5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.1 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Following a ghost invasion of Manhattan, paranormal enthusiasts Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann, and subway worker Patty Tolan band together to stop the otherworldly threat.
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Chris HemsworthAction | 100% |
Fantasy | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 85% |
Comedy | 54% |
Supernatural | 17% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
There's a popular YouTube channel called "Honest Trailers" that cuts its own movie trailers, provides its own voiceovers, and, rather than make a
movie seem all flashy and cool and put it in the minds of audiences that it's something that they just have to see, tells the real story (as
they
see it) and provides a more realistic evaluation of the movie in question. It's pretty funny stuff, because most trailers aren't "honest."
They
sell a bill of goods that, more often than not, it seems, show all the best clips or that carefully edit a condensed version of a movie for maximum
"wow" factor. Trailers are one of the most critical marketing tools for studios and probably the most enjoyed by movie fans, because if nothing else
and even through the spin
they offer a real glimpse, or "preview," of an unreleased movie. So it was with great
anticipation that Sony released the trailer for the Ghostbusters reboot. And... Flop. Crash.
Thud.
The trailer
wasn't a hit,
to say the least. It was met with disdain, igniting the Internet into a frenzy the likes of which it hadn't really seen before in
response to a simple movie trailer. For its factually incorrect information ("four scientists..."), cringe-worthy gags, and eye-rolling dialogue, its
reception was harsh at best and cruel at worst. Arguments exploded all over the Internet, with some claiming sexism as the root of the negative
reaction and
others
citing the general poor performance of the movie depicted therein. The trailer became the most disliked in YouTube history. A prominent conservative voice was banned
from Twitter after a feud with Ghostbusters Star Leslie Jones caused her to quit the service. Forums exploded. Emotions ran hot. If
nothing else, the trailer got the word out in a way few ever have. All publicity is
good publicity. Then the movie hit theaters. In a reversal of the (anecdotal) norm, critical reception was, generally, fair, while audience
reaction was,
generally, a bit more negative. Opinions remained divided, perhaps not running quite so hot as before, but the base critiques of the film, and its
detractors, remained. Turns out, though, that Ghostbusters' trailer was pretty honest on its own. The movie doesn't work as a standalone
entertainer or
as a reboot of the 30-year-old franchise. It's by-and-large a disappointment, finding a few moments of charm, dramatic intrigue, and enjoyable
special
effects-laden action scattered amongst a script and execution that
tries too hard and flops when it should fly, scuffles when it should star, drags when it should dazzle, suffocates when it should satisfy.
Ready for action.
What a contrast between this Ghostbusters and the original. That older film's multiple Blu-ray releases (and its first in particular) ran afoul of some controversy for grain structure and density, but there's no such issue with this release. It's been digitally photographed and appears very smooth, a little noisy in places but manageable for those who prefer a cleaner look to films. However, the presentation isn't without some warts. Colors push extraordinarily hot. Flesh tones range from warm to burning, usually finding some middle ground favoring the less drastic side of the scale, but the entire palette appears overcooked and oversaturated, right to the fringes of excess. Faces often appear pasty and unnaturally smooth; very fine, intimate detail can be hard to come by, at least early on. Things seem to tighten up as the movie wears on. Whether the color saturation becomes less punchy or the eyes simply adjust to it, the image seems at least mildly more balanced and capable of better revealing many of the amazing textures seen throughout the film. Skin details become more prominent; the official Ghostbuster uniforms present all their tangible textures with striking, tactile ease; and various cityscape shots are clear and focused. Some of the best detail comes by way of the Ghostbuster equipment where exposed wires, conductors, motherboards, whatevers are a veritable playground of textural sharpness and a real treat for the eyes (not to mention a win for the production design team). Black levels are handsomely deep and true, even in nighttime exteriors and contrasting with many of the brighter ghost effects playing out in front. Aliasing is a mild concern; overhead city shots struggle with the problem, as do window blinds seen from outside the mansion relatively early in the movie. Despite some issues with small technical shortcomings as well as some questionable stylistic choices, the transfer, overall, satisfies far more often than not.
The bad news is that Sony has once again decided to favor the "premium" status of its UHD line at the expense of its bread-and-butter 1080p Blu-ray audience by refusing to bring over the enhanced Atmos soundtrack from the pricier release. It would be nice if Sony could go even that half-extra mile and bump up to 7.1, but alas. The good news is that the included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is still fantastic. Ghostbusters is a movie that depends upon sound design from top to bottom, from small creaks and moans to the most explosive, bass-happy, full-spread sonic mayhem. The track never really disappoints. Even limited to the standard 5.1 channel layout, there are no discernible gaps in coverage. Music is wide and rich, effortlessly saturating the stage with score and energetic popular music alike. There are plenty of fantastic zip and zap effects that expertly ride through the stage like a roller coaster as the team tests out some of its big guns in a back alley. Information flies through the stage with precision effect and dynamic clarity. Bass is thunderous, particularly during the big extended battle at the end. The low end is not only deep and strong, but very complimentary. There's a momentum to it, like the proverbial snowball that grows as it rolls downhill. The track never seems to tire or relent, always pushing as hard as it can while still maintaining an excellence of clarity and balance. Each key effect plays with its own unique signature, and no matter how frenzied the track may become, all the different pieces never become jumbled together or, worse, drowned out by the most impressive bass lines. Lighter atmospherics richly define low key scenes and fill in basic background ambience with ease. Dialogue is accurate, well prioritized and naturally positioned in the front-center. Even without the extra layers of a 7.1 or Atmos/X track, this is a very, very good listen that serves the movie well.
Ghostbusters contains two commentaries, deleted and extended scenes, and some featurettes. Two cuts of the film are included: Theatrical
(1:56:34) and Extended (2:13:44). A UV digital copy code is included with
purchase. Note that the digital copy voucher makes mention of "over an hour of additional extended and alternate scenes" but did not appear to be
available at
time of publication. This review will be updated when and if they appear online. One new digital-only
supplement was available. Rowan's
Manifesto (0:47) is a video message explaining Rowan's decision to unleash the ghosts on the Earth.
Ghostbusters flashes potential. The cast is by-and-large enjoyable but suffers under the burden of empty writing and a lack of identity for the film. The action isn't bad, neither are the visual effects, and both come together in a splendidly realized climax. When the movie is on, it makes for an enjoyable modern spin on the franchise. The problem is that it there's about 80 minutes worth of unfunny dialogue and crudely paced construction to wade through to get there. Sony's Blu-ray release of Ghostbusters contains a healthy allotment of bonus content. Video is very good, just not great. Audio is excellent, but the studio's refusal to put the best soundtrack available on every release is disappointing, especially when competing studios are doing just that. Fans of the movie, who can't play back the UHD and don't want a 3D copy, can buy this release with confidence. Newcomers should rent before committing to a purchase.
Extended Edition | Project Pop Art
2016
Extended Edition
2016
2016
Extended Edition | with a Pair of Socks
2016
Extended Edition with Bonus Disc
2016
Extended Edition
2016
2016
2017
Cinematic Universe Edition
2012
2018
2017
2015
2011
Collector's Edition
2020
2013
30th Anniversary Edition | Mastered in 4K
1984
2004
2019
w/ Raphael Statue
2014
Extended and Theatrical versions
2011
2019
1978
1983
2016
1989
1980