Ghostbusted?

After decades of waiting for The Ghostbuster franchise to return into the mainstream spotlight; the remake has finally been released despite overwhelming hatred from fans of the original. Most of the complaints about the remake mainly circulate around director Paul Feig’s decision to make it an all- female cast. Some see this as a feminist approach to the classic since that stared an all-male cast but frankly it’s a childish complaint and we’ll leave it at that. What matters here is the quality of the movie and whether it works with this new generation where more can be offered through computer enhancements. As far as the film itself goes, it’s fun to watch but it had potential to be great and doesn’t hold a candle to the classic.

I attended a 3D showing in the evening and saw the auditorium half full which isn’t a good sign for an opening weekend for a well-known franchise. I have to admit that if I didn’t see it in 3D then I probably wouldn’t have liked it as much. The special effects were cool with the ghosts popping out as well as the proton streams coming at you but it couldn’t justify the price of the admission ticket. There were plenty of laughs but virtually nothing really scary that made people want to hold on to the people next to them. Nobody left during the film which was good but there were plenty of people who were wondering what did they just see when it was over, so here’s where I start. 

Like most remakes, Ghostbusters used the same context as the original only Paul Feig built a new story around it with a cast of comedians. The top stars are Paul Feig’s favorites, Melissa McCarthy whom he also worked with in Spy and The Heat along with fellow co-star from Bridesmaids Kristen Wiig. This brings a familiar bond to the film that the audience recognizes and connects with immediately. The newcomers that complete the new team are Saturday Night Live stars Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon who got the most laughs or reactions from the audience. Most dedicated fans didn’t feel the chemistry of the new team but they turned out to fit well and complemented each other throughout the film. These women did a fine job in their roles but the biggest problem in the film was the story itself.

This film does supply a healthy dose of shocks but there is little horror behind them. In the original, there were monsters that not only scared people but gave the children nightmares while this film only supplies a moment a suspense that was followed by a comedic response. It pretty much cuts the audience off from any scares they may have had. As far as the comedy goes, there’s different variations from each comedian that appeals to one or all but some were just lost on it. The weakest part of the film falls on the antagonist who was weak and boring to watch every moment he was on film.

The biggest disappointment will be when a certain creature is “chosen” to fight the paranormal super troopers that was short and bitter. I’m not even going to get into the remake of the classic theme song that was done by Fall Out Boy and Missy Elliot. I give this film 6.5 out of 10 because while it can’t be compared to the original, it still creates a new story which is rare in remakes. Paul Feig did his best to try and bring Ghostbusters back but it’s clear that his vision doesn’t work for fans of the original. This film was fair but the long-time fans of the franchise will immediately forget about this film after they see it.

Ghostbusters was crippled before it even finished production by dedicated fans who hated this remake months before it was even released. The movie trailer holds the Youtube record for most hated video and that hate is shown in lack of attendance tonight. It’s been over three decades since the last Ghostbusters film so for this to return in such a way is a disaster because I don’t see a sequel coming anytime soon. I’m sorry to everyone involved in the film because I’m sure they worked hard to give the fans what they wanted and to the dedicated fans of the franchise who were disappointed. I have a feeling you’ll have to wait longer for a Ghostbusters film you can fall in love with.