?
What a load of shit. Not only am I a woman but I date women so I think it’s pretty clear that I don’t have a problem with women.. What I have a problem with is regurgitated horse shit just with gender/race swaps. Give me an original film with an all female cast and I’m all for it! Give me the same crap with a PC twist and you can take a hike.
I’m really looking forward to the new Ghostbusters movie, and I’m also really looking forward to seeing the new cast kick ass. Every actress they’ve got for the lead roles is freaking amazing.
Have any of the feminazis here realized the GB remake is just another example of how women need to stand on the shoulders of men to accomplish anything noteable? If Ghostbusters didn’t exist before this movie I guarantee it would be in the theaters for two weeks before being yanked to video. For damn sure it wouldn’t be generating this much publicity.
I have a feeling Kristin wiig wrote this article under a fake name, it’s just that ridiculous. And how very religious of you, to tell someone their wrong for having an opinion that differs from yours, then repeatedly shoving your view down our throats. I couldn’t care less that it’s starring women as I’m not sexist and enjoy many female lead films, I just prefer when iconic movies are left untouched.
If it was an honest sequel with all women I’d give it a chance. Rebooting it with all women is just going to prove to be useless pandering to feminists who won’t see the movie anyway which also keeps the true GB fans far, far away.
The real reasons I don’t want to see the movie:
1.) It not only doesn’t need to be remade, it shouldn’t. There is no way the remake is going to be as good as the first. Forget better.
2.) It looks like zero budget fan made shit. Everything about the promo pic is hard on the eyes. The uniforms, the actresses, and especially… the CAR! How the Hell did they think that slapped together shit box could compare to the original 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor Ecto-1? That’s one of the coolest movie cars of all time!
That car was ART. Is the new Ecto art? No, it looks like a dirty hearse being used in a third world country.This is worse than comparing the “Tumbler” Batmobile to the one in the Tim Burton films.
So, no, the OP is just another example of a feminist blaming men for not accepting women’s gigantic failures.
I can find Melissa McCarthy to be incredibly unfunny and annoying without being sexist. I also avoid most movies with Dane Cook, Kevin James, or Ben Stiller.
Let’s be honest, I have a problem with my all-time favorite movie getting a sequel cast with one of my least favorite actors.
While I don’t doubt some of the rage over this is because they are women thinking its all, or even mostly that, is bull dung. Look how much hate every new incarnation of Batman, or Superman gets before the movie ever comes out just because its not Christopher Reeve/Michael Keaton (hell look how much hate Keaton got originally). Look at how pissed comic book fans are over pretty much any alteration to comic books (even though they get changed every few years already). Nerds get very protective of their hobbies because they are so passionate about them. Then look at how epically so many reboots/remakes/reimaginings have completely failed. Charlies Angels Full Throttle, most of the Transformers movies, Superman Returns. If it was an all male cast you’d get close to if not just as much rage. For me I’m skeptical just because its rebooting a classic and Hollywood has a mixed at best history with that. I’m hopeful given we’re talking about established comedians and I’ll go see the movie and decide for myself how it was.
This article is a passionate childish rant about some passionate outraged fanboys. When passion is in the middle opinions go overboard. Calling everyone who has a problem with the movie sexist is as stupid as the (whatever) percentage of people that dislike it and are actually sexist.
Fanboys get outraged by the single thing that scares people the most: CHANGE. When a character or franchise they love gets changed it’s obvious some of them will overreact. Mark my words: if they had made a reboot and cast Egon as a black man and Winston as a white man, they would have been equally outraged, even if the colour and gender ratio was the same, this has nothing to do with sexism.
It’s not rocket science… see it this way, taking Ghostbusters as an example: 3 white male, 1 black male and 1 white female being the main characters:
– If they just changed the black male for a white male, the director would be criticised as being racist. Fanboys would complain.
– If they just changed one white male to be black, fanboys would complain and be criticised for being racist.
– If they just changed the female for a male, the director would be criticised as being sexist. Fanboys would complain.
– If they swapped the colour of Slimer to orange, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man to be the Pilsbury Doughboy, fanboys would explode.
So there, the only thing that’s the same in EVERY case something changes is fanboys complaining. So maybe just stop complaining about fanboys complaining, extreme fanboys are not to be reasoned with, they are not all sexist or racist or homophobic, they are just mindless passionate fanboys.
I foresee a joke connecting periods to ectoplasm within the first 30 minutes.
I can’t even read this article because the title just alienates anyone who hasn’t been sexist their whole lives.
I won’t have a problem with this movie until I see it. If it somehow connects to the first and these girls have taken over the reins I wouldn’t mind as much as a full out reboot, because then it’s like any team: people come, they get old/die/retire, they move on, others take over. It’s happened with the X-Men, the JSA to the JLA, and every other team idea.
I just wish Akroyd and the originals were on board from the beginning, but let’s be honest: Akroyd is insane nowadays. Ramis was brilliant but now he’s gone. Murray wanted nothing to do with the property for years. Hudson, as much as I love him, needs it just for the paycheck and couldn’t even get his voice on his own character.
My problem will be if it sucks, and more emphasis is on them being female then being good actresses. And especially if they’re just playing female versions of everyone else without a single shred of nuance to their own character.
2 of my fave movies are kill bill vol 1 and 2 and one of my fave shows was Xena i can say with 100% Certainty that it has nothing to do with it being all women.
At least it’s not M. Night Shamalan…
Don’t you put that evil on us.
My issue isn’t that they’re women, it’s just that it feels like they’re just gender swapping the original movie… I dunno maybe I’m making a bigger deal out of this than I need to, and I do honestly hope the movie is good. It’s just like… if you’re going to reboot the movie with a new team of ghostbusters, make them original characters. If we’re gonna do a female ghost buster cast that’s fine, but please make them original characters and not just carbon copies of the original ones in female form… Maybe it won’t be like that and I honestly hope it isn’t.
I just feel like rather than taking a popular character and changing things about him, create new characters instead. I dunno, I mean I dunno if they end up just being gender swapped versions of the original character it just makes me feel like they’re doing it because “Hey look! Equality girls can be ghost busters too!”
Just drives me nuts when they throw in simply for the sake of equality. If you’re gonna have a female lead cast have the decency to give them their own characters…
Bleh what’s wrong with me I’m ranting over something I have very little knowledge on…
Look. I’m all for equality but my lack of interest for this movie begins with the fact that they are rebooting a series that, I love dearly but, is just another ploy to make some money. I wanted a third Ghostbusters movie but I wanted it to be a hand off. I want the boys to be there, aged, handing off the reigns to I don’t give a crap who – it could be anyone. I wanted a continuation of the story…where we left off. Hell, maybe Oscar replaces Janine who’s also retired by now and for all I care that could be Channing Tatum. It could’ve these same 4 female characters it doesn’t matter. Based off of what I know, it’s just not going to be good. I love Kristin Wiig. I do. I think she’s the epitome of a strong female in the movie business. She has a lot of talent and just rocks. Melissa McCarthy just isn’t funny to me. I don’t know the other two actresses but that doesn’t matter much. It just doesn’t look or sound appealing. I’m fairly certain I won’t see it in theaters or ever but if I do, I really hope I enjoy it. Much like how I dislike Chris Evans, I really thought he was good in The Avengers but sucked in both Captain America movies and he’s ruined one of my favorite characters. Hell, let Kristin Wiig play Cap! She’d kick ass!
I’d also like to point out that this article was just bad writing. Not that I’m one to talk but it’s also not my profession. It’s too generic, it’s degrading and fairly offensive. Instead of just telling everyone how they feel and why, perhaps explain the various point of views for and against the movie instead of generalizing everyone’s (read as “all males'”) hatred for this movie because the characters are females. It’s simply not true. Perhaps some men believe that but not all do. That’s like saying all Muslims are evil. It’s a lie and prejudice.
#notallmen
I’m sorry but no. And Fuck You, you arrogant prick. I don’t hate the new Ghostbusters movie because it’s about women. I don’t hate it at all. I just don’t see the point in the way they’re doing it.
In the article you say: “First of all, people played video games as children and I’ve seen no impassioned pleas that Pixels will somehow denigrate their beloved video game icons. And more to that point, Adam Sandler, Josh Gad, and Kevin James have nowhere near the record of quality films as Melissa McCarthy or Kristen Wiig. Also, we’ve seen the trailers for Pixels and, well, it looks awful.”
There is no Pixels movie before this that is beloved. if the new GB movie was about 4 dudes, and it ignored the previous movies and was a reboot, I’d be equally annoyed. Ghostbusters is one of those rare, perfect, timeless films. Back to the Future is another, and Star Wars is another. You don’t need to remake them; They did it perfectly already! You want to make sequels, expand the story; Awesome. Go nuts.
I have no personal issue with any of these actresses. They make modern comedies, which I find mostly very unfunny. I mean it’s apparently hysterical to show crass, gross humor now, and that’s not what I find funny. If this movie has funny writing, and the jokes come from the situation and not something where shit gets poured all over them or something equally gross, then I’ll probably enjoy it OK. It may be a fun watch.
But I’m always going to be annoyed it’s a reboot. Always. Because it’s a dumb idea. And yes, they remake Spider-Man and Batman every few years. I’m not super excited for Batman, and I’m bummed they aren’t continuing the Amazing Spider-Man films, which frankly I thoroughly enjoyed. The only reason I’m ok with the Spidey one is the integration into the main MU.
So to the people who keep saying that men can only dislike the new Ghostbusters because it’s all women; Screw you. Stop belittling all men because of the people on the internet who are assholes. And don;t speak for all us men who actually believe in equality, because you’re bad at it.
I’m against this re-boot because I fucking hate all these goddamn remakes. Couldn’t give a fuck if they were all women. If it was another all-male Ghostbusters team I’d still be against it!
By this article’s logic, the ONLY reason anyone could possibly have for disliking this re-boot is because the actors are women, which of course is complete nonsense. I’m sure there are people who are pissed off specifically because they’re women, but to say that’s the only reason is absurd. I remember reading another person’s opinion piece once about some female singer (I don’t even remember who… probably some pop singer), and they deduced that the only reason people didn’t like her was because she was a woman. Completely disregarding the fact that (to me), her music sucked, and would have sucked even if a man had sung it.
For some, the mere idea of making another Ghostbusters movie all these years later just seems tiresome. Like, what’s the point? It’s kind of how I feel about most Hollywood movies these days (mostly complete wastes of time), so why should this be any different?
Not that I’m seething about it. The extent of my upset over the re-make is: “Eh, don’t care. Won’t see it.”
Done.
I love Kristen Wiig anyway.
What a stupid, stupid article. It’s like saying you have a problem with illegal immigration means you secretly hate ALL immigrants. Or the only reason to dislike President Obama is that you are a racist.
Quite frankly, one problem I have with this movie is the entire premise is “Female Ghostbusters.” Not anything really creative. Why not a NEW Ghostbusters movie that include women in the mix?
While I can understand the perspective of the writer, I think his head is still firmly up his ass.
I suspect it’s going to be a sub-par film not because I’m a sexist or have a problem with women; but because it was the blend of Ramis, Aykroyd, Murray, and to a lesser extent Ernie Hudson that made the first film great (not to forget Rick Moranis’ brilliantly neurotic portrayal Louis Tully).
In contrast:
– McCarthy & Wiig are both hilarious, talented actors in their own rights; but the only times they’ve so much as worked together have been Bridesmaids and a couple of SNL sketches when McCarthy hosted. Yes, those all went well, but I have a hard time believing that they’ll come close to bringing to the film what Murray & Aykroyd did.
– Kate McKinnon barely gets any air-time on SNL, because as the second-least-funny cast member. It almost seems as though if they need an attractive woman to play a role they’ll go to Cecily Strong and Vanessa Bayer, followed by Taran Killam in drag before they want to look McKinnon’s way. McKinnon can’t pull off this role just be being cute and bubbly.
– Leslie Jones is quite possibly the least funny woman I have ever seen after… actually no, I’d rather watch Carrot Top, Kathy Griffin, and late Joan Rivers stand-up for the rest of my life before I’d watch another minute of Leslie Jones’ semi-retarded yelling. In all likelihood she’ll be either replaced by Sasheer Zamataor, or Jay Pharoah and Michael Che in drag in the near future because the ONLY thing she brings to the show is being a black woman.
So there you go. It’s ACTUALLY about the loss of a legendary trio who worked brilliantly together, and the addition of sub-par actors; and not about gender. In keeping with the theme of SNL cast members; give me a trio of Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, and Amy Pohler, with Kristen Wiig, Ana Gasteyer or Melissa McCarthy to round that out; and I’m completely sold on the project; but I can’t have faith in this film being good based on the information we’ve been given so far.
Let’s be honest here, you really suck at this.
This article is so full of ignorance, I found it difficult to read all the way through. I don’t doubt that there are people who are mad that they are woman, and they are making sexist remarks. I’m sure that really is happening. However to say that that’s the only reason people are against this movie, is just stupid. Why are we so obsessed with victimizing everyone? Why is it automatically their gender that’s upsetting? Why can’t people wrap their head around the fact that Ghostbusters is bloody, friggin brilliant and means so much to its fans, that they are pissed off that Feig is using it as a cash cow? Nope, that can’t possibly be it. It has to be that we’re all sexist….. Ignorant.
I’ve known Sean personally for a few decades now, and I while I can say many things about him, being bound to political correctness isn’t one of them. He’ll also be the first to tell you that we’ve had an ancient truce on agreeing to disagree. I’m not going to bear judgement on this movie (as I haven’t seen it) or anyone else making comments about it — no matter how trollish (you know who you are…) but have to say I’m curious if this outrage would be as public if they had gone the obvious route and made the Ghostbusters into Charlie’s Angels. Traditionally, there are very few leading roles for women that don’t require them to be sexualized. There are tomes of academic discourse about this phenomenon, and very few movies that counter the norm. While this movie may turn out to be terrible, the fact that the next generation of women can look up at a movie poster and see female role models wearing actual work shoes and not exposing oceans of cleavage is something that American society has never produced at this scale. It’s not about political correctness, it’s about progress.
Well. Considering I’m a feminist and love seeing women in film, your logic is….. Flawed.
There are reasons to dislike this film beyond it being women.
I’m annoyed they’re making it. Putting all women in and remaking the franchise seems like a cheap ploy. Don’t give us cast offs. Create a new franchise with badass women and leave ghostbusters alone.
I’m excited to see these women in action, but not in ghost busters. Especially with the plethora of amazing female superheroes who’s franchises have never been brought to screen.
Please don’t play the “you hate women card” for us. We don’t need you to do that.
Are you friggjn serious? Within moments of revealing their were venomous comments? Welcome to nerd culture!! Where we all tend to bash something before we tried it. You think this is about women? Explain Ben Affleck when cast as Batman? Hmmm it seem to be what happens anytime you mess with something that isn’t broken.
Me not wanting to see this movie started with the car! That’s literally it! Once I saw the car I was done!
How about I hate reboots? I have more anger towards the Rock reboot of Big Trouble in Little China. Did we really need a reboot of Gremlins, Clash of the Titans, Red Dawn, It, Overboard, Sister Act, Bill and Ted, Dirty Dancing, TMNT or Mrs. Doutfire? They are all coming or already stunk it up. How about that melancholy “muppets don’t like each other anymore” plot from the Muppet Movie? No way I could have lived without that one. On a separate note…. also not really a Melissa McCarthy fan and Kristin Wiig is just ok for me. That is all I have to say on this topic.
I don’t have a problem with it! Genderbend all you want, no one should be upset about it.
I mean, if we ever change Wonder Woman to Wonder Man, the feminists will greet that change with open arms, right?
I don’t remember many people cheering when they heard that Ben Affleck was going to be Batman.
You are gearing your piece more to the men who are saying that they don’t like the look of this movie but what about all the female Ghostbuster fans (don’t be sexist now man they do actually exist I know a few of them) that don’t want this movie or don’t like the idea of this movie, are they self hating, misogynistic females hell bent on the downfall of women kind or are they just fans of a franchise that they want to see be done right and not half assed?
Are people not allowed to just not like something anymore?
Do they have to have some kind of hidden agenda against a minority group that makes them not want something to happen or could it be that people like you are just trying really really really hard to find any small sliver of an excuse to make people look bad purely to make you feel better about yourself and your own little dark dirty secrets of hatred towards something?
Are people really that despicable now a days or is it just that a small handful of even more despicable people are trying to make it look like that is the case?
It clowns isn’t it? You hate clowns. You Clownist!
Well, I AM a woman and I think it’s stupid. Just like every single other remake/reboot is stupid. It’s a cheap marketing ploy to get into your pocketbook through nostalgia, with no real time given to decent plots or developed characters. It’s not about sacred cows of our childhoods, it’s about the fact that these movies are conceived by corporate hacks, not artists telling stories.
I am pissed off that this was made using gender as nothing more than a gimmick, and yet I’m supposed to feel shame for hating it. Screw that noise, and the author is an emasculated idiot.
Yes yes yes. Don’t use my gender as a marketing ploy for your reboot.
Give us a new franchise. We’e badass enough; we can handle it.
I find this article to be degrading in itself. I am a woman and I am not looking forward to this reboot. I LOVE the original. I grew up with it. I also have a huge nostalgia for movies that I grew up with. I don’t like seeing reboots. It ruins the movies. I have nothing against fellow women, women in general (since I am a woman), I just don’t want to see my beloved movie squashed because of “political correctness.” And as much as I enjoy Melissa McCarthy (in certain movies) I don’t believe her brand of comedy/humor fits in with the brand of “Ghostbusters.” She will the the clutz of the group, who trips, falls over herself, and does clumsy stuff, and that’s not Ghostbusters. And I would be against a reboot, if it had men in it as well, because it wouldn’t contain the original cast members. So, you can suck it Sean, because I am not against women, just the reboot.
Thank you for getting it! =]
Thank you! This comment wins them all.
The problem is not their gender, and anyone who insists is it is merely displaying their own ignorance of the mythos and lore of the Ghostbusters, which has included two female characters within their ranks, Janine and Kylie. The issue is that these particular women are the WRONG choices for the movie. They’re not in it because of who they are or because they are right for the roles, but rather because of their connection to the director based on having worked together in another movie. If Tim Burton directed this movie, Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp in drag would be the Ghostbusters.
Bazinga! +++++++++++++++++++++++
Lore of the Ghostbusters? One great film, one ok… If you have a problem with anything to do with this/or any other movie before it’s even released you obviously have too much time on your hands!
Everything you say is true except the part about them being the “wrong” casting choices as there’s really no reason to say that unless you’ve seen the movie already and didn’t like their performances. You’re exactly right about how and why people certain people get cast though.
Stop. I don’t care that they are all women. They could all be hermaphrodites but it wouldn’t make it a good movie. Having this be a reboot that has no ties to the original is what I have a problem with.
A quick look at the comments that came with Abrams’ reboot of the Star Trek story is all the proof one needs to realize that indeed, the outrage *can* be about the reboot and not about the casting choice. Comparing love of playing videogames to a movie that utilizes elements from those games to suggest people hate reboots of movies is about as weak a connection as can be managed. Take a look at the love being sent toward The Goonies sequel as well. As in, lack of.
There is definitely a misogynist group railing against the Ghostbusters, I wouldn’t argue that for a second. Buncha sexist idiots. And to clarify my position, I am looking forward to seeing what the new Ghostbusters does with the concept — this is coming from someone who adores the original. I saw it in the theater when it came out. But simply put, your argument that *everyone* who is annoyed about the movie is because the cast are women, is fatally flawed.
Why did my comment get deleted?
Nah. I just hate reboots!
Although there has been a rather large amount of worry at the fact they are just using women, my main concern is that it’s McCarthy starring in the movie. Yes, Bridesmaids was very funny but that was a long time ago now and from what I see, she is a one trick pony.
My biggest fear was that we were going to see her falling over constantly and being a fool. One of the first clips I have seen is of her tripping over on the sidewalk before getting in to a SUV. That just isn’t Ghostbusters comedy. The boys in beige were intelligent, sharp and witty.
I will see this film and I hope that it surprises me but I hold little hope based on the little I have seen so far.
So a man falling over himself is funny, but a woman doing the exact same thing isn’t? Why?
Gender doesn’t matter. McCarthy does the same shtick in every movie. She is a one trick pony. Her roles only exploit her weight, and she always plays a crass person who slings insults and rudeness. Want to impress me? Do a drama. Show me you can act. I think there are a lot of us who don’t think it’s funny anymore.
Watch Spy or St. Vincent if you want to see McCarthy show her range, because she’s got it.
Actually, she plays the exact same character in Spy and St. Vincent.
No, you clearly haven’t understood my point. Ghostbusters don’t fall over or do the whole “look at me, I’m such a goof” comedy. This is what McCarthy is famous for but the Ghostbusters provided us with great one liners, witty retorts and the odd bit of sarcasm. It was about real comedy!
Let’s be honest – the author is a spineless jellyfish who worships at the author of political correctness. Well, when he isn’t too busy painting entire swathes of mankind with incredibly broad strokes, that is. The author can take a long walk off a short peer as far as I am concerned. But only after he shoves his assessment of me where the sun doesn’t shine.
You see, I don’t have a problem with women. I have a mother whom I love and respect. I have a wife and a daughter I love and for whom I would give my life. So no, my problem isn’t with women. My problem is with the overbearing need to re-cast everything viewed through the lens of political correctness. Forget that! I happen to be a person who cherishes nostalgia. When you screw that up you piss me off, regardless of the gender or race of the character. To be fair, we should make Daisy Duke a transgendered male who had his junk chopped off. And while we’re at it, let’s make Charlie’s Angels into Charlene’s Angels and change up all the genders! Sorry, but it ruins the story line for me regardless of how it is done.
Political correctness can die in a fire. Period.
^^^ Exactly this.
You obviously are missing the point the author is trying to make and as much as you want to be in denial you half wit, you clearly have a problem with women since you refuse to see the real problem and you are awful.
I’m sorry but the only half-wit here is the person who cannot put together a multi-paragraph analysis on the problem with the author’s piece.
I showed my intelligence by my reply. You showed your lack of intelligence by your resorting to an ad hominim attack. Now kindly please return to the kiddie table, the adults are trying to have a conversation here.
leavitron, you certainly did make your intelligence apparent in your response. Why, you managed to do so in your first sentence when you swapped what might have been fount, or knee, or altar ‘of political correctness’ with author. Your second sentence is not a sentence, it’s a couple of clauses with no conclusion. In your third sentence you mistook an individual with whom one shares common purpose and acquaintance, a peer, for a raised waterside platform, a pier. Your third sentence begins with a conjunction, bad form that, takes the general sentiment of the original author as a personal affront and results in a weak tea version of an obscene directive.
In your second paragraph, you protest your love and respect for women, that’s lovely, well done. Casting a re-boot or re-make of a film is not a sacred act, it is a creative decision. In the case of the Ghostbusters, there was nothing necessarily requiring the masculine about the original casting, there was no inherent need for the crew to be all male. A talented comic actor like Catherine O’Hara could easily have replaced Rick Moranis with no deficit to the story or its telling. The original casting of the film included parts written specifically for John Candy and John Belushi. Sadly, Belushi passed away and Candy wasn’t interested. The Louis character was originally conceived as a conservative business type in a suit, instead Moranis played a geeky nebish.
In the second film, Ernie Hudson is suddenly part of the team. Was the inclusion of a black actor a sign that they’d fallen prey to political correctness as well, or was the penis sufficient to warrant his essentially replacing the Louis character? Nostalgia abounds in popular culture but so does change, sometimes for good, sometimes not. Should Adam West be tho only legitimate casting for the Caped Crusader? Should Michael Keaton still be donning the bat’s cowl? You then wander into the territory of unbridled nonsense. Daisy Duke is a sexualized female character and foil to the masculine Duke brothers. You further undercut your limited logic with the Charlie’s Angels riff. The entire point of that show was to turn the action hero motif on its head by casting the leads as women and the secretary/butler as male. There is no shortage of male spies or heroes, in the late ’70s it was a bold and daring move to create a team of ass kicking women playing traditionally male parts.
As for the current cast, Kristen Wiig is a brilliant comic actor and when she isn’t playing way over the top, McCarthy can be hilarious. For me at least, the other two are unknown quantities but none of my personal nostalgia is harmed by this casting decision. It’s been more than 25 years since we last had a live action Ghostbusters film. The world has changed since then and in many ways changed for the better. I applaud the courageous decision to take a chance on this change up in the franchise and I will give the film a chance to succeed or fail on its own merits.
Reactionary pouting can die in a fire too.
LazloPink wins all my InterWebs.
Reading what you wrote made me feel like I was suffocating. I doubt you’ve had a single day of fun in your life without analyzing why it was fun.
Hmph. Well heres a novel idea: try coming up with your own idea instead of taking the place of someone else to prove you’re equal when in fact you’re just reinforcing you’re own belief that you’re treated unequally by not being able to come up with original ideas or — >>gasp<< — do the 'hard work' it actually takes to create something original yourself. Anything else is just 'stealing' a supersuit you didn't invent just to prove you can wear it too when the real strength and power comes from not wearing the suit itself but having the vision to create it. Thats whats annoying, this to the core ridiculous constant in our face need to overcome your insecurities by mimicking the ones you're unnecessarily insecure about. Yawn. Well if thats your brilliant idea, to do whats been done already and this is supposed to be something special because its women, then again you're reinforcing the idea that for them to do anything like this then it's unusual or special, or not within normal standards of performance. One day when you grow up and realize that things shouldn't be just handed to you, that you have to create, that you have to do the work necessary to come up with an original concept then and only then will you be taken seriously because it wont be "unusual or special". It will just 'be' without society having to bend everything for you and let you play too just because you think we should feel bad for you or guilty over your perception of 'inequality'. True strong women at their core know this, and just shake their heads at the ones who dont. All that said, Im sure all of those women playing it will be very funny! They're all very good at what they do.
Oh, and congratulations, you can critique sentences. You're amazing.
Writing a lot of words doesn’t prove intelligence, you dim bulb.
are you actually downs syndrome?
Yes, that is correct read it again if it takes a while for you to get it.
No Jacknut…Clearly YOU and this dipshit, fanboy dweeb are the problem. You are the same twits who say if you don’t support Obama you are racist. Sick of this Rainbow and unicorn PC crap
“Forget that! I happen to be a person who cherishes nostalgia.”
And the thing that breaks this nostalgia is what? New effects? A new director? A new audience? Hm?
I didn’t want to reply….I was just looking for a thumbs up.
“Alter”, not “author.” “Pier”, not “peer.”
Your thesis is a load of fetid dingo’s kidneys. Saying, I can’t have a problem with women because I love my mom, wife, and daughter, is structurally no different from, “I’m no racist, some of my best friends are…”
I’m no psychologist, but you should probably seek out professional help concering your issues related to your transphobia.
You’ve vastly over rated your Socratic skills, and completely misunderstood what makes a good argument. Pro tip: “Brevity is the soul of wit.”
Of course Pixels is going to fucking suck, and of course it is a dumb idea. This author is too feminist to understand how remakes usually are terrible. Or that generally the idea of remaking a movie and not sticking to the same plot as the first. So would I be sexist if I said that a remake of ninja turtles with them all being girls would suck?
What needs to die in a fire is the knee-jerk reaction that any adaptation that makes a casting change from the source material is being done strictly in the name of social justice.
This is especially true of remakes/sequels, where we lambast them for rehashing too much of the original while doing the same thing if they don’t.
This movie is a REBOOT not a REMAKE. How does having 4 women in the lead roles ruin the original for you? If you actually do have a daughter (which based on your belief system, I hope you do not), do you believe there are professions she cannot enter because – and only because – she is female? Why is it so mindblowingly unbelievable that women would be ghostbusters? How does the fact that their women ruin a story line for you, especially when you consider the storyline has not been released? Your sole reason for hating this is because you like the original movie? Go watch the original movie! It still exists! They won’t be destroying all copies of the original when this comes out! The point of the author stands. There is no rational basis to hate this when you know nothing of it, especially when other reboots (often of much older and more beloved/classic properties) are embraced.