Below are lines from the original "Ghostbusters" movie.
Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, "biblical?"
Dr. Ray Stantz: What he means is the Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr. Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!
Or so some have claimed if the remake of the 1984 "Ghostbusters" movie has an all-female cast. Luckily, none of these apocalyptic scenarios will play out in the near future, or at least not on account of women starring in what was originally a male-dominated film.
What the naysayers have failed to realize, however, is the importance of the precedent that the new "Ghostbusters" movie will establish upon its premiere Friday, July 15. Girls can fight spirits, too! Just wait until you see them in action.
Below are reasons why women should star as the lead roles in the "Ghostbusters" remake.
Women have yet to break the ice in science-fiction and fantasy.
If you think of the classics -- "Bladerunner," "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," "Dune," "The Matrix" and "Star Wars" -- very few of these showcase women as the leading protagonist. On the contrary, historically white men have dominated both science-fiction and fantasy genres. Not to say that women make no appearance at all, but rather they typically are an accessory character or serve to attract the male viewers. It is time for women to make their mark in these genres, and "Ghostbusters" is one such movie where they can finally make way in these genres!
Too few movies pass the Bechdel Test.
Alison Bechdel's test, a gauge used to determine gender bias in film, may seem simple. You may even believe that every movie should (easily) pass it. In order for a movie to pass, it must contain three criteria:
1. Two female characters (preferably named)
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something other than a man.
Although not the end-all-be-all, a surprising number of movies fail Bechdel's Test. We may have become numb to it, but society is incredibly biased towards men. "Ghostbusters" is definitely the foot in the door to move toward a less male-centric society, so why not?
Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones are a more than adequate cast.
These women have made me laugh more times than I can count. When I have watched Saturday Night Live, the most memorable skits star these lovely ladies. From Kate McKinnon's absolutely hilarious portrayal of a woman who has had a Close Encounter with aliens to Leslie Jones' Naked and Afraid skit with Peter Dinklage, the laughter never subsides. On top of that, some personal favorites include Melissa McCarthy's rendition of Lulu Diamonds, a woman who cannot seem to get up the stairs, and Kristen Wiig's imitation of Liza Minnelli, who desperately tries to turn off a lamp. They are more than suited for the ghost hunt; their careers precede them!
Young girls need role models who are not the Kardashians or Victoria's Secret Models.
In a world where the Kardashians and Victoria's Secret models are valued for their looks, young girls need to know that they are worth so much more than their outer appearances. Young women require role models who have accomplished their dreams, have received their college education, and can do absolutely anything. We rarely see this image in film, media, or television, and it is long overdue.
Remakes are not intended to replicate the original.
If you wanted to watch the original, then watch the original. The point of a remake is to skillfully pay homage to the original, while also reinventing the film in imaginative, unique ways. Casting women in the lead roles definitely satisfies the latter; it allows for a certain twist that makes the remake fun, interesting and most of all -- different.
Because... girl power!
Last year, women earned 79 cents for every dollar earned by men. Every day, women receive unwanted and unnecessary advances from men in the form of catcalls. About one in six women has experienced an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. These statistics, though daunting, highlight how unjust the world really is. Feminism may appear on top, and women may have acquired a great many rights in the past 60 years, but inequality is prevalent -- even on American soil. One movie may not right all these transgressions, yet it does bring us one step closer to female empowerment. What could be better than that?
