Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

This franchise is starting to feel like it’s haunted; can you believe it’s been 40 years since the original Ghostbusters graced our screens? It’s become a cult classic that still sends shivers down our spines. But here we are, onto the fifth installment, and none have managed to capture even a fraction of the original’s magic.

It seems everyone’s so obsessed with giving us nostalgic moments that they’ve forgotten the recipe for a great movie. The original’s charm lay in its fantastic concept and clear direction. They knew exactly what they were doing.

So why do they keep dropping the ball? Sure, we could point fingers at the directors and writers, but it’s not that simple. The second movie had the same team behind it, yet it still stands as one of the weakest sequels. That is, until this one came along.

What’s the deal? It’s the lack of focus on the sheer thrill of being a Ghostbuster. The first movie had that sense of wonder, a bunch of misfits in way over their heads, banding together to save the world. But in this installment, there are like five or six plotlines competing for attention, watering each other down in the process.

And let’s talk about the cast. It’s not that they’re bad, but there’s a certain movie magic that’s missing. Even with most of the original crew back on board, they seem like they’d rather be elsewhere. Bill Murray, especially, feels about as interested as he did in “Garfield.”

Let’s be clear: the main problem here is the horrendous, nonsensical writing.

Maybe it’s time to lay this franchise to rest, at least until someone comes up with a fresh idea that doesn’t rely on nostalgia to drum up excitement.

Now, speaking of fresh ideas, what do you think would make for a killer new Ghostbusters movie?