Ghostbusters 2 (1989) (Movie Review)

 

  Long running movie franchises seem to be everywhere now days, but in some cases, select popular movies haven’t truly become a series until recently. “Ghostbusters” for example was a pop culture juggernaut in the early 1980’s, and despite expanding into various animated spin-offs, games and comics, it only had one direct sequel in 1989, and didn’t really become a reoccurring franchise until 2016, in which we’ve seen a number of movies since. 

It makes me wonder why something as popular as “Ghostbusters” took so long to become a big movie series, and why there was only one direct sequel following the original. While “Ghostbusters 2” certainly had a mix to negative reception upon its release, the film has seen something of a resurgence, with some fans describing it as not being as bad as its initial reputation suggests. While I loved the original “Ghostbusters” as a kid, I was always a little indifferent to its sequel. Nevertheless, I’m curious to look back on that first and only true sequel to see if anything holds up, or to see if its lesser reputation is more justified. 

 Set five years after the events of the first movie, the Ghostbusters have gone their separate ways and are trying to make a living in a field where there are no more ghosts to bust, while the citizens once again view them as to-bit frauds. 

Things get interesting when the local museum acquires a new painting of a dark entity called Vigo the Carpathian, whose wicked spirit dwells in the object. With his presence stirring, new ghosts appear on the scene to terrorize New York and bring the Ghostbusters back in business. Caught in the middle is Dana Barrett, the on and off again love interest of lead Ghostbuster Peter Venkman. Their relationship is rocky, but worse things arise when her new baby Oscar becomes the main target for the villain Vigo, who aims to use the infant as a new host body. Thus, the Ghostbusters not only band together to save New York again, but also to safeguard little Oscar.   

 Director Ivan Reitman and all the main cast members from the first movie are all back … but the jokes and the freshness of the first just aren’t there. My biggest reservation is making a baby the focus point of the narrative, as it’s really boring to watch these characters pal around with this toddler. On a side note, it never made any sense to me why the villain would want a baby body to inhabit, as opposed to a grown adult. In fact, we briefly see him take over Ghostbuster Ray Stantz, played again by Dan Aykroyd, and I feel that should have been expanded upon. The concept of a team member taken over by the villain has all kinds of potential for conflict, and adding something fresh to the premise, as opposed to the tonally off beat baby narrative. On that note, this sequel has an oddly mixed tone, as it aims to appeal to little kids more than the original, but it also contains some darker material appropriate for a real horror film.   

 I will say that while the jokes aren’t very funny, the chemistry is still there between the cast. Even though I’m not laughing at anything, I’m still smiling and enjoying these characters acting off each other. Bill Murray tries his best to carry the hummer of the film, but he can only go so far with so little. Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett again doesn’t have too much to work with, but she absolutely makes the most of what she’s got. I don’t have much to say about Rick Moranis and Annie Potts romantic subplot, other than, I wish we could have seen more of either of them as Ghostbusters, as opposed to just Rick Moranis in uniform for a second at the end. I’d say the late Harold Ramis in his signature role of Ghostbuster Egon Spengler delivered the most consistently charismatic and funny performance.

 One genuine ace up this films sleeve is the new villain Vigo the Carpathian, who I feel has a presence equal to Gozer from the first film. The setup with him as a cursed oil painting is great, as it gives the audience a visual and design that sticks with us even before the villain physically appears on screen. 

Also, Vigo’s henchman Janosz, played by Peter MacNicol delivers a memorable performance as something of an unhinged Renfield to his Dracula … a full six years before he actually portrayed Renfield in the 1995 comedy “Dracula Dead and Loving it”. Despite being such an animated presence in the film, he still has some suitably creepy moments … this image of him walking down a dark hallway with a glowing face always spooked me as kid. Of course, the best spooky highlight of all is when Janosz takes on the likeness of a ghostly Nanny that kidnaps baby Oscar on the ledge of Dana Barrett’s apartment. This scene pays tribute to the Wicked Witch of the West, right down to a similar music score, and it’s just a memorable creepy image, especially with the glowing red eyes.

  Another slight against this movie is that it takes a while to generate any momentum. There are certainly highlights spread throughout, but they aren’t consistent, with lengthy additional scenes that go on forever, and as the saying goes … “It’s all filler and no thriller”. 

About thirty minutes in we finally get a big set-piece with the team battling the ghostly Scoleri Brothers, and it’s like finally, something’s happening. On that note, when the ghosts do show up, they come in a fun variety. The music montage in the middle features a jogging ghost, who’s a rare human looking spirit in this franchise. As per tradition, there’s a second ghost montage at the end of the movie, and hot take … I think this is a better montage than in the original. We get a giant ghost framed through an archway, a lady’s fur coat coming to life, and even the Titanic comes back with its dead crew … “Better late than never!”.

  My favorite scene of the whole movie is a haunted subway, in which our heroes venture underground, and encounter a number of spooky oddities, including a ghost train. Something about haunted modes of transportation and unexplored underground catacombs beneath a busy city just feels ripe for story potential and creative ideas. In fact, it reminds me of an episode from “The Real Ghostbusters” titled “Knock, Knock”, which also focused on the team discovering an underground ghost station leading to a dark and spooky dimension. Supposedly, a proposed script for a potential Ghostbusters sequel would have involved crossing over into a ghostly dimension … which sounds awesome.

 Getting back to “Ghostbusters 2”, it’s also frequently criticized for hitting familiar beats from the plot of the first movie, which is true, but it’s still not without its own iconography. 

Aside from the cursed painting and haunted subway, we also have an underground river of slime feeding off of negative emotions, a cute bit with a dancing toaster, a shock moment with a creature emerging from a bathtub, and the Statue of Liberty coming to life at the end. Despite being another giant mascot marching through New York (and nowhere near as great as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man), I’m still quite fond of this Statue of Liberty finale. I like seeing something giant aiding the team as opposed to threatening them, but a part of me wishes we got a Kaiju inspired climax with the statue battling that giant Ghost monster we saw earlier in the montage. Still, the final battle we get with Vigo is satisfying enough, which I can also say about this film as a whole.

  It’s not a great sequel by any means, nor is it one that I return to that often, but it has its highlights and still serves as a novelty item of sorts. It’s the only direct Ghostbusters sequel to feature the main cast in their prime, and while they don’t have anything that fresh to work with, the charm and charisma is at least present on the surface. There’s a reason fans have a soft spot for this movie, as it’s not a terrible sequel, just an average one, with some above average moments spread throughout.     

Thanks for reading my review of the 1989 sequel “Ghostbusters 2” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!       

 

My Top 10 Favorite Vincent Price Movies

 

  He’s been called the great prince of horror cinema and for good reason ... because actors don’t get any classier yet frightening as Vincent Price. He’s like if a Shakespeare villain came to life and took an interest in Horror. He had a wide range of acting talents and was the kind of actor who treated every performance like he was aiming to win an Academy Award. Beyond his iconic status, Vincent Price was a true Renaissance actor and a legend in horror cinema. 

Thus, for this October season, I felt I was long overdue to put the spotlight on one of my favorite classic horror movie actors. Just to clarify, while most people remember him for his gothic and villainous roles, he wasn’t limited to them either, appearing in a variety of different genera pictures. As such, while most of my favorite Vincent Price movies are indeed horror films, there will be others that I feel are worth praising. With all that addressed, here are my personal, top 10 favorite movies starring Vincent Price.

 

#10 “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) 

Back in 1982, director Tim Burton made a short movie called “Vincent”, which focused on a boy who idolized Vincent Price, and the talent himself even provided the narration. Clearly, the famed director was a longtime fan himself, so it was cool that he casted Vincent Prince in his 1990 Gothic Romance “Edward Scissorhands”. Vincent Price portrayed the lonely inventor, who created the titular Edward Scissorhands creature, and is absolutely delightful in his own kooky way. 

While it was an admittedly small role, it was still wonderful for the actor at his late age, and you can tell he was so happy to be a part of it. This marked his final theatrical, on screen movie role, and for a generation of young viewers, it was also their introduction to the legendary titan.

 

#9 “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” (1971) 

Following after a horrific car accident, one Dr. Phibes is horribly scared, loses his ability to speak and his wife tragically died on an operating table over seen by nine physicians. Consumed with feelings of lose, anger and revenge, the mad Doctor Phibes aims to kill all who failed to save his wife. The twist is that he bases his means of assassination on the ten plagues of Egypt … because he may be crazy, but he still relishes in creativity. 

It’s both a silly and horrific film with a very mixed tone, but the saving grace naturally is Vincent Price as the devious Dr. Phibes. Full disclosure, this movie as a whole is personally not a favorite of mine, and a part of me didn't want to include it, but with that said, it's undeniably one of Vincent Prices most iconic and sinister villain roles, which is well worth highlighting. He even returned for a sequel in 1972 titled “Dr Phibes Rises Again”, making this one of the rare bad guy roles he played more than once.

 

#8 “House of Usher” (1960) 

In the early 1960’s, the late Roger Corman produced and directed eight movies based on the classic literary work of Edgar Alen Poe. Naturally, Vincent Price was the main reoccurring lead through most of these films. Honestly, I could have filled this list entirely with these Poe adaptions, but I wanted variety and decided to just stick with my two favorites ... expect another one later. Arguably the most famous was his first film, “House of Usher”, in which Vincent Price portrayed the titular homeowner, Lord Usher. He’s at the mercy of a fatal disease and refuses to let his lovely sister wed a young man, as he fears she’ll pass on the hereditary evil that’s part of their family lineage. 

It’s a very miserable character, but Vincent Prince keeps it from being one note, giving him a sadistic and haunted persona. It’s the kind of morbid role he’d be most associated with, and for obvious reasons. While we’ll see his acting range in more horror and villain roles to come on my list, it’s here in this movie we get a Gothic and melancholy performance, which Vincent Price was most recognized for.       

 

#7 “The Fly” (1958) 

While Vincent Price didn’t star as the title scientist turned monster, he was noteworthy as the leads brother Francois, who’s an emotionally devastated, yet very loving character. His portrayal of Francois is arguably one of his most comforting on-screen roles and highlighted once again that he had range beyond acting creepy. He’d even reprise the role in the 1959 sequel “Return of the Fly”, which rarely happed with his characters. All that being said, he did contribute to the film’s most famous and disturbing part of the film. 

At the very end, they find the “human-headed fly” in a spider’s web, and he starts crying out “Help me! Help me!”, which is such a creepy and unsettling image. It was Vincent Price who supplied the vocals for the insect, and that scream just rings in your ears afterwards. Of cores this became the most memorable part of the film and has been spoofed several times in properties like “The Simpsons”, amongst others. The first time I ever heard this was a short parody in Disney’s “The Emperor’s New Groove”.

 

#6 “House on a Haunted Hill” (1959) 

Once again, we have Vincent Price in a spooky house setting, portraying a cheerful but deceptive host. Unlike the previously mentioned Lord Usher, who was characterized through a melancholy demeanor and pathos, this spooky house host has a mischievous and dark sense of humor. It again highlights the flexibility in Vincent Price as he pulls off this slimy schemer with class and charm but never loses a sense of intimidation. 

It's not the kind of horror movie that would leave an impression today, but it was perfect as a fun house experience from the 1950's. The movie as a whole is admittedly one of Vincent Prices more campy outings, but it’s also ripe with atmosphere and is certainly one of his most memorable leading performances.  

 

#5 “The Invisible Man Returns” (1940) 

While Claude Rains was the first and, in my opinion, best portrayal of the iconic character, Vincent Price is a strong second best. I feel all the great horror movie talents are complete when they have one of the classic movie monsters on their resume, and for Vincent Price, he certainly was a credit for portraying the Invisible Man. He would also reprise the role for a quick cameo in the 1948 comedy crossover “Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein”. While he had acting credits prior to this film, “The Invisible Man Returns” marked his very first horror movie role, and with his young voice he’s almost unrecognizable. 

Regardless, he's still just as captivating with his blend of cheerful charisma and subtle imposing menace. On a side note, the invisible effects were outstanding for its time, winning the film an Oscar for Best Special Effects, which is a rarity for early monster movies.

 

#4 “The Last Man on Earth” (1964) 

In the wake of an apocalyptic plague, Vincent Price portrays the titular last man on Earth, while all the other inhabitants are either dead or mutated into mindless drones colorfully referred to as “Zombie-Vampires”. Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel “I Am Legend” was adapted into film three times, with the latest 2007 version staring Will Smith arguably being the best known today. 

Not to be overlooked is Vincent Price’s portrayal in the first movie adaptation of Richard Matheson’s work. You know you’re in the presence of a great actor when he carries a whole movie mostly by himself and no one else to work off of. It’s something that only the best talents in the business can pull off, and Vincent Price not only rose to the challenge, but he delivered a tour de force with his emotionally beaten, yet still charming screen presence. If Vincent Price was ever more deserving for an Oscar, it would have been for this film.

 

#3 Disney's “The Great Mouse Detective” (1986) 

Despite not physically appearing on screen, I take immense satisfaction from Vincent Price as the voice of one of my favorite animated Disney villains ... Professor Ratigan from Disney’s “The Great Mouse Detective”. Ratigan is very sinister and intense, but he’s also an exceptionally funny villain, with a bombastic ego to match. The character already had an intimidating design and well written rivalry with the lead hero, but once again, it’s Vincent Price who really brought Ratigan to life in every possible way you can enjoy a great villain. 

That may be understating it … he doesn’t just bring the character to life … it’s actually really hard to separate the voice actor from the character. He is just so full of himself, laughing at his own crimes, and enjoying his vileness so much that it’s honestly hard not to have fun with him. Even though this is an animated Disney movie, Vincent Price’s portrayal of Ratigan remains one of my absolute favorites of his long-standing career.

 

#2 “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961) 

Back when I first started high school, my literature class had a two-month long tribute to the works of Edgar Alen Poe, in which I was introduced to both his famous writing and Roger Cormans 1960’s movies adapted from them. While I’d heard the name Vincent Price before, and was familiar with many of his vocal roles, like the previously mentioned Disney film, and as the narrator in Mickale Jaksons “Thriller” music video, it was upon watching the 1961 movie “The Pit and the Pendulum” that I was introduced to Vincent Price proper for the first time, and instantly became a fan. 

His role is similar to the previously mentioned “House of Usher”, in which he’s a grief-stricken homeowner who speaks in a relentlessly melancholy tone. Yet, this film I feel gives more for the actor to chew on, as we see the gradual deterioration of his mental health, to the point where he gradually transitions from a sympathetic character to a full-on villain and takes on an openly sinister mannerism. It’s classic Vincent Price all around, and for me is the peak of his long-running Edgar Alen Poe saga.    

Before I reveal my number one favorite Vincent Price movie, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …

“The Raven” (1963)

 

“The Masque of the Red Death” (1964)

 

“The Tingler” (1959)

 

“Madhouse” (1974)

 

“Tower of London” (1939)

 

#1 “House of Wax” (1953) 

Have you ever been to a wax museum, and found yourself so impressed by the displays that you could almost swear they’re real people? Well, after a string of murders, a young woman soon discovers that the pore victims are being put on display in the form of colorful wax characters in a wax museum … that’s the plot to the 1953 movie “House of Wax”, and at the center is Vincent Price in my favorite horror movie role of his. While he had dabbled in horror movies before, this is when he became immortalized as one of the great horror movie titans. 

He has such a chilling yet commanding presence, you just can’t take your eyes off the guy. This is also a really colorful film that almost looks like a comic book come to life, but it still captures the dark and eerie atmosphere of a wax museum. Despite being a remake of the 1930’s picture titled “Mystery of the Wax Museum”, this one stands on its own and is a great example of a remake being remembered as more of a classic. Vincent Price’s performance as the creepy museum owner is still just as bone chilling as ever, but we also see a wide range of charm and class on display, which for me makes this the most satisfying of his collective works, and personally one of my favorite horror movies.

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!     

Boo to you Too! Winnie the Pooh (Holiday Special Review)

 

  Happy Halloween season to all, and for the occasion I wanted to highlight one of my earliest favorite childhood specials that helped shape my love for the season. Along with “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”, the 1996 Holiday Special “Winnie the Pooh: Boo to You Too!” was one of the very first Halloween specials I ever saw in my lifetime. While I’d obviously discover even better specials in the years to come, I still look back on this as one of my essential pillars that helped shape Halloween into my childhood favorite holiday. It was the special that highlighted Trick R' Treat as a mini adventure in of itself, a time when kids journey out into the night, imagine facing their own fears or dangers, and return home for sweet treats, celebrating their victory. It originally aired on CBS and was adapted from the 1988 animated series “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”. That too was one of my earliest programs I regularly watched on TV, which made this special feel right at home.

  At the moment of the momentous occasion, Pooh Bear, Tigger and friends are eager to go out Trick T’ Treating … all except for little Piglet, who naturally is terrified of the unknown haunts that come with Halloween night. Still, he’s also very eager to be there with his friends, and celebrate the holiday, even though his anxiety is taking over. As the weather gets worse outside, the group gets separated, and it’s up to Piglet to find his feet, bring everyone together, and prove to his friends that he’s brave enough to face whatever the night throws at him. The message of standing up to your fears and concurring personal obstacles is a familiar but timeless message to present to kids, and this special conveys it very well. I even remember taking some inspiration from it during my early boy hood years, as I too was facing my own personal obstacles at the time.   

  Piglets original voice actor, the late John Fieldler was still portraying the character at the time, and he’s absolutely wonderful in this special. Steve Schatzberg provided Piglet’s singing voice, and even the characters song “I am not Afraid” is a sentimental little piece that’s well staged, well scored and always left me feeling comforted inside. 

Peter Cullen of “Transformers” fame is naturally present as the voice of Eeyore, and Gopher has a cute running gag of dressing up as his closest friends as he can’t think of any original costume ideas for Trick R’ Treat. Of course, the great Jim Commings voiced both Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too. He arguably understands the character of Pooh Bear better than anyone, as he not only nails all the inflections and mannerisms, but he also gives the character a soul, which is present in this special. Of course, Tigger more than anyone was my childhood favorite, and in this outing, his love for the Halloween season was absolutely infectious. I distinctly remember when I was a kid, getting excited for the holiday, and replicating many of Tigger’s quirks and mannerisms.   

  John Rhys-Davies, famous for his roles in “The Lord of the Rings” and “Indiana Jones” franchises is the titular Narrator of this story and is sensational. In later years, this special got interwoven with another Holiday offering called “Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie”, in which the character Roo took over as narrator … and it just wasn’t as good. Seriously, it may seem minor, but this special isn’t the same without John Rhys-Davies narration, especially in the opening. Quick side note, “Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie” is also a perfectly good Halloween special on its own, I just wish it was on its own without utilizing "Boo to you Too!" as a story within a story. Getting back on track, just like with “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”, nothing supernatural occurs … but it still feels enchanting in how it presents the season. From the opening title sequence, this animated special captures a magical sense of the holiday, as it’s both eerie and ominous, yet still enticing and engaging.

  I’m not kidding when I say this special is dripping in warm Autom atmosphere, laced with the chills and excitement that come with the growing darkness of the night. 

Also, for a simple, mid-90’s TV production, the animation is wonderful, with gorgeous backdrops, an artistic eye for lighting and no shortage of personality to the settings. It’s very amusing how just about every tree in the forest has taken on a monstrous form for the occasion, each looking like the scary nightmare trees from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Back in 1997, Phil Spencer won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for his work on his special, and rightfully so. Even with the enhanced animation of recent animated Pooh offerings, both in shows and specials, I still find myself drawn back to the crud, but expressive illustrations as seen in this Halloween special.  

 The last highlight to mention is the showstopping musical number “I Want to Scare Myself”, which aside from the opening is my favorite part of the film. I’m convinced … this musical number right here is when my love for the holiday was set in stone. No joke, one of the first things I loved about Halloween was its collection of different characters and creatures. 

This musical number was the first time I saw so many at once, like all Halloween characters on parade. The song isn’t even that long, about a minute at best, and yet, it still left an impact. The music tempo was bouncy, the lyrics were easy to remember, and the melody still lingers in the back of my mind whenever spooky season comes around. Once more, this song is exploding with energy and delightfully spooky visuals that are constantly being thrown at the screen. We get headless horsemen, mad scientists, haunted mansions, a selection of costumes, and a parade of all kinds of ghosts and goblins. Basically, it was just an awesome treat to see as a child, and it left a lasting impression on me.

  With a timeless message, humble animation, catchy songs, and no shortage of warm nostalgic feelings, “Winnie the Pooh: Boo to you Too!” is still a perfect special to get little kids brought up on the Halloween season. It may be slight stuff compared to what children have access to now days, but for me, this was a special animated experience from my childhood that added an important flavor to Trick R’ Treat. Putting my sentimental feelings aside, I think it still holds up as a solid offering for kids, and one that may shape the feelings of younger viewers today.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1996 Holiday Special “Winnie the Pooh: Boo to you Too!” … and let’s continue to make every day in October feel like Halloween!