So... I seen Ghost Busters Afterlife... So first the good, the child actors are actually pretty interesting. The main girl even legitimately reminds me of Egon so I can totally buy her as Egon's granddaughter. Spoilers for the ending Spoiler The effect of Egon's ghost was really well done. Obviously the actor couldn't actually be in the movie cause he really did pass away in real life. I think this a pretty loving tribute to Harold Ramis. And now the bad... The original actors are BARELY in this movie. Bill Murry appears in this less than he did in the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot. There's an entire scene with Ray that makes no logical sense what so ever. Phoebe calls the phone number from the old Ghost Busters commercial, gets Ray on the phone who is surprised to hear the person on the other end talking about Ghosts and says that they lost the fire house, it's a Star Bucks now. So realistically calling that phone number should have just called a Star Bucks in New York not where ever Ray was when he took the call. I mean that could of worked if they just had him still in the fire house and removed that line but NOPE. Also the plot of this movie is LITERALLY the plot of the first movie. I know people have joked about Ghost Busters 2 and even the reboot having similar endings but we've now gone from similar to quite literally being the same villain from the first movie. I would of liked this so much more if they didn't repeat the whole Keymaster/Gatekeeper, Gozer story line from the first movie. Although their response when Gozer asked "Are you a God?" again was pretty funny. Only enjoyable part of seeing Gozer again otherwise I would of much preferred a new big bad for the end of the movie. This feels odd to say... but the Ghostbusters reboot felt more like a Ghostbusters movie than this did. I think the original cast should of been in it more helping to guide the kids from the beginning of the movie and have a different villain. It's not bad, just kind of underwhelming considering the hype for this movie to just be a rehash of the first film that the original actors are barely in.
I disagree as the tone was particularly disparaging towards males compared to the women in the movie. If the genders were treated as equally inept, where was the female character that was too stupid to properly answer a phone? Or the female character who was on the receiving end of self urination jokes? Sure there were a few jokes made at the expense of the main characters, mostly Erin, but overall it definitely was an issue with the script. To stay on topic with Afterlife, Phoebe was an excellent main protagonist for the film, I loved her interactions with Podcast. Those 2 were definitely the heart of the movie.
This was a perfectly fine, entertaining film with great visuals impressive soundtrack and good characters as well as some nice dialogue. It is definitely a step up from 2016, which I enjoyed at the time, but looking back on it and the director's cut makes me think they just DID NOT get it. This movie get's it a lot and includes some very interesting ideas. About the one failing grace is the character of Ivo Shandor, it was a non-entity and J.K.Simmons playing a role done better and much more menacing in the Video Game just failed on so many levels. Plus there was very little explanation for how he was so well preserved or how he came back. Something tells me the deleted scenes might have some stuff about Shandor left on the cutting room floor. I think I would have preferred it if it was VIGO SHANDOR is dopey younger brother or something, but that's probably too much stupidity for such an important film. Am I correct in presuming that some of the ghosts are references to RGB and the toyline? That eyeball ghost thing we saw briefly when all the spirits escape seems to be a reference to the large floating eyeball thing from the toyline that recently got a retro re-release via Wal-Mart.
So, I took the kids to this after showing them the original Ghostbusters. They liked it just fine, and maybe better than the original. I'm not as bothered by how the film handles Egon as most, but I feel like we're playing with fire here when it comes to using the likenesses of deceased actors. Yeah this was pretty tastefully done, but I feel like we're going to cross some line soon if this allowed to become a normal thing. Wasn't lost on me that the plot is literally the same plot, nearly beat for beat, as Ghostbusters 1. I was more ticked when I realized how much the Disney Star Wars trilogy were copying from the OT, but for Ghostbusters I was surprisingly ok with it. I think in the case of Star Wars I felt that after having multiple movies, an expanded universe, video games, etc, that it really really needed something original to launch a new era. And we didn't get that. With Ghostbusters, what's come since it debuted hasn't been nearly as successful (with the exception of The Real Ghostbusters cartoon). And a lot of what we saw from Ghostbusters didn't seem to understand what made that first film special. So going back in such a blatant way seemed more intelligent, especially since it did such a good job recapturing the magic of this universe. I'd definitely want future projects to branch out though.
Finally saw the movie yesterday. I liked it. I don't think they quite got the tone right. And the Stay-Puft Marshmallowmen really didn't seem like they belonged in the story except as a blatant reference to the original. But overall it was good. Spoiler Although the biggest thing that probably bothered me was when Phoebe pointed the activated proton pack wand at the cop. Based on what she (and we) have see those are capable of against non-spectral entities (burning, melting, disintegration), that could have serious injured or even killed him. Just seemed unnecessarily dark for both Phoebe and the movie.
Took my lad to see it yesterday. Immensely enjoyable for what it is, it managed to stay in the original’s continuity whilst still writing a love letter to it. I get the wishing that the original cast were in it more, but that would surely have led to more criticism and accusations of ‘phoning it in’. I thought it was a good plot, and it’s only similar to the first if you’ve watched it…. Which I imagine a sizeable chunk of the younger audience haven’t. Tribute to Egon/Ramis really well done, and just a really fun film. Yesterday was my son and I’s first visit to the cinema since pre-pandemic, and it was a great experience.
Today (dec 12) is the last day to back the Haslab crowdfund proton pack. Any last minute wannabe busters out there, now's the chance. Ghostbusters Plasma Series Spengler’s Proton Pack – Hasbro Pulse
Spoiler I think it was ment to tie her temper to being the same as Egons when he went after peck after the containment unit blew. I don't think she actually intended to shoot the sheriff but rather after activating likely turn the wand and fire passed him off to the side to show what it was capable of putting the thought it their heads maybe it was capable of catching a ghost since they would have never seen anything like it before. Although it also would have just as likely caused more damage not changing any minds and causing her more trouble
At some point, you'd think he'd realize that the only reason the internet hates the movie as much as it does is because he won't stop tooting his own horn about it. I mean, it's definitely a mediocre film (I'm being generous here. The groundwork is there for a passable, if derivative film, but its poor comedic sense ruins any potential it could have had). But the world would've just been happy enough to forget about it in time. But this dude can't help but open his mouth and open it up to another volley from the firing squad.
I like the movie and thinks it doesn't belong with the others. It's like having the Nolan Batman trilogy and them cramming in Batman and Robin for no reason... and to be fair, Sony DID make a set a couple years ago with the two originals and Answer the Call all together.
Follow up ps4 game with most the main actors is in the works. They are not sure if bill will return or get recast. (you never know with bill but he has said he does not mind doing voice work) Game will tie into afterlife and the last game. So ernie says the ps4 game is canon. The rerelease must have sold well. Wonder if this takes place after afterlife or will take place before it? Ghostbusters Video Game Sequel Revealed By Ernie Hudson (screenrant.com)
I'm REALLY curious how they're going to connect those dots. The 2009 game takes place in 1991, deals with a VERY active incursion of the ghost world, tons of news coverage, and contradicts Afterlife with Ivo Shandor dethroning Gozer itself and commandeering it's realm as the Architect. A little hand wave-y explanation I can handle, but there are MAJOR plot points that would have to be ignored for it to fit. I guess we'll see what happens. I'm still hyped for this game and I hope we see some gameplay soonish.
If they have Egon in the game, I hope they get his Real Ghostbusters voice actor to stand in. If it's post Afterlife though then I guess they don't need to worry about that.