Very original comedy

Rating: 9/10 (5 September 2002)

Ghostbusters when released in 1984 was a smash hit with audiences around the world, and to this day we all still chant that ever famous theme song.
The plot is set in New York City, where supernatural beings have been appearing to people, so a few down on their luck pedestrians make a run for the money by making a fake ghostbusting company-the Ghostbusters.
Bill Murray, Dan Akyroyd, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver all make the perfect comedy team. Bill Murray uses his classic SNL wise-cracking style, Dan Akyroyd plays a character who is a bit shy and nothing like Bill. He abides by the rules society sets and never speaks his real thoughts on subjects. Rick Moranis is the perfect next door nerd type, always hitting on Sigourney Weaver, who pushes him aside softly.

The directing style of Harold Ramis helps this film too, with some great shots of the city, and excellent cinematography. There is one hilarious scene at the end where Akyroyd thinks up a worst nightmare and it comes true, unleashing the Stay Puffed man upon New York City. What may now be considered bad graphics, back in 1984 the effects they used on the Stay Puffed marshmallow man were state of the art and mesmerizing. It is a very funny scene, and seeing a diabolical Stay Puffed man unleashed upon New York is worth the price of the film alone.
The screenplay is very interesting, and very original. Harold Ramis always finds very original films to direct, and he hit a home run with Ghostbusters.
If you have never seen Ghostbusters, go rent it. If you have, see it again. It's an excellent family film that now may be forgotten largely by most people, but for the people who remember it, the film will never die, and we will keep on chanting that famous theme song.
4/5 stars-
JOHN ULMER