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thehefnerTwo more things.
First, someone took the liberty of scanning one of my very favorite single comic book stories of all time, the criminally out-of-print HULK: THE END, aka "The Last Titan".
If you haven't read this, I beg you to check out that link. It's essentially the last Hulk story, as the title implies, as only Peter David could write it. A wonderful and chilling story, and those last three words will haunt me for a long time to come.
In other news, Dan Aykroyd has announced that there will indeed be a GHOSTBUSTERS III, but Bill Murray's only agreed to do it if it's to be CGI.
Now... ok... *deep breath*
Immediate response by many will be disgust and dismay. But there are many factors to consider here, and let me try to address them in as orderly a fashion as possible. Sure, I'd prefer it live-action... but the entire cast is now old and bloated, so there's that to consider. Which, of course, might have worked perfectly on its own, but whatever, now it's moot.
And y'know, so what if it's live-action? I grew up watching the animated Ghostbusters series, and most folks agree that the first season or two (much written by J. Michael Straczynski!) were honestly excellent. I mean, seriously great stuff, much better than one might expect from Saturday morning fare. So I would be deeply hypocritical to be averse to an animated Ghostbusters movie, especially if it involves the actual original cast. AND, might I add, the original script.
Because apparently that's what this movie is going to be. Aykroyd's original script and concept, which couldn't have gotten made because the budget would have been too huge. It also would have starred John Belushi too. Here's what Aykroyd just said, as quoted on CHUD.com:
"We go to the hell side of Manhattan, downtown, Foley Square. It's all where the cops are--they are all blue minotaurs. Central Park is this huge peat mine with green demons there, surrounded by black onyx thousand-foot high apartment buildings with classic red devils, very wealthy. We go and visit a Donald Trump-like character who is Mr. Sifler. Luke Sifler. Lu-cifer. So we meet the devil in it.”
CHUD's Devin Faraci countered with saying, "Here’s the thing about Aykroyd’s original Ghostbusters script: it’s supposed to be a mess. The Ghostbusters traveled across dimensions and fought a succession of huge ghosts, of which Stay-Puft was only one. Ivan Reitman worked with Aykroyd to turn the script into something not only filmable, but something classic, one of the all-time great comedy movies. A huge explosion filled CGI movie doesn’t initially sound like a return to the greatness of the original.
"And then there’s the second film, which proved that you can’t always catch lightning in a bottle twice. Ghostbusters II is passable, and for fans it even has moments, but it pales in comparison with the first. Do we need a movie that pales in comparison to the second?"
Everyone's "favorite" curmudgeon critic Devin brings up some good points, but in his rampant cynicsm, he is very wrong about GHOSTBUSTERS II. Everyone gives it shit for not being the original, but I've revisited it in recent years and have come to adore it. I love it because of its decidedly darker, subversively creepy tone, for one thing.
In fact, i-mockery.com as compiled a wonderful list that serves as a perfect defense for an underappreciated film with Ten Things I liked about GHOSTBUSTERS II. I mean, all it's missing from that list is the Scholari Brothers. Honestly, the only major flaws that come to mind are the rap version of the theme music and the fact that Jeanine goes off with Louis instead of her one true love Egon.
Sorry, Devin. This is my childhood here. When I was little I was obsessed with all things Egon, growing into a love for the smartassery of Peter, then admiring the down-to-earth straight-man detachment of Winston, and finally accepting the sad truth that I am Ray. There are so many ways this could go wrong, but I think (and I didn't feel this way when I started writing this entry) that I'm actually kinda excited here.
First, someone took the liberty of scanning one of my very favorite single comic book stories of all time, the criminally out-of-print HULK: THE END, aka "The Last Titan".
If you haven't read this, I beg you to check out that link. It's essentially the last Hulk story, as the title implies, as only Peter David could write it. A wonderful and chilling story, and those last three words will haunt me for a long time to come.
In other news, Dan Aykroyd has announced that there will indeed be a GHOSTBUSTERS III, but Bill Murray's only agreed to do it if it's to be CGI.
Now... ok... *deep breath*
Immediate response by many will be disgust and dismay. But there are many factors to consider here, and let me try to address them in as orderly a fashion as possible. Sure, I'd prefer it live-action... but the entire cast is now old and bloated, so there's that to consider. Which, of course, might have worked perfectly on its own, but whatever, now it's moot.
And y'know, so what if it's live-action? I grew up watching the animated Ghostbusters series, and most folks agree that the first season or two (much written by J. Michael Straczynski!) were honestly excellent. I mean, seriously great stuff, much better than one might expect from Saturday morning fare. So I would be deeply hypocritical to be averse to an animated Ghostbusters movie, especially if it involves the actual original cast. AND, might I add, the original script.
Because apparently that's what this movie is going to be. Aykroyd's original script and concept, which couldn't have gotten made because the budget would have been too huge. It also would have starred John Belushi too. Here's what Aykroyd just said, as quoted on CHUD.com:
"We go to the hell side of Manhattan, downtown, Foley Square. It's all where the cops are--they are all blue minotaurs. Central Park is this huge peat mine with green demons there, surrounded by black onyx thousand-foot high apartment buildings with classic red devils, very wealthy. We go and visit a Donald Trump-like character who is Mr. Sifler. Luke Sifler. Lu-cifer. So we meet the devil in it.”
CHUD's Devin Faraci countered with saying, "Here’s the thing about Aykroyd’s original Ghostbusters script: it’s supposed to be a mess. The Ghostbusters traveled across dimensions and fought a succession of huge ghosts, of which Stay-Puft was only one. Ivan Reitman worked with Aykroyd to turn the script into something not only filmable, but something classic, one of the all-time great comedy movies. A huge explosion filled CGI movie doesn’t initially sound like a return to the greatness of the original.
"And then there’s the second film, which proved that you can’t always catch lightning in a bottle twice. Ghostbusters II is passable, and for fans it even has moments, but it pales in comparison with the first. Do we need a movie that pales in comparison to the second?"
Everyone's "favorite" curmudgeon critic Devin brings up some good points, but in his rampant cynicsm, he is very wrong about GHOSTBUSTERS II. Everyone gives it shit for not being the original, but I've revisited it in recent years and have come to adore it. I love it because of its decidedly darker, subversively creepy tone, for one thing.
In fact, i-mockery.com as compiled a wonderful list that serves as a perfect defense for an underappreciated film with Ten Things I liked about GHOSTBUSTERS II. I mean, all it's missing from that list is the Scholari Brothers. Honestly, the only major flaws that come to mind are the rap version of the theme music and the fact that Jeanine goes off with Louis instead of her one true love Egon.
Sorry, Devin. This is my childhood here. When I was little I was obsessed with all things Egon, growing into a love for the smartassery of Peter, then admiring the down-to-earth straight-man detachment of Winston, and finally accepting the sad truth that I am Ray. There are so many ways this could go wrong, but I think (and I didn't feel this way when I started writing this entry) that I'm actually kinda excited here.
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 04:23 am (UTC)My God. I never thought of that. "Luke Sifler". That's just the funniest thing I've heard all day. All year. No, it's the funniest thing ever to be thought of by anyone ever, the most originally insightful, thought-provoking, and ironic wit since Dorothy Parker butt-fucked Oscar Wilde.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 05:05 am (UTC)Bear in mind, Aykroyd was likely coked out of his mind when he wrote this original script and probably hasn't entirely recovered. On the other hand, they're the Ghostbusters and are smartasses, so could actually probably sell such a silly idea.
So I take it the constant tech weeks are proving a bit on the stressful side, old boy? ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 05:15 am (UTC)It's just that man, if that's the material you're trotting out for an interview... maybe it needs a little polishing before you start animating.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 05:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 05:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 05:43 am (UTC)I've got the same kind of nostalgic childhood attachment to that film as most people have to STAR WARS (including myself, mind you). Funny thing is, I don't think I honestly really consider it a comedy. Sort of in the same way that I don't really see SHAUN OF THE DEAD as a comedy. I mean, if I had to lump it into a genre, I suppose comedy works better than anything else.
But still, I love GHOSTBUSTERS just for being... itself, if that makes even the slimmest non-bullshittiest amount of sense.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 01:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 04:10 pm (UTC)What genre is X-Files (not that it's a comedy, but there have been some brutally funny episodes)? Or Buffy? Not the most apt comparisons, but those're the first that come to mind. I sort of see it as a supernatural fantasy, just comically told. The Stay Puft Marshmellow Man is immediately absurd, and yet his entrance (from how it was filmed and the music) is ominous!
In the end, it really isn't that important, I suppose. "Comedy" works well enough for everyone else, just not for me.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 04:56 pm (UTC)And yeah, I was originally thinking about bringing up Discworld, but hesitated because I have yet to read them. Glad to know my instincts were on target there.
I mean, Tor reminded me about those terror dog scenes. Those right there keep me from completely thinking of it was a comedy.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 01:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 04:12 pm (UTC)Yeah, those scenes are why I'm hesitant to just called the film a "comedy." That was some genuinely, sincerely-handled creepy ass shit, man.