User reviews

Watched this film today and spent the whole time trying to articulate what was wrong with it to myself. Basically I didn't hate it and I didn't love it. It was competently made, good effects, some comedic moments and good set pieces. But it just didn't feel like something derived from a SNL skit. The joy of ghostbusters was that it was free wheeeling, that it was anarchic. That, similar to the Blues Brothers, somebody had allowed a bunch of slackers to spend millions on making a movie which to coin Bill Murray from Meatballs "just didn't matter". Afterlife was touching and sweet, looking back at that time with a smile and a wink. This however, was just a generic family action movie, using the brand name of the ghostbusters. It left me indifferent.

I saw this film twice because I wanted to see it with my Ghostbusters fan friend and see if this film got better with my second viewing. I seriously wanted to love this movie. The TV spots and trailers looked awesome. This had to be the best Ghostbusters sequel yet! Nope. In fact, this might be the worst.

There's a great Ghostbusters film in this movie. There really is but studio meddling hurt the film. My first time viewing it, I walked out of the film feeling like I just got out of work. Throughout most of the film I struggled to care about anything going on and I was drained. When the actual Ghostbusters show up, I perked up a little bit. However, I should be loving this. All that stuff at the library should have been beyond exciting but not even that.

Then when I saw it again, I figured out the exact moment when I stopped caring and I struggled to get that same investment I had in the film up to this point. That scene is when Phoebe and Podcast and go into that diner for a ghost call and Phoebes ghost girlfriend is sitting at one of the tables. It was that moment and that moment on where my investment in the film cratered and I tried desperately to get back into the film.

These two characters are nothing but a vacuum that sucks the fun and investment of the film into a netherworld that you will never get back. Their scenes mainly consist of "Hey hey sure whatever" and I'm left shouting "what is the point? Move forward! Stop wasting time." And apparently, the studio told the filmmakers they had to cut 20 minutes of this movie two weeks before it premiered. Why werent these scenes cut down?

So many characters and scenes could have gotten the axe with the plethora of characters flooding this film to the point where they move the brother to Slimer duties that had no real purpose in the film. Sunny and Podcast return and add nothing. They should have eliminated them and gave the scenes from Podcast to the brother.

But theres lots to like too. Dan Ackroyd is at his best here and I'm glad Winston and Murray return too. They have a couple cool new ghosts like Pukey and Possessor that were great additions and say what you want about the new villain, but at least finally the Ghostbusters face a new villain.

I'm hoping for a directors cut because there is a lot to like in a movie that is dragged down by an extremely boring subplot that gives you Rings of Power vibes in a potentially great Ghostbusters film.

This film is okay. It's not nearly as good as Ghostbusters Afterlife but it's about what you would expect from a follow up. The new ghosts and elements added to the lore are very cool and some of the visuals are very nice. Some of the jokes are very funny and some aren't. The cast is pretty good here but nothing exceptional performance wise. The action scenes are ok but the final battle is pretty short and a little anti climactic. The original crew is just there to be there with the exception of Dan Aykroyd, who actually has quite a bit of screen time. If you're a Ghostbusters fan you'll probably have a good time with it but don't expect to be blown away.

As i recall this is the 5th overall ghostbusters film since the 1984 first entry and still hollywood can not bring back the magic the first film had 40 years ago.

The first film had everything needed. The sci fi and fantasy factor the comedy element a great cast and above all a superb 80s epic soundtrack. The title ghostbusters song by ray parker junior is legendairy and still fresh after 40 long years. Even air supply performed a great ballad called "i can wait forever" a 6 minutes epic song which could be released as a single back then and score the charts.

We don't get songs like these anymore. This new entry in the franchise tried to bring back some magic of the old but not much succeeded to do.

The original cast was back but for a little time and they are getting old.

The music is indefferent and the good scenes are redused in the last half an hour of the film.

How i wish we could get the old days back. Sadly nothing will match the original 1984 ghostbusters film. These were the days .....

They could have done so much more with this movie, unfortunately the storyline was only wafer thin, the cast were not used to to produce the same performance that they did in Afterlife and the plot holes were gaping.

If they had only made the connection with Afterlife and built upon the story from the start of the movie, then started introducing the new characters and a more convincing plot, they definitely could have made it better.

I certainly wouldn't rush to watch it again, the special effects were good, some of the comedy value was entertaining, some was just plain silly.

I scored it: 6/10.

Another empty addition to the franchise that adds nothing. I assume the original cast needed the money, because there was on other reason to be part of this dreck.

The action is boring, the story is boring, the dialog is boring.

An evil god is released by an irresponsible child, but all is forgiven, because that's what family does. The saviour of mankind becomes amazing after 5 minutes of practice.

The evil dude is not even seen for 99% of the movie, and is easily dispatched when he finally turns up. Thanks to a bonding moment. Go you all American family!

Just stick to the original. It's still a fun movie to watch. Everything after is not.

Really bad characters with no substance and a sadly terrible movie. Turning McKenna Grace into some sort of boring Harry Potter character was a big mistake and the plot is full of the usual unbelievable Mary Sue tropes.

It's strange to me how it seems impossible for Hollywood to turn out a decent movie recently. Constant reshashing of old stories or franchises, with the inevitable eye-rolling tropes being added to make it more pc just smacks of desperation.

I could possibly understand the misguided attempts at girl-bossing every movie if it meant interesting plots, good acting, and clever writing, but fails so hard. Whatever happen to story-telling and good complex well-cast characters who are cast for their acting talent rather than immutable characteristics?

Huge fan of the first few original movies. They were good and didn't try too hard. Focused on the main characters and the ghosts even had something enjoyable about them.

But it seems these days Ghostbusters has fallen victim of trying too hard and making a connection with everybody by introducing all these extra characters with their own backstory. The ghosts just become a pawn piece and aren't really the focal point. So much promise in the first half hour, but then more new characters, more side stories, lots of one liners, and then...a quick wrap up and credits roll. Snore. Don't waste your $

Major Ghostbusters fan here, and so sad to say the movie is a monstrosity. Characters are totally flat, acting is so-so (to say the best) but worst of all is the script. The story makes absolute no sense at all, full of plot holes. I know it's not a Nolan movie where everything is perfectly tied up, but here everything is resolved with finding a new character every time. Slapstick comedy is beyond awful, and the saddest part of all is the lost opportunity of making a good film, with the original cast.

Afterlife despite not being the best movie at least had an emotional side, but this time the movie has, in my opinion, nothing appealing. I honestly struggle to understand people giving it a score higher than 5.

If you want to hate this movie, or nit pick everything, you can. I am a big Ghostbusters fan, but my family are casual fans and we all loved Frozen Empire. It's fun, funny, at times scary and just a joy to watch. It's great seeing their world expanded. You get so much more lore, and new stuff added that would fit right along with themes from Real Ghostbusters. I can't even really fathom why this is getting negative reactions. I guess post COVID movies aren't supposed to be fun and take the audience on a ride anymore. There's a lot to love here, die hard or casual fans, and it's worth your money to see it on the big screen. A worthy sequel and I hope we get more.

I really wanted to like it because I walked out of Ghostbusters: Afterlife surprisingly pleased, but this one was just a mess at best. I don't think the direction they try to take for the characters from Afterlife makes the most logical sense. There is also too many new characters alongside the ones introduced in Afterlife as well as the OG's like Ray and such. Too many characters to juggle so the ball gets dropped on all of them. Also, I know Afterlife gets some flack for references and Easter egg like fan service, sometimes called "nostalgia bait" I actually thought the way that film handled that stuff wasn't just empty nostalgia bait, I think there is a difference between that and fan service that isn't empty, that works in a story that is actually good. This film ironically IS an example of something that actually does have empty nostalgia bait in a story that feels like it doesn't know what it's suppose to be about. Is it the worst movie ever? No, but I think we also deserved way better. If you ask me, I think Ghostbusters: Afterlife should have been the last one. If there isn't a great script there, then let's just let the series rest.

It's a big-budget blockbuster with an extensive all-star cast of both legends and rising stars, a menacing other-worldly threat, and it leverages an iconic intellectual property that brings nostalgia to an audience who grew up watching cartoons that bordered on marketing brainwashing, so hypothetically 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' has all of the elements for a great movie. Unfortunately it just isn't one.

It's not awful, but it's definitely not 'great'. The cast is bloated, so it feels like a series of SNL sketches cut together. The main plot thread, Phoebe, is probably the least interesting character they could have chosen for the lead plot line. The handling of her character was heavy-handed and pandering. Yes there were sex jokes in the old movies, but Bill Murray's romance stories in the originals were one of their least interesting aspects, and apparently my distaste for romance stories in Ghostbusters movies has not changed.

The effects, sound, music, cinematography and general production value are of high quality. The acting is across the board because there're a zillion actors.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' snatches defeat from the jaws of victory in an effort to appeal to modern audiences, leading to a forgettable middle entry to what is likely a string of movies that are already declining in quality at a predictable rate.

I really enjoyed the previous one and even mentioned in my review of it that it was a great way to transition the franchise in a new and fresh direction so I was pretty hopeful about this one. And while it is a pretty decent movie and fairly entertaining, it feels like a big step back in the wrong direction from Ghostbusters: Afterlife. As many critics have mentioned, the core issue is that they tried to cram too many elements and characters in one movie, and the result is inconsistent pacing, little to no character development, and great actors struggling to do what they usually do best. All in all enjoyable, but also totally skippable.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire cements that this franchise has forgotten to be a comedy which is ironic considering this is the one to feature James Acaster in a fairly substantial role. However, this is the closest these have ever come to being horror and like Afterlife, it remains a lot of fun as an Amblin throwback.

The biggest issue is there's just too many characters in this one. Everyone is good, even Bill Murray obviously phoning it in. Its just doesn't succeed in the attempt to balance returning characters, the originals and some new faces, resulting in Finn Wolfhard, Celeste O'Connor and Logan Kim getting left by the wayside.

Out of those who do get enough, Mckenna Grace remains a great lead and her growing relationship with Paul Rudd is the heart of this one. Kumail Nanjiani is by far the best new addition and the main source of humour here. Dan Aykroyd clearly loves returning to this character and the enthusiasm he brings is infectious.

Gil Kenan's direction starts off strong with a tense opening and then adds another good car chase to this franchise. His greatest strengths lie in the darker moments with the solid atmosphere and a surprising amount of suspense for a family friendly blockbuster. Also, this generally looks nice with CG and practical effects that go further than the actual budget.

So bummed because I was looking forward to this, but I should've known better after the last movie. The only good thing about this one was the appearance of the original cast, the firemaster, and the return of the original soundtrack. There were a handful of laugh-out-loud jokes, and some of the ghosts were funny, otherwise the humor fell flat.

This franchise has become a lame made-for-tv kids' show. Phoebe is an awful character and extremely annoying. She proved time and again that she wasn't mature enough to be a Ghostbuster like they said in the beginning. The other characters didn't interact with the kids, making it clear they're just there to fill the void.

It is a very good film. There are some nice action sequences and lots of humor.

The slow parts in the movie happen when Murray is on screen. Frozen Empire goes out of the way to set him up for one liners that seem intended just to make the trailers. His jokes are forced and didn't add to its enjoyment. The new cast is great, Aykroyd is great also.

From the trailer you'd expect it to have more horror elements. While the big bad is very good, it's not as evil as it it could've been, which would've made the film even better.

Fans will dig the film, casual moviegoers will enjoy it too, but if there's another one they are OK to ghost the classic members of the team.

I enjoyed Frozen Empire, it was especially fun to see so many actors reprising their characters from the very first Ghostbusters movie.

As others have said Phoebe carried the film, and that's not a bad thing. My only complaint is it Bill Murray really seemed to be phoning in his role.

There was a lot of connections to the first Ghostbusters movie and though some people didn't like it I found the plot rather imaginative.

Even though I actually liked Afterlife a little better, this was a fine addition to the Ghostbusters franchise.

Even though the critics didn't like it I think it will be popular enough to merit a continuation of the franchise, I for one will be a returning viewer.

When Ghostbusters: Afterlife came out I was surprised how much I liked it. I really like the 1984 original and the sequel was pretty good. The reboot in 2016 was ok but I thought the franchise was dead. Afterlife revived the franchise. It was a great mix of new characters and had enough well placed nostalgia. Frozen Empire is unfocused and relies way to much on nostalgia that just dies land as well and seems more desperate and is all over the place.

The story is set in New York with the Spengler family living and ghostbusting there. The cast from Afterlife is back. The focus again is on Phoebe played by Mckenna Grace which is good because she is the best a part of the film. The problem here is that the other characters are almost there just to appear. Paul Rudd is the biggest star here but really dies nothing other than have a couple of decent funny lines. But the rest of the family is just barely there. The nostalgia feels so racked on. Yes, three of the original cast members and a coupme if supporting characters are back but it all feels forced. Where Afterlife earned it's nostalgic moments. This film has them and it feels forced.

There are sone funny moments and sone good special effects and it's not bad but it just feels that they wanted to stuff the film with so much that it is a total mess....

Grade: C.

I personally believe the original Ghostbusters is the greatest comedy of all time. True lightning in a bottle that was due to a number of factors, with the main ones being the chemistry between the cast, the setting, the innovative special effects, and the wonderfully wry screenplay that tied it all together.

Afterlife was an okay attempt to bring the series into the modern age, however it fell into the "soft reboot" trap of excessive fan service and heavily rehashing the story of the first film to the detriment of its own identity in the franchise.

Frozen Empire gives fans something more along the lines of what they really wanted from a long-belated sequel: new ghosts, new gadgets, lots of Dan Aykroyd and improved integration of the rest of the OG cast with some genuinely fun Murray moments.

The setting is back in NYC as it should be (albeit CGI faked for the most part), which was sorely missing from the previous attempt. As a result, it feels much more like a proper Ghostbusters film this time around.

However, it is messy and overstuffed with pointless/cringe characters, leaving the screenplay to desperately justify their presence to a ridiculous degree toward the end. There's questionable story logic (especially concerning why some characters from Afterlife are present in NYC), and your mileage may vary when it comes to the teen/family drama. Then, the villain is rushed and everything wraps up too quickly... not to mention the over reliance on CG... but in spite of all these gripes I was less offended overall than expected.

If you're not a fan of the franchise, Frozen Empire won't win you over, but if you are, there's a lot to like here, in particular the mostly respectful treatment of the legacy characters. It certainly could have been far worse... and yes, we've seen far worse in recent times.

If they can keep the original cast coming back, I'd be happy to watch another one of these.