Ghostbustersmovies stretch credulity, but this is ridiculous.
And yet, no one remembers the work the boys did to save the city.
Its only been 30 years since the team drove the Statue of Liberty down the center of the city.
I just realized something, Stantz begins.
Weve never had a completely successful test with any of the equipment.
I blame myself, says Spengler.
So do I, says Venkman.
No sense in worrying about it now, Stanz continues, trying to look resolute.
But Venkman refuses to give him relief.
Why worry, he mocks.
Each one of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on our backs.
Great as the banter is, the pay off comes when Spengler turns on Stantzs proton pack.
A mechanical shriek issues from the machine and Aykroyd shifts his look of resolution to one of helplessness.
Without a word, Spengler and Venkman back away to a nearby corner.
That one sequence captures the power and appeal ofGhostbusters.
Its not just three funny comedians trading specialized jargon and quips.
These arent the heroes of the sequels and the reboots, mostly confident in their roles and theories.
These certainly arent competent tough guys like their fellow 80s icons Axel Foley, John Matrix, or Rambo.
Theyre normal guys patching together a project and getting way over their heads.
Originally, Aykroyd wrote an epic horror adventure calledGhost Snatchers, drawing from his deeply-held beliefs in the paranormal.
He also originally planned to make the film with hisSaturday Night Liveco-starsEddie MurphyandJohn Belushi.
Belushis death and Aykroyds massive first treatment werent the only problems facing the production.
Heck, even the name Ghostbusters was owned byUniversal Pictures, who made a comedy show calledThe Ghost Busters.
And yet, somehow, all these problems resulted in the movie we know today.
In fact, the ramshackle finished product is much of the films charm.
Take the inclusion of Rick Moranis as accountant Louis Tully, a part originally written for John Candy.
Its just another example of someone who has no business dealing with inter-dimensional spirits getting caught in the middle.
To be fair, the reboot and the later sequel do try for something similar to Moranis riffing.
But neither of these movies work, and not because theyre riffing when they shouldnt riff.
In short, the originalGhostbustersis a perfect, unlikely object.
No wonder its hard to replicate.
After all, the original film follows the founding of a business dedicated to bustin ghosts.
According to the excellent animated seriesThe Real Ghostbusters, the answer is yes!
Sometimes, the story sprung from an underdeveloped part of the movie.
But they never needed to explain how the Ghostbusters came to be, because the movie already did that.
The sequels have not taken the same approach, largely because feature films demand longer, more complex stories.
And apparently, the only story that can satisfy that requirement is the story of the Ghostbusters getting together…
But the bigger problem facing the modernGhostbustersequels and the reboot is a fatal case of nostalgia.
Afterlifealso deals with the Ghostbusters getting together.
Ghostbusters: End of Life
Ghostbustersrules.
Its funny, scary, and filled with special effects.
I still watch it every year, along with my own kids.
ButGhostbustersisnt franchise material, despite the upcomingGhostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Time and again, weve seen how it cant be replicated and extended, and thats just fine.
No bad sequel or reboot makes the 1984 film worse.
But not every great movie can inspire a good sequel or reboot.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire comes to theaters on March 22.
