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Ghostbusters

23/7/2016

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Picture

Genre: Sci Fi, Comedy
Rating: 12A
Warnings: None

While some men complained that a reboot with women was somehow offensive to the original films and couldn't possibly be good or funny, this was a great reboot of a rarely-mentioned classic. While there are clear and strong similarities, and the overall premise is the same, the characters and storyline are original.

The fresh story means new and old Ghostbusters fans alike can watch without knowing what is about to happen, and the new characters give the actors space to develop them. Kate McKinnon's engineer Jillian Holtzman is a joy throughout and my favourite by far; Leslie Jones' amateur historian Patty Tolan is genuinely funny and relatable. 
There are plenty of callback and references to the original: Keep your eyes peeled for cameos, quotable lines from the original, and Slimer and Stay Puft. The little moments are satisfying for older fans, and aren't too over-the-top so wouldn't stick out awkwardly to newer viewers. The creation of the ECTO-1, the name "Ghostbusters" and the logo are all amusing, too, as in between the big laughs are constant giggles.

A big part of the film is the genderswap aspect, and they make good use of it. The Ghostbusters have a ditzy blonde secretary who's not competent enough to answer a phone but is very much eye candy, swapping the the gender for that role with the delicious Chris Hemsworth's Kevin. While this may bring cries of 'misandry', it is more a reflection of contemporary female stock characters. There are ironic misandrist jokes, which will appeal to the dry humour of many adults watching for the female empowerment. It's worth mentioning misandrist joke don't have the social weight to cause harm that misogynist ones do; this is an argument for another day and another person.

The plot itself is multilayered but not complicated. Lecturer Erin Gilbert loses her job at a prestigious university when old friend and colleague Abbie Yates publishes the paranormal science book they wrote year before. The baddy, Rowan, is the archetypal nerdy outsider seeking revenge on the world as a whole, and is trying to release every malevolent ghost into the world. The Ghostbusters are trying to investigate the paranormal with genuine scientific interest while the media are portraying them as fakes and non-scientists.

Overall, this is a really important film in the history of women in film, passing the Bechdel Test, the Sexy Lamp Test, the Mako Mori Test and the Furiosa Test. Definitely a must-watch for young girls, and for any men or boys who don't know why female media is important. It's a great film for all Ghostbusters fans, and a really good laugh.
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