Hey folks Valkor here. So I was perusing some Myspace vids, which are either really funny or really, really lame. I mean the stuff people film themselves doing is just well….. yeah. So anyway there was a trailer for a fanfilm called “Return of the Ghostbusters”, which looked really good for a fanfilm movie trailer and I was thinking wow I’d love to see this flick. Sure none of the original cast are involved but it’s a Ghostbusters flick, it can’t be all that bad right? Well thanks to the mind of Hank Braxtan the film does exist, but is it bad? Well for a fan made Ghostbusters flick, it’s actually pretty damn good.

Set in the city of Denver, a new team of Ghostbusters lead by the son of one of the original Ghostbusters, Ed Spengler (Tim Johnson) (His father is Egon Spengler for those who don’t know) continues the Ghost-busting biz with an all new crew. However there efforts don’t come easy as a new threat comes to town in the form of Archeologist Klaus Konstantin (Ron Vischer) fresh from his excavation in Egypt, he finds an amulet that unleashes hell in Denver and it’s up to Ed, the wisecrackin Neil Anderson (J. Michael Weiss), and Russian compadre Pavel (Joel Hanson) to put an end to this new threat. The plot is pretty solid and direct and while the acting isn’t up to snuff, there is enough here to keep you interested until the very end.

The Good

The story is what keeps the movie afloat. It is a true Ghostbuster tale that easily compliments what Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis did (Even the animated series). I mean it’s not great but it definitely fits. Plus points for tossing in some references to the first film and there are plenty, mostly in the jokes. The special effects, for a fanfilm are pretty bad ass. The protonpack effects are here and the effects on the ghost are done so well, especially the end Dragon ghost. I can see that if there’s going to be a second film, the effects will only get better. The acting from some of the cast meshes well with the overall film. J. Michael Weiss as Neil Anderson does a great job of being the Peter Venkman of the bunch, his jokes are so-so but he comes off well and really makes the movie. Pavel definitely steals the show… when he is on screen, though not enough. And the evil that is Klaus, is a bit over the top but he’s the best baddy I have seen in a good while. The music also deserves mention as again you get stuff from the first film as well as a new score which is pretty kick ass. Nice job on adding the Ray Parker Jr song to the mix, but the metal track at the end is garbage. Overall this is top notch stuff.

The Bad

Well it’s not all good. For instance there’s stuff that happens that either takes to long or is just pointless. Case in point the scene where April, Ed and the cops discuss the validity of “Batman and Robin” (The George Clooney Version) and soon after they run away to chase after a protester leaving Ed with the body of a homeless guy who’s soul was sucked out of him, just after they made the call for an ambulance. HUH? Another negative; not enough Ghostbusting. I know this is a fanfilm and the budget has to be plenty tight, but ya could have tossed in one extra scene where the guys take down a baddy ghost. And when they do bust a ghost, things are kinda neat. Where’s the senseless destruction? Yea at the end you get some hole punching in the buildings with the dragon chase (I loved it when they took out that Qwest sign), but with actual busting we get Neil writing his name on the movie screen. Bleh. Lastly, the acting with the exception of Weiss and Hanson ranges from bad to just UGH!! But I can still sit through the film, even with the bad acting because I love the story.

The Ugly

Donte Eissen. Out of this entire film and of the entire cast, he is the one character I truly hate. Ok I understand that his original purpose was to replace Ed from his TV show and that’s well and good and should have ended there. But he’s the protester who the cops chase and then he joins the Ghostbusters at the end making him the Winston Zedmore of the group. It’s a little obvious, but also pointless. Great you wanna follow in the footsteps of the original, but it doesn’t have to always be that way. Lose Eissen and bring in a stronger, more Sam Jackson-esque type character to replace.

But all in all I gotta give it up to the cast and crew behind the film “Return of the Ghostbusters” and appreciate all the hardwork put into it. They’ve all done a fine job bringing new life into a series that was long thought dead in the water. I insist you click the link above and give this movie a look shot. It’s a pretty solid story followed by average acting with some great music and effects to make it worth the download. Plus it’s a hell of a lot of fun to watch. I give the film 3.5 stars and look forward to a new Ghostbuster films from Hank Braxtan in the future. “Return of the Ghostbusters” has been Valkor tested and TOV approved.

Valkor out!

Email: valkor@the-other-view.com