Comedy Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

[OnLeatherWings]

And I don't necessarily think it's a lack of ideas like some reviews are claiming, it just seems like the direction was really off here.

This was my biggest fear. I can entirely see this happening.

I've seen a lot of people scratch their heads at the critical reviews claiming too much nostalgia and lack of new ideas, which again - is why I'm less trusting of critics, these days. Sometimes it feels like they're reviewing an entirely different film.

But poor direction and not utilizing the potential of ideas - I can 100% see that.

 

[Cap2024]

I don't get why anyone is outraged or shocked by this.

As a queer person myself, I could tell from the very first scene lol

Is the anti-woke already complaining?

I thought it would go over their heads as they can say “they’re only friends.”

I wish the films went further and I sense they may have initially wanted to. But even them hinting at it with a protagonist in this size of a film was awesome to see. I think we’ll get there where it’s really open (in lieu of hinted at) in the next ten years, maybe hopefully less.

 

[Cap2024]

This was my biggest fear. I can entirely see this happening.

I've seen a lot of people scratch their heads at the critical reviews claiming too much nostalgia and lack of new ideas, which again - is why I'm less trusting of critics, these days. Sometimes it feels like they're reviewing an entirely different film.

But poor direction and not utilizing the potential of ideas - I can 100% see that.

It’s especially odd to see the “no new ideas” complaint because the film seems like a pilot in how focused it was on expanding the world of the Ghostbusters and the mythology.

As said, the whole film plays like an extended pilot for a new Ghostbusters live action TV show based on the classic cartoons. That’s probably impacting my rating since it’s as nostalgic as TMNT Out Of The Shadows was for me.

 

[OnLeatherWings]

Is the anti-woke already complaining?

100%.

 

[Cap2024]

100%.

Huh. Usually they just say “you’re overthinking it!” even when it’s hinted at in a very obvious way. I thought I just caught onto it due to also being queer myself.

 

[DJ Kornphlake]

Is the anti-woke already complaining?

Are they ever not complaining?

 

[Cap2024]

Are they ever not complaining?

True. Meant specifically about a certain spoiler though as this is something that usually either goes over their heads or they try to deny.

For some examples: Luca, Raya, and Elsa. The first two were basically confirmed to be intentionally queer by those behind the scenes. Some are still even trying to deny that Will Bryers is gay.

 

[Scarlet Spider]

Absolutely loved it.

 

[Another_Fool]

Eh. It's about the same quality as Afterlife for me which is just "ok". I liked it fine, but I probably marginally enjoyed this more than Afterlife because I prefer the New York setting and some characters I like show up a good bit. I really enjoyed the Real Ghostbusters when I was a kid and this movie felt like an episode from that show in a way.

 

[kguillou]

This felt like such a whatever cookie cutter movie that was just thrown together for the sale of it. I wouldnt call it bad but its kind of there, felt like a throwaway streaming movie.

 

[BatLobster]

Darn. Based on the trailers I think that was my biggest concern. It looked like it could be fun, but also potentially bland.

Like Afterlife or not, Jason Reitman is a director with some Oscar pedigree under his belt and he handled that movie with a lot of love and care. Some people balked at that, but the movie was all the better for it IMO.

I'll still go in with an open mind and hope to enjoy it, but dialing down expectations to where they were for Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom.

 

[Gothamsknight]

Im still just baffled that the movie really doesn't get going until the end. It absolutely felt like a prelude into something else, which unfortunately made the 1 hour and 50 minute runtime feel far longer. Afterlife was so much better in a story, visual and even action aspect.

Also, is it me or did most of the stuff in the trailers not make it into the movie? You can tell they cut a lot.

 

[BatLobster]

Im still just baffled that the movie really doesn't get going until the end. It absolutely felt like a prelude into something else, which unfortunately made the 1 hour and 50 minute runtime feel far longer. Afterlife was so much better in a story, visual and even action aspect.

Also, is it me or did most of the stuff in the trailers not make it into the movie? You can tell they cut a lot.

That reeks like a potential Sony hackjob situation.

 

[Gothamsknight]

That reeks like a potential Sony hackjob situation.

I guarantee it was

 

[kguillou]

Im still just baffled that the movie really doesn't get going until the end. It absolutely felt like a prelude into something else, which unfortunately made the 1 hour and 50 minute runtime feel far longer. Afterlife was so much better in a story, visual and even action aspect.

Also, is it me or did most of the stuff in the trailers not make it into the movie? You can tell they cut a lot.

Right? I felt so bored for like the first hour or so and was like “when is this movie going to get going already?” And then when it does…its over so quickly!

Afterlife was a MUCH better film. It was better directed and so charming and affable. It felt almost Steven Spielberg-like with the tone. This movie though felt like they spit out a script with ChatGPT so they could get something out in theaters without waiting too long.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Keenan was a worry when it was first announced he was directing over Reitman. I really wish Reitman would have done this or at least comes back for a potential 3rd/5th movie.

Still seeing it of course.

 

[Gothamsknight]

Right? I felt so bored for like the first hour or so and was like “when is this movie going to get going already?” And then when it does…its over so quickly!

Afterlife was a MUCH better film. It was better directed and so charming and affable. It felt almost Steven Spielberg-like with the tone. This movie though felt like they spit out a script with ChatGPT so they could get something out in theaters without waiting too long.

Yep. I was yawning! Never a good sign. Afterlife had so much more heart and soul. People can claim it was a nostalgia fest but it was done exceptionally well for a Ghostbusters movie. As I said before, it even made me choke up a bit. Frozen Empire had none of that and it got to the point where I kinda just wanted it to be over.

I also feel like the OG cast served no purpose aside from Akroyd. And when they do show up, it feels obligatory. Contrast that with Afterlife where while fan servicey, it still felt natural.

 

[BatLobster]

Keenan was a worry when it was first announced he was directing over Reitman. I really wish Reitman would have done this or at least comes back for a potential 3rd/5th movie.

Still seeing it of course.

Yeah, I hope somehow this does well enough to at least greenlight a third film and Reitman comes back to direct it. They've said that they have an arc in mind that they want to complete for Phoebe, so it would be a shame to leave that unfinished, especially since McKenna is such a star in the making.

I think the biggest question in terms of this film's success is whether kids enjoy this. I think that played a big role in Afterlife's success.

 

[SJD]

Yeah, I hope somehow this does well enough to at least greenlight a third film and Reitman comes back to direct it. They've said that they have an arc in mind that they want to complete for Phoebe, so it would be a shame to leave that unfinished, especially since McKenna is such a star in the making.

I think the biggest question in terms of this film's success is whether kids enjoy this. I think that played a big role in Afterlife's success.

Based on my understanding, Jason Reitman relinquished the directorial role for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire after his father's passing as he lost the drive to direct, leading Gil Kenan to take over. While watching it with a friend, we both noticed how Kenan really played up the original cartoon's vibe, turning the movie into an exaggerated live-action episode. I found myself wanting a Ghostbusters film, not just a TV episode in real life. Although the cartoon was fun, Kenan's focus on it led the movie astray, lacking a clear path. Even though Gil Kenan seemed like the perfect match for this project on paper, his past works showed he wasn't the right director to bring it to the big screen in a grand way. Someone like Brad Bird could have done something special with this.

 

[OnLeatherWings]

Afterlife had so much more heart and soul. People can claim it was a nostalgia fest but it was done exceptionally well for a Ghostbusters movie.

I've said before - but maybe not here. I thought the approach to Afterlife was brilliant. I've heard people complain that the film takes the originals too seriously or mythologizes them - and I agree - but I think that it was smart to do so.

What Afterlife did is a fascinating and bold - it met the fans/audiences where they were at. Fans are the ones that often forget that those films were comedic horror films not meant to be taken that seriously. Rather than 'correcting' the fans and reminding them that the series isn't THAT serious or deep, it just said "Hey, we love it, too".

Rather than cynically telling the audience that "Hey, these were just silly movies!" and making fans feel dumb - Afterlife embraced and used their reverence.

It rewarded the audience rather than give it a reality check. And it worked brilliantly.

In other words, the series grew with its audience and met them where they were at, rather than shocking them into feeling silly for how much they love the series.

Brilliant approach, I felt.

 

[Spider-Fan]

But mythologizing the past movies isn't a unique approach. Most of these legacy sequels are doing that, and I think it often puts the newer characters in a bad position cause the movies themselves are actively pointing out how more important the other movies were. When you have a literal map to Luke Skywalker as a plot point, you have crafted a story where everyone is just.. waiting for Luke to show up. Even the new characters. If you're going to make sequels to these IPs and bring them back, they need their own voices and to evolve. Not be stuck in the past. In the Ghostbusters case, I loved the 1st half of Afterlife. It had its own voice. But when it got bogged down in references and such in the 2nd half, it torpedoed the entire movie for me. I wish they had stuck to what was working in the 1st half.

A great example for me of a legacy sequel doing it right was Doctor Sleep. References are the to The Shining, but it doesn't mythologize the movie and the callbacks that happen are relevant to the character arcs in the story and its very much its own movie with its own identity set in that same world. That's how you do it better IMO.

 

[OnLeatherWings]

But mythologizing the past movies isn't a unique approach. Most of these legacy sequels are doing that.

Really? Because all I hear is that legacy sequels are 'disrespecting' the originals and ruining them.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Really? Because all I hear is that legacy sequels are 'disrespecting' the originals and ruining them.

That's a reaction to people not liking the movies, but in practice all these are doing is getting bogged down in the nostalgia and mythologizing the previous movie. Blade Runner 2049 I loved, but it also made the entire last 30 mins all about Decker and that last 30 mins is for me the weakest section of an otherwise brilliant movie. Star Wars made a map to Luke the entire focus of TFA. The entire 2nd half of Afterlife is callbacks to Ghostbusters with the "Who ya gonna call" line, Gozer asking Ray if he is a God, the marshmallow people, etc. All these movies keep doing it and for me, it shows that the priority isn't making THIS movie great. It's about profiting more off the movie people liked. It's a bad trend.

 

[OnLeatherWings]

The entire 2nd half of Afterlife is callbacks to Ghostbusters with the "Who ya gonna call" line, Gozer asking Ray if he is a God, the marshmallow people, etc. All these movies keep doing it and for me, it shows that the priority isn't making THIS movie great. It's about profiting more off the movie people liked. It's a bad trend.

Sorry, while I understand your feelings - Afterlife, to me, differs a heck of a lot more because it felt sincere, genuine, and heartfelt in its creation.

I think that the Reitmans' love and genuine care at the helm really elevated what would otherwise be rather hollow nostalgia-bait.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Sorry, while I understand your feelings - Afterlife, to me, differs a heck of a lot more because it felt sincere, genuine, and heartfelt in its creation.

I think that the Reitmans' love and genuine care at the helm really elevated what would otherwise be rather hollow nostalgia-bait.

To each their own. As always if yall felt that way, that's fine. I didn't have that experience watching the 2nd half of the movie and the vast majority of these movies feel this way to me. Why I am not really bothered as more of these don't succeed. I want more great films like Dune Part 2 and such, and less IP mining nostalgia bait.