Ghostbusters 2016: Was it really that bad?
Hello everyone greetings and salutations from the Pacific Northwest. It’s time for another movie review series to begin. The title of the series is 'Was it really that bad?
A series where we look at films many critics and/or audiences consider horrible. And dare ask the question of whether or not it deserved the hate it got. And ho boy right off the bat have I got a whopper.
I'll start off the series with the infamous movie Ghostbusters 2016. Did this movie deserve the hate that it got? Come with me and let's see in this review and commentary.
Enjoy my readers!
As stated, we've got a doozy of a movie for the first edition of was it really that bad. For this edition we’ll look at a movie that died a horrible death at the box office. The infamous movie Ghostbusters 2016.
Now before I begin, I want to make some things clear. I have no problem with an all-female cast or women protagonists. Also, I am aware of the bad behavior of both Paul Feig and Leslie Jones on Twitter.
But this will be a fair review and commentary of the movie/product itself. So bad behavior by cast members off the set does not count. And petty things such as race, gender, and sexual orientation will get tossed by the wayside.
In favor of old-fashioned logic and the product itself.
So, was Ghostbusters 2016 really that bad? Well, let's take a look at the plot first then answer the question.
Erin Gilbert is a professor of psychology at Columbia University. She's seeking to get tenure there. Erin makes a horrifying discovery.
Her former friend Abigail L. "Abby" Yates played by Melissa McCarthy has put a book she wrote up online. And done so without her permission. She's also continuing their work.
When Erin goes to confront Abby, she meets Jillian Holtzmann. Played by Kate McKinnon. She's another person who is part of the main foursome.
Abby agrees to remove their publication from the Internet. But only if Erin helps them with a paranormal investigation. At a local mansion in New York city the women bear witness to the manifestation of a ghost.
One that Erin played by Kristen Wiig gets slimed by. This film seems to be obsessed with slime. Even more so than Ghostbusters II.
No sooner does this come out a success than Erin gets fired from her job at Columbia University. Because the investigation…is posted on Reddit? Yeah, so let me get this straight.
There's actual video footage of a ghost shown, and Erin's bosses throw her out because of that. Really, really, really?
What’s worse is that the local technical college throws Abby and Jillian along with Erin out. Not even bothering to listen to them or see the evidence. Herein lays a recurring theme in the movie that bugged me.
But I’ll get into that in the final part of this. The ladies then proceed to set up a scientific office above a Chinese restaurant. They name themselves Conductors of the Metaphysical Examination.
Again, really, really, really? The ladies then begin to build equipment for catching ghosts. Okay I have a question here.
How the heck are they getting the money for this and affording their rent?
Then they hire the handsome but dimwitted Kevin Beckman as their receptionist. His role gets played by Chris Hemsworth. This is another shining example of a major issue I had with this film that I’ll talk about in the final segment.
Meanwhile it's an ordinary day on the job with MTA. Patty Tolan played by Leslie Jones first meets up with a very creepy looking man. Then she discovers a ghost near her subway station.
She then contacts Erin and the others. Okay how the heck did she get their number if they're only now in business? They investigate the disturbance and discover there's a ghost all right.
And there's a strange device that seems to have to do with these spirits. Yet still no one believes them? Really, really, really?
Patty joins the team as she has a good working knowledge of the history of New York city. So, wait she works for the MTA, and she has a great knowledge of New York city? That lady should be either a history teacher or a tour guide not an MTA employee!
Meanwhile the action shifts to the person who is the main villain in this movie. An occultist named Rowan North, played by Neil Casey. He is a man trying to bring about the apocalypse for the dumbest reason there is.
More on that and his other failings later.
One of his devices summons a ghost at a music venue. The Ghostbusters as they're called come in to round up the pesky spirit.
The way in which they catch the ghost is sheer cringe worthiness. Due to the absurd reaction of the audience.
Wouldn’t people flee in panic if they saw an actual ghost appear and clock the lead singer of the band on stage?
The ladies manage to capture it and make the news.
Meanwhile, the resident occultist and villain has some movie time. In which he makes this quip.
“Enjoy your victory Ghostbusters. For soon you and the whole world will bow to me.”
Again, I have to say this. Really, really, really?
The ladies return to their office. Then a certain paranormal debunker played by Bill Murray shows up. He enrages Erin so much that she releases the one ghost they trapped.
At this point I was about ready to go into a rage.
Because they didn’t even have a containment unit set up for the ghosts yet. Also, the same theme that I'll discuss later gets shown.
Bad move Erin-girl, very bad move.
Things get crazier when they’re summoned before Mayor Bradley. He's played by Andy Garcia. And his secretary Jennifer Lynch gets played by Cecily Strong.
Alongside them are two Department of Homeland Security officials. They explain that DHS is aware of New York’s ghost problem. But want the Ghostbusters to do their job as quiet as possible.
In return they'll have the city's support while denouncing them as frauds. What kind of dumb deal is that? That's like the cool kids telling the unpopular kids to not tell the school there's a fire!
Back at their office the ladies discover Rowan. He's been setting up ghost summoning devices in the city. In places that are supernatural ley lines.
The lines intersect at the Mercado Hotel in Times Square. The Hotel has a history of supernatural activity.
When the Ghostbusters arrive at the hotel, they meet a hotel clerk. She's played by Annie Potts from the original Ghostbusters movies. They confront Rowan North in the basement of the hotel.
They find he has equipment opening up a portal to a place known as the Ghost Dimension. Okay no one could get all that equipment by the hotel staff! Someone would’ve noticed and reported it.
Does anyone in this movie have awareness of things?
To escape police custody Rowan electrocutes himself. Jillian shuts off the portal. Erin finds an annotated copy of the book she and Abby wrote.
After reading the book Erin discovers Rowan killed himself to become a ghost. So, he can lead his army of spectral followers. He proceeds to control first Abby then Kevin. He then proceeds to his old base of operation. He activates the portal releasing hundreds of ghosts into the city. All before subduing the police.
Wait how did he learn all those abilities so quick? I’m sorry but book or no book no one learns those abilities that fast. Something’s off here!
The Ghostbusters then proceed on a cringy, meaningless CGI romp through the city. All the time trying to reach the hotel. They then engage in a final showdown with Rowan.
He transforms into a gigantic nightmarish version of the ladies' business logo.
During that final battle Abby gets dragged by the Occultist into the Ghost Dimension. Erin pursues and manages to save her friend.
Right before they’re dragged back to the living world by the others.
They're still denounced as fraudsters by the mayor’s office. But the ladies get more funding. And move into a new facility, a fire station.
In the final scene of the movie Patty makes mention of ‘Zual”. Then gets confronted by her uncle played by
Ernie Hudson. It's about the lost hearse taken during the ghost infestation.
So, now to the big question. Was Ghostbusters 2016 really that bad? Oh yeah it was that bad!
Where to begin with this piece of cinematic sewage?
The writing in this movie is atrocious! For starters near the beginning, they had to use a female frontal fart joke. When a movie resorts to low brow humor that soon is not a good sign.
Another good example of bad writing for this movie is Rowan. Oh lord have mercy where to begin with Rowan North!
This man is a shining example of a stereotypical villain! The kind that wakes up, rubs their hands, and says something such as, “Muwhahahahaha! What kind of evil can I do today?”
They never give the occultist a backstory. That's a necessity for any character. They say he wants to summon this army of ghosts because…he got picked on?
Really writers, really, really? That’s not good motivation at all! That sounds more like someone who needs a hug and a friend then a villain.
What in God's name were these writers thinking when they created this guy? Or were they even thinking at all?
Another shining example of this character's shoddy workmanship is this. When the Ghostbusters capture their first ghost. Rowan watching on TV says something like this.
"Well played Ghostbusters. But make no mistake very soon you and everyone else will bow before me."
Besides the cringe-worthy dialogue I'm thinking this.. this. All the character Rowan North needs is the following. A mustache to twirl, a Boris Badenov accent, and a readiness to go after Moose and Squirrel!
The acting in this movie like the writing is also horrific. The women talk at a near light speed pace. To the point where it’s hard to keep up with them.
Also, there is no chemistry here. I know what chemistry is because actors can bounce things off each other. That makes the scenes and movie better.
With this quartet of ladies that wasn’t there. Everything was very forced and very unfunny.
Third the CGI in this film was hideous! The effects look like preschoolers or Kindergartners made them. And saying that is an insult to them.
Yeah, these CGI effects look rushed to the point whoever did them needs to go back to art school.
Here are my biggest problems with this film. The rampant misandry and PC ideology!
Every man in this film from the college professors to the mayor were this way. Even the characters played by Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Andy Garcia and others are all jerks. Or like Kevin they were air headed idiots.
Meanwhile the major female characters are strong and powerful. Yet they're also shown as victims of a “System of patriarchy". Because women are victims and delicate flowers!
My response and thoughts on women I'll sum up in this quote from internet character Johnathan Pie. "No, you're not you're bloody hardcore!"
Whether it’s Ripley from the Aliens franchise. Imeon, Viconia Devir, or Jahiera from Baldur’s Gate. Or Queen
Selanay from the Heralds of Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey. I have no problem with strong female characters.
But when females are strong at the expense of male characters that’s misandry. And that’s wrong because sexism is still sexism no matter who's doing it. No exceptions.
The PC ideology gets shoved down our throats from the movie's start. I have a very good example of this. A tour guide at the local mansion talks about Irish proof barbed wire and P.T. Barnum “Enslaving” elephants.
Gee, that’s not biased at all note the dripping sarcasm.
So, bad writing, bad acting, bad CGI, an ill-conceived plot. Also, messy execution, blatant misandry and political bias. This is why we need to keep all modern politics out of our entertainment.
So, I can say yes Ghostbusters 2016 really was that bad. Let’s hope Ghostbusters: Afterlife is better.
I hope you enjoyed this first edition of Was it really that bad?
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