Can't we just try to enjoy a movie for what it is?
Well, i'm a huge Ghostbusters fan too. It's kinda hard to understand what all this ruckus about the new movie, trailer and female staff for people who are not that close to the series. So, i'll try to explain a few things, for good, for bad and also trying to be at least a bit open minded.
1) It's very hard to mess with a very famous movie formula without unpleasing all the old fans.
As a ghostbusters fan, my favorite thing about the original movie is that jokes are either simple and clever, not to mention perfect timing and a lot of successful on-the-fly improvisation on the script. The movie makes small things fun in a clever way, without being sexist and appelative. Also, it was about 4 friends (1 genius, 1 genius-kid-minded, 1 smart-ass-game-show-host-alike and 1 "normal" feet-on-the-ground guy) who were totally the anti-hero stereotype. But the movie always seemed to me as a very "universal" comedy, and not too manly. I fear the next might be more "girlish", and i surely hope it's not. That's were the fear of this new cast of girls originate itself. Also, Melissa McCarthy is always referenced for roles on comedies that has sexism and slapstick (and mostly unfunny) jokes. Also, a lot of the gags on the original movies set the standards for a lot of movie-referenced jokes (WOWWOWOWWOOOW NICE SHOOTIN, TEX! - i know this is from an old comic book - THAT´S ONE HELL OF A TWINKIE). So when you revive an old movie, it's hard to keep up with such high standards, surely expected by the fans.
2) Fans waited for too long for a sequel or reboot.
As i did, millions of GB fans waited for over 15 to 20 years for a sequel or reboot with the famous 4-bustin´ guys. This movie has generated so many expectation all these years, with so many script versions, revisions and refusals. When it seemed to finally start to work, the script was stalled and rewritten. So every time someone from hollywood said the words "new ghostbusters movie", a lot of expectation was generated. That´s also why fans tend to be so critic.
3) Reboots / sequels are usually done to get more money than fame.
Indeed. Robocop 3 came a lot after the 2 first movies and it's terrible. I can tell the same about Pirates of the Caribbean (they are nice but i think the stories became a lot weaker after dead man's chest...). So that's what fans are also afraid. That some guys that wanted solely to make money based on an old and loved movie series and the script wasnt thought deeply as the original movies were, resulting in poor story, a ton of GFX and no resemblance to the old characters.
4) The official "3rd movie" - Ghostbusters: The Video Game - had a lot of the rhythm the old movies had, with a good story
Indeed again. GB:TVG had its script made by Ayrkroyd and Ramis and the rhythm is the same of the movies. Also, the great voice acting by the original cast gave a nice shine to the game. It was even indicated to the Best Game Audio Voicing (or something like that) on the same year it was released. So, producers knew how to make a good sequel, so there would be no excuse to make a bad one now. Aykroyd said he prefered a game as a 3rd movie because he would had a lot more freedom to create the story and the scenes, at the same time keeping the original movies atmosphere.
So, i can understand why people are so critic about this movie. Specially because most hardcore fans watched this movie as kids and learned to love it so much (as i did). Same goes for Star Wars.
I'm really not expecting that this movie is as good than the originals. but i'm sure there was a lot of effort to keep much of the old gags, jokes and cleverness on small things the original movies had. Producers might be greedy but they´re not stupid..
I always try to see things in a new perspective. Movies that try to repeat the same things ended up being boring. Changing things is good and this new female cast may change the series to new directions (i wonder, what if there were multiple GB franchises with several 4-person teams? a tv series? netflix series? that would be so cool).
I loved the new equipment looks, the new proton streams, traps and Ecto-1.
So, as zenimus said, "can't we just try to enjoy a movie for what it is?". Maybe. A little less criticism would be good.
But i must point that the first Ghostbusters movie is a lot more than just a movie. It´s a mark on cinema, comedy and pop culture.
And we love it to die for. That's why we worry too much.
Sorry for the english mistakes guys, i'm not an english native speaker. But as a GB fan, that's what i think!
"Two on the box! / Ready to go! / We be fast! / And the be slow!"HarvestDude™
