This year's "Ghostbusters" reboot has met plenty of criticisms and backlash from the public, comments which are mostly rooted in misogyny. Even rock band Fall Out Boy & hip-hop artist's Missy Elliott's new take on the movie's iconic theme song caused uproar.
New 'Ghostbusters' Song Rendition
When asked what he thinks about the new rendition, original theme song composer Ray Parker Jr. said that he's on the neutral side of things. In an interview with Inside Edition, Parker described Fall Out Boy's cover as "interesting" and didn't say whether the new rendition is "good or bad," Entertainment Weekly reported.
The singer, however, is blunt about his preference of the old version than the new one. Nevertheless, Parker wishes that he was given the chance to work with Fall Out Boy and Missy Elliott and "help them get a direction."
Parker wrote and sang the original "Ghostbusters" theme song as the accompaniment of the 1984 comedy starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson. Aside from appearing in the original tune's music video, Parker also won a Grammy Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for the song.
The original "Ghostbusters" theme song by Parker perfectly captured the movie's funny and silly nature. Critics argued that Fall Out Boy's cover was nowhere near that and was more in line with the band's pop rock and punk style.
Listen to Fall Out Boy's cover of the "Ghostbusters" theme song here. You can compare it to Parker's version.
'Ghostbusters' Early Reviews
Directed by Paul Feig, the "Ghostbusters" reboot is headlined by Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. Early reviews are now in, and most of them are praising the female comedians' ability to be hilarious. McKinnon, who is already making waves as a mainstay on "Saturday Night Live," is considered by many as the film's standout performance.
The New York Times wrote that the "Ghostbusters" reboot showcased "real comedy chemistry and emotionally fleshed-out performances" particularly from McCarthy and Wiig. The flick centers on the female friendship without the overly used story arcs about jealousy, insecurities, and boyfriends.
A review from Variety called the "Ghostbusters" reboot as "both funnier and scarier" than the original, but the impact of the old one hangs heavily over the remake. Forbes and IGN are among the media outlets that had issues with the reboot's pacing and editing, calling those aspects awkward and forced.
The "Ghostbusters" reboot, which bows in theaters on July 15, isn't exactly a remake of the original. It's a totally different story, though it draws inspiration from the 1984 film.
