Ghostbusters III

I'm going to be honest here, and say I have been pretty neutral on the whole GB remake storm on the internet. I saw the trailer, snickered a bit at one or two jokes and thought nothing much else of it. So going into this edit I didn't have much to go on, since I never even saw the theatrical release, but with all of that said I really found a great deal of enjoyment here! A good sense of pacing and flow is to be found, no noticeable cuts at all to things like improv gags or even axing Bill Murray's cameo. Changes to the music were of course good choices and had a clean execution to them, adding a sense that we are watching a new GB movie with a fun atmosphere about it. Using the extended cut was a smart move, in adding a bit more to character like the added scene between Erin and Abby at the university. Are there still problems that exist with the script/story? Most likely, but there's only so much you can do with the tools at your disposal. Is there anything cringe worthy left in this cut? One or two small things, like Abby/Erin's dancing ghost presentation (but again not a deal breaker). This, IMO is a very suitable replacement for anyone who felt the original cut was a slap in the face, or heck even if you liked the theatrical version. Definitely recommended!

I was very happy with this edit. The pacing has been greatly improved. I noticed a couple of edits that were jarring to me. However, it didn't detract me from my overall enjoyment. I actually didn't mind the original film and even got some enjoyment out of the extended edition. However, this version is far superior to the studio cuts.

Taking the moronic controversy out of the equation, I was not a fan of 2016's Ghostbusters. I hated it, if I'm being honest. Its humor, its characters, its story, its visuals, none of it really worked for me and it angered me something fierce. But as time went by, I felt like maybe I was a bit too harsh on it. Out of curiosity, I decided to check this edit out and, much to my shock, I quite liked it. Almost every change made is for the absolute better. Not only does removing a large majority of the improv, pop culture references, and filler it keep the story focused and have it flow much more naturally and move at a much smoother, less bumpy pace but it also allows the humor to come from the characters, much like the original Ghostbusters films. The characters, especially Erin and Abby, are also more likable and compelling with the improv and out-of-character lines and scenarios -- i.e. especially the dreadful Bill Murray subplot -- being cut out. Even Rowan, as a villain, works much better here, as the changes and edits made allow Paul Feig and Katie Dippold's deconstruction of toxic masculinity to actually have a chance to shine. This is such a significant improvement upon the original cuts it's not even funny. If you want to see a better-realized version of this take on the property, I say give this a watch.

I didn't hate this movie when it was in theaters but I did have a lot of problems with it. One of the main unchangeable things about it is the weak villain. Just not enough to him, kind of boring. I also hate how under-utilized Kate Mckinnon was. She needs to be given characters with more range, she could do so much.

Some jokes I liked by the tour guide were cut, but making him more purposeful and tonally consistent was a necessary trade-off and makes the set-up more grounded.

The editing is wonderful, love the stream-lining of jokes and scenes in general. It just makes it feel like you're watching a movie again instead of waiting through !COMEDY! to get to story again. It took something I enjoyed already and made it into an actual movie.

I don't like that the big fight between the leads was kept. I didn't like it in the movie and I don't feel like it needed to be addressed in this cut either (even though I am thankful that it's been cut down). The added in deleted scene of them hashing things out in the courtyard feels very stagey for the purpose of emotional exposition. Them putting such on-the-nose clear words to all the themes and problems of the movie just takes me right out of the story. It doesn't help that the noise floor is audibly much louder than surrounding scenes.

I think it works to have them be at odds interpersonally and then things just get better. Without the confrontation, it never really feels that intense of a feud anyway (especially in this edit). They get a little pissed and then they help each other out and are good again. It's like most friendships in real life and makes sense with the lightness of the first Ghostbusters which also didn't really have high emotional stakes. It's not that I don't care that there's this gaping hole, I really don't feel the relationship's arc needs anything explicit to be effective and understood. It's a very simple arc.

Overall, really liked it. Most definitely replaced the original for me and makes for a good narrative comedy instead of an improv fest. Great job.