A Sequel that More than Delivers
I could just stick to the technical merits of the flash: the quality of the art, the animation skills depicted, the sound quality, etc. But it's easy to see that the skills on display here are more than competent.
What really bears discussing is the plot and content of the flash. It' i extremely difficult to make a sequel that tops the original. All of the stars, if they can be brought back, demand more money. The producers will want to stick with what worked in the original, pushing the script towards remake instead of sequel (The Hangover II anyone?) And in a special-effects driven production like this one, there is a fine line between topping the first film, and relying so heavily on the effects that the story and characters suffer (Men in Black II or any Star Wars prequel, anyone?) What it comes down to with sequels is this: a battle between growing the story and the characters and making a fast buck off something the audience will find reliable, familiar and safe.
Thankfully, Clockbustaz II is in the former camp. God, Pop, Blob, and BB, the characters we all came to know and love from the first film, are here for another go. Instead of just placing them into familiar situations, Pop-Tart gives them a room to grow with a fresh new story that takes an unexpected approach. The characters have room to grow and expand, exhibiting a depth of personality that could easily be glossed over in favor of sticking with the tried and true formula and catch phrases. The selflessness of the fine actors who play these roles cannot be overlooked. All could easily have demanded a big raise to appear in this flash, but they did not, giving the director the resources to enhance the special effects to jaw-dropping heights. The plot is rather complicated, and to avoid spoilers it is enough to say it will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the jokes will keep you in stiches, with a tension-filled and dramatic cliffhanger at the end that will have everyone in the audience eager for Ghostbustaz III before the film even ends.
Let us all hope that Ghostbsutaz III does not languish in development Hell, only to appear as a second-rate video game fifteen years too late. Instead, let us hope that the director puts the time and care into the next installment that will make these beloved character a part of our lives, a part of our folklore, a part of our very essence of being.