If you don't know what a "reboot" is, it's basically a movie a producer creates when they want to make money. They use the same kind of characters as an old movie, change the story around a bit to make things fresh, and slap the famous name on the cover to draw in both old fans and new. For years, it has seemed like there's one original movie idea for every ten "reboots," and that trend doesn't seem to stopping any time soon. Unlike avocados, this fad is extremely annoying and definitely not delicious to have with toast.
Before you yell at me, I'll say that not all "reboots" are terrible. Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" Batman universe was fantastic, J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" gave us new insight into the characters, and even "The Amazing Spiderman" almost had me forget about "goth Spidey" in the Toby Maguire version of the superhero. Then again, I could also say that not all stab wounds are lethal. I would have a crazy "I was stabbed" story and even a cool scar to show my friends, but I think most of the time I'd be less-than-happy that I was stabbed in the first place. I really liked my leg pre-stab, and someone came along and screwed everything up, so now I have to refer to my leg as "Leg (2016)" instead of just "Leg" because how else will people know if I'm talking about my leg pre or post stab. I know this is a horrible analogy, but it's funny to think about.
The "Ghostbusters (2016)" movie coming out in July is a prime example. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Harold Ramis were all perfect choices for the original movie and they made the whole concept of ghost hunters more than just a quirky summer movie featuring some funny comedians. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones are all hilarious and I'm glad they picked them to be the new cast. It's important to note that anyone who thinks that the new movie is going to be bad solely on that fact that (God forbid) women are the lead characters is ignorant. This whole debacle isn't about gender, it's about being a symbol of what Hollywood is doing nowadays with movies that we consider untouchable.
"The Godfather," "Back to the Future," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," "Pulp Fiction"; I could go on for a while listing classic movies, but imagine if your favorite movies turned into a "reboot". Imagine "Ferris Bueller's Day Off (2019)" directed by Michael Bay starring Seth Rogen, Lena Dunham, and a llama with a scarf. I would be a little angry, wouldn't you? The point I'm trying to make is that Hollywood has replaced quality with quantity and originality with "reboots" in an attempt to make money instead of to create a story. Unless it's meant to be a series, I put sequels in this category too, because watching a 62 year old Liam Neeson running around in "Taken 3" was one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever seen. Unnecessary sequels are like instead of being stabbed, someone gave you a third leg. Ok fine, I'll stop using that analogy.
Even movies that might seem original at first glance have a copy; "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact", "Olympus Has Fallen" and "White House Down", "Shark Tale" and "Finding Nemo", "The Prestige" and "The Illusionist". If I take a history paper and change some of the names and events, then throw my name on it with a few more explosions than usual, I'm pretty sure I would be expelled and given a stern talking to about how Justin Bieber wasn't the cause of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic.
When I saw the new "Ghostbusters (2016)" trailer it was disappointing to say the least. I was originally excited about the idea, but the sneak peak was filled with cheap laughs which made me worried because trailers are supposed show the best parts of the film. Instead of revitalizing the series with new ideas, it seemed like they're just recycling a classic movie for no reason other than making a buck. Maybe I hated it because it encompasses everything I hate about the movie industry, but all I know is that it has hurt every time I've had to write "(2016)" in this article.
This is the definition of a rant and I don't expect all of you to agree with me on everything I've said. If you really want to see "Ghostbusters (2016)" then go for it because you might like it, if you want another shark-themed horror movie then by all means go see "The Shallows", if you're like me and want a movie about space corgis then let's start the fundraiser. All I ask of you is that you watch what you want to see instead of complaining on the internet, like me.
