Ghostbusters
June 28th 2009 11:27
Dir: Ivan Reitman
Genres: Action / Comedy / Sci-Fi
Running Time: 105 mins
Now released on Blu ray, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the release of the film (1984). For those too young to have been around for original release of this groundbreaking film, University parapsychologists Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd) and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) are thrown out of their university labs for being sloppy researchers. However, they have a sound understanding of how to catch and store ghosts and so with a third mortgage on Stanz' family home the three guys set up shop in a disused Fire Station - with the biting customer service skills of the delightful Janine (Annie Potts) and new recruit Winston (Ernie Hudson). Customer number one Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) has trouble with her fridge and city wide panic ensues as her apartment building sucks in the evil Zuul, aided and abetted by Barrett’s Loser neighbour, Tully (Rick Moranis).
This fantastic film is filled with great humour and clever, clever dialogue between all the characters in this ensemble. This film looks great on Blu ray, and has weathered more than well over the last quarter century. The script was tightly written by Ackroyd and Ramis, and brilliantly directed by Ivan Reitman, who used the scripts biting wit, for which New York is justifiably famous, to carry this film to international acclaim.
This film was nominated for two Oscars, special effects (visual effects) and Ray Parker Jr.'s theme song. Although widely nominated for many other awards , this film never really got across the winning line. In 1984, ‘Terms of Endearment’ took Best Picture and ‘Star Wars - Episode VI’ took best Special Effects, and ‘Flashdance’ took best song for "What a Feeling" . Even though these films have their own place in the Oscar history of Hollywood, it demonstrates even now, how underrated this film was at the time. Perhaps it was regarded as frivolous and lightweight, when in fact it carries a quite sophisticated humour and outstanding acting and direction. Terms of Endearment caught the mood of the time. This was the age of grief and loss and many, many great Hollywood luminaries were dead from or dying of HIV/AIDS - grief was in vogue in the industry. However, Ghostbusters grossed over $220 million. The viewing public voted with their wallets, and in the sequel, Dana has a baby - Oscar. I'd like to think this was to make a point.
I love this film, I get its zany, biting humour, and it’s silly improbable premise and the great acting that rocketed the Ghostbusters to international stardom. If you don't have this film in your collection, more fool you. It’s a classic.
Rating: 4 ½ /5
Genres: Action / Comedy / Sci-Fi
Running Time: 105 mins
'Ghostbusters' - now on Bluray
Now released on Blu ray, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the release of the film (1984). For those too young to have been around for original release of this groundbreaking film, University parapsychologists Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd) and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) are thrown out of their university labs for being sloppy researchers. However, they have a sound understanding of how to catch and store ghosts and so with a third mortgage on Stanz' family home the three guys set up shop in a disused Fire Station - with the biting customer service skills of the delightful Janine (Annie Potts) and new recruit Winston (Ernie Hudson). Customer number one Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) has trouble with her fridge and city wide panic ensues as her apartment building sucks in the evil Zuul, aided and abetted by Barrett’s Loser neighbour, Tully (Rick Moranis).
This fantastic film is filled with great humour and clever, clever dialogue between all the characters in this ensemble. This film looks great on Blu ray, and has weathered more than well over the last quarter century. The script was tightly written by Ackroyd and Ramis, and brilliantly directed by Ivan Reitman, who used the scripts biting wit, for which New York is justifiably famous, to carry this film to international acclaim.
This film was nominated for two Oscars, special effects (visual effects) and Ray Parker Jr.'s theme song. Although widely nominated for many other awards , this film never really got across the winning line. In 1984, ‘Terms of Endearment’ took Best Picture and ‘Star Wars - Episode VI’ took best Special Effects, and ‘Flashdance’ took best song for "What a Feeling" . Even though these films have their own place in the Oscar history of Hollywood, it demonstrates even now, how underrated this film was at the time. Perhaps it was regarded as frivolous and lightweight, when in fact it carries a quite sophisticated humour and outstanding acting and direction. Terms of Endearment caught the mood of the time. This was the age of grief and loss and many, many great Hollywood luminaries were dead from or dying of HIV/AIDS - grief was in vogue in the industry. However, Ghostbusters grossed over $220 million. The viewing public voted with their wallets, and in the sequel, Dana has a baby - Oscar. I'd like to think this was to make a point.
I love this film, I get its zany, biting humour, and it’s silly improbable premise and the great acting that rocketed the Ghostbusters to international stardom. If you don't have this film in your collection, more fool you. It’s a classic.
Rating: 4 ½ /5
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