Ernie Hudson

Director : Jason Reitman – Cast Includes : Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace

Has it really been 32yrs since Ivan Reitman’s Ghostbusters II hit the screen? and why didn’t someone ask Jason to get behind the camera and film Afterlife earlier, boy how I’ve missed this supernatural franchise… : GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE is MAGNIFICENT… the humor, those kids, the music, the cameos and those little mashmallow folk gave me goosebumps and the memories I hold dear from those classic 80s movies came flooding back… as I sat watching the film from my favorite seat in my local cinema I could feel my heart pound like a jack hammer, my legs tapping with excitment and my mouth in the smile position right the way throughout as the nostalgia and the film’s energy swept over me like a ghost performing a flyby… I felt the way Reitman handled the opening ten minutes was vital for the direction of the movie and for me it was PERFECTION… although we don’t see his face we know it’s Egon, the chase scene with the ghosts, the trap not working and inside the farmhouse the crossover from old to new just felt so right… on-top of that Afterlife has such a likeable, fresh looking cast led by the front by the formidable 15yr old Mckenna Grace who steals EVERY scene she’s part of with her witt, her mannerisms and the action scene’s she embraces such as when she boards the Ecto-1 and takes the gun seat in her stride, she’s crazy good for someone so young, Paul Rudd once again delivers his charm with the scenes in the local Wallmart facing off against the Mini-Pufts and demon dog being one of the many highlights and what can I say about Logan Kim who makes his movie debut playing podcast, what a talent reminding me so much of Vern in Stand By Me this kid is going places… : unlike Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters back in 2016, which by he way was lots of fun AFTERLIFE is a game changer, sticking more to the original two in sentiment and style and as a fan it’s EVERYTHING that I hoped for and so much MORE !! ps…there’s also a couple of after credit scenes so don’t leave your seat early ★★★★★

OK first up I never wanted to see this movie made and not because of this nonsense “all female” thing either, I just love the original films, like many they’re part of my upbringing since the original was released back in the mid 80s I must have seen the film 100 times or more Aykroyd, Ramis and Murray are three of my film heroes so discovering that they were doing another film remake and this time it was my beloved Ghostbusters I was at first mad as hell, I wanted to scream the social media house down, I guess I never wanted a movie more than this one to fail miserably but luckily for me like most things I calmed down and accepted that even without my blessing this reboot was going to happen one way or the other – Paul Feig happens to be one of my favourite modern comedy directors, films such as Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy have all made me cry with laughter so taking the mantle for this remake was a big thing for him and I just prayed, kept my fingers crossed that he was up to the task…..

OK so now I have seen Ghostbusters the 2016 version and I want to share my views with you film fans out there – firstly it has to be said Feig goes above and beyond in respecting the original 1984 classic, he uses the old theme tune, gives cameo’s to the old cast and even dedicates the movie to Harold Ramis at the end credits (a nice touch I thought) – his young cast comprising of Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Chris Hemsworth are all fabulous, McKinnon and Jones for me steal the show but in general Feig has managed to cast well all actors adding something to this reboot, Hemsworth is at times hilarious playing the dopey good looking secretary for the team, he actually wears glasses without the glass and keeps tripping over himself & that dancing at the end credits is worth staying around for – I love also the fact that the legend that is Andy Garcia plays the New York Mayor such a great actor and fabulous to see him back on the big screen – the films opening at the haunted mansion was a riot, Kristen Wigg’s character getting slimed is worth the ticket value in itself and them scenes involving Jone’s character in the subway and also the possessed dummy are so much fun, McCarthy being possessed and getting slapped by Jones was hilarious and then of course you have McKinnon just oozing style playing the oddball engineer who creates the teams Ghost busting weapons & looks equally at ease firing them bad boys – Overall: put aside (if you have any) your disagreement for this movie and go and have some fun – Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters is an amusing, entertaining picture, the cast rock & I promise you this movie will bring a smile to your face, my only small criticism is that the last 15minutes could have been handled better, a little OTT but that’s me being picky – Ghostbusters is a real blast !! ★★★½