Ghostbusters: Old vs New

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Tour.

Just yesterday Paul Feig released his take on the iconic Ghostbusters suit for his version of the famous movie. Feig’s version of the movie has an all female cast (Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, and Leslie Jones (and possibly rumored Sandra Bullock)) and Chris Hemsworth as the receptionist. Without further ado, let’s take a look at Feig’s Ghostbusters suits and see how they measure up to the original.

Feig's Ghostbusters suits. theguardian.com

  

Original Ghostbusters suits. cinemablend.com

Well for starters, both costumes share the iconic logo which is a definite must. You can’t have a “Ghostbusters” movie and not have the logo nowhere in the film; that would be like having a BLT without the T, it’s terrible. There also appear to be no elbow padding like in the original costume. However, it appears the gloves have returned and are curled up in the pockets.

Also on the new suits there are orange stripes for a splash of color, but from what I can tell I don’t see any of their names stitched onto their suits like the original Ghostbusters. While the original Ghostbusters had their last names stitched onto their uniforms, they don’t appear anywhere on the new suits. This makes me wonder if they’re going to be cast as four new Ghostbusters (with different last names) or have female versions of the original names (Ex.: Winston -> Winona/Winnie, Ray -> Rayna/Reyna, Peter -> Petra, Egon -> Egonia). It would be strange to not have their names stitched onto the suits because it seems like something the Ghostbusters wouldn’t do.

The suits are also a slightly darker shade than the original suits. The one feature I wish they would take from this new suit and apply to women’s fashion is the pockets. In women’s fashion, there are no useful pockets. Rather, there are imposkets, imposter pockets that appear to be helpful when really they’re just there for decoration.

I also wonder where the belts are on the suit. The belts not only kept the original Ghostbusters suit together, but were also resourceful. Ray and Winston are using their belts and belt hooks to hold up some of their machinery in the picture above. To be honest, I don’t even see belt hooks on the new suits which makes me wonder how exactly Feig is going to approach the overall gear. Will it be partially digital equipment combined with what the Ghostbusters initially had? If so, how will he make it work? We already saw Feig’s proton pack which is slightly different from the original proton pack.

Feig's Proton Pack. entertainmentweekly.com

Original Proton Pack. gbfans.com

The new proton pack appears to be smaller than the original and bears fewer cords. The generator appears to have been updated to fit modern times as well as the rest of the pack. But in the process, many of its other notable features are missing; all those wondrous gadgets strapped to the pack that we never knew existed or how they functioned are gone. Those gizmos though were what made the proton pack so wonderfully complex and fascinating, and contributed to the proton pack’s overall iconic look.

In general, Feig’s suits and proton packs look all right.  While they will never compare to the original for me, I’m still willing to give Feig’s “Ghostbusters” a go. After all, you can’t judge a book by its cover and I’m curious to see Dan Aykroyd supports the new film so much.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to share, subscribe, and critique.

So tell me, what do you think of Feig’s take on “Ghostbusters”?

It's Time to Get Wet 'n Wild

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Summer is the time of year where water parks are pumping as well as other water based activities. So if you’re ready to cool down, here’s my top five water slides.

5. Toboggan – Hotel Citta del Mare, Italy

Have I mentioned we Italians are a crazy bunch? Sure, most places with water slides send you into a chlorine filled pool, but with this slide you’re getting a face full of sea water. Situated at the Hotel Citta del Mare, this slide is open to guests of the establishment. It’s a racing slide which takes you past three scenic views and pools before dropping you into the Gulf of Castellamare.

4. Dangerous Flits – Tikibad Duinrell, Netherlands

Want to feel like a speeding bullet? Look no further. Resting in the Tikibad Duinrell waterpark, this single rider slide will make you feel like you’re flying through the water with no sign of stopping. As you barrel down the first, steep drop you’ll notice that the ride offers a glimpse of the slow, stagnant outside world.  Only then is that precious daylight snatched away by your gaining speed and the imminent darkness of the tunnels before you. You’ll be thankful when you reach the end of this mortifying masterpiece of a slide.

3. L2 – Worgl, Austria

You like your water slides like you like your roller coasters: without logic and filled with loops. Austria has created the world’s first inverted double looping waterslide, a feat so extraordinary that it causes the human body to be like Elphaba and defy gravity.  Climbing into the capsule, you cross your arms as the countdown to the thrill of a lifetime begins. The floor gives way and you are rocket launched into the slide, followed by two loops, and a final race to a miniature pool that welcomes you back to reality.

2. Tantrum Alley – Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai

One funnel on a water slide is insane, but three funnels? That’s about as crazy and wild as a runaway convict riding a blazing Harley Davidson motorcycle. Dubai does not disappoint with this water slide, its towering presence often frightens riders while encouraging others.  Its three funnels determine park goers to give this terrifying ride a whirl, but if the three funnel slide is too much to handle there is another slide to this attraction with two bowls that spin you around until they decide to spit you out.

1.Verruckt – Schlitterbahn, US

There are things that should not be tampered with in life. Oujia boards, fate, Furbies to name a few, but now to this collection we can add Verruckt. Standing taller than Niagara Falls and Lady Liberty herself, this water slide is a beast. It is the slide to end all slides as you rocket through the attraction at a terrifying speed of fifty five miles per hour. Verruckt is German for ‘insane’ and after tearing through this slide, you’ll understand why it was given that title.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, subscribe, and critique.

So tell me, what’s your favorite water slide?

Roller Coasters to Thrill Your Summer

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Summer’s here which means theme parks are open for business. Some of you are coaster junkies like myself and enjoy the rushing sensation of the wind in your hair while screaming for your life.  Others simply enjoy watching coasters speed through the air which is an art in itself. The fluidity of the track, the unexpected drops, it’s a feast for all the senses.

Here are the top coasters of the summer:

5.  Cu’ Chulainn – Tayto Park, Ireland

So you are a plain Jane/Joe type of rider, looking for something with thrill, but nothing too extreme. Look no further than this wooden beast of a coaster situated in Ireland.  Cu’ Chulainn is actually the name of a medieval Irish warrior who defended the province of Ulster against an incredulous army and bore wondrous strength. Needless to say, he was not to be trifled with combat and this coaster is not meant to be trifled with either. Boasting the title of Europe’s largest coaster with an inversion, this ride will have you holding on as you tear through the tracks like a powerful hero.

4.  Black Mamba – Phantasialand, Germany

So you’re looking for a hanging coaster with tight turns and smooth drops? Black Mamba has just what you need. Black Mamba is an inverted steel coaster named after a lethal, ebony snake that shares the same name.  Power packed with 4Gs, this ride will have you nearly missing walls, giving you the notion that you just may not survive this ride. With a wild, African flare this roller coaster will spiral you into the jungle searching for a means of escape.

3. Takashiba – Fuji-Q Highland, Japan

A recent holder of the world record of the world’s steepest coaster, this ride puts the thrill in ‘Thriller’. Bearing a drop angle of 121 degrees and standing at a staggering 141 feet, this coaster doesn’t mess around. Even its name translates to “high fly car” in kanji and “domineering”  in English. Packed with inversions and loops, this coaster will take you on the ride of your life.

2. Goliath – Six Flags Great America, Illinois

Smashing three of the world’s records for steepest, fastest, and tallest roller coaster, Goliath is a monster to behold. Towering at 165 feet, this beast tears through steel tracks and surrounds you in tight loops. At one point it even has that audacity to slowly stop you in mid air, only to pick up the pace more powerful than before.

1.  Batman: The Ride – Six Flags Fiesta, Texas

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we should fear is fear itself.” This coaster is the definition of fear. Strapping into a car on this monstrous B roll formation coaster, this ride will have you rolling with no end in sight. Just when you think you’ve stopped flipping and rising, you couldn’t be more wrong. This roller coaster is so intense that even watching footage of it makes me stop the video in fear of losing my lunch.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you liked it, feel free to share, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what is your favorite roller coaster?

E3 2015 Highlights

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

E3 has come and gone and with it, we have received some great information. While Sony, Square Enix, and Microsoft took the lead this year with their games, Nintendo didn’t seem to do so well.

Below are some of the highlights from this year’s E3.

Sony

-The remake of Final Fantasy 7, something that has been rumored for years, is now coming to fruition. There’s no release date as of yet, but it will be available on the PS4 and PC.

-The Last Guardian will be rising to the PS4 with a slated time for 2016.

-Shenmue 3’s Kickstarter gets Sony’s support and will come to the PS4 and PC

-Assassin’s Creed Syndicate finally has a female assassin and will be released on the PS4 on 6/23/15.

-Street Fighter V will be released in March 2016, but will have a public beta on 7/23/15.

-Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 will be available on 11/6/15 on PS4, Xbox One, and the PC.

-Dreams is a creation game that you can share with thousands of others on the PS4. There is no release date yet.

-South Park: The Fractured But Whole will be available next year for the PS4, PC, and Xbox One and focus on a superhero RPG.

-Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End will be released March 2016 for the PS4.

EA

-Unravel, an indie puzzle game with a sentimental presentation will present players with a Little Big Planet like format and incredible graphics. While there is no release date as of yet, players can pre-order it for $20 on EA’s Origin store.

-Star Wars: Battlefront is coming out 11/17/15 on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One with light sabers, multi-player options, pod racing, and eliminating AT-ATs.

-Need for Speed is coming out on 11/3/15 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One complete with rich customization and a generous dose of driving and drifting.

-Mass Effect: Andromeda is coming out during the holiday season of 2016.

-Mirror’s Edge : Catalyst will return on 2/23/16, showcasing more dystopian drama, parkour, and style.

-Fallout 4 will be available 11/10/15 for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

-There is a New Xbox One Experience which is their latest operating system complete with a virtual assistant called Cortana to aid you in sending messages and playing with friends.

Square Enix

-Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer revealed the keyblade’s new transformation abilities and a Tangled world. The game is still in development and has no release date.

-Rise of the Tomb Raider will give Lara Croft a more realistic appearance and will be available for the PS4 on 11/10/15.

-Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness will be available for America by 2016; for now, Japan will receive it first this upcoming Winter for the PS4.

-Just Cause 3 will be released for the PS4, PC, and Xbox One 12/1/15.

-Nier 2 will be available for the PS4, while no release date was given there will supposedly be more information on it in the Fall.

-Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will be released on the PS4 next year.

-Concept art for a new JRPG game entitled Project Setsuna was shown and will be released in 2016.

Nintendo

-Yoshi’s Wooly World will be popping up on shelves for the Wii U on 6/25/2015.

-Hyrule Warrior Legends will be coming to the Nintendo 2/3DS next year.

-Metroid Prime Federation Force will be released for the Wii U in 2016.

-Animal Crossing: Happy Home Maker will come to the Nintendo 2/3DS 9/25/15. Followed by this during the holidays, will be the release of Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival.

-Starfox Zero will be available this Winter for the Wii U.

-Fatal Frame 4: Maiden of Black Water will appear on the Wii U this Fall.

-Super Mario Maker will be available for the Wii U 9/11/15. Other Mario centered games like Mario Tennis Ultra Smash and Mario Luigi Paper Jam will be released on the Wii U this winter and the 2/3 DS next spring.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it feel free to share, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what game are you most excited for?

Farewell, Saruman

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Christopher Lee left behind a legacy of iconic film roles and music, having passed on June 7^th, 2015 at ninety three years old.  Lee died at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London after three weeks of treatment for respiratory problems and heart failures.

Born in Belgravia, London on May 27^th, 1922 to one of the oldest families in Europe, Lee was an only child. His parents separated when he was a child and his mother moved with him to Switzerland. He attended Miss Fisher’s Academy in Wegen, followed by Summer Field’s School in London. After this, he received a scholarship at Eton College and Wellington College where he studied Greek and Latin.

In 1939, Lee enlisted in the Royal Air Force during WW2. During this time, he also was assigned to tracking down Nazi war criminals and served as an Intelligence Officer with the Long Range Desert Group in Northern Africa in the Special Forces. He later retired with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Sworn to secrecy, Lee never spoke of his war days.

Eight years later, Lee entered the film industry and obtained a seven year contract with the Rank Organization. He was enrolled in acting school that groomed young, contracted actors.  From his education, he obtained a role in “Corridor of Mirrors” – a gothic romance movie.  In the fifties and onward, Lee’s acting career blossomed from tackling classic roles such as Fu Manchu and notorious horror icons such as Dracula and The Mummy. The part of Dracula especially shaped him into a master of the macabre and led him to dabble in other horror flicks such as “Gremlin 2”, “The Creeping Flesh”, and “Circus of Fear”.

Lee went on to portray classic villain parts such as Saruman from “The Lord of the Rings”, Count Dooku from the “Star Wars” prequels, Scaramanga from “The Man With the Golden Gun”, and countless other roles. Lee even did an audio performance of Edgar Allen Poe’s works, DiZ from Kingdom Hearts 2, King Haggard from “The Last Unicorn”, and Burton’s iconic “Nightmare Before Christmas” poem . He even collaborated with Tim Burton and appeared in “Sleepy Hollow”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Dark Shadows”, and “Alice in Wonderland”.  Having loved to sing so much, Lee created symphonic metal albums for Christmas and tributes to Charlemagne.

Burton even had the pleasure of awarding Lee with the BAFTA Academy Fellowship award. Lee was graced with other awards throughout his life. He received the International Fantasy Film Award, Bram Stoker’s Lifetime Achievement Award, MTV Movie Award, and was even knighted by the Queen in 2009 for his services to drama and charity.

The world is a less thrilling place without someone as amazing and epic as Christopher Lee.  While we have his metal soundtracks and his countless roles, the world has once more lost a great person. We can only imagine him now up in the sky conversing with Vincent Price and jamming with other metalheads. His presence will no longer grace the Earth, but we will still have Lee in our hearts and minds.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you liked it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what was your favorite role that Christopher Lee played?

Expectations for The Simpsons

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

“The Simpsons” was a classic childhood staple of prime time television. At six o clock the episodes would air on FOX, causing me to abandon my homework (only for a half hour) and witness the life of an iconic fictional family. I grew up alongside Bart and watched his mischievous antics, I watched Lisa develop into an intelligent saxophonist, and I distinctly remember Homer and Marge’s attempts to make Maggie say her first word.

Over the years, the program changed from being emotionally driven by the characters into a heartfelt satire of the world outside the television screen. In its 27^th season, Al Jean, the producer of “The Simpsons” has announced a few things we should expect from the future.

Our first expectation is that Sideshow Bob will finally kill Bart. Sideshow Bob is not only my favorite Simpsons character (an intelligent, theatre doting, psychopath with a witty sense of humor), but he is Bart’s ultimate threat. In the past, Sideshow Bob has attempted to kill Bart numerous times and has often failed. But now in this new season, Sideshow Bob will finally succeed in murdering Bart during this year’s Halloween Special. After he kills Bart, he struggles to find something else to do with his life.


The second expectation is the return of Spider Pig. You know, the pig that Homer saved in “The Simpsons Movie” before he could be slaughtered by Krusty Burger and caused the ultimate pollution of Springfield Lake. Yep, that little guy is making a return complete with his catchy jingle.

fanpop.com

The final expectation is that Homer and Marge will divorce. Apparently all this time, Homer has suffered from narcolepsy and has driven Marge to the point of insanity. From there, they divorce and he falls for his pharmacist played by Lena Dunham. It’s a bit shocking to see an iconic pair separate, but over the years they have taken their time apart from each other like when Homer moved in with his homosexual friends, when Marge left him in “The Simpsons Movie”, or when Homer was kicked out of the house and stayed in the single men complex. From how it appears though, their separation will only last for one episode.

Thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what’s your favorite “Simpsons” moment?

Powerpuff Girls and Ms. Frizzle Make a Comeback

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

The 90s are returning, making many adults who grew up in that era rejoice. As an adult from the 90s myself, seeing all these shows from my past being revamped makes me feel like a content old timer. It’s a nostalgic road trip for me, seeing all the shows I grew up with now returning with new animation styles, different voice actors, and new stories.

“The Magic School Bus” is finally getting a reboot. Initially reported in 2014 by various sources, “The Magic School Bus” is going to be revamped as “The Magic School Bus 360.” It will be airing on Netflix in 2016, with the show produced in computer generated animation.  Everything about the show will be modernized form the unforgettable Ms. Frizzle to the Magic School Bus itself complete with robot aids.

Another blast from the past show that’s making a comeback is “The Powerpuff Girls”.  Airing on Cartoon Network in 2016, we will be reunited with the iconic girls made of sugar, spice, everything nice, and Chemical X.  The animation will be in the same original style and will feature a new voice cast; Amanda Leighton will voice Blossom, Kristen Li will play Bubbles, and Natalie Palamides will voice Buttercup. While the new cast broke the original casts’ hearts, they wished the girls well in the future endeavor.

Thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what series are you excited to see make a comeback?

The Thing That Wouldn't Leave

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Today’s entry is a bit of anger induced speculation as to why the topic in question is even happening.

The “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchise is getting a sequel series entitled “Grey” and it will be from Christian Grey’s point of view.  It will be released as a paperback and ebook on June 18^th, 2015 – Christian Grey’s birthday.

Some of you may be rejoicing, others may be cringing and asking yourselves: why of all things, why. To be frank, I honestly do not know why, but it’s evident EL James isn’t done writing.

I honestly wonder if she will use this new venture in an attempt to justify for Grey’s abuse and how he treated Anna. It was already revealed in the first book that he did those things to her because he had a horrible encounter with a rapist. Instead of seeking professional help, he decided to become an obsessed BDSM sex addict. This does not atone for everything he did to Anna.

I also wonder if this new series will show any hopeful sign that James’ writing has improved. While I doubt it, a grammar girl like me can only hope that supposedly one of the best sellers of our generation can actually write well. As a writer myself, I understand that writers’ styles can change with experience and/or experimentation. But given what James has presented to the world so far, I doubt her writing style will change. I say this because if readers enjoyed her writing style, then she'll make certain to repeat it again just to please them.

James also failed to inform people how many books the “Grey” series will be. However, she did say that her idea behind this continuing series is that for every relationship there are always two sides to the story.

It’s not just for a relationship though, that concept applies to almost every single event that happens in life. A cashier and a customer get into a fight?  There’s two sides to that story. A crime scene? There’s two sides (if not more) to that story. There are tons of situations in life that have that ‘two sides to every story’ concept. Why should “Grey” or relationships in general be any different? If she chose not to pursue “Grey”, the Fifty Shades books could easily stand on their own.

James is also trying to utilize this new “Grey” series to lure in more of a male audience because apparently only 20% of men read “Fifty Shades of Grey”.  I’m not sure what the result will be of that venture, but we can only wait and see.

Regardless, it wouldn’t surprise me if there were more merchandise and movies to follow this series. So expect to once more see Christian Grey and “Fifty Shades of Grey” merchandise on store shelves in the future.

Thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what are your thoughts on this new “Grey” series?

Gamestop + ThinkGeek = GameGeek!

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Remember how most of you probably dreaded Hot Topic buying Thinkgeek? Well your dread can easily be put to rest.  Gamestop has managed to purchase Thinkgeek at a $20 common stock share, as opposed to Hot Topic’s $17.50 offer.

Gamestop is a video game store that has been around for years and has been noted as a gamer’s paradise. To merge with Thinkgeek will mean that the store will be able to broaden its collectibles merchandise. This means that we’ll be seeing more Thinkgeek toys and games in Gamestop stores.  The merge could also enforce Gamestop to start selling retro video game consoles because of Thinkgeek’s nostalgic items they sell.

Thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what are you excited to see from this new business venture?