Poll: Will You Go See the ‘Ghostbusters’ Reboot?

Ever since the project was first announced, the all-female reboot of ‘Ghostbusters’ was met with great skepticism from fans of the original movie. When the first trailer was revealed earlier this year, it quickly became the most hated video in the history of YouTube. Now that the movie’s just a couple weeks away from being released and more trailers and TV ads have bombarded the media, how are you feeling about it? Do you plan to see it?

Of course, a lot (perhaps most?) of the hatred for the trailer is just pure, unadulterated sexism. The comments on the YouTube page are an utter horrorshow of the worst of humanity. Some of the tamer examples include:

“Women Ghostbusters?! What a waste of a good franchise.”

“They are all jokes for females. They make no sense to male movie goers.”

“Screw the feminists. Movies’ not gonna be a hot unless you got the original male characters.”

“A lot of the people liking the trailer are feminsts and feminazis liking it only because there are women in it.”

“If they’re going to give the franchise a sex change they should’ve named it “Bust Ghosters.” Well done Sony.”

“ALL THIS MOVIE IS AN ATTACK ON MAN AND MASCULINITY WE SHOULD DO THE SAME WITH THIS LIKE THE BILLBOARD OF XMEN APOCALYPSE THEY SHOULD BAN THIS OUTRAGEOUS MAN-PHOBIA DEMONSTRATION!!!”

Personally, I don’t have a problem with the casting. These are all funny women. Nor do I have a problem with the fact that the movie is a reboot rather than a direct ‘Ghostbusters 3’ sequel with the original cast (or what’s left of them). I think ‘Ghostbusters II’ proved pretty conclusively that bringing back the original cast and crew isn’t a guarantee of quality or success, and all of the ideas that Dan Aykroyd has pitched over the years for a third ‘Ghostbusters’ movie have sounded downright terrible.

What’s more problematic for me is that the trailers to date have all looked like a beat-for-beat remake of the original film with the same plot and most of the same jokes. It just doesn’t look very funny.

On the other hand, I like Paul Feig as a director and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He and Melissa McCarthy have made three very funny movies together. Their last, ‘Spy’, was really hilarious and proved that Feig can rise to the challenge of making a big action comedy. I want to believe that perhaps this one has just suffered some bad trailers that don’t sell it well. (The early trailers for ‘Spy’ were likewise pretty awful.)

For the time being, I’m trying to be cautiously optimistic for the film, but if the reviews are overly negative I’ll probably skip it in theaters and wait for it to show up on cable.

Will You Go See the 'Ghostbusters' Reboot?

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31 comments

  1. Chris B

    I’m mostly worried about the tone presented in the trailers. It seems like they’re making a straight-up comedy and nothing else. The first Ghostbusters was funny but you still felt like the fate of New York hung in the balance and there was actual tension. I hope we get at least some of that in the reboot as well as jokes.

    Ad for people being outraged they’re all women? I don’t really care at all just make a good movie and I’ll be happy.

    I have to say I disagree with the dig at Ghostbusters 2, I thought it was a great sequel and just as much fun as the original. And I’m not sure all of Akroyd’s ideas were terrible for the third installment. The pitch about an evil bizarro New York City populated by demons and ghosts actually sounded pretty cool.

    • Josh Zyber
      Author

      I get the complaint about tone, but, again, these are just trailers. The studio’s going to try to sell the movie the easiest way it knows how, which is to play up the comedy aspect. IMO, Feig did a great job in Spy balancing the comedy with plot and action. I want to believe he’ll do the same with this.

      Maybe the movie will suck. I don’t know. I’m just not ready to jump to that conclusion yet.

      • Chris B

        Yeah I hear ya, and for the record I haven’t condemned either, Hopefully it will turn out really good, I’ll wait for the reviews.

        • plissken99

          I agree with the heart of the article, all of these women are funny, I have zero problems with the cast. However when the 1st trailer dropped my reaction was “wow.. That just looks bad.. R.I.P.D bad.”

          It wouldn’t be the 1st time advertising has completely hosed a good or even great film. I’ll reserve judgment until I see it, at home.

          • I agree. Everyone involved should be capable of making a funny movie. I also think it’s a good idea to switch to a female cast. But, the trailers have really not done anything to make me think it will be a good movie.

            I’ll probably buy the blu-ray, but unless the reviews are really good, I don’t expect to get it until it’s on sale.

            I hope I’m wrong, though.

  2. Clark

    Maybe I’m the only person in the world (or at least in the internet) that doesn’t care about the original Ghostbusters. It just didn’t catch my attention or made me laugh. Maybe that’s why I think this remake was a good idea, even better when you consider Paul Feig is directing it. I’m kinda tired of sequels, prequels, reboots and franchises that just won’t die, that’s why I’m not really excited, but “I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt” seems like a perfect description of my feelings.

  3. cardpetree

    I don’t have high hopes but I go see all the Summer Blockbusters. This one is on the list. Hopefully it’s at least fun. That’s really all I need on a Friday or Saturday summer night.

  4. Csm101

    I’m totally excited for this. I still don’t get all the hatred surrounding it and it looks like it will have great wit and good action. Some of the ghosts look really cool IMO. As far as the woman thing goes, I think it would of been more difficult to cast male actors that would stack up to the originals. The fans would’ve bitched about that instead. I like the ladies cast in this and this is probably the last summer blockbuster of the season that I’m really stoked about.

  5. Ryan

    I don’t get as much time to go out to the movies as I did before having a kid….there’s no way I’d use up a night out for this movie.

  6. NJScorpio

    IMO, the best part of the original ‘Ghostbusters’ was the interaction between Billy Murray and Sigourney Weaver. The ghost busting aspect was fun and novel, but I don’t believe that is what has kept it rewatchable after all these years. A remake is missing the mark, but could be an enjoyable romp. I expect it to be a very good comedy when held in comparison to it’s contemporaries.

  7. HuskerGuy

    My ticket is purchased, but only because a friend wanted to have birthday drinks and a movie with a bunch of people. Had it not been for her birthday, I most likely wouldn’t watch this in the theaters unless it received some very good word of mouth. The trailers just scream “terrible” to me.

    • In the “haters” defense, it’s been a very small percentage that have been complaining about the fact that it’s four women. Most of the complaints are due to the fact that it’s THESE four women (originally, there was talk that involved Emma Stone, Tina Fey and others…and most were VERY excited about that casting). There’s also a backlash against the director, who most see as someone who had done dumb, raunchy comedies – which, to most, doesn’t fit what GHOSTBUSTERS is (smart humor, not slapstick humor).

  8. Michael

    I hated the trailer. It actually offended me.

    Chris Hemsworth was made to look like an idiot (so much for the noble Thor). When one actress goes to stage dive she hits the floor when no one catches her and says “Either that was a black thing or a woman thing…either way, I’m pissed!” So everyone is either a racist or a misogynist?

    ENOUGH with the one sided racist jokes! I’m sick of the dividing agenda of Hollywood and the White House!

    As for McCarthy, her crass humor does nothing for me.

    Hollywood needs to invent NEW IDEAS and stop remaking everything!

    • ‘Chris Hemsworth was made to look like an idiot (so much for the noble Thor)’.

      It’s called acting. And I’d say, good for him that he can play a non-Thor role. No actor likes typecasting.

      • Michael

        It’s called a lousy role that won’t help his career. I don’t need you to tell me what acting is.

        Would you put Clint Eastwood in a Martin Short role?

        This movie is going to be a dog turd. Calling it here first.

  9. Patrick

    The trailers definitely haven’t been great and the fall out boy/missy elliot theme is a clusterf**k, but it’s important to keep in mind the talent involved. Paul Feig is on a hell of a roll lately and all the actors/comedians involved are great. This could just be a case of a garbage marketing campaign.

    But again, I would never argue that what we’ve seen up to this point has been good…because it certainly hasn’t.

    • Considering the original ‘Ghostbusters’ song is a rip-off of a Huey Lewis tune, it’s hard to complain about the new version…although I agree it’s not very catchy. 🙂

  10. I don’t care that the cast is all female either. My biggest concern is that I’ve seen three trailers to this point and haven’t laughed once.

    I’ll probably see this – if for no other reason that to participate in the conversation about it with context. However, if reviews are poor, I’m not going to give Sony the satisfaction by adding to their opening weekend take.

    I DO think this movie is going to open big – probably in the 75 million-plus range. But I also think it’s going to have a huge dropoff…it certainly doesn’t look like something that’s going to do repeat business.

  11. Bolo

    I have no plans on seeing this ‘Ghostbusters’ remake. The trailers look like rubbish. Paul Feig doesn’t have the cred with me that he seems to have with the rest of you (probably because I don’t like the whole Apatow crew). Prettymuch the only thing this movie has going for it is that I like Kristen Wiig, and that’s not enough.

    I think this movie will do well commercially, and the media is behind it so they’ll frame it as a huge success even if it’s only marginally profitable.

  12. William Henley

    I was one who was willing to give it a chance, then the trailers came out. It looks awful. Not sure if I will see this one at theaters. That said, it will probably do well with a much younger crowd, those who did not grow up with the franchise. This will probably do well with those under the age of 15,

  13. The effects look top-notch, as they should for something produced in 2016. This seems to be what most Lemmings like, great effects = great movie, regardless of the script.
    I am sort of on the fence for this one but will most likely blind buy it on Blu Ray/UHD combo pack. I am not opposed to the idea of reversing the sexes.

  14. photogdave

    I saw the original Ghostbusters on my 11th birthday with all my friends — best birthday since going to Jedi the year before!
    I’ve admired Paul Feig since Freaks and Geeks and will give the remake the benefit of the doubt for his sake, and Kristen and Kate’s…but that’s about it. Not a McCarthy fan and I’ve never found Leslie Jones to be funny. She just seems to yell a lot.

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