I’m not gonna lie… Ghostbusters is one of my all time favorite films. I remember seeing it in the theater as a kid and just loving it. Sure, I didn’t get some of the more slightly adult jokes at the time, but I still enjoyed the hell out of the movie. It was funny and even mildly scary at times. Nothing that made you want to run out of the theater crying or anything, but the general ghost designs were realistic and even a little terrifying. Especially the lady in the library at the beginning.
Back Off, Man. I’m A Scientist
Honestly, this cast may be damn near perfect. Everyone in it nails their role. Every character is unique and memorable in their own right. I can’t think of how I would even want to replace anyone who graces the screen. I know that Ernie Hudson‘s Winston was a originally written for Eddie Murphy, but Ernie owns it. If Eddie was cast, I think it would have actually detracted from that sorely needed, logical, man on the streets vibe that character had.
Like I said this cast is stacked. First off you have Bill Murray as Peter Venkman, he’s a ladies-man, has zero interest in ghosts, and just wants to make a quick buck. It’s funny because it’s believable. Then, you have Ray Stantz played by Dan Aykroyd. Sure he’s smart, but it’s more like he’s book smart and the exact opposite of Peter’s street smarts. Ultimately, he’s the heart of the group. Third, there is the Spock of the group, Harold Ramis‘ Egon Spengler. He’s the straight man, he gets right to the point no matter the situation. Last but not least of the titular group is Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddmore. He’s not a scientist. At all. He just a huy off the street that applied for a job that is definitely not worth $11,500 a year. He’s relatable. He’s us, the viewer.
Then we have the extended cast. Sigourney Weaver plays Dana, the love interest of Peter and one of our two possessed characters in the film. With little screen time she plays he character in a multitude of ways. It’s kind of amazing to watch. Living just down the hall from Dana is Rick Moranis‘ Louis Tully. He’s got such a crush on Dana, but he’s such a dork. A lovable dork nonetheless. Annie Potts shines as the Ghostbuster’s bug eyed receptionist, Janine Melnetz. “Sorry about the bug eyes thing, I’ll be in my office.” And last but not least, there’s dickless Walter Peck. The human antagonist of the film. He’s out to get the guys at any cost. William Atherton plays the smarmy EPA inspector like no other. He’s perfect.
Don’t Cross The Streams
The other thing about Ghostbusters that is truly outstanding is the special effects. It blends practicality into the scenes so damn well. They feel tangible. Unlike all the CGI-fests we have these days. It competes with The Thing for outstanding 80s practical effects if you ask me. The designs are great. They have real ethereal energy and they belong there. And it’s not just the character designs of the ghosts or the use of miniatures. It’s the other little things you take for granted, like card catalog drawers opening on their own and being slimed. All of these things draw you in, you just might not think of them at first because of all the other great visuals in the movie.
Who Ya Gonna Call?
You can’t talk about this film and NOT talk about the music. You’d have to be crazy. The movie’s actually soundtrack really only has one hit. And that is Ray Parker Jr.’s Ghostbusters. It was a bonafide number one hit back in the day. You couldn’t escape it, it was everywhere. That being said the rest of the music on the soundtrack is forgettable. BUT… you also have Elmer Bernstein’s score in the film. That’s is some of the best music on film from the 80s. I remember a few years back wondering, “How did Ivan Reitman get the guy who did the music in Psycho and Taxi Driver to do his silly little ghostbustin’ comedy movie?” Well little did I know, Ivan and Elmer had worked together before this on Stripes. Plus, he did a lot of films with John Landis and a lot of comedies in the 80s. The dude was a genius.
The Choice Is Made!
I’m not gonna lie. I don’t hold the sequel in very high regard. I feel like it was just a cash grab and it’s inferior to the original film in every way. I remember feeling that way in 1989. It was like they took too long to come up with a follow-up story and just shit one out to get a sequel made. The same goes for the rebootquels from the last couple of years. They might be slightly better than the second was, but that’s not really saying much. So, I’ll stick with the first film as one of my all-time favorites.
What Ghostbusters Means to Us
As a snobby New Yorker, one of my biggest cinematic pet peeves is movies set in the greatest city on that planet that don’t properly utilize its great setting. Whether it be a lack of understanding the city’s geography or a failure to capture the energy of its residents. Ghostbusters succeeds in part because it feels like an NYC movie. It also succeeds because it’s wonderfully hilarious. The concept is simultaneously simple yet outlandish. The comedic stylings of the cast and writing strike a perfect balance, making it timelessly funny. I used to live close enough to the firehouse that served as the Ghostbuster headquarters that I would walk by it from time to time, always putting a smile on my face and inspiring me to rewatch one of the great comedies of all time.
–Raf Stitt
As an ’82 baby, there is no part of my life that I can remember before Ghostbusters, which I am infinitely thankful for. There are very few movies that I can point to from my childhood that made me feel like being smart, nerdy, and weird was OK (and actually even kind of badass), and this is one of them. It may have even been the first one, now that I think about it. The writing is a masterclass in storytelling, perfectly blending comedy, drama, science fiction, and even romance. It’s fun and ridiculous but also somehow realistic and serious — awesome ’80s special effects and all. Every performance is phenomenal, subtle and distinct. Plus, the theme song slaps. What more could you possibly want?
–R.J. Matthews
Have you seen Ghostbusters? What did you think of the film? Do you have a fun fact or piece of trivia about the making of the film? Share it in the comments below!
