Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Returning to old trails

     This summer has been a summer of nostalgia for me. We have really seen a surge in movie remakes, reboots, and re-conceptualizations. The one thing that stuck out the most for me this summer that I’d really like to cover and have been talking about on and off on my Facebook now for a few months is that of Ghostbusters. I was a child of the 80’s and during the 1980’s a movie came out that would be forever in grained into what and who I am. Ghostbusters was released in 1984 and it being 2014 we have crept right up on the 30th anniversary of this movie. With the movie’s anniversary coming out Sony Studios re-released it into theaters for selective showings, and completely revamped the movie putting it into a Blu-Ray format for purchase. It’s bitter sweet as the series original writer, Harold Ramis passed away earlier this year and was not able to see the 30th anniversary come to fruition. But, since the anniversaries release, and the passing of Mr. Ramis it has created a huge buzz around the Ghostbuster fan universe and forums. It was announced that Ghostbusters III may actually see the big screen as the co-writer and creator Dan Aykroyd confirmed that Ghostbusters III was going to happen. Overall, the fans of Ghostbusters have been waiting for a very long time to hear this announcement.
     But, with this announcement came the possibility o reboots, and a re conceptualization of what the Ghostbusters are all together. Aykroyd had originally confirmed that he wanted to do another story, as a kind of ‘passing of the torch’ to a new generation of Ghostbusters. Which, if they find the right actors, and can lie down the best script and story possible I think it will be great. Now, with that said I would like to clarify my position on this. Over the years, there have been many scripts that have been swung around. Harold and Dan both had another script written and ready to present. Unfortunately, that script never got off the ground, and they were in the midst of revamping It and redrafting it shortly before Ramis death. I feel, and this is only my opinion is that the script should be completely done by the co-creator(s) of the series this next movie. I think that this third movie is imperative especially since the passing of Ramis. I’m not going to be one of those fans, or writers that will go in with a closed mind to the movie either way. I just want to see justice done for the series and overall the franchise of ‘Ghostbusters’. They need to make this almost an ode to Ramis, in my humble opinion because of the fact he had been the original writer of Ghostbusters. Make it almost a tribute If we are going to do this movie right, then let’s do it right. Think of Ramis and keep him in thought. I would hope that Aykroyd would hold all creative decisions over the movie and the making of it, much like him and Harold did for the Ghostbusters video game that came out in 2009.
Now, with all of that said if Aykroyd decides on another script for the movie, and doesn’t have any actual assistance in writing it. I would hope he would stick around for the screenplay. 

     I’m not going to go completely fan boy here, but I would like to see his hand involved with the movie and the progression of the storyline. Another big rumor going around is that the reboot will feature the four original Ghostbusters replaced by four female Ghostbusters. There is a huge up-roar over this as this option is also being explored. Initially, I really didn’t know how to take it. But, after giving it some careful consideration I’ve decided on this. This could be the perfect opportunity to introduce a whole new generation to the ‘Ghostbusters’ let people be taken into their world. It would bring a whole new light to the franchise and spark a whole new interest for it. Again, if the reboot is something that they are eyeing then I would hope that Aykroyd would be involved with the project. Ghostbusters is truly what got me interested in the paranormal (ghosts, UFOs, strange happenings, etc.) I will be happy to see another movie, but my hope is that it will be done correctly.
     Now with all of this said, I would like to take on my interpretation of movies and prequels, sequels, and after thoughts. Regardless of what Dan Aykroyd decides to do with the movie when it comes to fruition I will respect whatever he decides to do with it. You can’t be mad at the creator or co-creator of something if they decide to take their series in a new direction or a new path. The biggest thing I have a problem with at times is that when things are created and does not follow the canon idea. Anything that Dan Aykroyd or Harold Ramis did, does, or are going to do is going to be completely canon for me. There were a lot of upset people with Star Wars as well when the prequels came out. People were upset on the story, how it progressed, and how badly some of the characters in the movie were. But, again in the credits it says right there, written By George Lucas. The other thing that people have to remember to is that all of those stories had been drafted while he was in college. This wasn't a new idea that he decided to just draft up a prequel to the what we would considered original trilogy (Episodes 4,5,6). Of course, you will either like the movies, or you won’t. But, again you can’t be mad at the creator when he took the story, series, etc. in a direction that you didn't want him to.
     It would be like any writer out there that would take on the challenge of either continuing his story, or releasing another part of the story that no one had any idea about. People may like the concept? People may hate the concept. But, it is what the characters wanted, and it is what the writer wanted. I’ve been approached by people telling me how much they've hated a character, or they didn’t like what I did. I ask them what they didn’t like about it. They might have thought that the character acted out of character, or it didn’t seem like it would be something that the character would do. I follow up with. But! Did it add to the story and keep you engaged. They will agree with me, and I will smile and tell them that I did my job.