Ghostbusters: Afterlife

I enjoyed the first half more, balancing nicely on the edge of nostalgia, where it was still bearable. But then the digital crap kicked in (there's no substitute for practical 80s effects), and Finn Wolfhard made me feel like I was watching a weaker episode of Stranger Things. And as much as I love the old crew from the 80's classic, they unfortunately – and surprisingly to me – weren't the element that lifted the film up at the end. A brief reminiscence is not enough for me. And when the post-credit scene is the only fun thing in a film, there’s something wrong. (13/01/2022)

I don't know, I guess it's the perfect genre for 6-15 year olds, but for anyone older it's totally underwhelming and unsatisfying. I haven't seen the previous films, so any nostalgia goes beyond me and I can only purely rate the film on its own merits. And that is simply a couple of kids chasing ghosts and herding them into a cage, nothing more, nothing less. I found the characters a bit annoying in the latter part of the film, the visuals are nice and colorful, but that's all I can find in it. Weaker than I expected, but I guess fans of the franchise will survive it, the rest if they're in a good mood anyway, but I did suffer through it a bit by the end. (03/01/2022)

This is how you revive a spooky classic. It blends modern elements while paying the best possible homage to the original films. Updating the cast to feature kids, like Stranger Things and It, works perfectly here. Plus, having the son of the original director at the helm added a respectful touch. Comparing this to the previous installment is almost impossible — the 2016 film felt too focused on cashing in and pushing a female-led cast. In Afterlife, the atmosphere alone sets it apart. You can even forgive the digital effects overload. (02/09/2022)

The first Ghostbusters crossed with an Amblin-like children's summer adventure in a small town. Yes, it's undeniably an instant double load of 1980s nostalgia, but it's so sensitive compared to many others who've tried their hand at something similar and overused it in recent years. In fact, it works for the most part on its own (perhaps only the final quarter is too shot-by-shot and the same film). When you add in that "Legacy" (even in a creative father-son Ivan/Jason way), it can conjure a smile as much as it can grab your heart. Much better than one would dare hope for a sequel that comes a decade or so later than it should. What's more, it's a successful sequel that doesn't try anything groundbreaking, but fills its box solidly and entertainingly. (21/03/2022)

Ghostbusters 4 unfortunately fell victim to covid and even after several years, the film's existence has gone largely unnoticed by those who obsessed over the original films. Which is a shame. Ghostbusters 3 had an advantage in terms of advertising thanks to the all-female team. The new generation revolves around the fact that Harold Ramis passed away, so the story mainly follows the Spengler family. The concept itself is very enjoyable, as the Spenglers have lived outside the realm of ghostbusters and with the exploration of their grandfather's legacy, memories of the adventures in the eighties can be refreshed for the audience. The forefront features the teenagers and their new buddies from the countryside. Everything fits together perfectly and eventually, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson make an appearance, so everything is exactly as it should be. It's a return to a classic family show that has been missing for a long time. (11/04/2024)