Ghostbusters (1&2)

GHOSTBUSTERS (PG)

D: Ivan Reitman

Columbia (Ivan Reitman)

USA 🇺🇸 1984

107 mins

Comedy

W: Dan Aykroyd & Harold Ramis

DP: Laszlo Kovacs

Ed: Sheldon Kahn & David Blewitt

Mus: Elmer Bernstein

PD: John de Cuir

Cos: Theoni V. Aldredge

Bill Murray (Dr. Peter Venkman), Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Ray Stantz), Harold Ramis (Dr. Egon Spengler), Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barrett), Rick Moranis (Louis Tully), Annie Potts (Janine Melnitz), William Atherton (Walter Peck), Ernie Hudson (Winston Zedmore)

Who ya gonna call?

Originally intended as a vehicle for John Belushi & Dan Aykroyd, much of the plot changed when Bill Murray and the rest of the cast signed on, making Ghostbusters arguably the comedy event of the 1980's.

Though fundamentally silly, there's also a lot of reasons to enjoy this film, from its memorable title song, the introduction of Slimer, inspiring a television cartoon series and a 1989 sequel (as well as, regrettably, a remake *sigh*).

The story follows three slacker university professors who uncover paranormal goings on, but not before being expelled from their campus. They go into business for themselves and as the title may suggest, bust ghosts.

Comic delivery is very much the key to the film and nobody does it quite like the brilliant Bill Murray, delivering one of the most laconically laid back, yet gut-bustingly hilarious movie characters of all time.

A 2016 remake wasn't wanted or needed, but Hollywood's arrogance and greed still greenlit the project. A decision which has been much derided by fans of this original film and it's very understandable why. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

10/10

Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis & Bill Murray in Ghostbusters

GHOSTBUSTERS II (PG)

D: Ivan Reitman

Columbia (Ivan Reitman)

USA 🇺🇸 1989

108 mins

Comedy

W: Dan Aykroyd & Harold Ramis

DP: Michael Chapman

Ed: Sheldon Kahn & Donn Cambern

Mus: Randy Edelman

Bill Murray (Peter Venkman), Dan Aykroyd (Raymond Stantz), Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler), Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barrett), Ernie Hudson (Winston Zedmore), Rick Moranis (Louis Tully), Annie Potts (Janine Melnitz), Peter MacNicol (Janosz Poha), Wilhelm von Homburg (Vigo)

The Ghostbusters have been out of business since the events in the first film, but must reunite after a river of ectoplasmic slime is discovered oozing under the streets of New York City and they discover a link between the gunk and the negative vibes of the city's population, both of which are giving life force to an ancient warlord whose spirit lives in a painting at the museum of art.

A sequel which captures the basic essence of the first film with its creepy goings on, funky soundtrack and keeping much of the original cast together, especially Bill Murray, who steals all the best lines of dialogue once again. Unfortunately, the screenplay is very light on the jokes, at least in comparison to the first movie and it lacks the middle finger to bureaucracy which gave the original its most memorable moments of conflict.

6/10