Ghostbusters
starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Cecily Strong, Andy Garcia and Chris Hemsworth
screenplay Kaitie Dippold and Paul Feig
directed by Paul Feig
Rating: ♦♦♦◊◊
Based on Ghostbusters (1984) written by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ivan Reitman, and starring Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts and Rick Moranis. This new, all-female version has generated some controversy on the Internet by fans of the original critical of the gender gimmick. I understand that, because I don’t like gimmicks. I re-watched the original film, which I have at home to watch any time, and I thought it stands up pretty well. The 1984 version was made pre-CGI and looks it, but I didn’t think it needs a re-make yet. It still plays pretty contemporary. I decided to watch the new version in a movie theater almost on a whim. I chose the TOHO Cinema in Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture, where I happened to be for a part-time job and with a couple hours to spare.
I liked it. The story is practically the same as the original, the performances are good, and the jokes are clever.
All of the original main cast (minus Rick Moranis and Harold Ramis) made cameo appearances. It bothers me to think of young people today watching the movie for the first time who might not know the original and who might not know who these characters are who make brief appearances. To those of us who know it’s a lot of fun and worth a laugh to see Annie Potts or Ernie Hudson and know who they are.
The original film was made in 1983/84 with a $30 million budget. This new one cost $144 million. Of course, $30 million 1984 dollars would be a lot more expensive today, what with inflation, etc. I’m guessing the costs of computer graphics are what top off the budget so high.