Ghostbusters – 1984, Ivan Reitman
I’m afraid I won’t have much to say in this review. ‘Ghostbusters’ has been so influential on who I am, it’s impossible to criticise, without criticising part of myself. My introduction to Bill Murray, who is today my favourite actor. My introduction to New York City, which is my favourite city. My introduction to a type of comedy, the comedy of science and scientists, from which everything done in my writing now, has roots. It’s the best film of the 80’s as well. The fact is, if you haven’t seen ‘Ghostbusters’, where the hell have you been? The film is a perfect mix of the deadpan humour of Murray and Ramis with the more character driven comedy of Aykroyd and Moranis. The script is amazing, original and iconic. The ad-lib is also of note, such as much of Moranis’ Lewis Tully, who is said to have made up his hilarious introduction to Ted and Annette Fleming on the spot. If you don’t know and cant defer from titles, the plot concerns three unemployed scientists developing technology to scan, trap and incarcerate ghosts. They open their own business from a former fire station and soon are minor celebrities, bustin’ ghosts all over New York while working on the case of Dana Barrett (Weaver), who hears voices from her fridge and soon finds herself the pawn of a prehistoric demi-god. The three main characters are all scientist archetypes. Ray Stantz is eager, and curious, but also a bit scared of the real world. Egon Spengler is the ultimate stiff, completely deadpan, engrossed his work though a bit odd socially. (“I collect spore, moulds and fungus.”) Peter Venkman is described as a “Game show host”, he considers science a “hustle”, and is more interested in the women and celebrity the job brings than the work itself. We all know someone like each of these characters, because they’re all flawed people, but never does this make the film fall into examining these character flaws, they’re just there to make the guys human and therefore to make us feel for them. Every actor was at their peak in 1984, they were fresh and full of comedy energy and this all flows into the finished film, encapsulated forever. It’s the ultimate movie about the time in a mans life between education and real work, and as someone yet to reach that point, I can only see the film increasing in relevance in these next few years. It’s simply put the best comedy film ever made, and one of the most important films in my life. If you like me, you should like ‘Ghostbusters’. If you love ‘Ghostbusters’, well…
Best Moment: “Choose and perish.” An evil demi-god challenges the team to choose their destructor. They try to empty their heads, but something just pops in there. Their choice is iconic and the best reveal in any film.
I’m afraid I won’t have much to say in this review. ‘Ghostbusters’ has been so influential on who I am, it’s impossible to criticise, without criticising part of myself. My introduction to Bill Murray, who is today my favourite actor. My introduction to New York City, which is my favourite city. My introduction to a type of comedy, the comedy of science and scientists, from which everything done in my writing now, has roots. It’s the best film of the 80’s as well. The fact is, if you haven’t seen ‘Ghostbusters’, where the hell have you been? The film is a perfect mix of the deadpan humour of Murray and Ramis with the more character driven comedy of Aykroyd and Moranis. The script is amazing, original and iconic. The ad-lib is also of note, such as much of Moranis’ Lewis Tully, who is said to have made up his hilarious introduction to Ted and Annette Fleming on the spot. If you don’t know and cant defer from titles, the plot concerns three unemployed scientists developing technology to scan, trap and incarcerate ghosts. They open their own business from a former fire station and soon are minor celebrities, bustin’ ghosts all over New York while working on the case of Dana Barrett (Weaver), who hears voices from her fridge and soon finds herself the pawn of a prehistoric demi-god. The three main characters are all scientist archetypes. Ray Stantz is eager, and curious, but also a bit scared of the real world. Egon Spengler is the ultimate stiff, completely deadpan, engrossed his work though a bit odd socially. (“I collect spore, moulds and fungus.”) Peter Venkman is described as a “Game show host”, he considers science a “hustle”, and is more interested in the women and celebrity the job brings than the work itself. We all know someone like each of these characters, because they’re all flawed people, but never does this make the film fall into examining these character flaws, they’re just there to make the guys human and therefore to make us feel for them. Every actor was at their peak in 1984, they were fresh and full of comedy energy and this all flows into the finished film, encapsulated forever. It’s the ultimate movie about the time in a mans life between education and real work, and as someone yet to reach that point, I can only see the film increasing in relevance in these next few years. It’s simply put the best comedy film ever made, and one of the most important films in my life. If you like me, you should like ‘Ghostbusters’. If you love ‘Ghostbusters’, well…
Best Moment: “Choose and perish.” An evil demi-god challenges the team to choose their destructor. They try to empty their heads, but something just pops in there. Their choice is iconic and the best reveal in any film.
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