Ghostbusters II Appreciation

[Punisher Rising]

Got the digibook set today with both movies, so excited to see both in 4K. Anyone else? From the sound of it, both look like new movies. It's good GB2 got a good A/V transfer, at least.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Just finished the GBII deleted scenes. I really like the Venkman's apartment scene, even more than the scene in the movie on the street. I wish they'd used that take. the rest are very good. Sad they didn't all make it, but considering its still things I've never seen, they're great.

Watching GBII now. 4K transfer looks amazing.

 

[Punisher Rising]

I haven't had a chance to rewatch the films yet or see the deleted scenes. From what I've read sadly not all of the scenes are there including the possessed Ray/Ecto-1A sequence

 

[BeserkerHilf]

So Im watching the deleted scenes for GBII. I wish the look of these deleted scenes was the look of the movie. That sort of unfinished look matches the look of the first, which is one of the things that I think detracts from the second movie. It looks too clean and glamorous in comparison.

 

[Punisher Rising]

GB2 had a bigger budget, which is probably why it's always looked cleaner and sharper than the first. They afforded better equipment.

The news of GB3 being official has me feeling so uncertain right now. I just feel it's best to leave it at the two films.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

I think once GB-reboot comes out, this thread will explode. Because lets face it, we all love this film, but I think a lot of the detractors will come around once that makes it to screen.

 

[Punisher Rising]

I think GB2 unfortunately will always get the short end of the stick even with the reboot.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

Doubtful. While GB2 has a mixed reception amongst fans, the reboot is being slammed, even by Hudson...who's like, the nicest guy ever.

 

[Human Torch]

I always found it weird that they left the blooper in,when they're testing the slimed toaster,and Peter says"It sings-it sounds exactly like Jackie Wilson!" when Jackie didn't start singing yet.The joke doesn't make sense unless we hear Jackie's voice before Peter says that.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Probably just a simple error in the editing.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

I always found it weird that they left the blooper in,when they're testing the slimed toaster,and Peter says"It sings-it sounds exactly like Jackie Wilson!" when Jackie didn't start singing yet.The joke doesn't make sense unless we hear Jackie's voice before Peter says that.

I never took that as a blooper. I always thought it was Peter guessing at what it was gonna do. Like "Oh it sings, it sounds just like Jackie Wilson," instead of him flubbing it, since he says "Oh it dances too".

 

[Punisher Rising]

Doubtful. While GB2 has a mixed reception amongst fans, the reboot is being slammed, even by Hudson...who's like, the nicest guy ever.

It just seems like such an unnecessary way to go about it. I'm not against a female-centric GB-like film with obvious inspirations, but to reboot the series that way just seems silly to me.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Finally watched the Blu-rays of both movies, they look absolutely amazing. They both look new and GB2 in particular looks like it was made just earlier today with how clean and vibrant the transfer is. I swear in both movies there's little details I never noticed before on prior DVD and VHS versions. Good to see GB2 was treated fine with the Blu-ray though it could use a special edition somewhere later on.

 

[Punisher Rising]

To anyone here who reads HorrorHound Magazine, in their most recent issue they did a very neat retrospective on Ghostbusters and even gave positive marks to GB2, which was a nice surprise. The retrospective has all sorts of cool pictures of various merchandise and comic cover scans. Well worth picking up if you're a fan.

 

[Punisher Rising]

The news of this reboot and every new bit of information that's out about it makes me cherish the two movies even more and makes me wonder if it gets made if GB2 will finally be vindicated after all these years.

 

[HAMMER]

I always loved II. Call it youthful ignorance translated into nostalgia-blinded reaction, but I still think its a worthy sequel to my all time favorite movie. Some great comedy, the villain is just as good if not better than the first's. Peter MacNicol is hilarious and Murray's 'you can tell he doesn't really want to be there' takes are pretty damn funny too.

I just would rather they end the franchise as it is then go ahead with this all-female gimmick movie that has nothing to do with the originals but they need to cash in on the name. That is my primary reason for hoping that this hack destroys Sony. Anything to stop GBIII.

 

[Punisher Rising]

I feel it's always better to have one good sequel than a bunch of bad ones. If not getting GB3 and beyond spared us from some bad sequels that would've truly tarnished the Ghostbusters name and legacy, I'm fine with that. There's other series I feel would've been better off calling it quits after a while (like Terminator after T2). The news of the reboot makes me sick as a long-time fan and I'd rather they end the series with dignity.

If the reboot gets made and ends up being a total disaster, I can see the turnaround on GB2 right now...

"It wasn't as good as the first but at least it had the original cast back."

 

[Punisher Rising]

I came across a PDF early draft of GB2 and skimming through it, damn what a different movie than what we got. I don't know if that's the original script Murray says he signed onto, but all I got to say is reading through the script, it's a good thing it underwent such huge changes into what it is right now. It may not be perfect but this script... let's just say between GB2's original concept and this reboot, the GB2 we got is looking better everyday.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

I came across a PDF early draft of GB2 and skimming through it, damn what a different movie than what we got. I don't know if that's the original script Murray says he signed onto, but all I got to say is reading through the script, it's a good thing it underwent such huge changes into what it is right now. It may not be perfect but this script... let's just say between GB2's original concept and this reboot, the GB2 we got is looking better everyday.

Is that the one where Peter is a huge *******? Like not the lovable kind we know Peter to be, but like generally unlikable. I remember the scene with the baby on the ledge, except Peter is there and cracks jokes about the situation. It was not the same Venkman.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Might be. Can't imagine what made Murray think this version was better.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Skimming through that script again that's indeed it (where Venkman cracks jokes about Oscar being on the ledge). Venkman's a d-bag in this script and reading through more of it:


Winston is barely in it to the point he's basically a useless extended cameo.

Janosz isn't in it at all.

Dana's not in it, in place of her is someone named Lane Walker, who's very bland and boring.

No Slimer at all.

The Scoleri Brothers are the only ghosts/monsters at all in the script.

One sequence has the Ghostbusters at the World Trade Center investigating someone who resembles Donald Trump who just spontaneously combusts. Pointless scene that has no bearing on anything else in the movie.

Get this: the mayor actually allows the Ghostbusters to go on the news where they tell New Yorkers to be nice to each other and sing some songs. Not even kidding, it's in there.


I'm astonished by how bad the first draft was. GB2 in it's present form may not be perfect but when you compare it to the first draft, damn. No clue if this was the script Murray originally signed on for but if it was, I can't imagine what made it appeal to him.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Yep that's the one. Holy crap is it bad. I know scripts develop over time but I can't fathom why Murray enjoyed that script if that was indeed the first draft.

 

[PyroChamber]

Wasn't Murray the one who said he wouldn't do the movie unless they brought Ernie Hudson back and a bigger role?

 

[Punisher Rising]

Not sure if that was something he demanded.

I don't get what made Murray like this script if this was what he claims he signed onto when he agreed to do GB2. It feels nothing like Ghostbusters at all and feels like a completely different movie with familiar names in it.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Reading through the draft again, Vigo is also quite a different villain and not nearly as cool or scary as he was in the film. He's a Russian monk from the early 1900s and described as having a large beard and wearing a robe adorned with religious symbols. He's got virtually no presence or personality at all in the script and no interesting history, but one neat little aspect (and of the very few positive aspects, IMO) is he actually controls the Statue Of Liberty and uses it as an evil vessel.

It's amazing how much a film can change from the first script draft. Thank God GB2 underwent as many changes as it did. I know the first film started out quite different as well before undergoing considerably changes as it was re-written.