A true classic

Rating: 10/10 (25 January 2016)

I should begin this review by stating that Ghostbusters is my all time favourite film. It has been ever since my father took me to see it in the summer of 1984. The film made a huge impact on me as a child. I loved it then and I love it now. Do I think its the best film ever made? No. But if were talking sheer entertainment value if there's one film I enjoy watching more than any other it's this one. Why? Lets start with the concept. Ghostbusters premise is simple but genius. A group of men who create a ghost catching business. It's such a unique and interesting idea which really shouldn't be overlooked. Next is the tone. This film perfectly balances horror and comedy. It offers equal doses of scares and laughs. There are parts which are pretty frightening , especially for kids but the scares are quickly countered by something funny. The film also does an impressive balancing act of mixing the berserk with the mundane. The goofy looking ghosts and ridiculous situation that the characters find themselves in is made believable due to the tone of the acting, the convincing ghost catching technology and Elmer Bersteins epic score. This brings me on to the music. Ray Parker Jrs theme tune, like the film itself, is genius. Apart from it being an incredibly catchy tune it acted as a perfect advertisement for the film and works well in the places its utilised. Due to the popularity of the theme tune the score by Elmer Berstein is often overlooked. Bersteins score is pitch perfect and his epic sound elevates the film making it feel as big as a one hundred and twelve and a half foot tall Stay Puft marshmallow man. The films strongest point though is without doubt it's characters. Peter Venkman is the wisecracking cynical ladies man. Ignorant and uninterested in science and the supernatural his character is the polar opposite of the educated and highly motivated Ray Stantz. Egon Spengler is the genius of the group who serves as the one who provides the other characters with his insight. Then there's Winston Zeddemore. An everyman who joins the group pretty late into the story but fits into the team really well. I wont go into the rest of the cast but they all do a great job. The dialogue is extremely memorable. It's full of funny one liners and unique scientific jargon. The story is simple but we'll written in its structure. The film is well paced. Each scene plays it's part in moving the story forward and isn't a moment longer than it needs to be, something that many films today should take note of. Though some of the special effects look a little shoddy most of them still look great. I could go on but I think I'll end my review by saying watch it and if you have watched it, watch it again.