Hey, I love the new theme song. A refreshed version of the original but that feels more modern, with hints of everything in between: nostalgia (E.T., Stranger Things); adventure, fantasy. Loved it.
About Mean Girls. I really love the film and its my generations High School movie, as I was in High School when it came out. We still reference and quote it all the time with my friends and its a part of our joint memory of going to see it together, rewatching it at someone's house, etc.
I really like Tina Fey's humor and I would love to read the R-rated version of the script. I hope it's out there online.
I love that you started second season with it cause it gives us a glimpse on what to expect for Season 2. Like, I know the film is beloved but it should get more recognition.
I agree that the script is very grounded while being funny. That, along with the direction make it feal very real.
I love how even the secondary characters and extras are not plain extras. They have a personality, even if they appear for a scene or two, we almost know who they are. I like that they appear in the background at school all the time, they're there at a party, they run into each other at the mall... The school world seems more real and authentic for it.
I really love some of the choices Mark Waters made. I think its understated but he has a really good eye and directorial instinct. The school cafeteria tour scene and the telephone scenes for me are standouts. Glad they mentioned the phone scenes and how he filmed them cause I always go back to them to see the pacing, how the camera is always moving, how the editing mixes perfectly between middle shots and close ups, music score is also great there. Sounds like a simple scene but there's something really cool about it.
Lastly, I think that all the actors did a really good job and I love all the characters but Rachel McAdams knocks it out of the park. I think her Regina George is the best high school popular girl ever, and here's why:
- She's like no other, she's not like other generic high school mean girl in other movies. She doesn't have to do the sassy comebacks, she doesn't do the neck and finger movements all of the oher actresses seem to be doing when channeling the mean/popular girl or the I'm always annoyed resting-bitch-face. She goes for something completely original. She channels it differently and has fun with it.
- Regina's also written differently. She's not hated. She's beloved and admired by the other girls in school. Even if she's mean and conniving, she doesn't show it. She pulls the strings behind the curtain and kind of plays around ("so you agree, you think you're very pretty" rapidly changes the subject). She is nice to people in school (the "I love your skirt" line) even if she doesn't mean it. She's not completely a villan. She's flawed, she's tridimensional. And no other highschool movie does that with the "villain". That's why she has stood the test of time for me.
I've never seen the musical but I've seen clips and even though the girl (or girls) playing Regina are super talented and great singers (and I like the rocky-diabolical Regina's theme) I feel like they changed the essence of Rachel McAdams version. I know they have to keep it fresh and they have other takes on the character but they seem to have gotten back to the "bithchy attitude, annoyed face, neck moving, finger lifting" generic arsenal of mean girl sassiness all other actresses do.
Or maybe its me, I've always hated the take on some other actresses cause it seems to be cut from the same clothes.
