Ghostbusters (1984)Some people get mice or bed bugs in their apartment in the Big Apple; others get an infestation of poltergeists. "Who you gonna call?" Ghostbusters (1984) is a supernatural comedy about a trio of doctors and scientists--Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis)--who, along with their newest recruit, Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), become the "four horsemen" of specter removal in New York City. When their first client, Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), comes to them about the incursion of an ancient Sumerian demigod in her high-rise apartment, the "Ghostbusters" find themselves at the epicenter of the largest supernatural this side of Manhattan.
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Considering how popular Ghostbusters became and how deeply entrenched in the contemporary firmament of nostalgia it has become, it's sometimes hard to step back and appreciate the film as the mad work of inspired genius that it is. Ghostbusters is an unlikely yet inspired product of a group of talented comedians, who rose to fame through late-night variety shows like "Saturday Night Live" and "Second City Television (SCTV)". Written by stars Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, Ghostbusters dances the line of comedy and horror as elegantly as Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. The basic plot of Ghostbusters is about a creeping incursion of ghoulish monsters that menace and harangue the people of New York City, building up to an event of literal apocalyptic proportions. But somehow, Aykroyd and Ramis--with director Ivan Reitman--make this a charming, light-hearted adventure, without resorting to cheap gags or diminishing the impending doom pending on the ethereal horizon. This perfect balance of horror and comedy also has to do with Bill Murray's deceptively nuanced performance as Venkman, who as Dana opines, acts more like a "game show host" than a scientist. At first it appears that Venkman is willing to cheat at his own experiments to score a date with a pretty collegiate; and yet an astute observer will note that he describes the purpose of the experiment as "the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP", which he actually conducts by shocking the more likely sixth sense savant, annoying him in the process. For reasons that seem as arbitrary as the "fate" or "karma" Venkman speaks of when he and Ray have their university grant revoked, Venkman confesses his "love" to Dana Barrett while investigating her apartment--although Dana is pretty, this is bold even for Pete. Venkman seems like the odd man out among peers, Ray and Egon, who are paranormal super-nerds. And yet, Venkman has a Ph.D. in "psychology and parapsychology", responding to the megalomaniacal and vindictive EPA agent, Walter Peck (William Atherton) while deflecting the smarmy bureaucrat's intrusiveness. So Peter had to earn his fancy degrees somehow, and this comes across in his empathy (yes, empathy) with people, which can be felt at key moments in Ghostbusters. Peter is not really the sleaze he feints that he is; when Dana is possessed by the demonic harbinger of Gozer--a dog-like entity called Zuul--he refuses to take advantage of her vulnerability, keenly aware how wrong that would be. Furthermore, Venkman often represents the "everyman" attitude of the Ghostbusters--later joined by Winston--using sarcasm and dry wit to recenter the over-enthusiastic Ray and jargon-heavy Egon as they expound on the mysteries of the universe.
Another dominant element of Ghostbusters is how much New York City is really a part of the film. Although some locations use fictional names--or go unnamed--others are clearly landmarks of the city. Consider shots of the Ghostbusters' souped-up station wagon--dubbed "Ecto-1"--crossing into the city with the skyline behind it, the shots of Central Park, and others which establish that Ghostbusters is a film as much about New York City as it is about ghosts. The final scenes of Ghostbusters also drive this point home; the four heroes appear before the mayor, and Venkman slyly convinces him to let them march into Gozer's lair to save the day. As the Ghostbusters receive a police escort, throngs of New Yorkers are lined up, representing varying religions and peoples, all cheering for the brave souls prepared to defend them against a threat from beyond our dimension. Along with the clever balance of comedy and horror, Ghostbusters is also memorable for its theme song, written by Ray Parker, Jr. (also named "Ghostbusters"). The song was so popular, that lyrics like "I ain't afraid of no ghost" are permanent pop culture fixtures. Other songs from the soundtrack were written for the film, with lyrics about the supernatural, ranging in styles from R&B to new wave, with the rest of the hauntingly (pardon the pun) evocative musical score crafted by the legendary Elmer Bernstein. The special effects of Ghostbusters are some of the more memorable elements in the film, including the pouncing and glaring red eyes of the dog-like Zuul, the helix-like streams of hyper-charged photonic energy from the proton packs, and even the massive (and iconic) form of the absurd "destroyer", the kaiju Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. Although more understated in Ghostbusters, the idea of paranormal experts as legitimate science and a business venture should seem outlandish to the world at large, except for the crucial establishing scene at the New York Public Library, proving to at least one poor librarian that ghosts are real. So wildly popular was Ghostbusters that it spawned a massive empire of merchandise, cartoons, toys, and even video games. (This includes the criminally underappreciated "Ghostbusters: The Video Game" released in 2009, with the original cast reprising their roles, using motion-captured likenesses, and also written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis.) The film's success also prompted a sequel in 1989, as well as a reboot--also titled Ghostbusters--in 2016, and the iconic logo of the Ghostbusters is recognized all over. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but there's something truly special and magical about the original Ghostbusters which makes it a classic that is as thrilling and endearing over thirty years later.
Recommended for: Fans of a comedy of ghosts and New York City, a classic which has become an immediately identifiable gem in the blockbuster firmament. Possessed of a talented cast, a punchy soundtrack, and clever writing, Ghostbusters is a timeless laugh riot and great fun.
Another dominant element of Ghostbusters is how much New York City is really a part of the film. Although some locations use fictional names--or go unnamed--others are clearly landmarks of the city. Consider shots of the Ghostbusters' souped-up station wagon--dubbed "Ecto-1"--crossing into the city with the skyline behind it, the shots of Central Park, and others which establish that Ghostbusters is a film as much about New York City as it is about ghosts. The final scenes of Ghostbusters also drive this point home; the four heroes appear before the mayor, and Venkman slyly convinces him to let them march into Gozer's lair to save the day. As the Ghostbusters receive a police escort, throngs of New Yorkers are lined up, representing varying religions and peoples, all cheering for the brave souls prepared to defend them against a threat from beyond our dimension. Along with the clever balance of comedy and horror, Ghostbusters is also memorable for its theme song, written by Ray Parker, Jr. (also named "Ghostbusters"). The song was so popular, that lyrics like "I ain't afraid of no ghost" are permanent pop culture fixtures. Other songs from the soundtrack were written for the film, with lyrics about the supernatural, ranging in styles from R&B to new wave, with the rest of the hauntingly (pardon the pun) evocative musical score crafted by the legendary Elmer Bernstein. The special effects of Ghostbusters are some of the more memorable elements in the film, including the pouncing and glaring red eyes of the dog-like Zuul, the helix-like streams of hyper-charged photonic energy from the proton packs, and even the massive (and iconic) form of the absurd "destroyer", the kaiju Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. Although more understated in Ghostbusters, the idea of paranormal experts as legitimate science and a business venture should seem outlandish to the world at large, except for the crucial establishing scene at the New York Public Library, proving to at least one poor librarian that ghosts are real. So wildly popular was Ghostbusters that it spawned a massive empire of merchandise, cartoons, toys, and even video games. (This includes the criminally underappreciated "Ghostbusters: The Video Game" released in 2009, with the original cast reprising their roles, using motion-captured likenesses, and also written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis.) The film's success also prompted a sequel in 1989, as well as a reboot--also titled Ghostbusters--in 2016, and the iconic logo of the Ghostbusters is recognized all over. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but there's something truly special and magical about the original Ghostbusters which makes it a classic that is as thrilling and endearing over thirty years later.
Recommended for: Fans of a comedy of ghosts and New York City, a classic which has become an immediately identifiable gem in the blockbuster firmament. Possessed of a talented cast, a punchy soundtrack, and clever writing, Ghostbusters is a timeless laugh riot and great fun.