Ghostbusters Frozen Empire, X-Men ’97, Problemista | See it or Skip it

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — It’s a good week for something spooky!

Will you have goosebumps with the new Ghostbusters film, or are you going to relive your childhood Saturday mornings with a bowl of cereal and X-Men ’97? ABC4 Film Critic Patrick Beatty lets us know what to see and what to skip.

Ghostbusters Frozen Empire

Where to Watch: Theaters

Directed By: 

Gil Kenan

Written By: 

Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman, Ivan Reitman

Starring:

Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, Kumail Nanjiani

Genre:

Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy,

Rated PG-13

All media courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Gil Kenan takes the director’s seat for the sequel to Ghostbusters Afterlife, and the 4th Ghostbusters since the original film. Ghostbusters are everywhere in New York City, and this time they are up against a chilling new villain.

What works with this story revolves around our main characters, but Ghostbusters Frozen Empire is spread way too thin by introducing a litter of new characters while trying to remind you why you loved the old returning characters. This makes for a sluggish first half of the film as the story is mainly exposition and introductions.

I enjoyed the throwbacks to original practical ghosts and slimmers. There are a lot of jokes that have about a 50% chance of making you laugh, and the story is something that may upset die-hard fans but works for a new and young audience.

I wasn’t expecting an amazing film — and because of those low expectations, I ended up having a decent time with this.

See it or Skip it? See It

X-Men ’97

Where to Watch: Disney +

Created By: 

Beau DeMayo, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

Genre:

Animation, Fantasy, Superhero

Rated TV-PG

All media courtesy of Marvel Studios

Marvel Animation has delivered its best work with X-Men ’97, the continuation of X-Men The Animated Series that debuted in 1992.

Not only do they continue storylines lost for decades with a fresh and exciting style and perspective, but X-Men ’97 elevates what now adults grew up on with interesting characters, depth of story, and beautiful animation that I cannot wait to continue watching.

Not only is there continuity with the original, but there are new storylines that harken to the comics, something that really hasn’t been properly explored in the live-action films. I love how some characters take on a new life through their accurate portrayals, and hope they continue this trend for the upcoming live-action films (whenever they come out).

This is a required watch for any Marvel fan.

See it or Skip it? See It

Problemista

Where to Watch: Theaters

Directed By: 

Julio Torres

Written By: 

Julio Torres

Starring:

Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, RZA

Genre:

Comedy

Rated R

All media courtesy of A24

Julio Torres is facing deportation as his work visa is in jeopardy of expiring. He’s just lost his job, and his dreams of working for a toy company and bringing to life his bizarre toys seem like an unattainable goal. In an act of desperation, he decides to work and commit himself to an out-of-touch reject from the art world played by Tilda Swinton, which will test his patience, his outlook, and most importantly, his ability to live in America.

Tilda Swinton shines as a sometimes evil and aloof boss, focused on the wrong things and demanding excellence without even knowing what that means. I love how it builds the frustration through Julio Torres’s character, and if you have ever had a horrible boss this is sure to make you laugh and make you cringe.

I also love how they are able to shine a light on the issues of immigration, particularly with work visas that rely solely on you having gainful employment, along with many other requirements that are shown here. A24 again brings a unique story with powerful storytelling to its audience and is something I would highly recommend.

See it or Skip it? See It

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