Ghostbusters Reviews

Classy Sci-Fi film with fantastic FX , dealing with a group of losers who decide to go into business for themselves .After losing their scholastic funding , a bunch of unemployed men join forces to form a team of para-normal investigators by aiding New York citizens in the removal of ghosts , goblins and other annoying spirits.

Comedy-thriller about N. Y. being overrun by supernatural creatures , as a brave group must do battle wicked spirits and other dreadful monsters . It packs great special effects , zany and crazy roles giving diverting interpretations from Bill Murray , Dan Aykroyd , Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis , Sigourney Weaver . Being well accompanied by a good support cast, such as : William Atherton , Annie Potts , William Margules , Reginald Vel Johnson , Timothy Carhart , among others . It contains entertainment , amusement , funny sketches and some of the best laughs of the decade . State-of-art special effects by the time , being competently made by expert Richard Edlund . Along with colorful and shimmering cinematography by Laszlo Kovaks . Lively and enjoyable musical score by the classic composer Elmer Berstein , along with Oscar nominated title song written and sung by Ray Parker Jr .

Followed by a 1989 inferior but serviciable sequel , Ghostbusters 2 , in which the team are back in action when a river of slime that is actually the physical version of evil is discovered running beneath the city , starred by similar actors , adding Peter MacNicol, Harris Yulin , Janet Margolin . And a recent female adaptation Ghostbusters 2026 by Paul Feig with Kristen Wiig , Melissa McCarthy , Chris Hemsworth , Charles Dance ,and special appearances from Bill Murray , Dan Aykroyd , Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and Sigourney Weaver .

The Venn diagram between would-be academics and blue-collar workers is a near perfect circle in Ghostbusters, a near fairy tale of trade jobs thwarting the paranormal. Only in New York would something like this fly. I mean, what other city would find citizens barely raising an eyebrow at the sight of Sumerian demon dogs possessing its fellow dwellers?

 

Here's the thing, Ghostbusters is a charming piece of (creaky) special effects with a riffing Bill Murray as its center. Everything revolves around Murray’s winking and rapid-fire snark, including an unfortunately sidelined Ernie Hudson and a part for Sigourney Weaver that breaks down to “the sexy brain.” It’s this casual misogyny, endemic to films of the 80s, that prevents from enjoying Ghostbusters more than I do. Did we really need to see Dan Aykroyd get head from a sexy ghost woman as a punchline?

 

Where Ghostbusters really shines is in its careful deployment of set pieces and specific personalities rubbing against each other in conflict and humor. It’s just as much in Annie Potts’ deadpan receptionist as it is in transformation of a ghost into vengeful harpy. You remember the smart-ass comments and the ridiculous punchlines just as much as the money shots, and how these two things frequently feed into each other. C’mon, the reveal of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is equally hilarious for something so soft becoming a kaiju as the setup involving Murray’s anxious ramblings about trying to keep his mind clear and failing to think of anything but this gooey mascot.

 

Remember how fun this one without the baggage of the limp sequel, unjustifiably reviled distaff remake (messy but fun), and the never-ending threat of a third proper entry? I know it’s hard, but really try to remember the vibrantly colored spiritual realms, cartoon-ish ghosts, and creepy but silly opening segment. Ghostbusters may be stiff in its joints, but there’s still charm aplenty to be found here.

‘Ghostbusters’ is a very fun movie to watch, funny + scary = hilarious frightening fun!

The ghosts start where a librarian gets frightened by half invisible ghosts! This makes three unemployed and enterprising university parapsychologists played by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd Harold Ramis team up as the Ghostbusters squad

The movie has lots of horror including a scene where Sigourney Weaver’s character’s eggs jump out the carton and she opens a door to see a hell-like doorway, it’s scary and hilarious at the same time

‘Ghostbusters’ contains charming funny performances from Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis and let’s never forget the song ‘Ghostbusters’, a scary, hilarious masterpiece

Smart, classic comedy with amazing visuals. This film aged well with its level of relevence, and super sarcastic humor.

Even before it saw the light of the day, even before the idea was conceived, Ghostbusters was destined to become a classic; if not of cinema as a whole, then just of the comedy genre. Given its status, I understand perfectly why some reviewers suddenly become conscious of its popularity and why their fingers tremble when they're about to accept to the opposite. Unlike films, say, Ben-Hur, Casablanca and 2001, which are clearly not accessible to all (not to say they're adult films or anything), Ghostbusters is for all ages, and it's only appropriate it should receive one-sided commentary. But, just like any good film, the film, and the fans, should learn to take criticism as well.

The gist is this that a trio of seemingly down on their luck good guys open up a new business: hunting and catching ghosts. In a fortnight they become the new sensation of town, with ghosts appearing left and right. The first half is very unassuming. It seems tired, bogged down by its tedious phase and lack of memorable moments. Enter second half: here is where the funny enters, with Venkman getting slimed and his devil-may-care attitude being shown in great light. Also, Egon and Spengler have some funny moments of their own coupled with the genuinely hilarious sequence of Louis in his apartment. It was, however, the third half that had me worried. The introduction of Winston sets off vibes of impending doom; a disaster that is confirmed by making the third-half randomly somewhat-religious and fully-irritating. By that mark, the film is decent enough, but it quickly loses its focus and becomes borderline-irritating, like someone not closing the bathroom door or a fly buzzing too close to your ear.

The above point is not the only reason for me disliking this film. Though laxly funny, it was too deadpan and pokerfaced for me to thoroughly enjoy it. Unlike most other comedies, especially the ones of the mid 90's, which have the occasional jab at being clever or smart, Ghostbusters doesn't employ anything like that, and instead relies on improvisation - the reason for the static effect of the dialogues and the virtually non-existent chemistry between the trio. As for Winston: he was a total joke, the most poorly written character for the film. In fact, the only character I found interesting was Louis Tully.

From the performances, Bill Murray was almost too perfect in his role as Dr. Venkman. A master of the deadpan, he made the character his own, just like how Jim Carrey does. But, rather unfortunately, Venkman unfashionably emerges as an ambition-poor, irritating character by the end of the film. I also enjoyed both Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Egon and Dr. Spengler, respectively. Sigourney Weaver was also likable in her role as Dana, but I guess she bought in solely because of her iconic role in Alien - 5 years previous - because Ghostbusters makes quite a few references to Alien. The part where she emerges from the gargoyle's body is very reminiscent of the alien eggs. Before he retired, Rick Moranis was one of my favorite funny actors back in the day. He made Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Flintstones bearable to watch, just as how he kept making things interesting in this film as Louis Tully, the unfortunate soul of the story. The rest of the cast were decent enough, although too under-developed to be taken seriously.

In conclusion, is Ghostbusters is a great film? The world says it is, but this reviewer thinks different. This reviewer thinks there are better comedies out there, and if he wants to watch ghosts, he plays a random Casper, the friendly ghost episode on YouTube.

6.5/10

When this movie came out, I was just a kid and, I remember it very well, it was just huge. Back then, it was a real event and it was just everywhere. I mean, you had the hit song, the awesome logo, all the merchandise, there was even two different cartoon shows if I recall it correctly. Basically, it was inevitable, except maybe if you lived in a dark cave, and I really loved the whole phenomenon. I thought it was just awesome, to see those funny guys with their weird gadgets and those ghosts were still kind of spooky (give me a break… I was maybe 5 years back in those days). Anyway, after all those years, I thought it was time to re-watch it, this time, with Nick, my step-son. Filled up with all these childhood memories, I had some pretty huge expectations but, to be honest, I was rather disappointed. I mean, Nick really loved it and we subsequently watched the sequel later on but I personally had a rather hard time to care about the damned thing. I mean, I still could see that the whole thing was quite original and I was fairly entertained throughout the beginning until the end but I also thought that it was actually pretty cheesy. When I was a kid, I thought the whole thing was just awesome and fascinating but, as a grown-up, I thought it was at best amusing but I never thought it was really hilarious whatsoever. To conclude, even though it is and remains a classic, I’m afraid I have outgrown this flick but it is still definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

"We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!"

Three decades on, Ghostbusters is still as hilarious, spooky and marvellous as ever: an absolute hoot of a horror-comedy engineered by talented moviemakers in the prime of their careers. Directed by Ivan Reitman (Stripes) and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, it's a grandiose spectacle of comedy and special effects enhanced by sharp, quotable dialogue and a pitch-perfect cast. Ghostbusters was an unexpected box office smash upon its release in the summer of 1984, grossing almost $300 million worldwide against its $30 million budget, and it still feels fresh and original in 2013. With its spot-on tone, absurd plot devices, hysterical one-liners, gut-busting physical humour and over-the-top performances, it's no wonder that movie-goers keep calling on Ghostbusters for their entertainment needs well into the 21st Century.

Kicked out of Columbia University after their funding is pulled, parapsychology scientists Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Ramis) decide to go freelance, setting up a ghost removal service and calling themselves the "Ghostbusters." Operating out of an abandoned firehouse and seeing a steady increase in demand for their services, the gang also recruit a sardonic receptionist named Janine (Annie Potts), as well as a fourth member named Winston (Ernie Hudson), who does not have a science background but needs a job. The Ghostbusters are soon approached by Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), a beautiful cellist who notices strange supernatural happenings in her apartment building. After Dana and her nerdy neighbour, Louis Tully (Rick Moranis), are possessed by supernatural entities, it's up to the Ghostbusters to save New York City from destruction at the hands of Gozer the Gozerian.

Most of the movie's comedy is generated from the interactions and conversations between the main characters, who seem to disperse an endless array of witty dialogue. For a PG-rated film, the script is surprisingly risqué, though most of these gags will probably fly over kids' heads while adults will have a hearty laugh. On top of the intelligent bantering, Ghostbusters delivers terrific situational comedy and an all-around charm and zaniness that feel spontaneous instead of forced. The narrative also has an excellent flow; perhaps no filmmaker other than Reitman could smoothly transition from an ominous standoff with a demigod to a goofy battle involving a Godzilla-like giant marshmallow man. Additionally, Reitman keeps the proceedings somewhat grounded and establishes real stakes; the Terror Dogs are pretty unnerving, and there are scares amid the laughs. But while there are serious moments, the film keeps the comedy coming thanks to funny bantering and the hammy nature of the creatures (see the iconic Slimer or the gigantic Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man). The only real problem with Ghostbusters is a subplot involving an environmentalist played by William Atherton (Die Hard). It's too much of a standard-order story thread, and it occasionally threatens to spoil the fun. However, Atherton's presence does pave the way for numerous comical exchanges.

Contemporary spoof movies and comedies are not often skilfully assembled, yet Ghostbusters is bursting with talent in terms of cinematography, editing and direction. The opening library scene is a masterpiece of deliberate pacing and tension, and one can't help but smile when the theme kicks in and the title appears on-screen. It's an immaculate opening for the picture. Similarly, the cinematography is unusually strong throughout, with a careful eye towards composition and lighting, which makes the movie look interesting and moody. Ghostbusters is a special effects-heavy production, with numerous ghosts and creatures appearing throughout. Most of the practical effects stand up to this day, while the more obvious effects shots (specifically the green-screen compositing) only amplify the film's charm and absurdity. The stop-motion animation and puppetry for the ghostly creatures do look goofy, but it all still works in the context of a screwball comedy. With modern filmmakers overusing CGI, there's something endearing about watching old-school effects from a different era, with matte paintings, optical shots, vast sets, models and puppets. Also exceptional is Elmer Bernstein's score, which captures the essence of the film and sets the tone for every scene; it's playful, light-hearted and comedic, yet the music is also foreboding at times to underscore the horror elements. The superb technical execution of Ghostbusters is precisely why comedies from this era are superior and more respected than their modern counterparts: it feels like a proper film pulled off with genuine skill and care instead of a slapdash creation thrown together by a bunch of juvenile filmmakers.

The screenplay makes fantastic use of the cast, playing well to each performer's strengths and inviting improvisation. The Ghostbusters gang carries a terrific camaraderie as if they've been friends for years, which helps us feel comfortable whenever they interact on-screen. Bill Murray is at his comedic best here with his deadpan delivery, sarcasm and witticisms shining through in every scene. Nobody does humour quite like Murray - he's an enormous asset to the picture. Meanwhile, Ramis is a top-notch straight man, delivering the science-heavy exposition with abandon and charm. Then there's Aykroyd, who absolutely nails his role and provides several big laughs. The last of the four central Ghostbusters is Hudson, who ably fulfils his duties as the token black guy and shares fantastic chemistry with the other three boys. The role of Winston was initially written with Eddie Murphy in mind, but the actor choosing to star in Beverly Hills Cop resulted in Hudson's casting. Also worth mentioning is the side-splitting Potts as the Ghostbusters' receptionist, who is responsible for numerous comedic highlights. Weaver, who holds her own against her fellow actors, and Moranis, who's never been funnier, round out the cast.

Wonderfully executed and smartly written, Ghostbusters is a seminal '80s comedy that stands the test of time and deserves to be seen, even by those who do not usually enjoy movies of this vintage. The production is the rare result of the right creative minds doing what they do best at the right time, creating a lightning-in-a-bottle blockbuster flaunting the perfect mix of comedy and horror. Much of the iconography throughout Ghostbusters remains memorable all these decades later, from the instantly recognisable monsters and ghosts to Ray Parker Jr.'s smash hit theme song that is now a staple at annual Halloween parties. Even though it spawned an inferior second film and an atrocious 2016 remake, we still have this first film, and we can be forever thankful for that.

9.1/10

In 1984, there were two horror-comedies that came out at the same time: Ghostbusters, which was directed by Ivan Reitman, and Gremlins, which was directed by Joe Dante. While both were successful, Ghostbusters came out on top for 6 continuous weeks. This might as well be Reitman's best directorial work here. All of the main characters are great; Peter with his wit, Ray with his pep, Egon with his "spores, molds, and fungus", etc. And another thing, this movie gets better the more you watch it. Every second, every joke, everything in it, gets better the more you watch it.

My rating: 9/10

Three scientists working on paranormal activities, finally got reproved of all the study grant and being lay off from the university, taking this as an omen to do something big they started a unique business of busting ghosts and finally it came out that the survival of the whole world rest on them when they have to take care of spirits of the dark.