COLLEGE MONSTERS AND GHOST COPS
Aug. 30th, 2013 08:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
defrogI still go to the cinemas, you know.
R.I.P.D.
Based on the Dark Horse comic, R.I.P.D. has been savaged for being a Men In Black Meets Ghostbusters ripoff with no originality. It’s not quite as bad as all that, and it’s not quite fair to compare it to MIB, though there is a similar vibe. Ryan Reynolds is a Boston cop killed during a shootout by his crooked partner (Kevin Bacon!), recruited to the Rest In Peace Dept (a ghost-cop agency that protects Earth from ghosts who refuse to go to Hell). He’s assigned to a cranky Old West marshal (Jeff Bridges!), and routine busts start adding up to a bigger plot that threatens humanity.
Okay, so yeah, it’s a little like MIB. More than a little, at times. And it’s not nearly as good as even the second MIB film, but that’s mainly to do with (1) a pretty predictable story that doesn’t take enough chances with the idea, and doesn’t always go far enough with the chances it does take, and (2) some dodgy character CGI. On the other hand, it is fun to watch, thanks to mainly to Bridges hamming it up as Roy, and Reynolds playing a good wise-cracking straight man. Also, did I mention Kevin Bacon is in it?
Monsters University
Disney/Pixar prequel covering the college years of Sully and Mike, and how they became friends. The story milks several old clichés (“before they were best friends, they couldn't stand each other” + “revenge of the nerds” + every college movie you can think of) but basically revolves around Mike’s dream to be a top scarer at Monsters Inc, despite everyone telling him he doesn’t have what it takes – including Sully, who arrogantly takes his own scaring talent for granted. Hard lessons are learned, etc.
It’s brilliant and hilarious in places, and takes an unexpected turn at the end, but ultimately, like all most prequels, it doesn’t top the original, and feels unnecessary. It also comes with a climax that, while entertaining, also contradicts the entire premise of the original film. That’s a minor point, but still.
Scream for me,
This is dF
R.I.P.D.
Based on the Dark Horse comic, R.I.P.D. has been savaged for being a Men In Black Meets Ghostbusters ripoff with no originality. It’s not quite as bad as all that, and it’s not quite fair to compare it to MIB, though there is a similar vibe. Ryan Reynolds is a Boston cop killed during a shootout by his crooked partner (Kevin Bacon!), recruited to the Rest In Peace Dept (a ghost-cop agency that protects Earth from ghosts who refuse to go to Hell). He’s assigned to a cranky Old West marshal (Jeff Bridges!), and routine busts start adding up to a bigger plot that threatens humanity.
Okay, so yeah, it’s a little like MIB. More than a little, at times. And it’s not nearly as good as even the second MIB film, but that’s mainly to do with (1) a pretty predictable story that doesn’t take enough chances with the idea, and doesn’t always go far enough with the chances it does take, and (2) some dodgy character CGI. On the other hand, it is fun to watch, thanks to mainly to Bridges hamming it up as Roy, and Reynolds playing a good wise-cracking straight man. Also, did I mention Kevin Bacon is in it?
Monsters University
Disney/Pixar prequel covering the college years of Sully and Mike, and how they became friends. The story milks several old clichés (“before they were best friends, they couldn't stand each other” + “revenge of the nerds” + every college movie you can think of) but basically revolves around Mike’s dream to be a top scarer at Monsters Inc, despite everyone telling him he doesn’t have what it takes – including Sully, who arrogantly takes his own scaring talent for granted. Hard lessons are learned, etc.
It’s brilliant and hilarious in places, and takes an unexpected turn at the end, but ultimately, like all most prequels, it doesn’t top the original, and feels unnecessary. It also comes with a climax that, while entertaining, also contradicts the entire premise of the original film. That’s a minor point, but still.
Scream for me,
This is dF
