The Ghostbusters are back!  This time, though, they are being directed by Monster House’s  Gil Kenan in a script he co-wrote with Jason Reitman, who directed the previous film in the franchise.  The new Ghostbusters film feels like it belongs in the canon without being overly nostalgic - even if we get a few familiar faces and haunts from the previous films - and it is not nearly as emotional as Afterlife was, which is a bit of a letdown for some, but, hey, we had damn good reasons to be weepy over Afterlife.

Which is probably why this film feels a bit . . . hollow.  Now, I’m not about to dump on this sequel.  Sure, it has problems that aren’t worth anyone’s time to nitpick over.  Plus, I had a good time with some of the new adventures and ghosts, to be sure.  The paranormal comedy is full of big ideas which is great and fresh and certainly makes it feel a bit similar to The Real Ghostbusters, but it also has enough fun and callbacks to the original film and Ghostbusters 2 to make it feel like we are yukking it up with old friends.  The main issues with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is, unfortunately, that it is stuffed with a lot of characters and a lot of plot threads . . . and, really, the ones we want to see more of, well, we just don’t get to see enough.

Or maybe I am just old and not willing to give up the classic ghostbusting era of ‘84 - ‘91, with the cancellation of The Real Ghostbusters (which, as I suggested, seems to be the inspiration for a lot of the ideas here).  So many memories.  So much stupid cereal eaten, cartoons watched, movies purchased, and obsessed over.  I mean, almost all of that is referenced in this new movie, too, which is fun to relive . . . yeah, I am old.   

Still, there’s really nothing literally to hate about Frozen Empire, especially if you are a fan of the series.  It’s fun - and sometimes really funny - and the main baddie of a ghost is truly disturbing; even my son was a tad afraid of the design and the way the nefarious entity Garraka moved on the screen.  It’s scary stuff.  And the tone he brings to the story also carries a weight.

Starring (deep breath) Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Celeste O'Connor, and Logan Kim reprising their roles from Ghostbusters: Afterlife (except now everyone has moved from Oklahoma to NYC) alongside the original crew of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William “Dickless” Atherton reprising their characters from the earlier films, plus newbies Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt joining in on the fun.  (And that’s not even the entire cast either because we also have James Acaster as Lars Pinfield and Emily Alyn Lind as Melody, a ghost Phoebe Spengler befriends). 

Like I said, there’s a lot of ideas going into this one, including an ancient evil which sorta dampens the mood of the comedy, but there are also plenty of ghostbusting offshoots which should feed the imaginations for the screenwriters for quite some time. It seems Zeddemore has been a busy, busy guy!  And a good thing, too, because the iconic New York City firehouse can’t hold many more ghosts, nor can it save the planet from a supernatural ice age!

But, really, by the end of the film, everyone feels like they are in a good place so it may be time to just let everyone hang up their proton packs for a while.  After all, we did get two more films from the gang and with Jason Reitman dedicating this film to his father and letting Kenan direct this one, it seems the time has come . . .

. . . but I have a feeling we are in for at least one more with the old crew supporting The Spenglers in their new ghostbusting roles.  And why not? Bustin’ still makes us feel good.  This is now a 40-year-old franchise.  Can it last another 40 years?  It seems Reitman, Ackroyd, and Kenan think so.  They probably aren’t wrong either.  They have my back and my money. 

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now in theaters.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook Edition

Home Video Distributor: Sony Pictures
Available on Blu-ray - June 25, 2024
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English; English SDH; French; Spanish
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; French (Canada): DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Digital Coupon; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

The Ghostbusters are back, but this time in 4K with Sony's 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital 4K Steelbook Edition that is absolutely spectacular and one you need to add to your collection immediately.

Included within the metal case are a 4K UHD disc as well as a Blu-ray Disc and a digital code coupon. This is a handsome package with art that wraps entirely around the case with a plastic spine.

Included within are Dolby Vision and HDR10 encoded versions of the film that feature Dolby Atmos, and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio. And with more than an hour of bonus material, you will not be disappointed with what you get here.

VIDEO

Now this is how it's done! The 2160p Native 4K Dolby Vision encode is "knock your socks off" good with clear, crisp visuals that seamlessly blend the CGI with live-action footage. The HD boost is much appreciated as well, as the colors and details leap off the screen with impactful details.

Colors jump off the screen – there are a lot of colors here – and never falter while the darks and blacks hold up nicely as well with ZERO NOTICEABLE errors.

AUDIO

Included are English language Dolby Atmos; English language: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; French language DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and Spanish language DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks. They bring the action right into the room with plenty of directionality and room-rocking bass. You will be glad you spent the extra money for the 4K UHD.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• With director/co-writer Gil Kenan

Special Features:

Sony doesn't go low-rent on us with the bonus material either. There is an interesting and informative feature-length commentary track with director/co-writer Gil Kenan, plus a handful of short bonus items that cover easter eggs, the characters' weapons, the film's music, some deleted scenes, and more.

• Return to the Firehouse: Making Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (22:00)
• Busted: Capturing the Ghosts of Frozen Empire (11:00)
• Easter Eggs Unleashed (07:00)
• Manifesting Garraka (04:00)
• New York, New Gear (07:00)
• Welcome to the Paranormal Discovery Center (04:00)
• Knowing the Score (07:00)
• Deleted Scenes (09:00)

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 115 mins
Director: Gil Kenan
Writer: Gil Kenan; Jason Reitman; Ivan Reitman
Cast: Paul Rudd; Carrie Coon; Finn Wolfhard
Genre: Comedy | Horror | Fantasy
Tagline: Frozen Empire.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Official Site: http://www.ghostbusters.com/
Release Date: March 22, 2024
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: July 24, 2024
Synopsis: When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.