Ghostbusters 2016: Talk about the movie(s).

[JD]

I feel like this is the fifth time I've said this: Comedy trailers are incredibly difficult to cut. When there's a really good one, like Ted, then everyone complains that all the good jokes were given away in the previews. The only other approach is to just do some really broad strokes about the concept. This is especially true in the case of Paul Feig's movies, because so, so many of his jokes rely on slow-burn payoffs. I don't think any of his movies have had good trailers (the ones for Bridesmaids and Spy were particularly terrible), yet I can't think of a single bad thing he's directed or written / co-written.

I'm wondering if that is the case too. I did like the character featurettes more than the trailers, partly because it had longer clips which allowed for more complex humor.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I feel like this is the fifth time I've said this: Comedy trailers are incredibly difficult to cut. When there's a really good one, like Ted, then everyone complains that all the good jokes were given away in the previews.

That's a rather poor excuse, since any random audience member has viewed enough comedy trailers that attracted and promise an uproariously good time without giving it all away, or falling flat. If your theory was correct, then I would argue most comedy movie trailers would fail to hook anyone enough to slap down the cash. You must look at the content--what they're working with, and not lay Ghostbusters' disastrous trailer responses (probably top 2 on an all-time trailer bad reaction list) at the feet of the editors.

Only time will tell how this film performs, but at the moment, for a film that's part of big budget franchise with cultural / name recognition, there's not much generating the kind a sweeping, positive social media dialogue seen after the release of the teaser and full trailers for Captain America: Civil War--a film which had much to live up to and deliver.

The only other approach is to just do some really broad strokes about the concept. This is especially true in the case of Paul Feig's movies, because so, so many of his jokes rely on slow-burn payoffs. I don't think any of his movies have had good trailers (the ones for Bridesmaids and Spy were particularly terrible), yet I can't think of a single bad thing he's directed or written / co-written.

Then, that's another potentially big problem: Ghostbusters--as the culture understands it--was not a "slow burn payoff" type of humor in film; there were some dry wit moments and certainly snarky lines, but the humor was still direct and clever. If Feig is altering that template to fit his "reboot," then he might have more problems that he can imagine.

Again, its the job of the trailer to convince audiences to see the film, not undersell it, or reveal (or omit) things that do not help the case of the film. That's how it works. Anything less cannot all be piled on the trailer alone.

 

[Aldo]

That song doesn't really do much for me. But so far that's the only thing I'm weary of regarding this film.

 

[Chris3123]

Just thought I'd chime in here.

While I'm a longtime GB fan who's trying to keep an open mind about the movie, I have to say... this song is a terrible reimagining of the original. It just plain sucks.

 

[Tosk]

Yeah, not a fan at all. But there have been plenty of movies with songs I hate that still work in context, so y'never know.

 

[Amaris]

Not much for the song at all, but still looking forward to the film!

 

[Aldo]

I was hoping they'd go the Ghostbusters 2 route and have a new song that has hints of the original. This is just a pretty bland cover.

 

[B.J.]

^Eh, I don't particularly like the songs for GB2, and this new one isn't very good either. But the original song by Ray Parker Jr. was, like the original movie, lightning in a bottle. Either one is a hard act to follow.

 

[Aldo]

I have a soft spot for the cheesy 90s era rap that showed up in movies around that time (Ghosbusters 2, the first Turtles movie).

Not only that, I have the soundtrack and have listened to it a lot and the GB2 theme got stuck in my head. I won't go as far to say I like it better than the first theme, that would be silly

 

[Richard Baker]

^Eh, I don't particularly like the songs for GB2, and this new one isn't very good either. But the original song by Ray Parker Jr. was, like the original movie, lightning in a bottle. Either one is a hard act to follow.

Didn't he get sued by Huey Lewis because the theme was a direct lift from "I want a new drug" in parts?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Didn't he get sued by Huey Lewis because the theme was a direct lift from "I want a new drug" in parts?

Those new drugs aren't cheap and going to pay for themselves.

 

[Set Harth]

While I'm a longtime GB fan who's trying to keep an open mind about the movie, I have to say... this song is a terrible reimagining of the original. It just plain sucks.

Everything these days is a terrible reimagining of the original.

 

[Timby]

Didn't he get sued by Huey Lewis because the theme was a direct lift from "I want a new drug" in parts?

Yes, it was settled out of court.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

And according to Wikipedia Ray Parker Jr. then sued Huey Lewis for disclosing the details of the settlement on TV. No word on the outcome of that one lol.

 

[Morpheus 02]

There are two groups who are complaining. 1. The sexist troglodytes who don't want the Ghostbusters to be women and 2. People who are unimpressed by the trailers. These two groups are separate groups of people. The 1st group would still be unhappy even if the trailer was brilliant. The 2nd group don't care who is in the movie as long as the trailer looks good.

Could I suggest a 3rd group - those who simply want some significant respect to the past. The Flash TV show would be an excellent example of that -- while a reimagining -- they have done a great job of recalling the 90's show without it being a direct sequel. Every bit of news that was related got positive buzz, even if the actors might have been used differently.

I think most wouldn't have a problem with it being all female... but the original lent itself such that a group opening a new franchise in a city other than New York would've worked easily.. and then offer appearances, say Ernie Hudson being promoted to "VP of Franchises" or some excuse where we see him, but doesn't have to be a major part of the film.

As opposed to say Amazing Spiderman, which felt like a money grab (which it was)

I thought the idea of this movie was great, and I was appalled by how unfunny the first trailer was. (The later trailer tried to dodge the problem by including less jokes.)


I think she (turns out her name is Leslie Jones) has actually come off best in the trailers - she sells her jokes by sheer enthusiasm. I mean, that "cadillac" joke was objectively awful (and kinda racist), but she made me laugh. The rest of the cast have that fairly interchangable and ubiquitous white girl snark.

I mentioned before... Leslie Jones seems to play the same character in all of her SNL skits...so that has e worried... but if they realy show that she adds value to the team (i.e. her knowledge of the city), that can help.

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Bit like Extreme Ghostbusters.

That just sounds like they used a previous Fall Out Boy song and just put in Ray Parker's lyrics... Missy Elliot's rap wasn't too bad

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oops forgot to quote the trailer discussion... yeah, a good one can get people excited about a movie (i.e. The Force Awakaens)... Me, so -so. but for my 11 year old daughter... she's all in for this movie. So i think it works for a new generation that didn't watch the original multiple times... but not us Old Folks

 

[Kemaiku]

So, the new advert on UK TV last night used the classic theme, but they're actually using a butchered remix for the movie itself? yeah that...makes sense

 

[Tosk]

So, the new advert on UK TV last night used the classic theme, but they're actually using a butchered remix for the movie itself? yeah that...makes sense

The original version is on the soundtrack, so there's every chance it's used in the film itself.

 

[Timby]

Ghostbusters--as the culture understands it--was not a "slow burn payoff" type of humor in film

"Culture" aside, Ghostbusters is absolutely a textbook example of a slow-burn payoff. A giant marshmallow man tear-assing through Manhattan doesn't work if the movie doesn't spend 80 minutes building up to it, and when that joke comes, it's hilarious.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

So, the new advert on UK TV last night used the classic theme, but they're actually using a butchered remix for the movie itself? yeah that...makes sense

Well, this is the movie that goes out of its way in multiple trailers to reference an original that never actually happened in their continuity as if it actually were in that continuity...

However good or bad the film turns out to be, I can't say that I'm even remotely impressed with the decisions of their marketing people.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Was perusing the toy aisles and saw the new Ghostbusters figures were hit pretty hard. Don't know if that's because they're new and possibly hard-to-get at the moment or a sign of interest in the new take.