JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonGhostbusters (1984) – Trailer included
December 2nd 2009 23:43
A Sliming thats good for 25 years
Ghostbusters on Blu Ray DVD
Director: Ivan Reitman
Writer: Dan Ackroyd & Harold Ramis
Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, William Atherton, Ernie Hudson
“Ray. If someone asks if you are a god, you say, "yes!" – Dr Peter Venkman
JD has many fond childhood memories of the year 1984, none of them Orwellian. He got a new bike for Christmas, started the emotionally scarring experience known as high school and his blossoming cinematic obsession was cemented.
Going to the movies with mum and dad was a major event and amongst others Gremlins, The Terminator, The Karate Kid, Romancing the Stone, Red Dawn and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were all released. It was also the year that introduced us to Ectoplasm, Ectomobiles and Proton Packs with the science fiction/horror/comedy Ghostbusters.
Launching a cultural phenomenon, Ghostbusters became the highest grossing comedy of its time and saw a young Doe quoting “So she’s a dog” to such excess it was deemed a punishable offence around the house.
Now 25 years later (man that makes Johnny old), this pre-CG FX gag fest extravaganza continues to utilize the latest technology with a stellar High Def Blu-Ray release teeming with extras.
Doing a synopsis seems a little redundant for one of the most popular films ever made so keeping it brief - a trio of mad scientist outcast’s band together to fight an elevating supernatural threat that is assaulting the residence of the big apple.
“What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff - Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! - Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes. - the dead rising from the grave! - Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!” – Ray, Peter and Egon (The Ghostbusters)
When Caddyshack, The Blues Brothers and Stripes meet
John Doe says:
Standing the test of time with a deft mix of old school Visual Effects, hilarious performances and largely improvised dialogue, Ghostbusters warrants the label of a holiday favourite.
Beginning its journey to the big screen in the early 80’s buddy Writers/Actors Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis came up with the idea of a future where Ghost Busting was just another civil service like firefighting or police work, but budgetary restraints saw them modify the concept to a modern day origins story.
Director Ivan Reitman with pal Bill Murray
Packing the kind of chemistry that every comedy aspires too, the slobbery of Bill Murray’s Dr Peter Venkman, the childish verbosity of Dan Ackroyd’s Dr Raymond Stantz and overt nerdiness of Harold Ramis’ Dr Egon Spengler merge to become a nuclear accelerated triangle of zinging line delivery.
The talented co-stars like Rick Moranis (Spaceballs), Sigourney Weaver (Alien) and Annie Potts (Pretty in Pink) wring every screen moment dry with memorable shtick that is always faithful to character.
Given the thankless job of the often overlooked 4th Ghostbuster, Ernie Hudson (Oz) still manages to keep his self respect in the smaller role that was originally larger when written with Eddie Murphy in mind.
Special mention has to go to William Atherton who will forever be recognized as the smarmy yuppy villain in this and also Die Hard.
An iconic song forever
Unashamedly complimenting the commercial sensibilities of the project, the final nostalgic ingredient is the TV advertising inspired title song from Ray Parker Jr.
Looking and sounding better than ever in the new 5.1 sound and HD picture, the entire film is a technical achievement that can now be properly appreciated by a new generation as much as by the already passionate fan base.
Making it a fun and informative revisiting to the past for John Doe - The extra features include Deleted scenes, factoid Track, making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentary tracks and Slimer mode picture in picture.
Fun Casting Trivia:
John Belushi (Blues Brother) was the first choice to play Dr Venkman
Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop) was first choice for the role of Winston
Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice) truned down playing Venkman and Egon
Paul Ruebens (Pee-Wee) was asked to play Gozer
Anne Carlile (Liquid Sky)was asked to be Zuul
Sandra Bernhard (Hudson Hawk) was asked to be Janine
John Candy (Stripes) was also approached for the film in early development
Ghostbusters is on Blu Ray comes to jdmfilmreviews.com courtesy of Sony Pictures.
For more Sony BluRay DVD’s please visit the official site @ www.sonypictures.com or www.experiencebluray.co.uk/
Here is a trailer for the new Blu Ray release for Ghostbusters
The original Ghostbusters trailer
Watch the first 10 minutes of Ghostbusters
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Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I haven't seen it in absolutely years. I do remember the special effects being very impressive. I didn't know the dialogue was mostly improvised, but I guess it was part of that SNL charm. I loved the customised box they trapped the ghosts in. And Annie Potts was a real cutie. Anna Carlisle was approached to play Zuul?? Crazy cool.
I always thought it was the Michelin Man walking down the street, since the marshmellow reference was lost on me and my Kiwi mates
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
As far as viewing for the common man - does it get much better than this?
Comment by Quin Goot
Bagman's Gazette
Cinema Banana
Great review.
Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
The First Wonderful Peter Yang's Variety Blog
The New Wonderful Peter Yang's variety blog
Power Ranger Online
TV Online
Stay healthy and loose weight
Cheers
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It does hold up and surprisingly the jokes are still funny....the 80's, a time when the corporations ruled the world without stealth, environmentalist suck they say.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It was thanksgiving weekend here so a holiday favourite was essential viewing.
On the improv tip it turns out there were throwaway lines everywhere and with Ackroyd and Ramis acting and writing it was inevitable...
LOL at Michelin man,......you do need to revisit this I think.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Immensely quotable this one is...for me its the "if someone asks you if your a god..." line.
Thanks for dropping in
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Linh
Celluloid Fun
Ghostbusters is one of my favourite non-John Hughes films from the 1980s.
I hear Ghostbusters 3 might get the go ahead, with Sigourney Weaver saying in a recent interview while promoting her new film Avatar,
"I might be in it; I see nothing wrong with being in it, although I don't think I will have a big part. I think Bill Murray has a little more to do with it - he's a ghost."
"I know that my little son Oscar – who was kidnapped from me [in the second Ghostbusters movie] – I think he has grown up to be a Ghostbuster."
Read more: Really Long Link
I hope they do get the green light for Ghostbusters 3.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
i am a massive fan of the original but the lame sequel kind of scared me away from having hopes for the remake.
At least they are getting the same cast together, though it sounds to me like they are gunna be mentoring a band of new, young Ghostbusters.