A Ghost Story! · 12:12am Dec 20th, 2021
I FINALLY got a chance to see "Ghostbusters: Afterlife", and it was pretty good! Not PERFECT, but then nothing not made by me ever could be! 
This is how you do passing the torch RIGHT. Nobody got crapped on, and the newbs weren't elevated into these perfect people who could do no wrong. It really felt like a fusion of "Ghostbusters" and "The Monster Squad", which really worked well.
The tribute to Harold Ramis was heartfelt. There was genuine affection there from those who'd known him.
The kids did a good job. Like I said, they felt like the young hero teams we used to see in The Goonies, the Monster Squad, The Explorers and other films from the 80's and early 90's.
The weaknesses: could have given more backstory for Gozer and Ivo Shandor. The hint is there that Gozer is a poser, just a very powerful ghost who uses people. Maybe a mid-level demon, but not truly 'god-tier'. Aside from escaping and being a jackass to everyone, Gozer doesn't seem to have much of a motivation. Not really a problem for a mid-level demon, since they are pretty much just jackasses to everyone for no good reason, but from a story perspective, a rather throw-away antagonist.
If they do a sequel, gotta up the ante in the villain department. Maybe a TRUE dark god this time, one that's cunning, sly, subtle and (most importantly) PATIENT. The timeline in the cavern actually gave me an idea in that regard, that Gozer would be seen as a reckless, impatient and arrogant CHILD by the TRUE powerhouses of the spirit world, constantly wasting its power trying to get out a couple of times a century or so.
The rest would be biding their time, gathering strength... watching and learning. They would be truly DANGEROUS foes who'd know who among humanity was a threat to them and, being clever, would SEDUCE THEM TO THE DARK SIDE!! .... And then a crossover to Star Wars happens for reasons... my mind kinda went on a tangent at that point with memes and trolling.
Anyway, the movie's definitely worth a watch, and I will buy myself a DVD so IT'S MINE and Hollywood can't alter it later, like they tend to do!
Now to see the amazing Spiderman movie next week! All indications are it's fantastic.
I personally give it a 9/10. Great movie, great execution, great acting, and an excellent sequel that can also be a great launching off point for new fans.
5618570 I'd go just a tad lower since the ending rehashed a little too much for my tastes. 8.5/10 for me.
Gozer needed more new lines, a little more character interaction.
I think audience would've gotten a genuine laugh after they all go, "Yes! We're all gods!" and Gozer replies with, "Did you honestly think that would work?" and zaps them.
It made sense that in the FIRST Ghostbusters, Gozer was just there briefly, since most of the movie was buildup. But with Gozer reappearing and being so central to everything from the very start, it should have had more 'character' than just glaring menacingly and repeating a few old lines. Just a little more dialog, making it a PERSONAL grudge match on Gozer's part would've added so much to that climax. Shoot, have Gozer toss in a tie-in to the opening scene, "One of you has already perished. Rather than allowing me to take him, he took himself." Remember, they ALL thought it was natural causes. The reveal that Gozer had tried to possess Egon and that he'd killed himself with that electrical shock rather than be taken over would've been an emotional moment for everyone there, and driven their battle to a new level.
If a villain appears on screen for a significant amount of time, I always believe there should be a connection with the protagonists in one way or another, and some banter to drive the action.
Imagine if in the climax of 'Return of the Jedi', the Emperor hadn't taunted Luke, and instead just stood there zapping him without saying a thing.
But aside from that one weak scene at the climax, the rest of "Afterlife" was really good.