Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Ghostbusters of the new generation and it's a fun ride for all ages. The story takes place three decades after the first film, we follow a mother and her two children moving to a small town, to a farm their grandfather has left them as his inheritance, and the adventure ride can begin. It has a Stranger Things feel to it, maybe maybe because of Finn Wolfhard, but I really enjoyed Mckenna Grace (by the way what an amazing career at 15 years old: Malignant and Ready Player One), who plays a science nerd and is without a doubt the most interesting and best character. The humour works occasionally, although nothing crazy happens, the visuals are ok, but the CGI monsters were the weakest part of the film for me, though I loved the marshmallow men, they were morbidly cute and could easily have deserved an extra ten minutes. The film also relies a lot on nostalgia and references, which of course work. The film is also nicely heartwarming at the end and the fairer sex might be moved, which counts. It's not a big hit, but as a horror comedy for kids where adults can have fun it works well enough. Story 4/5, Action 3/5, Humour 3/5, Violence 0/5, Funny 4/5 Music 3/5, Visuals 3/5, Atmosphere 4/5, Suspense 3/5, Emotion 3/5, Actors 4/5.7/10. (09/01/2022)

"Who you gonna call?" Ignoring female version from five years ago, this is a return to the world of Ghostbusters after quite a some time. The original films from the 1980s can still appeal to me today, with their cast, the decent effects or the catchy theme song. Afterlife visibly mixes the old with the new, with obvious references and the original cast that feel very nostalgic, while on the other hand there is a clear effort to appeal to a younger audience. More than once during the screening I thought of Stranger Things - and no, it wasn't because of Finn Wolfhard – and by the end I couldn't even help thinking of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. On the one hand, it was good to see the old guard together again, but on the other hand, they were there more just for the nostalgia effect. I found the new cast, apart from Paul Rudd and Logan Kim, very bland. Better three stars! (06/01/2022)

The first Ghostbusters crossed with an Amblin-like children's summer adventure in a small town. Yes, it's undeniably an instant double load of 1980s nostalgia, but it's so sensitive compared to many others who've tried their hand at something similar and overused it in recent years. In fact, it works for the most part on its own (perhaps only the final quarter is too shot-by-shot and the same film). When you add in that "Legacy" (even in a creative father-son Ivan/Jason way), it can conjure a smile as much as it can grab your heart. Much better than one would dare hope for a sequel that comes a decade or so later than it should. What's more, it's a successful sequel that doesn't try anything groundbreaking, but fills its box solidly and entertainingly. (20/03/2022)

I’m as satisfied as I was in 2015 with Jurassic World. Once again, it was a fantastic follow-up to a film that everyone loves, introducing brand new characters, not just relying on nostalgia, entertaining for two hours old-timers and newcomers alike, having people in the cinema smiling from ear to ear. I really wasn’t expecting Afterlife to be so good, it’s such a joy. I was pleasantly surprised that the film doesn't have a main male character, but a heroine (Finn Wolfhard sorry, Mckenna Grace really rules here), and such a great heroine at that. But actually all the characters are funny, never awkward, and Jason Reitman cares as much about them as he does about the special effects, which beautifully combine the digital and the practical and, like everything else, are a joy to behold. If you are not moved by the opening, you will be moved by the ending. I would really love another sequel to fully close the circle. (07/01/2022)

I enjoyed the first half more, balancing nicely on the edge of nostalgia, where it was still bearable. But then the digital crap kicked in (there's no substitute for practical 80s effects), and Finn Wolfhard made me feel like I was watching a weaker episode of Stranger Things. And as much as I love the old crew from the 80's classic, they unfortunately – and surprisingly to me – weren't the element that lifted the film up at the end. A brief reminiscence is not enough for me. And when the post-credit scene is the only fun thing in a film, there’s something wrong. (12/01/2022)