Skip to main content

Ghostbusters (1984) 30th Anniversary Re-issue, PG, ★★★1/2

Who are you going to call? Ghostbusters.
Let's not beat around the bush, many people know the "Ghostbusters" song or the riff or rhythm of the song. Even though it's kind of outdated in the prime '80s, the song and the movie are still a fun classic. However, we have been a long way since the prime movies of supernatural occurrences and ghost stories. Some were dramatic and some were comedic, such as, this movie. To be fair and honest, I have seen this movie for the first time ever and must I say, it was a very fun time getting to know the characters and seeing the joy of filmmaking an original concept.

You know the story. Three professors, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Epon Spengler (Harold Ramis) are called to investigate a ghost encounter at a library where it turns out to be a ghost of a dead librarian. The ghost turns into a horrible monster.

After they lose their jobs at Columbia University, the three misfit people form a paranormal investigations service called "Ghostbusters" taking place at a disused firehouse. They capture ghosts and thanks to the word-of-mouth and media outlets, they are heroes. But they are overworked, so, they hire a fourth person called Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson).

One of the first clients is Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), whose apartment is haunted by a satanic spirit in a refrigerator, Zuul, a demigod. Venkman competes with Barrett's neighbor, Louis Tully (Rick Moranis), to earn her affection. The matter gets worse as Dana is possessed by Zuul and the demonic ghosts escape, wreaking havoc throughout the whole city making it almost impossible for the Ghostbusters to suck in and put away for good.


It is a plausible film that is full of corny special effects at its time, but never mind the corniness, it is the characters and the story that makes it memorable. The chemistry between the three, but soon, four co-workers is natural and never boring and the dialogue sometimes ranges from a little chuckle to laugh-out-loud. It seems that after their fame or even before the fame, the cast really enjoyed making this special film back then. No wonder this film is so full of joy and excitement that it is beloved by many people internationally. Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, Hudson, Weaver and especially Moranis create vibrant and likable characters that are plugged in into the situations and belong to the genre.

Director Ivan Reitman of Kindergarten Cop and Twins fame with Arnold Schwarzengger has made full blended with fun and dead-pan humor that you do not seem to care whether the special effects are nothing special. That is basically a minor criticism, but I don't care. The chemistry between the cast members and the script makes the film work and whether or not you have seen the film, you would recline and enjoy what's going on-screen and laugh your socks off. It deserves to be looked at again in theaters if you want to know what it feels like when audiences first saw it in 1984. Your money is worth it.

***1/2

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2015 Documentaries

I have only seen 6 documentaries this year which also includes Amy and I Am Chris Farley . But, I have to be honest, this has not been a particularly strong year for documentaries except for onethat got me emotionally and mentally as what I examine for when they uncover the truth or some facts from the people involved in these documentaries. But, here are the four I have seen this year: Listen To Me Marlon, Unrated, 4 stars This is the most insightful documentary of the year as we only hear Marlon Brando narrating his life and experiences what he has gone through regarding his family, his private life and his film experiences regarding The Godfather , Apocalypse Now , Last Tango in Paris , etc. It is like Marlon Brando came out of his grave to give us another profoundly moving movie only we hear his voice and scenery and nothing else. The Look of Silence, R, 3.5 stars Joshua Oppenheimer's follow-up documentary is a light-hearted but still-disturbing film regarding a ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Daddy's Home 2 (2017), PG-13, ★1/2

The first Daddy's Home was surprisingly a financial success as I thought it was not as bad as many people thought. I thought it was a solid cable watch because it had enough laughs for that sort of mixed recommendation. I was not craving for a sequel for this movie because again, comedy sequels have a very bad record, however, the only difference is that it is not too late since the first movie came out a few years ago. But, this sequel is a reminder as to why we do not need a sequel to a hit comedy because this is a pretty much forgettable comedy, especially a holiday comedy...which I hade a guilty pleasure for. This did not work for me. Brad and Dusty (Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg) have become friends after the events of the first film and they set up a co-dad system where their two children, Megan and Dylan, spending time at each father's home. Dusty has re-married to writer Karen (Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio) and he is step-dad to Adrianna, Karen...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), R, 4 stars

The stockbrokers worshipping Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) like a god. Wall Street. The clients, the adrenaline, the stocks, the money, the power, and the decadence. The former three pertains to the man's job, but the latter three pertains what any stockbroker wants in order to have the freedom to do whatever they want with the client's money. As Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey) would say, "The name of the game is: move the money from your client's pocket into your pocket." We basically spend three hours seeing all of these Wall-Street scumbags steal the clients' money into their own pockets and spend it on booze, drugs, women, and other insane things in more insane activities. I have witnessed here is a great movie that I would not watch repetitively. The movie starts with Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) blowing cocaine onto a hooker's butt and he and his brokers throwing a little person onto a board with a dollar sign in the center. It'...
Post a Comment
Read more