The new Ghostbusters film! What did we expect when we went in? We didn’t know to be honest, its director Paul Feig recently gave us Heat which we loved, but also Spy which we did not.
The film has a sad attachment to it, with it being the hate target on the internet, most hated reboot, most dislikes on YouTube, hate for its female cast etc
Now I love the 1984 original, its sequel not so much but they are both special to me! I’ve blogged in the past about how I even did a school project of the original, but I never thought this film would ‘ruin my childhood’ just one of the claims put out when this new version was announced.
I went into the film hoping I would enjoy it, and you know what, I loved it! A Film of this nature, in my opinion, has one job, entertain you and that gets a HUGE tick.
The film starts with a ghost that has possessed the Gertrude Aldrige stately home, and you will have memories flood back to the first ghost in the original that haunted the library. The owner of the home needs help and finds Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) through a book she wrote, many years ago with Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy)
Erin is furious as she asked for all copies of the book to be removed as it would threaten her career. Erin, of course, takes it up with Abby, who is still dealing with all things supernatural with Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon)
A deal is made with Abby for details of the ghost in return for removing the book for sale. What happens is proof of ghosts, a sliming and recorded evidence. This recording when finds its way online sees Erin lose her role so she, with the other girls set up a business with the scientific desire to catch a ghost. The video evidence which made the news sees them relabelled Ghostbusters.
Their first case is to help Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) a subway worker, with a ghost who looks very like one of Ghostbusters 2 Scoleri Brothers, another little nod to the originals.
Patty, after this, joins the Ghostbusters team and with the addition of Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) as their secretary/assistant.
Due to the work of Rowan (Neil Casey) the film’s ‘Big Bad’ the ghosts are more and more frequent, including one taking over a heavy metal band’s concert. Other big scenes include the taking over a Macys Day Parade which includes a balloon of a
Other big scenes include the taking over a Macys Day Parade which includes a balloon of our favourite Marshmallow man, the one and only Mr. Stay Puft. We even get a little origins story to the iconic no ghosts logo sign!
Slimer also puts in an appearance too but despite all these nods to the originals, this is a film with its own story. Great new gadgets are invented to catch and destroy ghosts, all 4 girls are great fun in the leads, Kate is a star in the making from this role but Kristen as Erin was the stand out for me.
This is a great fun film and I would say better than the 1989 sequel.
But the film does have negative points.
Rowan is just nowhere near good as the villain. The issue with nearly all modern day blockbusters, the CGI is acceptable but you can’t help but think the old school ways offer so much more for films, the filming on green screens always seems to make the film darker as well we think! The FX are of a Scooby Doo: Monsters Unleashed level.
There is a lot of love for Hemsworth as Kevin, but I personally didn’t think he added much to the film, it certainly was good that a big star like that was in a supporting role to the woman but for me he just became an annoying Mr. Bean like character.
But probably our biggest fault is the cameos, they really do feel they have been shoved in, so to speak. It’s great to have Bill Murray; Dan Aykroyd; Annie Potts; Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver feature, but their moments don’t really offer much.
Potts has probably the best of them, but we feel that they could have been used better in other roles such as that Ed Begley jr or Charles Dance had in the film. We would love to have seen Bill in the Andy Garcia role as the Mayor!
But none of these reasons are justification for the bile said about it online, we certainly think its one of the better films of the year and very likely to make our end of year top 10. It certainly did not ruin our childhood!!
It is also worth noting as well that we really do think it is worth considering paying the uplift to see this film in 3-D as you will have slime and ghosts leaping into your lap.
And finally, if you do like the film then stay until the end of the credits for another scene, which we hope will bring a sequel.
If you like Ghostbusters or supernatural comedies then ‘Who you gonna call?’
Did you enjoy this new Ghostbusters? Who is your new favourite Ghostbuster? Would you like a sequel? We would love to hear from you here at Barking Mad About Films.
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