Ghostbusters (Corrected Version)

 

 

Create your own review

Academic parapsychologists (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis) find themselves out of work due to budget constraints. They ban together to form a company that to form a badly needed service. They become ghost busters. We follow them from their humble beginnings to their meteoric rise to new heights.

On the way we see what may be a blooming love story staring a possessed Sigourney Weaver (of "Alien" 1979 fame). There is also a token appearance by the Staypuff man. And who is the key master.

Lost of fun classic that was a first of its kind. There have been many stories similar but the combination of characters and actors is unique.

Even today you hear "Who ya gonna call?"

Ghostbusters was a huge hit back in 1984, and the ubiquitous presence of Ray Parker, Jr.'s theme song was a seemingly nonstop presence on the radio for months and months - I'm still trying to get that silly song, which seemed awfully cool at the time, out of my head. I was a kid when the film was released, so it's no surprise the film was funnier to me then than it is now, but Ghostbusters has actually aged fairly well. Typified by Bill Murray's deadpan manner, the humor here is all about delivery and timing and atmosphere. It appears as if Bill Murray is making up at least half of his lines as he goes along, which means he is in top form. Dan Aykroyd plays second fiddle in the lineup, but Aykroyd has always played a mean second fiddle. I wouldn't be able to identify Harold Ramis by name just by watching him perform, but he's definitely a full-fledged member of the Ghostbusters comedy tri-fecta (not to mention co-writer with Aykroyd), which actually becomes a foursome midway through the film with the addition of Ernie Hudson. I still can't say I care for Sigourney Weaver all that much, but she certainly adds something to the film as the guys' first customer, the object of Dr. Venkman's (Murray) affections, and eventually the conduit for Zuul's incarnation into the world of man. Supporting actors? Ghostbusters has you covered with Annie Potts as the Ghostbusters receptionist and Rick Moranis as the rather hapless Louis Tully. Up until his possession by a demonic dog, Moranis still seems to exude a little of his Bob McKenzie persona (although he does not imbibe copious amounts of beer or utter the word "hoser" a single time).

As far as I know, Ghostbusters is the only film in which the Environmental Protection Agency comes very close to causing the end of the world. Everything's going great until EPA agent Walter Peck (William Atherton) shows up at Ghostbusters HQ and accuses the guys of storing hazardous waste on the premises - which eventually results in the shutdown of the ghost storage system and, in short order, ghostly anarchy all across New York City. Things had looked gloomy early on when Dr. Venkman (Murray), Stantz (Aykroyd), and Spengler (Ramis) lost their university positions and research grants, but three mortgages later they had landed on their feet with the formation of their unique ghostbusting business. Sure, one could question the legality of atomic-powered backpacks and untested laser-like weapons that could theoretically give time and space the mother of all hiccoughs, but there's no question that they did get the job done. Even if it means getting slimed by some pesky green monsters, the guys soon gain national exposure by effectively putting poltergeists and disagreeable spirits out of business. Then the EPA comes along, releases of all the trapped troublemakers into an atmosphere already saturated with very bad vibes, and the next thing you know ancient Sumerian demons are moving into penthouse apartments and laying plans for hell on earth.

Obviously, the entire story is played for laughs, from the silly sliming hijinx of the ghosts to Murray's indubitably subtle style of non-serious intellectualism. You can't even take Dr. Veckman seriously as a scientist, as he's more concerned with picking up chicks than actually learning anything - until his newest love interest starts hovering four feet above her bed. That's sort of a wake-up call.

Admittedly, all of this craziness was funnier when I was twenty years younger than I am now, but Ghostbusters has actually aged extremely well - even in terms of the special effects. Vintage comedy never goes out of style, and that's why most of us, for decades to come, will be incapable of thinking anything other than "Ghostbusters" whenever we hear the words "Who you gonna call?" and cannot help but laugh whenever anyone happens to utter the phrase, "Yes, it's true."

This is a great movie that came from the minds of the SNL crew. Just like the reviews says, it's Poltergiest meets the Exorcist. I'm proud to say that this movie was apart of my generation. If you haven't check this out, please do so. It is so worth it.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 108 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Great PSP Title!
I must admit I was a bit unsure when I picked up this title for the PSP, as past translations of Ghostbusters to video games have always been a disappointment. Read more

Published on Jan 6 2010 by Joel Andrews

5.0 out of 5 stars Central Park West was never funnier.
No need to tell anyone that GHOSTBUSTERS was the best comedy of the 80s (and probably better than anything in the 90s). Read more

Published on July 13 2004 by Rocco Dormarunno

5.0 out of 5 stars Still StayingPuft
The movie is classic. Period. Nuff said. End of discussion. Bill Murray is a legend. Every man should have at least one Bill Murray DVD in his collection, and if you only have... Read more

Published on July 11 2004 by Beardyjin

4.0 out of 5 stars still holds up
This film phenomenon still holds up two decades later, with still passable special effects and great lines and performances from a very talented cast -- Bill Murray at his acerbic... Read more

Published on July 8 2004 by audrey

5.0 out of 5 stars Bill Murray at his comedic best
It is said that the role of Peter Venkman was originally written for John Belushi, but we'll never know how he would have performed in the role. Read more

Published on Jun 26 2004 by Mark J. Fowler

5.0 out of 5 stars After 20 Years, "Ghostbusters" Is Still Saving The World
"We've been going about this all wrong. This Mr. Stay-Puft is o.k. He's a sailor. He's in New York. We get this guy layed we won't have any trouble. Read more

Published on Jun 8 2004 by the-gr8shag

2.0 out of 5 stars SOME MOVIES ARE BETTER LEFT REMEMBERED
Ever watch a stand-up comic on tv who wasn't funny and you had to change the channel 'cause you felt guilty for not laughing? Read more

Published on May 2 2004 by Joseph Murillo

5.0 out of 5 stars Ghostbusters-Great Movie and DVD, But Something Is Missing!
After 20 years GHOSTBUSTERS holds up even with the pre-digital special effects, etc. The film works because it is just plain funny, inventive (the E.P.A. Read more

Published on April 30 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh yeah, theyll be totally discreet.
20 years after Ghostbusters original release, symmetrical book-stacking and the stay-puft marshmallow man are still fabulous comedy chaos. Read more

Published on April 15 2004 by Theresa Frommel

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPER ,SPECTACULAR, EXCELLENT, WONDERFUL, HUGE SUPERMOVIE!!
This is one of the greatest,funniest and most successful comedy motion pictures in movie history!! The actors,actresses and the special effects are super remarkable!! Read more

Published on April 6 2004 by D. J Svoboda

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 108 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!