Ghostbusters: Afterlife

[TheDreamMaster]

Another toy popped up. I uh...they uh....I feel like this was a bad promo shot.

Spoiler

 

[ironwez20]

That looks…. Very interesting.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

Please let this atleast be on the same quality level as Ghostbusters II which is already a hella underrated film that might not be as good as the first, but I do still love it.

I enjoyed that trailer and this looks super promising IMO.

 

[DarkKnight]

Loved the new trailer and it brings my excitement up a lot more than the original teaser.

This seems like a respectable sequel that will honor Harold Ramis and everything from the original two films that came before it! The teaser at the end "We're closed"

Spoiler

and seeing the toys of the OG team suited up has me even more excited!

I know I havent seen the film yet, but it appears to be what I would have wanted in a sequel and a lot better looking than the Reboot/remake film from 2016. I watched that film once on streaming and likely never will again.

 

[Albright]

Not impressed by the trailer. Looks more like Stranger Things - the movie

 

[Doctor Jones]

It looks very pleasing and hits all the right superficial notes for a Ghostbusters movie because... I don't know, because it treats these things with warmth and fondness I guess? I guess fans who liked things about the original will like it because it's not blatantly God awful like the 2016 film was. The direction is good, and it looks like it could be a good movie. On one hand I can appreciate the different dramedy approach, but all of this looks in service of this over reverence of the past and how Ghostbusters means to Reitman. I don't care about the Stay Puft marshmallow man, I don't care about the demon dogs, those were just things. It just looks like it sentimentalizes the Ghostbusters which isn't what it was about. It was about a bunch of schmucks starting a business. Not this mythical Spielbergian awe inspiring thing.

I don't understand why Jeanine is in the middle of bum **** nowhere. Jeanine would have gotten the **** out of there years ago and isn't giving the Ghostbusters a second thought. Is it because her and Egon were married? Why? Because they had some chemistry in one movie? It strikes me as the Marion Ravenwood showing up in KOTCS sort of thing. Integrating the audience's response into the narrative.

Why is it executed in away where Egon's granddaughter is watching that Ghostbusters video with reverence? Didn't Reitman realize Venkman isn't taking this seriously any of this and is in it for a buck and was played by irreverence by Murray?

I'm just sick of this formula. This over reverence, these filmmakers sentimentalizing their favorite movies and making stories about how it meant to them, just playing with their action figures and making these meta narratives about what it means to them instead of deconstructing these things and looking at them for what they are.

For God's sake, it makes you appreciate the Michael Bay Transformers movies. They are sociopathic and a look into the insane id of Michael Bay, but by God, he at least doesn't pull this crap. Even Zack Snyder. Give me an off putting and alienating BvS over this any day. His Superman was a sociopathic monster, but at least it was in service of a crazy Randian vision and not about how Superman meant to Zack Snyder as a child. Movies have gotten to the point where I feel like I'm always stuck between choosing between two types of blockbusters: safe films that don't offend and placate in the most baseline way to fans or crazy, bad auteur visions. I guess I'd choose the more fascinating latter one. In this context, I just want someone to shake things up.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

My "legacy sequel" for Ghosbusters would've been Oscar from GBII (who would be an adult by now) being a new Ghostbuster because he buys the business from Ray (who stays on as a mentor figure, because Akroyd was always the most passionate about continuing the franchise and he is the heart of it).

 

[Kev4000]

Uff, I was planing to watch this because Paul Rudd, but like @Albright already said, it felt more like Stranger Things kid show.

I assume this will be hard flop because for the nostalic grown ups that will be too childish at all and the kids only cringe about Ghostbusters in general. They even have no idea who are the original Ghostbusters, I guess.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

I'm actually a little surprised to see some of those toys already but maybe they aren't being as secretive about merchandise as Disney is with Marvel and Star Wars.

To be fair, I am sure those figures were ready to come out last year when the film was suppose to be released.

And though kinda spoilerish, I am very excited to see Winston, Peter and Ray saddle up once more

 

[Drizzle]

To be fair, I am sure those figures were ready to come out last year when the film was suppose to be released.

And though kinda spoilerish, I am very excited to see Winston, Peter and Ray saddle up once more

Oh for sure, and it's really nothing that shocking since we all knew that was going to happen, I just assumed they wanted to save that reveal for the movie, or at least a trailer or TV spot leading up to it.

 

[Zarex]

It looks very pleasing and hits all the right superficial notes for a Ghostbusters movie because... I don't know, because it treats these things with warmth and fondness I guess? I guess fans who liked things about the original will like it because it's not blatantly God awful like the 2016 film was. The direction is good, and it looks like it could be a good movie. On one hand I can appreciate the different dramedy approach, but all of this looks in service of this over reverence of the past and how Ghostbusters means to Reitman. I don't care about the Stay Puft marshmallow man, I don't care about the demon dogs, those were just things. It just looks like it sentimentalizes the Ghostbusters which isn't what it was about. It was about a bunch of schmucks starting a business. Not this mythical Spielbergian awe inspiring thing.

You're not wrong. But the sentimentalizing take works on films such as this because of the strong connection folks have to the property and the halcyon memories it dredges up. I admit to having an emotional attraction to the Afterlife trailers that was not evident when watching the underwhelming ALL LADIES version. I had a similar emotional reaction when watching "Bill & Ted Face the Music" this weekend, a film which my amateur film critic wife called "stupid". She also was not wrong.

I don't understand why Jeanine is in the middle of bum **** nowhere. Jeanine would have gotten the **** out of there years ago and isn't giving the Ghostbusters a second thought. Is it because her and Egon were married? Why? Because they had some chemistry in one movie? It strikes me as the Marion Ravenwood showing up in KOTCS sort of thing. Integrating the audience's response into the narrative.

My thinking is Egon knocked Jeanine up a loooong time ago and pretty much bailed shortly after.

Why is it executed in away where Egon's granddaughter is watching that Ghostbusters video with reverence? Didn't Reitman realize Venkman isn't taking this seriously any of this and is in it for a buck and was played by irreverence by Murray?

The young lady is watching a video of her dead grandpa.

 

[BatLobster]

The trailer hit the right notes for me! I'm still in. This had just the right amount of teasing the original cast, without giving away the whole game. Can't wait.

I assume this will be hard flop because for the nostalic grown ups that will be too childish at all and the kids only cringe about Ghostbusters in general. They even have no idea who are the original Ghostbusters, I guess.

I have no idea what you're talking about here. My friend's 10 year old daughter loves Ghostbusters. Loves the song, loves the first two films. It definitely has cross-generational appeal.

I don't understand why Jeanine is in the middle of bum **** nowhere. Jeanine would have gotten the **** out of there years ago and isn't giving the Ghostbusters a second thought. Is it because her and Egon were married? Why? Because they had some chemistry in one movie? It strikes me as the Marion Ravenwood showing up in KOTCS sort of thing. Integrating the audience's response into the narrative.

In Jason Reitman's breakdown of the trailer, he alluded to the idea that Jeanine always cared for Egon and maybe was caring for him in his old age. I think that's a rather sweet notion.

Why is it executed in away where Egon's granddaughter is watching that Ghostbusters video with reverence? Didn't Reitman realize Venkman isn't taking this seriously any of this and is in it for a buck and was played by irreverence by Murray?

Cause she's a child? Learning about her family's past?

That's the thing, whatever sentimental tone this has, it's at least motivated by the story its telling and the shift in perspective to exploring this universe from a kid's point of view. I don't see what the problem is with that. It's a different approach to the material, that expands the world. And yes, leans a bit into the warm feelings a lot of us have for the original film(s). I'm confident the new film will also have plenty of comedy. This is still a piece of marketing, and it does a good job clearly differentiating itself from 2016, which leaned more on painfully unfunny slapstick gags in its trailers.

 

[Frodo]

Loved the trailer!

As fan of Ghostbusters since 1984( I saw it in the theater in 1984), this trailer gave me chills .
At the same time, the new characters look interesting as well which is good.

It looked like these bad boys are back

 

[Albright]

So Gozer the Gozerian returns?

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Awesome trailer, can’t wait for this.

 

[GuestStar2004]

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Toys

Spoiler

Hasbro Reveals ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Action Figures and the Return of Bill Murray’s Dr. Peter Venkman! [Photos]

 

[DyeLorean]

Such a shame that Harold Ramis isn't with us anymore. The four together again in costume would've been amazing. At least Egon is gonna be in spirit and the whole story is based around his family. Very well thought.

 

[BatLobster]

I can almost feel some of the takes for this movie coming.

"Sure, it's good but...did we really NEED a good Ghostbusters movie in 2021?"

That will happen, bank on it.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

I am fine with Egon and Jeanne getting together (that was teased in the first movie and in the Real Ghostbusters cartoon) , and having a daughter.

But when did they have the daughter? Mid-90s? That would still make her kind of young, maybe a bit too young to have three teenage children already. Did she get in a bad marriage and have children really young (is that why she's poor now)?

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The trailer is literally the trailer for The Force Awakens, down to the music beats and ending. So yeah, I loved it.

I am a little confused by the Stranger Things comparisons as if they shouldn't be expected. I mean yeah, it has that 80s kids movie vibe. It's an action adventure movie about kids. Did people actually expect differently?

 

[AndrewGilkison]

I never considered the Ghostbusters to be a "kids franchise". Sure, it appeals to kids, but it appeals to them the same way the MCU or modern Star Wars does, where most of the main characters are still adults, played by actors who are either approaching 30 or 40 or 50 now, depending on what age they were when they were first cast.

 

[Drizzle]

I can almost feel some of the takes for this movie coming.

"Sure, it's good but...did we really NEED a good Ghostbusters movie in 2021?"

That will happen, bank on it.

I don't think we'll be hearing a whole lot of that. People have wanted another Ghostbusters movie with the original cast returning for a long time now. Harold Ramis's death kind of put a damper on it but now that it seems they've found a way to continue without him in a meaningful way, I think that this will be welcomed by many.

I am a little confused by the Stranger Things comparisons as if they shouldn't be expected. I mean yeah, it has that 80s kids movie vibe. It's an action adventure movie about kids. Did people actually expect differently?

BUT FINN WOLFHARD!!!1!1!

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I never considered the Ghostbusters to be a "kids franchise". Sure, it appeals to kids, but it appeals to them the same way the MCU or modern Star Wars does, where most of the main characters are still adults, played by actors who are either approaching 30 or 40 or 50 now, depending on what age they were when they were first cast.

That is definitely fair. But the style of this movie was pretty obvious from the casting. The movie is about kids and there was never any indication it wasn't. They never hide their intentions. So why would anyone be surprised that this movie, feels similar to Stranger Things, which is a ripoff of those types of movies from the 80s?

Was anyone here unaware that the leads were the kids from Netflix?

 

[BatLobster]

One thing I actually am really hopeful about, is for the potential this has to be closer to what I wish The Force Awakens actually was, while still taking some cues from its successes. Which they clearly are in the marketing.

For one, the fact that they are openly acknowledging this is Egon's family, and not turning the movie into one big mystery box/guessing game gets a big sigh of relief from me.

Sure, the legacy sequel formula is becoming increasingly well worn. But I don't think I've seen this sort of take on it before. Changing the setting, shifting from an adult's POV to a child's point of view of the extraordinary. Even if the plot has a lot of familiar beats, those things alone will go a long way in making this feel like more of an expansion of the world and less of a repetition.

I feel like this really has a lot going for it.

 

[Drizzle]

For one, the fact that they are openly acknowledging this is Egon's family, and not turning the movie into one big mystery box/guessing game gets a big sigh of relief from me.

I agree, and to further hammer home the point that this won't be one big mystery box, Hasbro posted photos of the figures of the OG Ghostbusters on their Instagram page so that's out in the open even though we only saw Potts and heard Aykroyd in the trailer.