Ghostbusters

py2006

With the loss of Egon yesterday I am feeling quite sentimental over this movie. It was a magical movie for me and a major part of my childhood. I recall my father bringing me to see it in the cinema (showing my age) and being absolutely enthralled by it. My father loved it too. Everything from the wonderful soundtrack and the clever marketable logo and the whole uniqueness of the movie. I remember being quite frightened by the demon dogs and wondering if one was at the end of my bed for a couple nights after seeing the movie. I recall cutting off the back of a Ready Break box (I think it was) as it had the logo and some pictures from the movie and bringing it into school with me. I even started up my own Ghostbusters club for my school friends which never really took off.

I was quite saddened by yesterdays news and judging my social media it seems to have affected quite a lot of people of all ages. I might watch it again tonight for old times sake.

What are you thoughts?

krudler

Great film, a lot of the jokes went totally over my head as a kid and some of it is fairly risque in places but it definitely holds up, 80's fashions aside. Ramis has the best joke in the movie too when he turns on Aykroyd's proton pack in the elevator then slowly backs away as it rumbles to life, cracks me up every time I see it :pac:

nyarlothothep

I was a massive ghostbusters fan, I had everything, the proton packs, the hq, the pke meter, all the characters, ectoplasm, the car, I even liked eating ghostbusters bars and irc ghostbusters pasta. I watched the film so many times that I knew the script by heart. And it's still one of the greatest films ever made. Someone mentioned that Groundhog Day keeps on giving after multiple rewatches and I think that's the same with Ghostbusters. (Incidentally must watch Groundhog Day because it was a good film + 90s nostalgia). For example I wasn't aware of it then of course, but after the release of Quake which started my interest in reading HP Lovecraft I now greatly admire and enjoy the HP Lovecraft theme of the plot and the Lovecraftian set design, it just makes it x10 awesome. And in a way it's probably the best realisation of Lovecraft's vision in film for the moment. The intelligent fusion of sci fi, fantasy and horror is hard to beat, cg is overused these days but the cool thing about this film which I think Bill Murray pointed out, was that the effects were secondary to the plot and characters, but effects work beautifully. I don't care how dated someone with a 00s perspective says they are, the artistry of Gozer's temple, the realisation of the demon dogs, the proton packs, the stay puft marshmallow man, the film is a visual triumph. It's a masterpiece. Egon was my favourite character growing up and Harris's performance is the best in the film with the exception of Murray. The humour was great too, so many brilliant jokes, it's unrivalled, unparalleled, it's cinema magic, nothing will ever come close to it ever. .

pixelburp

A movie from Saturday Night Live alumni, bankrolled with millions of Hollywood dollars, using cutting-edge FX and where the end product is an action-horror-comedy that's legitimately arresting all three categories. It's an often-said phrase, but they really don't make them like that anymore. I love Ghostbusters without reservatation and think it's a smart, funny, scary, touching, exciting piece of cinema; it still holds up to this day and should be acknowledged as one of the greats. Everything's so finely balanced, no one element subsumes the rest, resulting in a film that seems effortless; a true testament to Harold Ramis' work on the script imo

Fun fact in case people didn't know: the film was originally meant to involve John Candy & Eddie Murphy, playing Tully and Winston Zedmore respectively. The both dropped out due to scheduling problems; Candy might have worked in his role, but I always have a hard time imagining Murphy in Ernie Hudson's role and I suspect Murphy would have overpowered the part and then some - a bullet dodged there methinks.

Of course, no Ghostbusters thread is complete with the inclusion of one of the great zingers in Cinema:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-b-CfHbPGQ

Frank Bullitt

I don't think words can do justice to how much I love this film. I grew up with it, had all the toys, even that the proton pack and trap!

Egon was also my favourite Ghostbuster, so yesterdays news was quite sad to hear.

I will always love this film and I think it has aged beautifully, the score for it was amazing as well and some one line magic, "We should spilt up. Yeah, we can do more damage that way"

Movies can hit a certain spot with people, and this one hit it with me, it was all kinds of magic to me as a child, and I still feel that magic when I watch it now. To me, it is a truly special piece of film.

Liam McPoyle

I saw this in the cinema when it was released aged 5 and the scene at the start with the old lady in the library scared the crap out of me. I vividly remember seeing it again a few months later at a school friends birthday party and watching the scene through my fingers, both scared and exhilarated. I have no doubt that in my mind that the near 35 year old horror movie obsessive that I have grown into can thank Ghostbusters for providing my first cinematic scare, and my life long love of the genre.

Obviously its not a horror but it has the perfect blend of elements that make it a stone cold classic. The on screen chemistry with the cast, the iconic image of their logo, the marketeers dream in slimer and enough gags to keep adults and kids interested, this movie really does have it all.

Over the last number of years there have been rumours abound about this getting another sequel but with Ramis' passing I hope this never comes to fruition.

What Id love to see is it getting a nice spit shine and polish and another theatrical run which Im sure it will at some point.

Anyway, I will leave it with the aforementioned scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYjFKsJjCP0

It's one of those timeless classics that appeals to pretty much everyone. My younger brother who is 6 has been a fan since he was 3 or so. He watches it every few weeks and its not uncommon to hear him humming the theme song. There's something truly adorable about watching the film and listening to him shout out lines if dialogue just before the characters do.

catallus

I collect spores molds and fungus.

Frank Bullitt

"Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light."

Patty O Furniture

I gave my dvd copy to my 7yr old nephew as he used to watch it at our house when he stayed over & never got it back or i could just think of it this way, that he couldn't part with it as it was always the first thing he would want to watch when over.

But its handy now, that you can watch it all over again with kids as its universal, as before that i didnt watch it much, but got Groundhog Day & Ghostbusters (Amazon 3 for 17 ) just recently saw Groundhog Day & never got around to watching Ghostbusters yet on Bluray, but heard it looks amazing, cant wait to watch it at w/end now.

I'm reminded of one of one of the witty lines, on starting the proton packs for the 1st time was "Doh, Ray, Egon"

Frank Bullitt

"You're right, no human being would stack books like this."

So many good lines in this.

Ghostbusters also has the best "JESUS" shout in film in it, just as the book shelf falls towards them and Venkman yells it out. LOVE THIS FILM!

py2006

Ghostbusters 3 moving ahead without Harold Ramis

I've always wanted a proper 3rd installment to this movie with all the original cast starring. I really am not keen on the idea of the cast only having bit parts giving way to a 'new generation' blah blah blah. It would have been hard without Murray but without Ramis now too

Kunkka

Loved the movie as a kid and then as an adult when I understood more of the jokes.

Hated the dog beast things as a kid and still hate them now

emmabrighton

My favorite quote from Ghostbusters.. as its so true to moving from academia into the private sector...

Stantz: You know how much a patent clerk earns? Personally, I liked the University; they gave us money and facilities, we didn’t have to produce anything. You’ve never been out of college. You don’t know what it’s like out there. I’ve worked in the private sector — they expect results.

Welsh Megaman

Another 'Ghostbusters' fun fact...

Dan Aykroyd wrote the part of Venkman with the intention of John Belushi taking the role. Slimer was eventually written into the screenplay as a tribute to Belushi.

Bipolar Joe

I love this movie. I love Ramis! I'm legitimately bummed out the last couple of days. He made some of my favourite flicks.

I must have seen Ghostbusters hundreds of times. I wore the VHS out when I was little. I couldn't afford the toys unless I found them in a charity shop, so I would make my own. I made a proton pack out of a plastic milk carton, a hoover hose I found in a skip and some wood. Spent ages painting the thing! I drew Slimer, cut him out and dangled him from the pack with a coat hanger. A shoe box with a spatula taped to it became a trap. A cut up ping-pong paddle was a PKE meter. This and the Turtles were what kept me going through childhood.

There'll never be another Harold Ramis. There'll never be another Ghostbusters. It's a perfect storm of comedy.

Also, the librarian made me scream like a little wimp, too.

Welsh Megaman

Mummy, why is the lady ghost taking off Ray's trousers?

<many years later>

Oh.

Sad Professor

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Mummy, why is the lady ghost taking off Ray's trousers?

<many years later>

Oh.

Was I the only one watching a taped UTV version of the film for years in which this and many other things were cut?

candy-gal1

Very sad news!! Classic movies, great actors, really great jokes and a genuinesly 80s soundtrack

Im not liking this, the great actors who had the awesome movies we grew up with seem to be dying off

razorblunt

Huge fan of ghostbusters, my dad bought the soundtrack on vinyl for me when I was little,, first movie my uncle took myself and my younger cousin to see. The librarian and the nanny ghost in the second movie scared me senseless. I love rewatching them even now as I still find something new.

Professey Chin

Sad Professor wrote: »

Was I the only one watching a taped UTV version of the film for years in which this and many other things were cut?

Yep! I remember it just being the ghost floating above the bed.
Got the dvd years later. "I dont remember his pants being taken off......ohhhhh"

krudler

The sequel is good fun, nowhere near as good as the first but Peter MacNicol is brilliant in it "no, please no, slides are awailable in ze gift shop!"

Roar

krudler wrote: »

The sequel is good fun, nowhere near as good as the first but Peter MacNicol is brilliant in it "no, please no, slides are awailable in ze gift shop!"

The image of him as a flying ghost with red eyes dressed as a nanny pushing a pram is one of the most terrifying things I have ever seen. Freaked me the fcuk out when I was a kid and it still does today.

Baze

py2006 wrote: »

I've always wanted a proper 3rd installment to this movie with all the original cast starring. I really am not keen on the idea of the cast only having bit parts giving way to a 'new generation' blah blah blah. It would have been hard without Murray but without Ramis now too

Totally agree.

It's just a damn shame that the Murray and Ramis couldn't have gotten passed their differences many moons back. Hard to know who is at fault. Two sides to every story and all that, but ultimately, it is the fans that lost out.

Aykroyd apparently wrote a script for Ghostbusters III around ten years ago which Ramis had said he would be happy to make. The story centered around the three of them being sucked into hell on a job and getting trapped there.

I would so love to have seen that.

py2006

Baze wrote: »

Totally agree.

It's just a damn shame that the Murray and Ramis couldn't have gotten passed their differences many moons back. Hard to know who is at fault. Two sides to every story and all that, but ultimately, it is the fans that lost out.

Aykroyd apparently wrote a script for Ghostbusters III around ten years ago which Ramis had said he would be happy to make. The story centered around the three of them being sucked into hell on a job and getting trapped there.

I would so love to have seen that.

I wasn't aware of a rift between Murray and Ramis. I did read that Murray would only do it if the script was really good and that much of the scripts that went around over the years did not live up to what he wanted. (i.e. something along of the lines of the original). He was not happy with part 2 at all apparently.

I wonder will he change his mind now out of respect to Ramis?

Oafley Jones

py2006 wrote: »

I wasn't aware of a rift between Murray and Ramis. I did read that Murray would only do it if the script was really good and that much of the scripts that went around over the years did not live up to what he wanted. (i.e. something along of the lines of the original). He was not happy with part 2 at all apparently.

I wonder will he change his mind now out of respect to Ramis?

That would be a strange way of showing respect.

Never heard of Ramis pushing for 3... Dan Aykroyd on the other hand.

Baze

py2006 wrote: »

I wasn't aware of a rift between Murray and Ramis.

They barely spoke from 1993, when they supposedly fell out over what the tone of Groundhog Day should be. Murray apparently wanted the film to be more philosophical and less comedic and Ramis the opposite. To me, Murray always seemed like a bit of a narcissist. Ramis for example, was always complimenting Bill in interviews but yet Bill never returned the favour. To me, he always seemed a touch embarrassed whenever Ghostbusters was mentioned. He never came across in interviews as someone who seemed to appreciate what others had done for him professionally:

A quote from producer, Michael Shamberg (The Big Chill, A Fish Called Wanda, Pulp Fiction, Erin Brockovich, Django Unchained):

"Bill owes everything to Harold, and he probably has a thimbleful of gratitude.”

I think the whole cameo thing that was lined up was too little, too late and no doubt, Murray would have pulled out of that close to shooting as he had done on other projects over the years. 'Passing on the mantle / 'mentoring the new crop' cameos are joke anyway. Both David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser regret doing theirs for the Starsky and Hutch film a few years back, both saying they really only did it for the money and through gritted teeth, as they hated the script so much as was really only a comedic parody and nothing like the original series, which I think most people would agree with.

Here is Ramis talking around the time Dan and he and had endorsed the first script / story / premise of GBIII, before talk of the cameo / mantle / mentoring nonsense was decided upon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp95Y0jlWYA

I did read that Murray would only do it if the script was really good and that much of the scripts that went around over the years did not live up to what he wanted.

Yeah I seen him say and elude to that in a couple of interviews alright but I always felt that would be a little like Liam Gallagher coming out and saying the would only do another Oasis album if Noel wrote some better songs. The very notion of it would be laughable. I know Murray did some SNL writing in the 70's, but other than that, he has no other comedy writing credits to his name, let alone full length comedy features.

Ramis and Aykroyd do however: (Ghostbusters, The Blues Brothers, Spies Like Us, Caddyshack, Stripes, Animal House etc) and so who Murray to say the script / premise wasn't up to standard and that he was waiting for a better one. Ramis had always given Murray props for his ad-lib, 'movie saving' abilities and so there was no reason why he couldn't again put that area of his talent to work on GBIII. If Harold and Dan had endorsed a story and were willing to sign off on it (which they were) then that should have been more than good enough for him.

There is also ample evidence that Murray lied to Aykroyd, as in interviews he said Bill wasn't reluctant to committing to GBIII as he didn't really want to make movies any longer, but yet he then went on to make a couple of films a year, over the next seven or eight years and so lets face it, Bill really had no great desire to make a third film for reasons known only to himself and perhaps to those involved.

I wonder will he change his mind now out of respect to Ramis?

He may do it, but I doubt it will be out of respect for Ramis.

Ramis had Murray's brother (also an actor) approach him to do The Ice Harvest and Harold never received so much as a phone call from Bill thanking him for the offer. It was clearly an olive branch being offered there but and for Murray to ignore it, and not so much as graciously acknowledge the gesture, was completely disrespectful and ungrateful in my opinion.

Anyway, that's just my views going on what I've read down the years, the truth could all be a different story entirely. Nonetheless, here are a few quotes from Ramis on Murray and so perhaps you can make your own mind on how you feel things panned out between them:

“At times, Bill was just really irrationally mean and unavailable; he was constantly late on set”.

“What I’d want to say to him is just what we tell our children: ‘You don’t have to throw tantrums to get what you want. Just say what you want.’”

“It’s a huge hole in my life, but there are so many pride issues about reaching out. Bill would give you his kidney if you needed it, but he wouldn't necessarily return your phone calls”.

“Bill was a strong man…You’d do a movie with Bill, a big comedy in those early days, just knowing he could save the day no matter how bad the script was, that we’d find something through improvisation. That was our alliance, kind of, our big bond. I could help him be the best funny Bill Murray he could be, and I think he appreciated that then. And I don’t know where that went, but it’s there on film. So whatever happens between us in the future, at least we have those expressions.”

Here are both Bill's and Dan's statements on the passing of Ramis:

Aykroyd:

"Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my brilliant, gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer and teacher Harold Ramis."

Murray:

"Harold Ramis and I together did the National Lampoon Show off Broadway, Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day. He earned his keep on this planet. God bless him.”

JohnFalstaff

I agree that Murray/Ackroyd/Ramis are the beating heart of Ghostbusters but it's one of those rare films where every part is exceptionally well cast (eg Janine the receptionist, Walter Peck - all so memorable).

Bit surprised that nobody has mentioned Sigourney Weaver yet - I always thought she was great in this. People will forever associate her with the role of Ellen Ripley (or maybe Diane Fossey) so it's easy to forget that she was also the romantic interest in a few big 80's comedies.

It's an example of another aspect of Hollywood that has completely changed since the 80's... If Ghostbusters were being made in Hollywood today for the first time do you think an actress of the calibre of Sigourney Weaver would be considered for the role of Dana Barrett?

krudler

JohnFalstaff wrote: »

I agree that Murray/Ackroyd/Ramis are the beating heart of Ghostbusters but it's one of those rare films where every part is exceptionally well cast (eg Janine the receptionist, Walter Peck - all so memorable).

Bit surprised that nobody has mentioned Sigourney Weaver yet - I always thought she was great in this. People will forever associate her with the role of Ellen Ripley (or maybe Diane Fossey) so it's easy to forget that she was also the romantic interest in a few big 80's comedies.

It's an example of another aspect of Hollywood that has completely changed since the 80's... If Ghostbusters were being made in Hollywood today for the first time do you think an actress of the calibre of Sigourney Weaver would be considered for the role of Dana Barrett?

Rick Moranis was excellent in it too, him introducing the couple to the party and telling people about their tax status and business being in recievership is hilarious. "Ok, who brought the dog?!"

CPSW

This thread makes me want to re-watch it right now!

Was (and still am) a massive fan of Ghostbusters. Like many here, I wore the tape of the recorded off the TV version out, got a lot of the action figures, Proton Pack etc for Christmas. It was one of the first DVD's I purchased too.

Second film, while not brilliant as the first, is still entertaining (who doesn't find the Statue of Liberty smashing into the museum cool :-) ?!).

Shame that they probably won't ever do a third instalment. Would be great to see it on screen with modern technology and special effects.

It was sad to hear the news of Ramis' passing. With his work on these movies, along with his contribution to the comedy genre he will be missed....

Theboinkmaster

Just picked up the blu ray in hmv 2 for €15, along with goonies

aidan_walsh

If they would do a re-release for this similar to the one they did for Back To The Future, they would get all my money. This and Batman (1989) were the movies of my childhood, with well worn copies of each.

krudler

The cartoon was brilliant too, and fairly dark for a kid's show, I loved the episode where they played baseball to decide the fate of the world, or when they all got covered in this purple gunk and turned on each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5I_mo1nfqs

constitutionus

aidan_walsh wrote: »

If they would do a re-release for this similar to the one they did for Back To The Future, they would get all my money. This and Batman (1989) were the movies of my childhood, with well worn copies of each.

i could happily see myself going to a re releas of ghostbusters.

in fact its held in such regard i can see myself going with a few of the old gang from school that i still see with no arm twisting required.

its that kinda film. (and a few beers before/after wouldnt hurt )

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

krudler wrote: »

The cartoon was brilliant too, and fairly dark for a kid's show, I loved the episode where they played baseball to decide the fate of the world, or when they all got covered in this purple gunk and turned on each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5I_mo1nfqs

I can never decide which is hotter, movie janine or cartoon janine

pixelburp

aidan_walsh wrote: »

If they would do a re-release for this similar to the one they did for Back To The Future, they would get all my money. This and Batman (1989) were the movies of my childhood, with well worn copies of each.

A cinematic re-release? They did! Or at least, I remember watching it again in Cineworld, possibly around the 2010/2011 mark (A quick google shows it got a cinematic airing in the US in 2011, so I guess that must have been it)

Patty O Furniture

Baze wrote: »

Ramis had Murray's brother (also an actor) approach him to do The Ice Harvest and Harold never received so much as a phone call from Bill thanking him for the offer. It was clearly an olive branch being offered there but and for Murray to ignore it, and not so much as graciously acknowledge the gesture, was completely disrespectful and ungrateful in my opinion.

Murray's brother was also in Groundhog Day, afaik he was the mayor?

He was the one he saved from choking in the restaurant & the wife thanked him at the dance later on, in which Bill quipped by saying
"well he was trying to swallow a whole cow"

krudler

Patty O Furniture wrote: »

Murray's brother was also in Groundhog Day, afaik he was the mayor?

He was the one he saved from choking in the restaurant & the wife thanked him at the dance later on, in which Bill quipped by saying
"well he was trying to swallow a whole cow"

He's been in loads of stuff, he's Chevy Chase's boss in Christmas Vacation too, and the dude who owns the arcade in Wayne's World.

Rubber_Soul

krudler wrote: »

Rick Moranis was excellent in it too, him introducing the couple to the party and telling people about their tax status and business being in recievership is hilarious. "Ok, who brought the dog?!"

I only watched this yesterday and I'd forgotten just how good Moranis was in it. Watch the part when Richard Atherton is telling them to turn off the power and look at Moranis throughout, hilarious without even saying a word. Such a shame he effectively retired from the industry when his wife died.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

oh is that what happened? i'd always wondered why he just dissapeared all of a sudden

old hippy

I was in my teens when this came out & I loved it. Especially how the whole audience got into it, singing the theme! Such excitement at the time. Watched it on DVD few years back; I still love it but it's a bit dated. I've never seen the sequel and I hope they leave it as it is.

Rubber_Soul

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

oh is that what happened? i'd always wondered why he just dissapeared all of a sudden

Yeah he stepped back to raise his kids after his wife passed due to cancer.

http://www.uproxx.com/tv/2013/07/rick-moranis-the-best-celebrity-dad-of-all-time-opens-up-about-his-retirement-from-acting/

krudler

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

oh is that what happened? i'd always wondered why he just dissapeared all of a sudden

He gave up acting to raise his kids after his wife died.

edit: beaten to it.

He is great in both movies though.

brevity

Watched it last night Such a great 80's movie.