Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

The best Ghostbusters sequel since Part II. Unfortunately, this one involves too many moving parts and not enough focus on the original Ghostbuster crew, which is really all anyone wanted. Still, it's an entertaining picture that strives to bring back what we all loved about the original, even though it feels bloated with one too many storylines and characters (as you can glean from the poster above). I honestly wouldn't mind more films in the series in this vein, although time seems to be running out and the actors aren't getting any younger.

As for the plot, we're back in NYC, and it's cold. That's really all you need to know.

3½ ecto-containment units out of 5

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Trading in the laughs per minute for a heartwarming family dramedy, Jason Reitman (son of original director Ivan) lovingly constructs his film as a tribute to its fallen star (and original writer) Harold Ramis. As such, it functions as an homage to the entire franchise, even as it essentially resurrects the old Ghostbusters gang (and Gozer) and recycles the plot of the 1984 film. What sets this apart is that it centers around Spengler's legacy and takes place in the quiet countryside rather than the bustling streets of NYC.

At first I was put off by this tone, until I realized there was no way they were ever going to replicate the spirit of the original, so they might as well try something different. Unfortunately, we really miss the presence of the original cast's camaraderie—in particular Bill Murray's wry wit—and this becomes glaringly obvious anytime they appear on screen together. Let's face it; the only reason this film is successful at all is because of the goodwill of the original.

If I could sum it up in even simpler terms, this is the Force Awakens of the Ghostbusters franchise.

3 mini-Pufts out of 5

Charlie's Angels (2000)

If the goal of the Charlie's Angels reboot was movie escapism on a superficial level, then it succeeded. The whole is heightened by the feeling that the "elite crime fighting trio" of Dylan, Alex and Natalie (Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Cameron Diaz, respectively) are having a blast while making it. The story is pretty thin and the primary villains are forgettable, but for every weak link (e.g. Sam Rockwell, Tom Green) there's a stronger one doing its utmost to draw attention away from the faults. In the latter category there's Crispin Glover, great use of chart music, playful stereotypes, ridiculous disguises, and a dynamic approach that never misses an opportunity to make its leading ladies shine. And for fans of the original TV series, the voice of John Forsythe.

3 bird calls out of 5

PASSION PLAY [2010]

Screenwriter Mitch Glazer (screenwriter of Scrooged, Rock the Kasbah, A Very Murray Christmas...you sensing a pattern here?) makes his directorial debut by shitting the bed something fierce with the romantic fantasy Passion Play.
Mickey Rourke clumsily stumbles through the film as a loser straggler that finds himself tangled up in a dangerous relationship with a beautiful circus sideshow girl with wings.
It wants to be a deep, meaningful journey into a quirky world that is both dark and romanticized but instead it's a laughable pile of cornball slop that I heard best described as "Hallmark noir".  It's one of those films I kept asking "how and why is this movie happening?"
There's so awful you have to see it, then there's this clusterfuck which is just so awful even YouTube doesn't want a "worst bits clips" video.

 ½ desert ninja savior out of 5

THE JUNGLE BOOK [2016]

Joining Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland & Maleficent, director Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book is yet another addition to Disney's growing line of live-action remakes of their own animated classics.
This version mostly follows the plot of the animated film of an orphaned jungle boy being hunted down by a tiger, while leaning more towards the moodier and more vicious tones of Rudyard Kipling's anthology stories.  
It's an astonishingly beautiful film to look at with CGI animals that have convincing personality once you get past the fact that they don't quite look like the real thing.  There's not a whole lot of subtext or plot details to relish in, so it's best to take it with a grain of salt and accept that it's a wonderfully crafted summer adventure film.  

3½ bad ol' mama cuckoos out of 5

DUMB & DUMBER TO [2014]

20 years later, Harry & Lloyd are back in Dumb & Dumber To, the sequel to the Farrelly Brothers' big screen debut.
Continuing the road trip/buddy flick blueprint, the boys head out in search of Harry's long lost daughter and inevitably hijinks ensue.  I'd be lying if I said this was any sort of quality film-making but, like the first, it never tries to be and lives up to it's name.  There's plenty of laughs to be had, insuring the Farrelly's don't lose their crown as the kings of gross-out comedy.   It feels a little outdated at times but if you're a huge fan of the original you'll find plenty to enjoy from this nostalgic trip through stupidity.

3 Pee Stains out of 5

ST. VINCENT [2014]

Just when I was ready to write off Melissa McCarthy as a one-hit wonder along comes writer/director Theodore Melfi's quiet little comedy St. Vincent.
It's the contrived story of a grumpy loser of an old man that finds a new reason to get up in the morning through the friendship of the new kid next door.  The best part about St. Vincent is McCarthy isn't the best part, the rest of the cast are just as good as she is, including Jaeden Lieberher, who never gets too cute or steps into "I'm a good child actor" territory.  Sure the story's been trampled over a million times before but the wonderfully played characters and sharp dialogue make this harmless heart-warming comedy well worth the visit.

3½ plates of "sushi" out of 5

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL [2014]

When speaking of a Wes Anderson film it becomes redundant to gush over the beautifully colored and framed visuals, but I'm going to anyway because The Grand Budapest Hotel is all that and more.
With it's delightful miniature sets, hilarious camerawork and dollhouse-esque set decoration a film-lover is sure to be in hog heaven.  Not only that but the off-kilter but humorously precise editing, character quirks & movements and all around zaniness had me giggling and chuckling from beginning to end.  Heavily inspired by Austrian writer Stefan Zweig, Hotel never takes itself too seriously but has enough substance to make you love it's characters and where the story will eventually end up.
Juggling silly and sophisticated at the same time, Anderson's latest is simply a delight that's ever so sweet.

4 bisexual, fucking faggots out of 5

THE MONUMENTS MEN [2014]

George Clooney directs an all-star cast in his enthusiastic war film, The Monuments Men, which tells the story of WWII platoon that set out to retrieve stolen artwork from Nazis near the tale end of the war.
The film sets out with good intentions but gets lost in a mess of humorous & serious tones that never seem to really find a favorable balance.  It's spreads it's ensemble cast of characters out too thinly and therefore we never really connect with any of them at all.  However by showing us a different reason to fight a war is what it set out to do without the cynicism & hatred and I really admire that.  A pity it's such a mess.

2 good times for a cigarette out of 5

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

The musical comedy horror genre is distressingly underpopulated. Based on a musical that was based on the 1960s movie of the same name, Little Shop of Horrors offers campy scares, lots of laughs, and surprisingly catchy tunes. The music is a little dated, but somehow everything clicks together, from the motown Greek chorus to the wonderfully cheesy effects.

What really sells this film is its cast. Steve Martin is at his absolute funniest, Levi Stubb's voice acting is spectacular, and Rick Moranis makes Seymour work in a way few actors could. It's not for everyone, but for those who like a side of music with their black comedy, it's something you can watch over and over again without getting bored. My only complaint is the ending, which is satisfying enough, but doesn't quite match the tone of the film. Look up the original the next time you give this one a watch.

4 long, slow root canals out of 5

Ed Wood (1994)

A ‘mostly true’ biopic of film maker Ed Wood, known affectionately as the world’s worst director. It’s one of the many Tim Burton films starring Johnny Depp, so you’ll likely know right off the bat if you’re going to love it or hate it. Depp occasionally acts like Christian Slater, which is a little irritating, but mostly he’s on fine form.
What makes the film extra special for me is Martin Landau; his performance as a crotchety old washed up horror actor is filled with a deeply tender pathos that gives the film much needed heart. Seeing him act alongside his daughter Juliet was also fun. I like her.
Is Burton’s wife in it? Yes, of course she is. Stupid question.

4 painted pie plates out of 5

MOONRISE KINGDOM [2012]

Moonrise Kingdom is an oddball romantic-comedy of another kind from writer/director Wes Anderson.

Anderson sets out a funny little story that looks and plays sort of like a children's story, with the adults confused, unaware of their surroundings and clueless to how love works.  It's the kids who have a firm grasp on things and know exactly what they want with life, which hilariously reflects on real life without ever getting too heavy.  It floats around in soft colors, bizarre fashions senses and flighty music that only makes the experience that much more enjoyably surreal.

3½ buggy earrings out of 5

Lost in Translation (2003)

Two strangers meet in Tokyo and recognise in each other an absence of something. It's about finding yourself by seeing yourself reflected in another, by recognising what you lost and what you may gain. It’s that lonely feeling you get when in a crowd. That’s really all there is to it on the surface. Beyond that, it’s about the viewer and how much they can connect with the characters. For me, it’s perfection.

5 glasses of whisky at 4am out of 5

Scrooged (1988)

This is not a perfect film. But it's a film I flock to year and year again, so that's got to count for something. Essentially Charles Dickens meets Beetlejuice, this modern adaptation of the oft told tale is probably the most consistently watchable as a whole. It's also pretty damn dark to boot. Elfman's score is an integral part of the charm, but Bill Murray holds his own too, along with Carol Kane, Karen Allen and Bobcat Goldthwait. At its heart, it's the same story you've heard repeated year after year, but it's the one I'll always cherish the most.

4.5 taxi cabs to hell out of 5

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

A thrill-seeking fox not content with family life can’t resist one last raid on the local farms, but his thieving antics don’t go unnoticed.
I love stop-motion. It may be a dying art. but in FMF it’s alive and well. With not one second wasted on pointless exposition or boring exploding robots it’s a joy to watch. My face felt like it was on LSD I was grinning so hard. Voice work is perfect. The titular fox is given life by George Clooney; throw in Bill Murray, Michael Gambon and Willem Dafoe and the magic is sustained.
The musical score is also fantastic. See here for a review.

4 Are you cussing with me? out of 5

Ghostbusters II (1989)

After saving the world the first time around, the Ghostbusters have fallen on hard times. Now, 5 years later, they’re called upon once again to rid New York of paranormal phenomena. I never understood why this movie gets such a bad rap. Yeah, it’s not as good as the original, but few sequels ever are. I still think it holds its own as a great movie, and the living Vigo painting and river of pink slime are classic. More or less follows the pre-established formula of the original, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Aside from that, it’s more fun with Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston and company.

3.5 hopping toasters out of 5

Ghostbusters (1984)

Bustin’ makes me feel goooooood!

Another defining movie of my youth. No matter how many times I watch it, it never seems to get old. And the special effects still look as good as it did back then. SCTV and SNL veterans Aykroyd, Ramis and Murray had no idea what a cultural phenomenon they had on their hands when they made this picture. Since then, it’s literally exploded. There’s not much else I can say about it that hasn’t been said before. It’s quite simply a modern comedy classic.

5 particle accelerator proton packs out of 5