Ghostbusters (2016)

Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon….now that I’ve listed the names of these four amazing women, you must know that they are extremely brave.  Not because “they ain’t ‘fraid of no ghosts”, but because they took on the monumental task of recreating a cinematic comic masterpiece and gender-bending it.  Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler) in the original and writer, couldn’t be in the remake, but I’m pretty sure he would have approved.  Along with Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts, who cameo throughout, much like Stan Lee in the Marvel films, we have Chris Hemsworth on board as the worst assistant, but cutest, on the planet.  He puts the “D” in dumb.  All of the players are tightly held to the belief that ghosts are slimy (ectoplasm), scary (boney, skinless, ethereal, and sometimes dangerous), have a link to the present (that’s why they haven’t moved on), and if given the opportunity, would scare the bejesus out of anyone who messed with their space.  This also reinforced my dislike for dark basements.  It will scare little children…do not think that it won’t.  That being said…this is a remake, not a carbon copy of the original.  The ladies are on a mission and I, for one would love to see a sequel.  I heard something really weird, what's 'Zuul'?  If you don’t come away believing that Kate McKinnon is one of the most chameleon-like actresses of this century, you haven’t been watching her work.  They’re all phenomenally talented and I’m anxious to see this again, because I’m sure there’s a ton of stuff I missed the first time.  So, who you gonna call?….say it with me folks:  Ghostbusters!  Rating: Do…Re….Egon!

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

And they lived peculiarly together forever after.  That's not a spoiler, believe it or not, it's a fact.  The stories that intertwine and evolve from this quirky and somewhat disturbing tale of children who are kept out of the mainstream from other "normal" children is pretty fascinating.  Everyone, not just a few people here and there, from whatever culture, or country, or time, can be considered peculiar, just in different degrees.  We're talking about extremes here, from the ability to heat the house with ungloved hands, morphing (ala Mystique), to the ability to change from a bird to a human and back again. 

Tim Burton has taken on a monumentally complicated task of interpreting the books by Ransom Riggs and the adapted screenplay by Jane Goldman (Kickass, Kingsman-The Queen's Secret Service, X-Men:  Days of Future Past and X-Men:  First Class) to the Campbell's condensed version of a story that spans decades and an unlimited imagination.  The combination of these three and the casting has resulted in a look at what possibly could be considered a new classic fantasy for Mr. Burton.  This is sort of an Alice (Jake) In Wonderland/Wizard of Oz from Hell with the Wicked Witch of the West played by none other than Samuel L. Jackson and a time warp that will take you from present day to 1943 and WWII Wales and England in a heartbeat.

Although the story deals with children, peculiar or not, it is not a movie for little children.  There are examples of extremely disturbing imagery, monsters and mayhem.  The special effects are dynamite and some of the peculiarities are definitely laughable, while others are downright scary.  Asa Butterfield, as our "hero", Jake,  has matured into a young man who, in an earlier time, would have made a perfect "Harold" to Ruth Gordon's "Maude".  In fact, if that film is ever remade, I'm voting for him in the lead.  Additional actors of note, Alison Janney, Terrance Stamp, Chris O'Dowd, and Rupert Everett, and everso briefly, Dame Judi Dench.  Eva Green is the morphing, pipe-smoking Miss Alma LeFaye Peregrine, and the lovely and talented Ella Purnell is Emma, our high floating dream girl who literally can take your breath away.  Oh, now I'm hearing The Police in my head.  Rating:  The eyes have it, with or without sauce (3.4 stars). 

Definitely check out all three of the books:  Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, Hollow City, and Library of Lost Souls...and as an extra treat, Tales of the Peculiar.