Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Recently I saw Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2024

Well Afterlife was a hit and proved there may be some life in the franchise yet so it should come to no surprise that a sequel would emerge. 

Thing with Ghostbusters though, is that the original movie was a satire of 1980s action heroes - a truth that would no doubt have gone over the heads of it's dedicated fanbase. So the further this franchise advances from the Reagan era, what else can it say?
The impression I got from this movie is that it appears to be at odds with itself.
On one hand the OG Ghostbusters are there to pass the torch to the new guys. But on the other, they seem to play a more active role in the action.
On one hand Melody gives the idea that ghosts are friendly. But on the other, she has her own agenda.
On one hand the film is trying to say something of it's own. But on the other, there are plenty of call-backs to the first movie.
On one hand Phoebe is set up to be the main character. But on the other, there's a large cast here with everyone clamouring for a time to shine.
On one hand it's great to see some familiar faces return. But on the other, they are still competing with the already large cast for something to do.
On one hand the threat has a load of potential. But on the other, it is overcome quite anti-climatically. 

The list goes on.

Where do we go from here indeed....

Scrooged

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... Scrooged!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd December 2023

I have spoken previously of my admiration of A Christmas Carol and how the source material is strong enough that it can adapted so many times and still work. So it was only a matter of time before I came across this.
On paper this sounds like it has potential: Bill Murray playing the Scrooge role? And it's updated with Scrooge playing a TV bigshot? And it utilises an adaptation of the original text as a framing device? Sounds like something that could work. So does it?

Watching Scrooged, I can't shake the feeling that it was looking over Ghostbusters' shoulder, with the presence of Murray, the use of horror & fantasy and ingenious special effects. Also it is difficult to ascertain the mood the movie is going for, with it starting being critical of Christmas sentimentality before giving up by the end and embracing it.
But in the end, this movie works because of Murray - proving that he is his best when he gets to play complete jerks. The afore-mentioned framing device works, and I will admit that I enjoyed the speech at the end.

You know, when I was a kid, I saw the music video to Put a Little Love in Your Heart on rage and wondered what movie it was selling. Now I know. 

Incidentally, would anyone else want to watch The Night the Reindeer Died?

Anywho, hope you all have a Merry Christmas. 

Ghostbusters Afterlife

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Ghostbusters Afterlife!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd June 2022

I have a friend named Nick. He is the biggest Ghostbusters fan i know and he was adamant that i watch this. Well, I'm not one to argue with fanboys - that and the fact that Nick is a big guy so I'm definitely not going to argue with him.

I have to say this movie does come across like the most expensive fan movie ever made. There's loads of in jokes and references. There is a sense that nostalgia is powering the whole thing. There is Paul Rudd acting like he can barely contain his inner fanboy.
Yet at the same time, while the reverence is there, it faces opposition. For movie is from Jason Reitman who directed Young Adult (which I saw weeks before). And the reverence is for a movie that was built on irony. And can I really buy Egon being a parent let alone a neglectful one?

Misgivings aside, there is still a lot going for this movie. The strength of the franchise - the unlikely combination of horror, humor and special effects - are at work here. There is some great use of atmosphere (the chess game for one), the kids that are the leads do a great job and and the climax is indeed a treat.
So yeah, not a bad effort

Favorite line: "Playtime's over, lets toast this muffin!"

Ghostbusters

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Ghostbusters!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th June 2016 

This may seem strange to some of you (particularly my fellow children of the eighties) but I've never actually seen Ghostbusters all the way through. Sure I saw, when i was a kid, Ghostbusters 2 and the cartoon. Sure I know of the franchise and the so-eighties-its-cringeworthy theme song but it's kinda weird to come to the point where it all started. This, in turn, raises a level of expectation that is pretty much astronomical (never a good sign). 

 But I'm pleased to say that this movie was actually pretty good. There's certainly some good laughs and the practical effects hold up really well. In fact. get past the whole 'franchise starts here' and it's clear that Ghostbusters is solid proof that comedy and big-budget-sfx are not only compatible but they work really well together. So yeah, looks like we got a winner here