ONE MAY never forget that one scene in Ghostbusters: Afterlife which drew a lot of goosebumps due its emotional depth and nostalgia.
A sudden appearance of the ghost of Egon Spengler, joining forces with the other OGs to stop a supernatural threat, may have brought a lot of tears in our eyes.
It was a perfect scene to pay respect to the legends who have brought a lot of joys during our youth and it was also the moment which could symbolize the passing of the torch to the next generation of Ghostbusters.
Ultimately this scene elevated Afterlife and speaking about the passing of the torch, this was further explored in Afterlife's sequel, Frozen Empire.
Now the big question is...does the Frozen Empire live up to the legacy of the Ghostbusters?
-WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD-
An enjoyable nod to the past
Just like in the previous Ghostbusters movie, Frozen Empire acknowledged the OGs and other memorable moments from the 80s.
There were so many easter eggs which fans of the series may have noticed.
The appearance of the skeptical and critical Walter Peck, who has tried to antagonize the Ghostbusters has finally returned, and my goodness he is still the character we would want to give a knuckle sandwich.
His role would actually serve as a nod to the 2nd Ghostbusters film, as he would do everything and use his power to decommission the paranormal experts, similar to the mayor of the previous film, Lenny Clotch.
But he wasn't the only character who has made his return as the iconic ghosts of the past have also been introduced.
Slimer, the cute green glutton who has been a staple of the series, is back. Then there's the librarian ghost who may have haunted our childhood, has also staged her return. Then there's the army of Marshmallows who are still as cute as always.
And there were other easter eggs revealed such as the Statue of Liberty, and so on, and so forth.
For fans of the Ghostbusters series, their appearances could bring back those fond memories of the past.
The Ghostbusters are still as funny as ever
But its not only the easter eggs that would light up our memories of the Ghostbusters as the series as a whole has always been renowned for its sense of humor.
From the beginning of Frozen Empire, we get a glimpse of the typical nerd-like humor from the series when Phoebe and Trevor Spengler would exchange a proton-esque joke.
But it doesn't just end there as there were other iconic fun moments in the film, such as Paul Rudd's random mentioning of the lyrics of Ray Parker, Jr.'s iconic song in one conversation.
The humor was on point that even when the film introduced some new elements which may seem to stray away from the Ghostbusters formula, it managed to become a welcome addition.
We can look back at the introduction of Nadeem Razmaadi (portrayed by Kumail Nanjiani). While his role as a pyrokinetic is totally different from how the Ghostbusters would deal with supernatural threats, the comedy he brings would actually make him into a likeable character. He also has a redeeming qualities, further stamping his mark in the film.
Plus his abilities were explained well in the film as one of the OGs talked about how human beings can earn supernatural abilities, which we may have heard from real life events.
Hopefully we see more of his character in the succeeding films.
Is Frozen Empire as emotional as Afterlife?
There's no denying that Frozen Empire has a lot of highs, but does it manage to live up from Afterlife's aura?
As I mentioned earlier, Afterlife has the emotional nostalgia involved, which was something that Frozen Empire lacked.
However, this doesn't mean that Frozen Empire fails to capture the heart and soul of a Ghostbusters movie, as it still manages to live up to its predecessors as stated earlier.
In addition, Frozen Empire does have its moments that truly made it shine, such as the backstory between Phoebe Spengler and the flaming ghost Melody. Mckenna Grace did a marvelous job in portraying Phoebe's angst in her personal life, while Emily Alyn Lind masterfully portrayed a character griefstricken and torn by her regrets in life.
The themes centered on them would balance the film's tone, filled with a blend of humor and drama.
CONCLUSION
Overall the latest Ghostbuster film is truly a treat for fans of the series, and even those who have never watched any of the Ghostbusters film could also ride inside the Ectomobile and have a blast, given the level of humor involved.
However it is recommended to be a fan of the series for one to truly appreciate the beauty of this film given the numerous callbacks.
Nevertheless, Ghostbusters Frozen Empire is still a fun movie to watch, whether you're a newcomer to the series, an OG fan, or someone who wishes to see a different take on the supernatural, something that digs deep into the realm of science fiction.
And after watching the film, something strange could happen in your life. Now you already know, who to call?
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