‘Ghostbusters’ Trailer Reaction: Movie Studio Should Be Scared
If you’ve been on Twitter, Facebook, any number of clickbait websites today, you’ve probably noticed that the new Ghostbusters trailer has been posted. I have been pretty indifferent to the whole thing ever since the original cast has pretty much had nothing to do with it. The big thing that will slap everyone who has a criticism about the film is that the new cast is female. That has nothing to do with a movie being good or not. Sure, there are probably those Men’s Rights douche bags that will complain that it should be an all male cast, but the thing about that is no one cares about what those people have to say.
Premise: With paranormal activity on the rise, a Columbia University academic, her ghost-chasing friend, the friend’s business partner, and an MTA employee join forces to bust ghosts and save New York.
The problem with what is shown in the trailer is that it just looks like a bad movie. I know it’s hard to have a serious criticism about trailers to a reboot about a group of scientists that use laser beams to shoot at ghosts (ED NOTE: What are these ghosts actually ghosts of? Seriously? What died and made those things?), but when you go back and watch the first Ghostbusters film, it was excellent. Since I was little, I also found it frightening. Even a few scenes now are creepy as well — the library scene at the beginning.
What really makes this movie look bad is not only does it feel like the people making this movie only heard of the concept in passing, but the effects look worse than the original film. Take a look at the ghost from the opening of the first film:
That was from 1984. 32 years later and it still looks like it was made today! Actually, no, it doesn’t look like it could be made today. What we get in the new movies from today looks like this:
One looks like it could be an actual ghost you see if you stayed in an old mental institution that no one has been in for a hundred years, the other looks like it’s from a bad monster game from Playstation 1. I’m not saying that this will make the movie bad, I’m just saying that such bad effects really takes you out of the movie because it’s so fake.
Then we get to the dialogue. What made the first movie great was Bill Murray. Murray pretty much ad-libbed every scene he was in. He’s a master of improv on the screen, and all the other actors played off him perfectly. Sure, they had the script, but Murray could take off with it and make it even better. It’s the reason why the first movie is so good and considered a classic comedy.
The reboot has hammy dialogue like this:
Voice Over — “There’s a bigger picture at hand here: These ghosts can possess the human form.”
(Melissa McCarthy gets possessed, runs, chokes and holds Kate McKinnon out of a window. Leslie Jones runs to help whilst screaming)
Leslie Jones — “Oh haaail naw! The Devil is a (inaudible)! Get outta my friend, ghost!”
(Leslie Jones slaps McCarthy in the face)
Melissa McCarthy — “Ow, that’s gonna leave a mark!”
Leslie Jones — “The power of Patty compels you! (Slaps again)”
Yeah, that’s from the trailer, but it was just one of the cringe-worthy moments in the trailer. I have already judged a movie more than I should considering this is only the first trailer, but it just seems like a crappy reboot made for no reason other than to make money. I know that’s why all movies are made, but this one is a bit too obvious. Might as well reboot Die Hard… oh, wait. They’re already doing that.
Ghostbusters is directed by Paul Feig and written by Katie Dippold and Feig. It stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones as the title characters. The film is scheduled for a July 15, 2016 release.
Have a look at the first trailer below:
Follow Jeff Sorensen on TWITTER
Jeff Sorensen is an author, writer and occasional comedian living in Detroit, Michigan. You can look for more of his work on The Huffington Post,UPROXX,BGR and by just looking up his name.
Contact: jeff@socialunderground.com