I actually find the sequel more entertaining to watch these days. I love the first movie, but I am one of the few fans who thinks GBII is just as good as the first one. Overall, I think it is funnier, as well. Peter Macinol’s character, alone, adds a lot of humor. Vigo is a scarier villain than Gozer. The river of slime and Winston tunnel scene are more frightening than anything I remember from GBI, except the library ghost. The court scene is unforgettable. The only thing I didn’t care for was the jello mold cracking apart and ascending into the sky, but it’s no more cheesy than the terror dog running in the first film. Ha! 80’s SFX ftw! I see both movies on par with each other, which is why I love the franchise so much, along with RGB. I don’t understand the haters who think it was a terrible film. I’d be more than happy if a future sequel measured up to Ghostbusters 2.
I have always wondered why there was so much hatred for this sequel. I really don’t think it’s as bad as many have made it out to be. I think Ghostbusters 1 and 2 are excellent companion pieces. I know I’ve said it before, but I think there are far worse sequels out there. I loved the sequel as a kid and I love it now. I love the court scene and the part where the ghost train passes through Winston as he runs out of air screaming brings tears to my eyes every time. I am definitely not one of the haters. 
Agreed. Even the scene when Ray and Egon are developing the photos of Vigo and the demonic pictures catch on fire and the door locks. There are more suspenseful moments in GB2, imo. I just read the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. I can’t relate to any of their criticism. It all sounds like regurgitated tripe. The fact that Mission Impossible 4 has a 93% fresh rating sheds light on critics’ questionable judgement.
It seems that, as a Ghosthead, you’re only “supposed” to like GB1, the first two seasons of RGB, the video game and some of the comics. GB2, the later seasons of RGB, and XGB seemed to be bashed as the red-headed stepchildren - admittedly not without reason (and I’ll admit to still not being too keen on XGB after all these years). That’s basically 50% of the franchise right there. It’s kind of like in the James Bond fandom where every Bond actor who isn’t named Sean Connery gets their fair share of bashing.
It’s just to be expected…some works are just better than others, I guess it’s when you see a lot of bashing for a particular show or film, you start to think that most people hate it.
Ghostbusters II has always suffered from a lousy reputation,which I feel is undeserved.Regardless I feel that it is very unjust to criticize a sequel of this caliber just because it isn’t as good as the first one.I still can’t get enough of this very underrated sequel,maybe I should have said it’s the most underrated movie sequel of all time oh well,it’s not,but I can’t wait to watch it again later.And who can forget Peter MacNicol’s role as Dr.Janosz Poha that was pure gold,hell even Ernie Hudson gets more screen time and one-liners.
I agree with most of this thread so far. I watched the original and the sequel both quite a bit when I was growing up. Once in a while, when a great Ghostbusters quote pops into my head, I’ll take a second and then realize it’s actually from Ghostbusters 2. Definitely under-appreciated, but I understand why some people don’t like it. It just seems like there are far more that don’t like it compared to those that do, which is sad.
The problem is that it’s impossible to rate Ghostbusters 2 as a standalone film, because it’s a sequel. No matter how good it is, you have to compare it to the original, and it’s inferior. Nobody loves GB2 and hates GB1. So on a scale of 1 to 10, if Ghostbusters is a perfect 10, GB2 is automatically 9 or less. If you’re only saying a film is “good” or “bad” (as in, just two options), you have to say GB1 is good and GB2 is bad (or at the very least, say “GB2 is good… but not as good”).
I’m just rambling now, so here’s Angry Vigo. :angryvigo:
No hate from me. Love me some GB2. The courtroom scene alone is one of my favorite parts from the series.
To be honest, up until about (roughly) 5-8 years ago, I had never even heard of ghostheads who disliked GB2, much less hated it. It seems to me like just a recent, trendy, hipster thing to hate on GB2. People think they’re sooo dang clever and intellectual, pointing out the structural parallels between the two films. It reminds me of the same shallow snobs who think they’re sophisticated because they know that Dawn of the Dead is a “social commentary on consumerism.” …Nooo, really??? I think the hate for GB2 has more to do with memetic internet culture than actual honest opinion. I’m not saying you have to like it, or that there aren’t valid flaws. I just feel like the majority of the criticism is unwarranted…
Maybe I’m just biased, and lack the ability to view the film as an objective adult, outside my childhood perspective. But I honestly think the film is (near) perfect for what it is. Maybe it’s not as funny, original, or sophisticated as the first film. But it’s a lot more colourful, stylized, and it really dials up the high-concept elements. It’s loaded with classic Aykroydisms, and arguably it’s more dramatic too. I wouldn’t say it’s better than GB1, but I wouldn’t say it’s worse either. I just can’t choose between them. That being said, I probably do watch GB2 more often. I just find it very flavorful and easily digestible, like a Shaun of the Dead or a Return of the Jedi. At the very least it’s an excellent popcorn flick. So I just ignore the haters…
I like the sequel myself, though as another user has pointed out it’s impossible for it to beat the original. That said I think one of the biggest detractors to it is that it is too much of a copy of the first film. It’s a very similar pattern of events just with a few different elements. From the troubles faced by our heroes at the beginning of the film to the busting montage to the villain targeting Dana to the manipulated henchmen to Peter trying to win over Dana, there’s a lot of similarities between the two.
Maybe a more original take would have been more appreciated. Also it obviously likely fails because the first film WAS so great. Expectations had to be so ridiculously high for the sequel that I can easily imagine many leaving theaters with a bad taste in their mouth regardless of the film.
Ive always preferred GB2 over GB1!
I like them both 50% each. Put them together and I like them 100%
I always loved both films equally, they both have their own greatness and make up a fantastic series.
Good to see all the GB2 appreciation in this thread.
Yeah! With all this love for the sequel, we’re not doing much to answer the question posed by the title of this thread through. Unless the answer is “there aren’t as many haters as we thought there were.” But that’s fine too!
Well…I think there are plenty of haters out there who haven’t commented in the thread. But I wasn’t referring to the gb fan community exclusively in the title. I’ve read plenty of negative reviews that seem unwarranted. Not saying that the movie doesn’t have flaws; certainly there are some redundant elements, such as a giant marshmallow man/statue of liberty marching through New York, but there is plenty of originality in the plot. I think the “psycho-reactive environment” theme of the film was a clever one. Even Bill Murray didn’t seem pleased with the outcome, but we don’t know if that’s how he felt about the film personally or if that was his reaction to the negative reviews. Several of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes reference the “consensus” or suggest that “everyone” was disappointed by this film and it ruined “everybody’s” fond memories of the original. I would prefer movie critics to speak only on their behalf rather than projecting their opinions on everyone else or taking other’s views into consideration when coming to their own conclusions. It’s disengenuous. Almost every article that comes out about a possible Ghostbusters 3 mentions what a letdown GB2 was. I don’t understand how so many people came to that conclusion unless they are just repeating what they’ve been hearing said about it for the last 20+ years. Compared to modern lackluster comedies, Ghostbusters 2 is a comical masterpiece and is even scarier than most horror movies these days, imo.
This stuff drives me nuts. Too many people rely on the opinions of others rather than forming their own. Just because somebody tells you The Beatles are the greatest band of all time doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll like any of their music. Likewise, just because somebody tells you GB2 isn’t good doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t like it. Yet I guarantee there are those out there who jump on the hate bandwagon without ever even seeing the film.
I understand that there are those who have seen it and don’t like it. I’m sure there are people who consider GB1 their favorite film that can’t stand the sequel. I just find it hard to believe that so many people seem to dislike it so much, unless (like you said) they’re letting other opinions heavily influence their own.
^ Indeed, too many people drank the Haterade and passed it around.
Also, Janine Melnitz was way hotter in the sequel. :eyeroll:
I love the 2nd film…Ghostbusters 2 all the way.
I feel the same kind of hate is targeted toward the Burton Batman films, ever since the Nolan trilogy came about, there was a trending hate train that completely dismiss the quality of the two Burton films ( Returns in particular ), they bash them for being either " too campy " too unfaithful " when in fact, both films are pretty dark in their themes, atmosphere, and tone. the " unfaithful" liberties they took didnt take away from the stories at all, Joker being the killer of the waynes worked perfectly for the first film for the theme of “being each others twisted creator” and making Penguin a disfigured outsider abandoned by his parenst was the right choice to work in the psychological link between him and Batman. Either way, most “haters” choose to overlook the good qualities of the film rather than judging the films on their own merits and instantly comparing them to the Nolan, which is an unfair call since Nolan took alot of liberties with his version aswell. Dont get me wrong i love the Nolan films as well, but i just feel theyve overshadowed the original Burton series with blind hatred. Even if the Burton films arent perfect their in no way lesser quality.
Anyway, back to Ghostbusters…
I dont think theres anything wrong with GB2, if it had one flaw it was the rushed 3rd act, I felt there wasnt enough comedic suspense with the battle of Vigo, the libby ride was hilarious, but after that it seems the movie rushes by in the blink of an eye, the Renaissance GB painting always makes me smile, though.
I agree. The biggest problem with GB2 is that it leaves you wanting more… And actually there is more, but SONY won’t release it. Cheap bastards. Oh well, at least we have the movie tie-ins…