The long awaited return of the Ghostbusters has almost arrived, with the release of the first official trailer on Thursday 3rd of March. The Ghostbusters franchise has existed for over thirty years with the very first film, "Ghostbusters" playing in cinemas in 1984 and the sequel "Ghostbusters II" in 1989. The first two films featured the comedic talents of Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond Stantz), Harold Ramis (Dr. Egon Spengler), Bill Murray (Dr. Peter Venkman) and Sci-Fi Horror legend Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barrett). Nicely accompanied by Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddmore) and Rick Moranis (Louis Tully) in a story written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis and directed by Ivan Reitman, the first film also featured special effects from the FX legend Richard Edlund (Star Wars IV,V,VI, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Big Trouble in Little China, and Die Hard). The unique mix of comedy and special effects, showcased in the original film were an instant and forever hit with movie goers of my generation, and propelled the films and its characters into pop culture forever.
So How Did I Rate The First Trailer?
Plot: Ok for anyone who has seen either or both of the first two Ghostbuster films the plot indicated by this trailer will seem very familiar (Spoiler Alert!). They both - origin story aside in the first film - pretty much begin with a low level of paranormal activity in New York City. Then the source of this paranormal activity is revealed and as the films progress, the heroes of the film begin to piece together "who" or "what" this source is and as they are doing this, the level of paranormal activity in the city continually increases more and more, until finally our heroes have an 11th hour confrontation with the source and not only New York City but the entire planet Earth is at stake if they fail.......Going by the first trailer, it would seem that this film follows the same plot as the 1980's films. We see a similar origin story taking place as in Ghostbusters (1984) where three scientific persons (now Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon) come together, combine their intellect and talents, and create a paranormal extermination business called the "Ghostbusters". They are in time joined by the blue collar "everyday" New Yorker (now Leslie Jones) that offers the group some straight talking and common sense, and the four of them carry on busting ghosts. Early on in the trailer we also see a low level of paranormal activity and as the trailer moves on in time we see a higher and higher level of paranormal activity. We also learn that the source of this paranormal activity is in this case a person, played by Chris Hemsworth. Taking the last two observations in consideration then it would seem that indeed this new film will follow that same plot as it's predecessors and that is ABSOLUTLEY FINE. For younger cinema goers who may have very likely not seen either of the original films, the plot is going to feel very new and it is a good plot, so this is not a problem. For older cinema goers, it has been not far off thirty years since the last film so I think they are not going to mind too much about the similarities in the plot, if the film delivers on their hopes for a film experience on par with the 1984 film. The only negative comment I will make about this trailer in terms of the "Plot" is that it's beginning is misleading, suggesting to audiences that this film will be a continuation on the first two films, when in fact it is a REBOOT. I think this was both unnecessary and a bit disingenuous. 3.5/5 Stars.
Actors: One of the biggest draw cards of the first two films was the comedic dynamic between the actors playing the four main characters in these films. Does this trailer suggest we will see a similar comedic dynamic from the actresses playing the new four main characters in this latest film? I think the answer to this question is that there is a GOOD CHANCE WE WILL. Three of the actresses Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Kristen Wiig, have made names for themselves on the American weekly skit show Saturday Night Live. Melissa McCarthy has been doing comedies for both television and film since 2000 and has hosted Saturday Night Live three times so far in her career. So these ladies know comedy and having worked in comedy alongside each other for some time, you would expect there to be both a level of comfort and an understanding of each other's style of comedy. These two factors put together usually means that the conditions exist to produce good comedy. Going by the trailer it would seem that these two factors do exist between the actresses playing the four main characters in this film. There is certainly a high level of comfort between them and they work well off each other too, implying an understanding of each other's style of comedy. And together they produce some funny moments in the trailer's 2:37 minute duration, boding well that we will see many more funny moments in the film. The only caution I might make is that older cinema goers should not go in expecting the same comedy they remember from the first two Ghostbuster films. These are new actresses and new characters, so there is going to be a different comedic dynamic between them and so a different kind of comedy generated in this film. 4/5 Stars.
Special Effects: Along with the "Plot" and the "Actors", what also helped bring the first Ghostbusters film such fan acclaim, was the level of "Special Effects" audiences were treated too throughout the film. Using cast moulds for animatronic doubles, puppets controlled by puppeteers and some clever work with their cameras, the special effects team led by Richard Edlund not only brought to life ghosts that were both colourful and frightening and but also looked real and in place alongside their human co-stars in that film. In short they gave audiences something that they had never seen before and they wanted more and more. Does the first trailer of the new Ghostbusters film suggest that audiences will get MORE AND MORE? We are living in time where CGI has taken over as the leading technology and first choice for special effects in films. But that does not mean they are a hit with audiences every time they are used in a film. It always seems to depend on whether the computer generated images are of a high level and if they fit with the genre of the film, which in the case of the first two Ghostbusters was Comedy/Horror. Going by the trailer, in some scenes there are definitely examples of high level computer generated ghost images and they fit very well with the genre of the film (Comedy/Action/Sci-Fi). In fact like in the original film, they could be accurately described as colourful and frightening as well as looking real and in place alongside their humans co-stars judging by this first trailer. But in other scenes, although we continue to see a high level of computer generated ghost images, they do not quite fit so well with genre of the film. They are colourful but not frightening and would seem more at place in a children's animated movie than in a Ghostbusters film. Younger cinema goers will likely enjoy the ghosts in this new film but for older cinema goers, especially fans of the original film, they might not hit the mark. 3/5 Stars.
Writer(s) and Director: It was the imagination of Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis that produced a great plot for "Ghostbusters" (1984) and in my opinion for "Ghostbusters II" (1989). These good friends also created the original, interesting and funny characters that still hold a special place in the hearts of my generation. Finally it was their imagination that was the all-important starting point for the ghosts, brought to life by the films' special effects teams, we saw in the two films. This new Ghostbuster film is the brainchild of a new writing team, again featuring Dan Aykroyd but now (Harold Ramis passed away in 2012) joined by Paul Feig and Katie Dippold. Dan Aykroyd's inclusion in the team holds great promise for this new film. But the inclusion of Paul Feig and Katie Dippold is concerning to me. Paul Feig is known for the action comedic film "Spy", while Katie Dippold is most known for the action comedic film "The Heat". I must admit I have not seen either of these films and that is what concerns me for am down at the dvd store at least three times every week of a calendar year. The thought that I must have passed these films over suggests to me that they may not have been very good. On the other hand I might be missing out on seeing two great films - fingers crossed! So how does this writing team seem to be shaping up for the trailer of the new Ghostbusters film? Going by the trailer it would seem like Dan Aykroyd has taken the lead in the writing with Paul Feig and Katie Dippold supplementing the script. This is a GOOD SIGN. Though for younger cinema goers this will be likely be the first time they have seen a film written by Dan Aykroyd, so that natural tendency to compare the writing for this new film with the writings of the first two films will not occur, but for older cinema goers it will most likely occur, so to them I want to say that from what I have seen in the first trailer for this new film, I am optimistic. The biggest concern I have is in regard to the choice of "Director". Dan Aykroyd is not sharing the responsibility in this department, Paul Feig is alone in his role as director for this new Ghostbusters film. As a director he is known for "Spy", "Bridesmaids", and "The Heat", and though again I have not seen any of these films, this is again one of reasons why I am concerned. But once again it could be that I am simply missing out on some great films. My fingers are crossed! 2.5/5 Stars
Average Rating: 3.25/5 Stars.
Watch Ghostbusters (2016) Trailer (1) and let me know YOUR THOUGHTS!!
