One of the greatest family/comedy movies ever made!

Rating: 9/10 (6 June 2003)

Ghost Busters is quite possibly director Ivan Reitman's finest hour (and forty minutes)! Written by stars Harold Ramis and Dan Akroyd, Ghost Busters' is a rollercoaster ride of awesome special effects and intelligent humour which features the undeniable talents of Bill Murray as the sarcastic, but loveable character of Dr. Peter Venkman.
After being thrown out of the University at which Ray Stantz (Akroyd), Egon Spengler (Ramis) and Peter Venkman are scientists and researchers they decide to put years of their research and thousands of dollars into starting up their own business  Ghost Busters. To begin with it seems that this risk will not pay off for them as they run out of money and Venkman's attempts at romance irritate their only customer, Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver). However this all changes when they get their first big job, after that they're the talk of the town! Unfortunately, there are some people who aren't very impressed with the Ghost Busters and seek to shut them down.
This film stands out amongst the movies of the Eighties, and indeed the movies of all time, as being one of the greatest films in the history of cinema, and that is a reputation it quite rightly deserves. Unlike many of the movies I watched as a child this is one of the rare movies that I still love now as an adult. The jokes are still as funny, the action is still as exciting, the movie is still as watchable and the genius storytelling is still undeniable.
This movie appeals to me on two levels. There are the immature and rather childish jokes and moments of the film that although are funny they require little thought. On top of this we have some rather intelligent and more adult jokes that as a child I didn't catch on to, as an adult it helps me appreciate the movie all the more. Bill Murray is at his best in this movie, delivering sharp and witty one-liners as if they just rolled off his tongue. Dan Akroyd also provides a great comedy element to the movie in the form of the brilliantly minded scientist, but socially slow Ray Stantz. Ray's behaviour provides much enjoyment and this accompanied by Bill Murray's excellent performance makes Ghost Busters' one of the greatest comedy films I've ever seen.
Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett works perfectly as the romantic interest for Venkman and this is complimented by Weaver and Murray's performance on screen together. Despite the obvious absurdity of the central plotline the Dana/Peter relationship storyline works out very well and allows us to see a more sensitive side to Venkman. All of this helps in adding realism to an otherwise unrealistic film.
The special effects are something else that must be praised, they have certainly stood the test of time and I would even venture to say they have stood up better than the Eighties other Special FX-Extravaganza Poltergeist'. I've heard a few negative remarks about them but I find them to be very effective even to this day.
I have to say that I recommend this film to everyone, there is so much to it and the movie works on so many levels that it has to be seen. If you haven't seen this movie yet I would check it out as soon as possible because I think it is one of the greatest films of all time. My rating for Ghost Busters'  9.5/10