A couple of websites have chimed in with their thoughts on different directors taking on Ghostbusters 3. Now that it is actively being written, and Sony has put it on their 2011 film slate, this is an obvious question, and I thought I would add my thoughts to the mix. I’m going to comment on the choices that they list for potential directors below:
No. 1 – JUDD APATOW
I don’t know much about Judd Apatow’s style, having seen neither of his films (or been interested in either of them). In all honesty there is only one project of his that I have enjoyed: Freaks and Geeks. That will lead me to my own addition to the list at No. 9. Apatow, however, doesn’t seem like he’d be a very good fit.. seeing as his prior films seem to be comedies based on sex related topics, and I don’t want to see Ghostbusters head in that direction at all, which it could with co-ed cadets joining the team.
No. 2 – SAM RAIMI
I’d rather Raimi stay focused on Spider-Man, honestly. Adding him to this project would mean his focus is split, and a split-focused director is the last thing I want to see on a film that means so much to me.
No. 3 – JASON REITMAN
I had to look this guy up. It’s interesting that he was actually in Ghostbusters II. He played “Brownstone Boy #2” at the age of 12. He’s also directed episodes of The Office which were very good. However, I did not like Juno. At all. It wasn’t funny to me, or clever, and I hope that is only because of Diablo Cody’s writing that it was so bad, and not the hand of Jason Reitman. Being the son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman doesn’t hurt either, but he’s already commented on the third film, saying:
Do you know how many times I get asked if I want to do Ghostbusters 3? Looking at my career so far, I mean if you just looked at my two films, I would make the most boring Ghostbusters movie. It would just be people talking about ghosts, there wouldn’t be any ghost-busting in it.
So that’s that.. I have nothing to worry about, there.
No. 4 – MICHEL GONDRY
I love his work on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I think he should continue to direct the scripts of Charlie Kaufman, if he can. Be Kind Rewind was a film that I was greatly looking forward to. I loved the Ghostbusters scenes in that movie, but it kind of lost me toward the end. It took a few viewings for me to really get into the purpose of the film. That being said…. I’m really not interested in a Michel Gondry directed Ghostbusters film. I may enjoy his films, but I don’t think him a good fit for the series. In listening to the commentary on Eternal Sunshine and seeing a behind the scenes video on Be Kind Rewind, I’m not a big fan of his personal beliefs, which I think are important when it comes to making a good Ghostbusters film without being cynical toward the subject matter. I’m not sure what Ivan Reitman’s beliefs are, but Dan Aykroyd was a major proponent, and he is a believer.
No. 5 – DAVID GORDON GREEN
I know nothing about him, and am interested in none of his projects. That’s enough for me to not really be interested in him as a director… and the fact that he directed Pineapple Express, which I had absolutely no desire to see, doesn’t do much for his cause.
No. 6 – IVAN REITMAN
This is one director that I know would get it right. He did the first two, after all. No problem with him directing the third. Here’s an idea: The Ghostbusters are acting as mentors to new recruits in the film; why not have a co-director that Reitman mentors, who then goes on to direct Ghostbusters 4? I’ll volunteer!
No. 7 – JODY HILL
Who? No thanks!
No. 8 – HAROLD RAMIS
Here is an interesting idea. Even though I’ve heard he’s in the same place belief-wise as Gondry, I’d have few qualms about him directing the film. He’s directed some great stuff in the past, and he’d be respectful of the Aykroyd style.
No. 9 – PAUL FEIG
As I mentioned above, under Judd Apatow, I would make this addition. Paul Feig is a director that was also the creator of the short lived, but brilliant show Freaks and Geeks. He’s directed many of the funniest episodes of such shows as The Office and Arrested Development. His comedy style seems like it’d be a good fit for a new Ghostbusters, as he is able to capture the feel of the 80s so well in Freaks and Geeks, which wouldn’t necessarily matter for a modern day GB film, but it would at least keep the overall feel of the series thus far intact. I wouldn’t mind seeing his name attached to the helm.
No. 10 – MYSELF
I’d be a little bit wary of me, as I’ve never directed a film before, much less anything else. However, that’s not to say that I couldn’t if given the chance. I have a visionary and exceedingly creative mind, and I know the franchise like the back of my hand. I’ve seen the first couple of films more times than I care to admit, and have been watching the cartoon more than anyone should. I also have a good feel as to what problems that fans of the original are going to have with the new film, regardless of who directs it. I gave voice to those problems in this article: Ghostbusters 3: Thoughts and Feelings on Continuing the Series. That being said, I’d make myself available to do it!
If you’re curious about the other websites that wrote on these directors, you can read them here: The Movie Blog and Obsessed with Film.
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