Ghostbusters 3 - My Thoughts

That’s Not Paranormal! (Actually it kind of is …)

Ghostbusters 3 – Do We Really Need to Cross the Streams Again?

(Out of all the posters I thought this was the coolest fan made.)

Note: This blog was written before Harold Ramis' death. Rest in Peace, childhood mentor. This lowers my anticipation for a Ghostbusters III. 

You don’t have to look very far on this website to realize that I am a huge Ghostbusters fan. I’ve said many of times that the movies, cartoon (The Real Ghostbusters), and the comics have influenced me to become a paranormal investigator and I think many would agree with me. I’ve also told many people that the Ghostbusters franchise is my Star Wars (as well as the Back to the Future trilogy, but that’s not what we’re talking about).

For about twenty years Dan Akroyd has been planting the seeds for an epic third installment of the movie. This includes finally going into the ghost world or the heavily discussed Ghostbusters in Hell or Ghostbusters Hellbent. They both sound so great, to me at least, that I’d love to see it. But, and there’s always a but, is now the right time? I think that maybe ten years ago or earlier would have been the time to do this. Now? I mean no disrespect for the men who’ve influenced me, but quite frankly their too old to cross the streams one last time.

On this one occasion I wouldn’t mind being wrong. But as a big fan and a committed member of the Ghostbusters fans universe, I just don’t want to be right and then they make the next movie and it’s terrible. Sequels can destroy a legacy. Now I know a lot of people don’t particularly care for Ghostbusters II, but I’m one of the many (I think) that actually thinks it has its moments and deserves a bit more respect than it gets. I think fans and moviegoers only real gripe is the ending. The “fight” with Vigo is one of the worse climax battles I think I’ve seen. They built Vigo like this bad ass magician and all it took was some slime and weak Proton blasts and that was it. What the blue hell was that? I read in a few places (though the websites don’t come to mind right now) that the production company was running out of funding for the film and had to resort to that. I could be wrong and maybe I am, but that’s the talk of the mill on that fine disaster piece. Other than that, I really have no real big problem with the flick.

But still the question is, do we really need a part 3? Most would say yes, others would say no. Because one buster doesn’t want to come back and that’s Bill Murray. Bill has gone from wanting to, to saying screw that because he still has a sour taste in his mouth from all that slime in part 2. Mr. Murray needs to make up his mind and either do it or not. Come on Bill, could it really be worse than Garfield? (I love Garfield the comic strip. The movie? Not so much.) And Dr. Peter Venkmen is my favorite Ghostbuster and it would suck not to have Bill Murray reprise the character that he’s made possibly one of the top ranking smart asses in movie history. But Bill has to do what’s right for Bill. He sticks to his guns and I respect that. And some people would say, “Do it for the fans Bill!” Okay, yeah he could do that. Or maybe he has a hunch, just like me, that it’s a little too late for a new installment.

That and I strictly do NOT want a new Ghostbusters team. There are only four Ghostbusters and that's it. None of this new crap. They were thinking about having Seth Rogen and Anna Farris in the third on as the new Ghostbusters and not taking away from their acting ability, but I just don't want that. I'm not an out with the old and in with the new type of person, especially when it comes to movies that I've loved since I was a child. To me, some movies just do not need remakes and Ghostbusters is one. I can see a relaunch, like where it acknowledges the old Ghostbusters. But they've tried that already (see the Extreme Ghostbusters.)

I also read that Ernie Hudson, who played Winston, was no notified nor called about reprising his role. Now I know that when most people think of Ghostbusters, they think of Ray, Peter, and Egon, but I've always liked Winston. He's the cool black guy! That and he coined the phrase, "That's a big Twinkie." I think Ernie has his spot in the Ghostbusters just like the other three and if they do the movie then they should have him.

Because if you look at it Ghostbusters isn’t nearly dead yet. If they were to never make a sequel, here are some ways to get over that and just accept it:

They had a successful animated program called The Real Ghostbusters. It pretty much followed the movies storylines and is still a great show to watch if you’re in the Ghostbusters mood. They just recently released the full series (from 1986 – 1991) in a cool looking DVD case. It looks exactly like the Ghostbusters firehouse from the cartoon.

I do have a few gripes with it:

1, Ray Stantz portrayal in the cartoon is annoying; he acted too much like a little kid. It gets to the point where you get used to it and just accept it for what it is.

2, when the show turned to Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters, it was almost too unbearable to watch it because they literally had to stick Slimer everywhere on the freaking show and he gets so annoying! I'm okay with him being a mascot, but he doesn't need to go with them everywhere, because then you know he's going to mess something up. It becomes too predictable.

3, biggest gripe for me is when they got rid of Lorenzo Music, who played the voice of Peter Venkmen. There's some internet talk about how Bill Murray didn't like how Music was potraying his voice. He even said that "he sounds too much like Garfield." Which is funny because not only did Music potray the original voice of Garfield, but Murray would later go on and take over for Music as the voice of Garfield. They replaced Music with Dave Coulier, who also played Joey Gladstone on Full House. Music tried to sound like Bill Murray and I think for the most part he succeeded, but Dave? Nuh-uh. Peter Venkmen went from cool cartoon character to bland surfer bum. I didn't accept it, I cringe everytime I hear Coulier behind Peter's voice. It's pretty awful.

Other than that, the show was pretty cool. The main idea of the show is of course busting ghosts and where can you go wrong with that? Great storylines, fun, funny, and they always get themselves into sticky situations (ectoplasm sticky).

IDW comics also continue the franchise with an exciting comic book series called Ghostbusters: Ongoing. This one stays more true to the movies than the cartoon does and as a Ghostbusters fan I can honestly say I am very satisfied with what they’re doing so far. IDW published 16 issues for this series and are now starting with this sequel to the Ongoing series called, “The New Ghostbusters.” Something happens to the boys and Janine has to take over with her new field of Ghostbusters. Not giving any more details there, because you’ll have to get it yourself. I think its worth the money.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is said to act as the sequel in case there never is one. The storyline follows the events of part one where ghosts are just popping up everywhere. It's weird that they barely even mention the second movie. Although in the firehouse, which you can roam around in, they do have a potrait of Vigo, and you have to use a slime thrower. However in this game, instead of using that pink slime they used in the second movie, you use this green slime. I prefer the green. The boys have to face the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man again, as well as a possible resurrection of Gozer. They find that that isn’t the case. Again, no spoilers. This game came out in 2009 and was acclaimed to be a fun game for all fans and video gamers alike. Though when I do my research, some video gamers say otherwise and think the game “sucks.” I beg to differ. As a fan of the movies I loved it, but then again I'm not a regular gamer. But if you want to see an idiot yelling at people on the TV like they are real? Come over to my house someday when I’m playing and I’ll show you him. Until then, get the game if you’re a fan because it really does feel like a sequel. Also the original Ghostbusters: Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson reprise their roles (in voice form at least).  

See? Even if the talks of a Ghostbusters 3 eventually fall through, then you have these to keep you busy.

If they do end up going forward with part 3 then they have a lot of ground to cover. Best of luck to them, especially without Dr. Venkmen.

So what are your thoughts? Should they make a Ghostbusters 3 or should they just stick it back in development hell forever?

Ghostbusters III fan made poster retrieved from: comicbookmovie.com
Most of these I just googled, so if you're the makers of these, just let me know and I will credit you.