RELEASE THREAD: Return of the Ghostbusters

Wow, it's Daft! I haven't seen you around in forever!

Must say something about this movie if it's good enough to make Daft come out of his hole!

 

Thank you, Daft. A lot of things have come out of this so far, but there's a lot more in the works. Stay tuned...

 

This thread needs bumping.

This is a quality film. More people should watch it. It's great. Why?

Well, it's a high-quality movie. It's not a "fan film". Sure, it's a film made by fans for fans, but it "feels" like a movie. It doesn't have a cheap, homemade quality to it. Sometimes it works for a fan film to feel homemade. It worked for FvGB, I think. But ROTG brings it up to a new level. The production value is amazing. Everything about this movie feels authentic, from costumes and props, to acting and locations, to effects and music.

I can't really sum up my feelings of this movie, but I'll try. I think that I personally enjoyed FvGB more than this one, but this one is so admirable. And it does have its fair share of funny moments and awesome special effects. Overall, it's a very solid movie in which anyone who participated in making it should be very proud of.

Watch this movie, people. This is how it's done.

By the way, that dragon ghost thing was really, really cool. Great design, and it looked quite realistic in most shots.

 

I agree, the dragon ghost thing was really cool. However, I personally thought that Ahmet, the Eater of the Dead was cooler.

Hmmm...I think this thread needs some pics to grab people's attention. I'll have to see if I can grab a few good frames & post them on imageshack or something.

 

Ok, so here are a few pics (I took these pics from the DIVX version of the movie):

[image=http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/7880/ahmetzs7.png]


[image=http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3008/mayanghostgz3.png]


[image=http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/5312/protonstreamil7.png]

If you want to see more pics, you can go here (though these are lower-res):
http://www.braxtanfilm.com/ghostbusters.html

If you want to a trailer for ROTGB(ie, if you want to see if it's any good before downloading an 84 minute movie), go here:
http://www.returnoftheghostbusters.com/trailers.html

 

BUMP

Ok, the pics have been added to the original post as well as the hyperlink (thanks to Adam).

Hmmm...I wonder why there haven't been more comments about the CG. I figured there would have been more interest in them, with all the CG artists around here.

I know that one guy I showed this movie to thought that some of the CG (mostly the final monster) looked a little toy-ish because it was so glossy. I personally thought it looked more slimy than plastic-y.

 

I don't understand why this film isn't the talk of the town. It's one of the very, very few fanfilms I've watched more than once.

I see the 'The Lightsaber Effects Thread' with about 7,000 responses and a thread that contains a really good quality fanfilm having to be bumped to get past 30 posts. Stoopid. Maybe you should have replaced Ed Spenglers proton pack with Count Dooku's lightsabre or something.

I read a few of the replies from the youtube trailer thread, and I was intrigued by the alarming number of the posters asking 'where's the black guy?' or 'what happened to Winston Zeddemore?'. I still can't decide whether a good percentage of those posters knew they weren't actually viewing a Ghostbusters 3 trailer...

Maybe because it came from nowhere for me (I don't look at the boards as often as I should) I wasn't expecting much/anything, so it overdelivered spectacularly from where I was sitting.

'Well that does it for stupid snake............face' :

 

I have the first copy (and the second, third, fourth, and fifth ) of the score in my car right now. Jon Vandergriff is a god.

Good work, Hank, you know the movie rocks.

 

Holy Crap! it's Nutley!!

well, if he enjoys it, i better download and watch it!

anyway,

Nick "Shorty" Long

 

Yeah, I enjoyed that one as well. I even put it in my sig, along with a bunch of other quotes from the movie (would have included more, but I ran out of space).

Oh, and I know what you mean when you say it's the only fan film you've watched more than once. Me personally, I usually do watch good fan films more than once, but it's usually one view every couple of years or so. I watch it once the first time, it's pretty good, then I watch it again two or three years later, and it's alright, but nothing exciting.

However, with ROTGB, I've already watched it four times since it's release. Probably will watch it at least one more time again soon.

Someone oughta bribe Ryan W to watch it & give his approval (whether he likes it or not ...nah, JK..or am I? ). Then people might start taking interest.

Oh, and about all the "where's the black guy" comments, most of them seem to be from people thinking that the trailer is for a fan-made GB3 (or perhaps a real one). However, there's at least one guy on there right now that knows it's a fan film with new GB characters (thus explaining why no Winston), but he seems to think that because there is not a prominent black character that it's some kind of racist conspiracy. He even had the gall to tell me I was lying when I mentioned that there actually was a black character in the movie (Levar Gordon, a teenage genuis who joins with the GB's in the end). I guess he thought my mentioning that character was an attempt to back-peddle or whatever after I mentioned the three main GB's (all white) without mentioning Levar at first. I mean, I'm not racist, but I think it's retarded when someone accuses someone else of racism for no reason.

/rant

 

Well this is a Star Wars message board...but I agree to a bit. Not to sound too biased, but this is a very well made film, and I also find it troubling that it is so hard to get this film the publicity it deserves...oh well.

I have professional hopes to use this film as a tool, so at least it will server a purpose in that respect.

 

I wouldn't take it too personally, Hank. Even well-made Star Wars fan films get little response around here (unless they come from a well-respected source). It's even been the topic of a recent thread.

 

I for one absolutely loved it. Can't say enough good about it, there was very very little I can complain about. Some of the acting wasn't great and some of the effects weren't spectacular, but to be perfectly honest, the only reason I noticed at al is because the rest of the film was of such high quality that the little things that went wrong stand out a lot more.

I honestly think you could use this as a big stepping stone to a professional career. I'm doing my part by trying to get as many people as I can to watch it, and so far they're of the same opinion.

 

Glad to see other Denverites up to no good. //Downloading now//

 

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with pretty much everyone here and I know I run the risk of you all jumping on me, but I'm sure these guys want honest opinions and it wouldn't be fair for me to just go with the crowd if it's not how I feel.

For a fan film, the film looks like it has pretty high production values with a cinematic feel in some places (thoughin others it looks like a home movie...which I suppose is what it is). The acting is pretty bland and feels forced, though I'm assuming you didn't actually use real actors so I can forgive that.

My problem with the movie really lies in the script. Too many forced and unfunny jokes, subplots that aren't really developed beyond a couple of throwaway lines (April, Levar, the Russian guy etc) and there are a couple of plotholes in there as well. For example, if the Ghostbusters had their equipment taken from them, then how did Neil have his Neutrino pack when he showed up at the end?

At times, the movie feels like it's trying to be a proper Ghostbusters movie only to turn into a spoof with unneeeded references to other movies and events...the film is almost like a split personality in that regard.

I know some of you might feel that I'm being harsh and I should cut the guys a break because it's a fan film, but of all the things that can be difficult when making a fan film, the script should be the one thing that's solid...you may have trouble with effects, or location shooting or whatever, but the script is the one thing you can have complete control over and I'm afraid it wasn't good enough.

Take Levar for example...you had a good concept with him, but I think it was ultimately a wasted opportunity to explore his character and viewpoint.

If you like I can talk about what I felt were the major flaws in the script in more detail, but that's up to you, I don't want to do it here, even with black-highlighted spoilers...I know how tempting it can be to look so I don't want to spoil the film for everyone else.

One thing though, and I will blacken this out...it's nothing major, just something that bugged me....

At the end of the movie, thereare wo newspaper clips on screen (one about Spengler hosting the Oscars...the other one might have been about a Nobel Prize, can't remember) and although the clips had two different headlines, I noticed that the stories underneath were the same, and they weren't even about the Ghostbusters (I think it was about AIDS).

I know it's a small thing, but it just bugged me for some reason that you didn't take the time to at least partially write out the articles that went with the headlines.


Anyway, that's what I thought...uh don't crucify me....please?

 

I, for one, won't hurt you . Everyone has a different opinion!

My main issue is also with the character of Levar and Pavol being underdeveloped and underusedbBut overall, for the resources they had and the talents involved, this film is an amazing feat. I, also, am suprised this film hasn't made a major impact on this thread! This has to be the one of the best fan films made in quite sometime.

 

There's nothing wrong with having your own opinion. Just remember that movies in the end are entirely subjective experiences. Some people will praise what others criticize. For instance, many praise the script and such. I for one though it was good.

About the spoofiness, it is a comedy, and I think they balanced it well. I mean, GB2 had the NES pad controlling Lady Liberty. Heck, the idea of Lady Liberty (or a marshmallow man) walking the streets of NY is pretty silly. So, I feel they stayed true to the films in that respect (actually, IMHO ROTGB was less spoofy than the originals). I, along with many others, also liked the jokes. Again, subjective experiences (comedy can be especially subjective).

My point in saying all this isn't to discredit your opinion, just simply to make sure you don't state your opinions as fact (ie, don't simply say the script was weak and therefore Braxtan failed in that respect, or whatever). I mean, you may already know that, I just wanted to make sure (because it's amazing how few people actually realize just how subjective the experience of watching a movie really is).

I do have to point out one thing that you sort of missed the boat on, though. Neil had his neutrino pack because that actually wasn't taken by the government. You missed the part when April asked if the government had taken everything, and Ed said that they still had the neutrino pack & a few traps. So, obviously Neil saw it there when he went back and he. So, in this case, no plot hole; you just didn't pay quite close enough attention.

Also, I must admit that you did lose at least a little bit of credibility in my eyes when you mentioned that last thing (the thing about the newspaper articles). I think to say that it's a small thing is a vast understatement. Personally, I can't see why that would bother anyone. I must respectfully disagree (quite strongly, I'm afraid) with your statement that Hank should have done that differently there. I feel it's 100% fine as it is. I think for him to go into greater detail than that would have been unecessary, to say the least, especially in perspective of the movie as a whole.

 

yeah, my bad on the plot hole...though the question has to be asked: why wouldn't they take everything?

There's a difference between having a giant marshmallow man and having two M.I.B. agents who talk about how good B&R was though.

You say it was a spoof comedy, that's fine, but I still think the final result struggles to know what it is. It seemed like it was trying to be both a spoof and a serious fan-spinoff to the Ghostbuster movies, but even taking it as just a spoof...even spoofs have their characters develop throughout a story. I'm not really sure how to put it...I think the best way is to say that it felt like the movie had a lot of missing scenes that were needed to further the various subplots going on.

And regarding the jokes...I think there were too many references to non-GB material. It needed more GB-related stuff and less of the pop culture references...for example the line about the cliche of going to see the mayor everytime the world needed saving. That was a great GB reference and spoof. I think the film needed more of that.

Don't get me wrong though, I don't mean to take away from the amazing effort everyone put into the film, far from it. It's a very enjoyable film...but i'm a writer and you know how cranky we can be

 

The original GB movies had pop culture references (NES, Jackie Wilson, Nike shoes, to name a few). True, there were more of them in ROTGB, but I don't see a problem there myself. I also don't agree about the movie struggling between spoof and serious. No more than the originals did, anyway (and when you stop and think, they were in an odd place humor-wise as well) I mean, a "serious" spinoff of a comedy is going to be a little silly, and I don't personally feel they strayed from the humor of the originals at all. Personally, I feel that there was nothing in ROTGB that was even remotely as spoofy as marshmallow man. I mean, when you really think about it, a marshmallow man is pretty absurd. in fact, it's waaaaayyyy out there in silly spoof-land. We've all just seen the original so many times that we've forgotten how absurd it really is (and how in any other movie, it would be seen as random, surreal spoof humor). In reality, the original movies drifted towards spoof humor on occasion.

Don't take this as an attack; I'm just trying to create a friendly debate.

Oh, and you do have a point about Ed & Pavel not taking the netrino pack with them along with the rest of the stuff, but it's not a point I intend give any thought to beyond writing this. No offense or anything, it's just not significant to me. Besides, dig hard enough in any movie (or any story of any kind, for that matter) and eventually you could come up with some kind of flaw or plot hole of some type. Anyone who claims to have written a story to perfection to where it contains no errors or flaws is delusional. Anyway, I feel that in some cases its ok to fudge a small detail in order to achieve some dramatic effect (ie, in ROTGB, Ed & Pavel not taking the neutrino pack for whatever reason enabled Neil to make is triumphant/dramatic prodigal son-like return, so that gives me further reason to excuse the small discrepancy).

I also feel that they had enough character develoment considering the length of the movie. If the movie had been 20 or 30 minutes longer, they may have been able to do more deep character exploration. If they were to do more character development but keep the movie at an hour and a half, I think it would have possibly slowed the pace of the movie down (something a director or editor must consider in a movie; oftentimes in a movie, the director/editor has to cut something really good from a movie because it had a negative effect on the pace). This is another one of those subjective things I was talking about, because I know of many others (myself included) who thought they did a great job with the characters.

Oh, and one last thing: Why didn't you say you enjoyed the movie in your first post? Not trying to be rude or anything, it's just that then I read your original post (and even when I go back and re-read it, knowing that you did actually enjoy the movie, at least somewhat), I still get an overall negative tone from it. Your first post states only what you didn't like, so it sends the message that you disliked the film overall. I just feel that a fair, balanced criticism needs to include the positve as well (or else people might thing your experience was altogethe negative).

 

I always imagined that Ed and Pavel left the Neutrino pack at home because the last time it was used, it destroyed a soul. And when it did get used again at the end, it just exploded anyway. Not exactly the most reliable piece of Ghostbusting equipment, there.

 

In Response to articles not having anything to do with the headline.

I made the Denver Post image, geez you're picky. You're supposed to read the headline and move on.

-edit-

Also about the "Plot Hole" There's a line of dialog where Ed says that the Neutrino pack and some traps were not taken. (edit again) Sorry, I didn't see that it was already answered.

 

I agree--I should have edited the articles more. But I thought it would be cool to let lots of users submit them. I haven't decided if I should actually take the time to go back and edit them now, or just let it go. I guess it doesn't really matter since the film is everywhere now...can't track them all down and smash them with a hammer...

 

I don't think you need to anyway. Even if the movie was still in post production, I would personally still let it go, just because of how insignificant it would be. To thoroughly edit them all would probably take a lot of energy, and it would be overkill for something that only flashes on the screen for like 2 seconds. Sure, there are some people who might enjoy pausing & reading the articles, but I would think they would be a very small minority. Besides, the resolution isn't quite clear enough to easily read print that small that's been compressed.

 

I smell a Denver Ghostbusters Holiday Special on the horizon...

 

Naw it's just me being awkward I wouldn't have noticed except I saw the word AIDS in in capital letters and it stuck with me for a few seconds, so when the next article showed up I was bound to notice...I think most people wouldn't though.