Ghostbusters II Appreciation

[Punisher Rising]

Another criticism of GB2 I never got was how it's sometimes derided as being more kid-friendly than the first and usually because the Ghostbusters are seldom seen drinking or smoking in it (which they didn't exactly do often in the original). I always found the overall tone of GB2 darker and more Horror-like than the first. The scene with the heads on the stakes in the subway terrified me as a kid to the point I always left the room every time it came on and there's also the slime in the bathtub, Ghost Janosz snatching Oscar, many of Vigo's scenes, etc. I always felt it had a far more sinister tone compared with the original which had the comedy aspect to balance it all out.

Granted GB2 does much of the same with the Horror and Comedy aspect, but at times it sort of feels more like a Horror movie with comedy bits sprinkled throughout it.

 

[PyroChamber]

I didn't know Max von Sydow did the voice of Vigo.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Another criticism of GB2 I never got was how it's sometimes derided as being more kid-friendly than the first and usually because the Ghostbusters are seldom seen drinking or smoking in it (which they didn't exactly do often in the original). I always found the overall tone of GB2 darker and more Horror-like than the first. The scene with the heads on the stakes in the subway terrified me as a kid to the point I always left the room every time it came on and there's also the slime in the bathtub, Ghost Janosz snatching Oscar, many of Vigo's scenes, etc. I always felt it had a far more sinister tone compared with the original which had the comedy aspect to balance it all out.
.

You forgot the ghost-train running over Winston. That always creeped me out as a kid. And yeah, Janosz as a ghost, looking like an old nanny, snatching Oscar….. what the hell was up with that? Demons kidnapping infants for some ritual sacrifice or possession or whatever Vigo's plans were…. that was some messed up stuff.

 

[PyroChamber]

Looking back at it, it always looks to me like they couldn't really find anything for Winston to do in the movie. Half of the time he disappears and then just shows back up.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Poor Ernie Hudson. He was the only one who auditioned to voice his character for the animated series. And they turned him down! The actor and character were definitely under utilized.

 

[Octoberist]

I can barely remember, but my older cousins had a Genesis with Ghostbusters in the early 90's..and I remembered how Winston was omitted from the game..and the game was meant to be a sequel of sorts (I think) to the original. The game was made by in the late 80's.

It can't be because they didn't have 'memory'. Even back then, as a wee lad, I was thinking..'Is it because he's black???"

 

[Dave McFly]

one of the only things I hated was the fact that they did not use Elmer Bernstien's music in part 2 I never really cared for the music in part 2 or the hip hop songs (I did like On Our Own tho go figure). I was really happy when they used it for the GB video game .

 

[Octoberist]

Why didn't Elmer come back?

 

[Punisher Rising]

You forgot the ghost-train running over Winston. That always creeped me out as a kid. And yeah, Janosz as a ghost, looking like an old nanny, snatching Oscar….. what the hell was up with that? Demons kidnapping infants for some ritual sacrifice or possession or whatever Vigo's plans were…. that was some messed up stuff.

Heck, even the opening scene is pretty rough. Not even five minutes in and the first thing we see is a baby carriage with a baby in it tumbling down the street and narrowly avoiding being run over.

 

[Punisher Rising]

one of the only things I hated was the fact that they did not use Elmer Bernstien's music in part 2 I never really cared for the music in part 2 or the hip hop songs (I did like On Our Own tho go figure). I was really happy when they used it for the GB video game .

I always liked the GB2 score and didn't mind the GB1 score not being in it. I think it would've been kinda out of place, same if the GB2 score had been in the first. They both suited their respective films well, IMO.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Something else about GB2 I've always as well were the Slime Blowers. Nothing beats the Proton Packs, but I always thought the Slime Blowers were a cool addition to the tools and I thought it was awesome how the game incorporated it into the Pack. I'm kinda surprised a Super Soaker version of it was never made back then, though they would many years later make something possibly inspired called the Oozinator.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Found these on YouTube and thought I'd share, they're especially cool in light of the barebones DVD edition of the film we've had for years:









Really hope we get a good Blu-ray edition of it sometime, would love to see all of this on there along with the extensive amount of deleted scenes.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

With the anniversaries of both movies approaching this seemed like a pretty appropriate thread and I felt further compelled to start it after talking about it a bit recently in one of the unpopular movie opinions threads. While the original Ghostbusters is (rightfully) a beloved film, it's sequel doesn't really seem to get the same amount of love. Time to fix that

Does anyone else absolutely love Ghostbusters II and consider it an unfairly maligned and hated on movie? I can understand thinking the original is better and I'd never argue or dispute that, but I think GB2 in it's own way is still an awesome movie that deserves so much more respect than it gets. I find it's just as entertaining and smart as the first with the same winning balance of scares and humor, much of the cast is back and still has the same great chemistry as before and I always really enjoyed the river of slime plotline and thought Vigo was a great villain. It's just as quotable for me as the original is, too.

It always crushes me to see people hate on it, but it seems like it has it's share of fans and defenders, including quite a few here.

I love this Movie as much as the first one. I'm glad that I'm not alone.

 

[Victarion]

I didn't get their logic behind cutting the subway/sewer ghost.

 

[Octoberist]

Wait..was GB2 that heavily edited?

 

[The Guard]

I think people who hate on GHOSTBUSTERS II tend to look at GHOSTBUSTERS through rose colored glasses.

GHOSTBUSTERS was a really good movie. GHOSTBUSTERS II was a good movie, with better character and concept exploration, and a much, much more fleshed out villain and "conflict" than the previous film had. GHOSTBUSTERS is kind of a "kitchen sink" movie in a lot of ways, conceptually. GHOSTBUSTERS II feels tighter as a concept.

 

[Punisher Rising]

It certainly felt in GB2 they were able to do a little more with the basic concept.

 

[Elevator Man]

I don't hate Ghostbusters 2, but its nowhere on the same level as it's predecessor. It's an inferior sequel, imo. And I don't believe people hated it but were just disappointed by it. There's a reason why the original Ghostbusters is always ranked in the greatest comedies of all time list by many critics.

This video goes into why Ghostbusters 2 doesn't measure up to the original without actually hating on it. And though he gives constructive criticisms he still enjoyed the movie for what it was.

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He did a retrospective of the original as well in case anyone was interested.

 

[teewee1432]

Finally a thread that appreciates this great movie. I have them both on dvd, but this one I can watch anytime and never get tired of it. I thought the chemistry between the actors was still front and center, and the comedic moments worked. I love everything about this movie.

 

[Punisher Rising]

And I don't believe people hated it but were just disappointed by it. There's a reason why the original Ghostbusters is always ranked in the greatest comedies of all time list by many critics.

It does get hated on a lot though, and tends to show up on some worst sequels list. And when GB3 gets brought up a lot of people are quick to say GB2 killed the series or that they hope GB3 ends up being better than 2.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Finally a thread that appreciates this great movie. I have them both on dvd, but this one I can watch anytime and never get tired of it. I thought the chemistry between the actors was still front and center, and the comedic moments worked. I love everything about this movie.

 

[BatLobster]

I love GB II..in a lot of ways more than the original.

 

[Lord]

I actually don't see it in many worst sequel lists, unlike the likes of Matrix Reloaded or Pirates of the caribbean 2, it has nostalgia helping.

 

[Punisher Rising]

I actually don't see it in many worst sequel lists, unlike the likes of Matrix Reloaded or Pirates of the caribbean 2, it has nostalgia helping.

I've seen it appear on more than a few. It definitely doesn't belong on any IMO, even if it may not be among the best sequels it sure isn't among the worst. It doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as some truly terrible ones.

 

[Spiderine]

Maybe there's just a bit more nostalgia with me for the first movie. The second didn't have the same euphoria but nonetheless I have always liked the second film. I do think its underrated and had some classic moments itself.

There are some problems I always had with it though. Why on earth does all of a sudden the New Yorkers don't believe in ghost anymore? After what went down in the first movie. They actually had them committed. There was no real logical reason why anyone would think they were behind the paranormal activities. That always bothered me.

Also never really liked them taking Statue of Liberty for a joyride.