Highbrow Magazine - remakes https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/remakes en ‘Scream’ 2022 Is Frightfully Funny https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/19327-scream-frightfully-funny <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 02/18/2022 - 15:17</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1screamfilm.jpg?itok=hc9irx4i"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1screamfilm.jpg?itok=hc9irx4i" width="480" height="201" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Horror films aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, the monsters, murderers, and miscreants who star in them are ingrained in pop culture. You needn’t have seen any of the <em>Halloween</em>, or <em>Friday the 13th</em> films to recognize their antagonists' distinctive masks. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The same can be said of <em>Scream’s</em> “Ghostface” mask. I had never seen a <em>Scream</em> film upon walking into the recent soft-reboot of the series.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Equipped only with my general knowledge that the <em>Scream</em> films were partially meta-satires, I came to the theater expecting a run-of-the-mill slasher flick with a slight self-aware edge. My expectations were far surpassed. <em>Scream 2022</em> is an extremely clever parody of itself and all of the other recent “not-quite-reboots” we’ve seen in recent years. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">For those familiar with <em>Scream</em>, the notion of characters trying to “follow the rules” of horror films is no new concept. Characters who are fully aware of horror tropes is a staple of the series. <em>Scream 2022,</em> however, adds a new layer to this concept: namely, its self-awareness for the tropes present in “soft-reboots,” such as 2018’s <em>Halloween;</em> its sequel <em>Halloween Kills</em>; and <em>Ghostbusters Afterlife.</em> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">There is an entire monologue where a character expounds on the rules of “Requals” as they refer to them in the film -- making jokes about how there needs to be some originality but nothing too original to irritate fans, balancing new characters and “Legacy Characters.” The monologue is delivered while “Legacy Character” Dewey sits on the couch expressing his regret for getting involved with the new protagonist.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2screamfilm.jpg" style="height:600px; width:405px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>Scream 2022’s</em> self-aware humor is not just a commentary on Hollywood, pointing out how these “requals” have formulaic elements, but also a critique of film audiences. The film jokes around with fandoms and how offended fans of franchises can be when studios produce terrible films cashing in on popular intellectual properties.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The critiques of audiences and the formulaic nature of the “requal” stings all the more when we consider the fairly high reception these types of films have received. <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/halloween_2018" target="_blank">2018’s <em>Halloween</em> is “certified fresh” on “Rotten Tomatoes”</a> with a 79% critic and 70% audience score. <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghostbusters_afterlife" target="_blank"><em>Ghostbusters Afterlife</em></a> actually dips a little lower with a 62% critic rating but an outstanding 94% audience rating. The 2016 <em>Ghostbusters</em> reboot is an interesting case because it lacks the “Legacy Character” trope <em>Scream 2022</em> attacks and has <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghostbusters_2016" target="_blank">a much lower audience rating of 49%</a>.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">While the low audience score for the 2016 <em>Ghostbusters</em> may have to do with the controversy related to rebooting the franchise with an all-female cast, this only seems to make its criticism of toxic fandom and nostalgic pandering all the more relevant.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The film revels in poking fun at the audience, whether it be its mindful dialogue or visual gags --  like the repetition of a staple horror shot being used repeatedly with no payoff. <em>Scream 2022</em> is so good at this that by the second half of the film, I stopped considering it a horror film at all. I found myself laughing more during the film than I did wincing in fear. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">This may be a turnoff for fans of slashers and horror films as when the tone clicks in, it is certainly not one of constant dread and tension. It’s also hard for me to assess how this may be received by longtime fans of the franchise -- as I stated earlier, this was my first <em>Scream</em> film. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3screamfilm.jpg" style="height:400px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">It's hard to ignore the hypocrisy in criticizing these kinds of cash grabs when piggybacking off of a well-known IP yourself. However, this irony seemingly isn’t lost on the filmmakers who throw some jabs in that are directed at the film itself. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">A gripe I often have with slasher films is how the violence and gore employed is so needlessly cruel, excessive, and pointless that it ceases to be scary and becomes just visually unpleasant. An example of this is <em>Halloween Kills,</em> where Michael Myers’s killing spree is more painful to watch than it is terrifying. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Gore can a powerful visual tool when employed properly. While I wouldn’t say its use of gore is great, <em>Scream 2022</em> employs its violence competently – especially, for the typical horror film.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Overall<em>, Scream 2022</em> is a fun time, and a joy for pop culture aficionados. The film isn't brilliant, but it does have wit and charm in spades, and serves as an excellent critique of a subgenre that has only just started, and is already being overdone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Garrett Hartman is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/scream-2" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Scream</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/scream-2022" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Scream 2022</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/horror-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">horror films</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/slasher-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">slasher films</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/courtney-cox" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">courtney cox</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/david-arquette" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">david arquette</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/remakes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">remakes</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Garrett Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">In Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 18 Feb 2022 20:17:18 +0000 tara 10940 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/19327-scream-frightfully-funny#comments ‘Mulan’: A Successful, Live-Action Version of the Disney Classic https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/10833-mulan-successful-live-action-version-disney-classic <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Sat, 09/05/2020 - 08:33</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1mulanfilm.jpg?itok=rF7f0lhK"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1mulanfilm.jpg?itok=rF7f0lhK" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><strong>AT A GLANCE</strong></p> <p><strong>Mulan</strong></p> <p><strong>Director: Niki Caro (“The Zookeeper’s Wife,” “McFarland, USA,” “Whale Rider”)</strong></p> <p><strong>Starring: Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Li Gong, Jet Li, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao</strong></p> <p><strong>Rated: PG-13</strong></p> <p><strong>Available  to stream now with Premiere Access on Disney+ (cost is $29.99, plus a Disney+ subscription). On Dec. 4, the movie will become available to Disney+ subscribers without the additional $29.99 fee </strong></p> <p><strong>Critical rating: 3½ stars out of 4</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>First, it’s important for readers to know that I am, generally, a fan of Disney’s live-action remakes of animated classics. There is a school of thought that sees virtually every remake as unnecessary, and many amongst that crowd seem particularly invested in shaming the Mouse House for its continual returns to the well. I get the reasoning. Why mess with art that worked the first time around? The obvious answer is that – assuming said art has value – one can open it to new generations and perhaps even expand the appreciation of those who loved it initially.  </p> <p> </p> <p>By presenting a classic work through a new lens, artists can explore new ideas, flesh out previously squandered subthemes and occasionally reframe a work altogether. Shakespeare festivals and theatrical directors have made an industry of this, and nobody complains because the results are so often sublime.</p> <p> </p> <p>Personally, I find the transition from animation to live-action particularly rewarding. The two forms can tread the same ground, but the viewing experience is inherently different. With animation, we are separated from the characters in a visceral sense. This – along with the ability to hyper-stylize settings – allows artists to easily transition to the realm of fable. Advances in special effects have aided live-action filmmakers in this regard, but there is no denying that human actors, for lack of a better word, “humanize” the works they touch. Disney has exploited this possibility both successfully (think <em>Beauty and the Beast</em> and <em>Cinderella</em>) and stutteringly (<em>Alice in Wonderland</em>, <em>Dumbo</em>).</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2mulan.jpg" style="height:600px; width:405px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>With <em>Mulan</em>, one must start by noting that the story is not really Disney’s. The plot comes from a centuries-old Chinese folk tale about a female warrior who poses as a man in order to take her father’s place in combat. Despite the lengthy history – and the non-Disney films the story has inspired – it’s the success of the 1998 animated musical that most modern Americans remember.</p> <p> </p> <p>Curiously, Disney and director Niki Caro decided to stray substantially from the foundation laid by the 1998 film. This <em>Mulan</em> is not a musical, and it is decidedly more realistic than its predecessor. This may be distressing for those hoping for a faithful adaptation – ala <em>Beauty and the Beast </em>(2017) – but the differences are refreshing. This <em>Mulan</em> is many things, including a family drama, a tale of female empowerment and a rather beautiful martial arts adventure. That these elements are not routinely merged, works in the movie’s favor, as does Yifei Liu, a 33-year-old actress who successfully passes as a teenager.</p> <p> </p> <p>In the U.S., Liu is probably best known for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/04/pro-democracy-boycott-of-disneys-mulan-builds-online-via-milkteaalliance" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">publicly endorsing the Hong Kong police</a> and, thus, creating headlines and unintentionally inspiring a #BoycottMulan movement before her film was even ready for release. Although this movement has gained steam with the film’s streaming debut, I predict the actress’s performance will outshine the controversy. Regardless of how one feels about her politics, Liu is a talent, and her embodiment of Mulan is striking.</p> <p> </p> <p>This live-action retelling reinforces how difficult it would be for a woman to successfully pass as a man in a military setting. In fact, one scene spawned memories of the 1999 film <em>Boys Don’t Cry</em>, featuring Hilary Swank as a transgender man struggling to present himself to the world. This version of <em>Mulan</em> is not, however, solely interested in the complexities of identity. It is interested in attacking social structures that paint women as less capable than men. This theme plays out not only in Mulan’s story, but in a subplot about a powerful witch named Xianniang (Li Gong). Both Mulan and Xianniang – although on opposite sides – know oppression.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3mulan.jpg" style="height:337px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>As in the Disney cartoon – and the folk tale before it – Mulan enters the military to fulfill a duty asked of her father (Tzi Ma). Although he agrees to go to war, Mulan knows that he is too old, so she sneaks away, pretending to represent her family as a son. Her spirit, skill with martial arts and powerful chi soon prove she is the most powerful soldier in her unit.</p> <p> </p> <p>Although Mulan is thematically interested in big ideas, including character and equality, it is also a fine fantasy film filled with beautifully crafted martial arts sequences. The director’s  previous directorial efforts – including the wonderful 2002 drama <em>Whale Rider</em> – demonstrate her ability to build empathy for characters, but they don’t hint at the level of skill with which she tackles action. Some of the battle sequences in Mulan are reminiscent of pure martial arts movies, including the wonderful 2000 effort <em>Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon</em>. Perhaps this shouldn’t surprise since a number of fine martial artists were involved, Donnie Yen and Jet Li amongst them. The excellent battle footage adds a dynamic edge to the movie, making it easier to invest oneself in the combat than is possible in an animated film.</p> <p> </p> <p>Ultimately, it is difficult to say whether the live action <em>Mulan</em> is better than its animated predecessor. Fortunately, one needn’t make that assessment. This version of <em>Mulan</em> is its own creation, significantly changed, yet thoroughly pleasing to watch.  </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Forrest Hartman, a </em></strong><strong>Highbrow Magazine<em> contributor, is a longtime entertainment journalist who teaches in the Department of </em></strong><a href="https://www.csuchico.edu/jour/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><strong><em>Journalism &amp; Public Relations at California State University, Chico</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mulan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mulan</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/disney" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Disney</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/martial-arts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">martial arts</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/new-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">new films</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/disney-plus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">disney plus</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/live-action" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">live action</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/animated-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">animated films</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/remakes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">remakes</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/yi-fei-lu" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">yi fei lu</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/jet-li" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">jet li</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/li-gong" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">li gong</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/jason-scott-lee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">jason scott lee</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Forrest Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Sat, 05 Sep 2020 12:33:08 +0000 tara 9809 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/10833-mulan-successful-live-action-version-disney-classic#comments