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| Ghosting in theaters again |
Insanity is described as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So then, watching the same movie over and over and expecting the same results would be half-crazy… And this week, GHOSTBUSTERS has reentered theaters for the 30th Anniversary, and it looks better than ever... Even after, so far, seven viewings in seven nights by yours truly...
What really stands out in the remastered digitization is the color green. Not just Slimer, the rambunctious ghost based on John Belushi, who provides the GB’s their first chore, but things as simple as Dan Aykroyd’s collared shirt in the beginning, and tinges of Bill Murray’s dress clothes on the first day they set up office...
Mind you, since this was 1984, Green refers to the color, not the Environment. Strange that this movie’s villain is, of all things, a persistent stiff-suit working for the EPA. Dickless would be extremely well hung in today’s PC climate. That being said, as the lead weenie herein, character-actor William Atherton ruled in a Ted Knight-like CADDYSHACK unapologetic jerk-bully fashion. And while his Walter Peck gets drenched in melted marshmallow, a year later, Mr. Atherton would practically drown in REAL SCIENCE popcorn.
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| Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman |
So there it is... of all the gorgeous remastering accomplished for GHOSTBUSTERS, soon to be transferred onto an official Blu Ray release, the color green is the most prominent... even moreso in clothing than building exterior and interior...
Actually,
everything looks really incredible... And best yet, no CGI was added... What was great then looks even better now...
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| Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Ray Stantz |
So if you’re reading this, watch GHOSTBUSTERS the way it was intended: a thoroughly amazing film that somewhat derailed a legitimate cult following because of the initial box office success, the Top 10 title track (Keith Forsey's groovy instrumental break during the Revelations scene, and Elmer Berstein's dramatic score are much cooler than the Ray Parker Jr song) and the fact Bill and Dan were already popular comic actors...
But cult cinema is based on risk – and a movie about hunting ghosts resulting in a standoff against a giant Marshmallow Man… if that ain't a gamble, nothing is. The fact GHOSBUSTERS turned out so perfect makes it seem predestined for greatness. And yet, there are countless avenues wherein things could have gone the other way (like the sequel)...
Writers Aykroyd and the late Harold Ramis created a world so vibrantly bizarre that it takes Bill Murray’s constant sarcasm to bring things down to Earth. This combination works to counterbalance the farfetched yet completely involving premise, providing some of the funniest one-liners in history... And not to forget the sexy and smart Sigourney Weaver, who grounds Murray as he grounds the science while ultimate credit's due to Ivan Reitman, whose creative direction gives this big budget extravaganza the kind of subtle nuances that makes repeated viewings worthwhile...
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| William Atherton nails the token jerk as Walter Peck |
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| The late Harold Ramis as Dr. Egon Spengler... He collects spores, molds, and fungus... |
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| Creator Dan Aykroyd wrote a super long script years before GHOSTBUSTERS got green-lit |
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| Spook Central Matte Painting wide shot, right before the final standoff... |
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| Signourney Weaver watches the GHOSTBUSTERS make the news |
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| Newscaster and a throwback hippie who walks onto the scene |
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| The GHOSTBUSTERS make USA TODAY headlines as Egon gets dressed |
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| NEW YORK POST covers the GHOSTBUSTERS |
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| Larry King covers the boys and TIME magazine too |
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| Egon, the brain of the GHOSTBUSTERS, and OMNI Magazine |
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| Go see GHOSTBUSTERS in theaters, or order the Blu Ray when that happens... |
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| And last but not least, Joe Franklin: "How is Elvis, and have you seen him lately?" |
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William Atherton is the classic 80's film jerk, as soon as I saw him pop up I couldn't stop laughing classic, so good. The 1980's Archetype of Comedic Bad Guy who always gets his comeuppance in the end.
ReplyDeleteOh and did you catch the Joan Collins cameo in the hotel scene. Was that shot at an actual hotel because the Ghostbusters are walking in, and then Bill gets his usual sardonic half lazy smile and kind of shuts up for a second as he watches a lady walk by to the exit and she turns her head and its Joan Collins with a look on her face that reads, "That was Bill Murray, and what the heck is he wearing?" - both look actually surprised, like it was accidental.
A couple observations on watching Ghostbusters in the movie theater again: This is Sigourney Weaver at her hottest. Pre-James Cameron Aliens, super sexy. Watching the movie again in the movie theater after all these years was AWESOME! The movie looked awesome. Rick Moranis just cracked me up all over again. It just hit me as soon as I saw Ernie Hudson (rock solid) I realized that he was also Sgt Albrecht from THE CROW.
Bill Murray...what can one say, he strolled through the movie like he was above it all, with his classic Bill Murray facial looks, his laid back one liners. Good stuff.
and lastly and most importantly: Dan Aykroyd was NOT over the top obnoxious and annoying as he usually is. I was shocked how he almost seemed to be just another part of the team with his classic lines and not over acting. To be quite frank, I can't stand Dan Aykroyd. In only one movie I really liked him and that was TRADING PLACES, and he was awesome in it. Other than that I have to admit I'm not a fan (yes, to this day I can't stand the movie THE BLUES BROTHERS). He was pleasantly, surprisingly, enjoyable.
In the end it really was a pleasure watching it on the big screen again. I'll never love it like I did when I first saw it, but it gave me a nice dose of nostalgia buzz.