It’s here!!!!!!!!!!
For those of you who know me, know that Ghostbusters is one of my favorite films. I own both the films on DVD, yet I still also watch them everytime they show them on TV and moan about the advert breaks! I know Robin Shelby (Slimer in Ghostbusters 2) and have met Ernie Hudson (Winston) and Bill Bryan (Stay Puft). I also interview any new authors who join my ‘Ministry of Misfits’ and one of their questions is about the new film.
So yeah chances are I’m in quite a good place to share my thoughts on the new Ghostbusters film.
If you wan’t to know the back story about why it took so long to make Ghostbusters 3, I can tell you but it’s a long story and involves portraying Bill Murray in not a nice light. Let’s just say the other original 3 tried for years and years to make the third film, but ol’Bill was having none of it.
So you can imagine my joy when they announced that a third Ghostbusters was being made! Hoorah, at last!! I was ecstatic, then I heard the news it was going to be an all female cast, I was like ooooooooooook. Then I heard that two of the top roles had been taken by Bridesmaids alumni Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig and was to be directed by Bridesmaids director Paul Feig. My heart sank.
I had waited countless years for one of my fave films to be remade to have it essentially as Bridemaids with ghosts. Yeah I have to admit that Bridesmaids is kinda funny, but it’s the WRONG kind of funny.
Let me explain the original Ghostbusters was the perfect combination of Saturday Night Live humour with feel good. It’s not about the fact that it’s all female, it’s about the feelings, the emotions. I’m not American but even I feel patriotic towards America watching Ghostbusters 2 where a super slimed Statue of Liberty goes to save the day. I get the goosebumps when they run towards the building, cheer when Rick Moranis aka Louis Tully suits up complete with ear muffs.
Watching the trailer for the new Ghostbusters, I felt nothing, well I did feel something. I felt canned laughter with a nod to the past. It’s not funny when you are trying to be funny people. Don’t believe me, watch the trailer for yourself!
For months and months the writers of the new Ghostbusters had said that the film would NOT be a remake or reboot, instead it would be a homage to the past. Yes although I have been vocal in my disapproval of the film, I tried to remain neutral, after all, sometime change is better, but in this case it sadly was not.
I got goosebumps hearing the music when the trailer kicks in. The music is one of the most iconic parts of the film. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE knows the words if you’re a fan, heck even if you don’t like the film chances are you know the words! This got me pysched, had I been wrong about the film? Would I be pro Ghostbusters 3? Well lets find out some more.
The trailer then goes on to say at the 10-12 second mark.
Interesting are the going to pay respect to the original film?? Also Winston was NOT a scientist, come on writers did you even watch the original film? He was a mechanic. Then at the 18 second mark we see one of the most iconic landmarks and symbols of the film.
OMG it’s the firehouse and it’s not run down! Why is it not run down? Where are the original team? Also if ghosts had been proven to be real 30 years ago, why hadn’t one major ghoulie wanted and succeeded in taking over the planet?
30 seconds in we see three of the team in a library where Melissa’s character clearly this films version of Dan Ackroyd’s ‘Ray’ is stood with Kirtsen Wiig and newbie in tow. Oh wait what’s this at the 32 second mark? It’s a ghost! Why do they seem surprised? They were proven to be real, did they not watch the original film like the writers??? Oh wait I know that ghost and you do too. it’s the ‘Grey Lady’ aka the ghost in Library. This was the first ghost the old team ran into. You think that some wonnabe Ghostbusters would have heard of this famous ghost.
Ok I have to admit the special affects on the ghost were pretty cool and they did remind me of the original ghosts.The ghost was all peaceful and calm until SLIMAGE!!!! I mean come on for a film that said it was not being a remake or reboot, you’re doing a good job so far of ripping it off!
We then here Kristen Wiig’s character saying that the ectoplasm went ‘everywhere and in every crack’ hmmmmmm I don’t know what to think of that. Cue snazzy music again and we we cut to the three newbies saying ‘they’ve dedicated their life to the paranormal’ and people running around the streets in panic.
I’m sorry I said it earlier but did any of the writers not watch the original? If you’re gunna reference the previous films and the past, acknowledge ghosts are real! It’s like saying oh wait the sky isn’t blue, it’s red, no wait it’s actually blue I forgot!
At the 57 second mark we see the proton packs and Melissa McCarthy saying that ‘people need their help’. I’m sorry but if I lived somewhere and new ghosts were real, I would have not relied on one business. I would have set up my own to zap those suckers into oblivion!!
Then at the 1 minute and 10 second mark we are introuduced to the female ghostbuster. A streetwise, African-American who knows the streets of New York better than the other three and is the muscle whereas they are the brains. Where does that seem familiar? Oh yeah WINSTON!! Ok now this trailer is annoying me!
The newbie then goes on to say she’s ‘borrowed a car from her uncle’ and what’s this at the 1 minute and 19 second mark, it’s a hearse! Of course it’s a hearse. How original! Ooo wait a minute, what’s it called? Ecto-1 ? Hmmmm.
Cue the Ecto-1 (I swear that name is familiar), bad jokes and the car diving through the city. Then at the 1 minutes and 35 second mark, we see the familiar setting of the hotel from the first film, then SLIMER one second later at 1 minute and 36 seconds. Yay Slimer is here woooooooo. I wonder if my friend Robin is doing anythign with this, if she has, she has kept VERY quiet.
What follows after is bad joke after bad joke. Although the special effects on the ghosts are DAMN good! Well done this is the only thing I’m impressed with so far.
What’s this at the 1 minute and 50 second mark? it appears to be a cameo from Jack Skellington in New York!
We then go on to see Chris Hemsworth providing the eye candy for what is clearly a chick flick film with ghosts and a few more bad jokes.
Well done Paul Feig, you have ruined the franchise for not only me but legions of Ghostbuster fans. We wait years for a third film and get this, although the special effects are good and the cast did thier best. I’m blaming you Paul Feig! If you’re making a fourth film, get me on board as a writer.
You may think that was a harsh review, but for a film that says it was not going to be a reboot when it clearly was. GRR!!
I’m sorry readers, I tried to be neutral! But answer me this, if you watched the movie without the music, would you have known it’s Ghostbusters???
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