A Film of "Biblical Proportions."

Rating: 10/10 (24 February 2020)

"Ghostbusters" is one of the best and most iconic movies of the 1980s! It's brilliant core concept, quotable script and fantastic cast has cemented it as one of the most beloved comedies of our time!
Even after 34 years, a decent sequel and a controversial yet painfully forgettable reboot, "Ghostbusters" is still just as well-regarded and popular as it was when it was unleashed upon the world in 1984! There are many reasons why it remains a landmark in pop culture, the iconography, the song that will never leave your head and the fact that the film employs a perfect blend of humour and spooky moments, there is so much to love!
One of my favourite aspects of "Ghostbusters" is its original and creative premise. The story of blue-collar, ordinary people capturing extra-dimensional beings and Spector's is such an awesome and ingenious idea. Unlike the Men in Black, the Ghostbusters aren't specially trained agents, but average men who do their jobs not to save the world, but to get a paycheque (at least that's how they start out.) This unique plot makes "Ghostbusters" such a special and re-watchable film and gives the characters a relatability that makes them feel like real people.
The ensemble cast in "Ghostbusters" is absolutely incredible! Every actor gives the film their all, the excellent dialogue manages to balance scientific mumbo-jumbo with realistic speech that, as previously mentioned, makes the Ghostbusters act like people that you could meet in the real world.
I love every character in this amazing movie so it is almost impossible to decide who my favourite is! From the wise-cracking Peter Venkman ("Back off man, I'm a scientist.") to the loveable Ray Stanz ("Listen... you smell something?"), the deadpan Egon Spengler ("Sorry, Venkman, I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought") and the sadly and often forgotten Winston Zeddmore ("This job is definitely not worth $11,500 a year.")
The excellent performances and razor-sharp script gives the team a level of comradery and bravado that makes their interplay so enjoyable!
The supporting cast are just as fantastic as the leading actors. The always stellar Sigourney Weaver and zany Rick Moranis provide more comedic situations for the filmmakers to play with and adds dimension to the movie's world.
For a film that was released 34 years ago, it is surprising how well the visual effects, production design and creature designs in "Ghostbusters" have held up.
The ghosts and spirits in this movie are so awesome; the unique aesthetic makes the world that these characters inhabit feel distinct when compared to every other supernatural films. Although I love Slimer, my absolute favourite apparition in "Ghostbusters" (and my favourite part of the movie) is the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. He's visually striking, hilarious and downright amazing! I was shocked to learn recently that Mr Say Puft wasn't a real American mascot, but was created solely for this movie; I had always made the assumption that his inclusion in the story was simply an ingenious idea for product placement.
There are a long line of epic cinematic cars from the 1980s. Owning a vehicle such as the Bluesmobile from "The Blues Brothers", the time travelling DeLorean from the "Back to the Future" Trilogy and the Batmobile from Tim Burton's gothic 1989 hit "Batman", is the dream of many a movie fan. The Ecto-1 is just as striking and memorable as all of the previously mentioned automobiles, you can tell, just by looking at it, that the car can perform dozens of spook-catching functions. As with the DeLorean, the Ecto-1 looks like it was built in a shed/ garage, not on a conveyor belt, which means that the personality of the vehicle makes it a character in its own right, not just a prop.
On a quick note, the "Ghostbusters" logo is undoubtedly one of cinema's best. It's so simple yet so iconic, even before I'd seen the movie; I knew what "Ghostbusters" was.
One of the most recognized elements of this film is its ear-worm of a theme song! Everybody on planet Earth knows the "Ghostbusters" tune; I don't believe that the movie itself would be nearly as popular if it weren't for Ray Parker Jr.'s contribution!
I find it so amusing that at the time, "Ghostbusters" was considered to be a family film that all ages could enjoy. Whilst I don't dispute that kids can watch this film (as nearly all of us watched "Ghostbusters" as children) the fact that the movie contains an abundance of swearing, smoking, the greatest jump-scare ever filmed and occasional crude humour makes this a far more interesting watch than, say, "High School Musical."
To summarise, I absolutely love "Ghostbusters!" It's hilarious, cleverly written and one of the most quotable and iconic motion pictures of all time. I shudder to imagine a world without "Ghostbusters"...
"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"