Ghostbusters (1984)

“Ghostbusters isn’t a horror film” I can hear voices out there cry.
Well, okay, it’s not scary as such, but when we were offered the opportunity to review this classic movie – now released in glorious high definition – we just couldn’t turn it down.

Besides, think about the story. New York is consumed with ghosts which are eagerly anticipating the arrival of a demi-god/demon . However, for that to happen, a pair of hell-dogs need to track down two people, attack them, possess them, and bring about the end of the world.
On paper, it could be a very scary film.

But because of the comedy aspect of this film, it soon became a family favourite. Even if some scenes were a little bit nasty for little ‘uns and some of the jokes were a little mature.gb4

Ghostbusters has always been a favourite of mine, as it was for much of my generation. Partly because the film was so good, and partly because the marketing people behind it made sure that people were buying Ghostbusters related merchandise for years after the event.

I felt that I had to re-live the experience, and see how things had changed. And I wasn’t disappointed.

First off, what was different? Well, that kind of depends on what you think of Blu Ray and this whole high definition revolution. I am a believer in it. I have the hardware at home and do feel that, say, buying a film on Blu Ray rather than DVD is worth the extra cash.
On modern films, shot with HD cameras, the difference is astounding. But on older films, the change isn’t quite as dramatic.

The best way to describe the the comparison with the new high def Ghostbusters is as follows:
Remember when they started to bring out ‘digitally remastered’ versions of films which didn’t really seem any better than the original?
Well, this Blu Ray version of Ghostbusters enhances the film in the way that you always expected digital remastering would.
Put simply, the film looks the best that it probably can be. As clear as that day when you saw it the first time in the cinema back in the 80’s.

For those of you out there who have seen it before, but not for a while. I feel that you will appreciate more the humour of Bill Murray; you will find yourself saying ‘hey, the special effects aren’t that bad considering how old it is’; and you may even see a few bits that are surprisingly nasty; maybe scarier than you remember.

The acting is great, with an all-star cast And they all manage to play it serious, slipping in the comedy in an almost enigmatic fashion.
It all makes you wonder what they were thinking when they came up with the whole concept of this film. It was way ahead of its time where imagination is concerned.

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The impact of the film is supported on all fronts, from the excellent scenery, to the kooky soundtrack and general ambiance.

For those of you who haven’t seen it before, you’re in for an adventure.
Okay, there is a bit of cheese in it, a few dodgy lines. And some of the film is best not to try to rationalise. This aside, there is no doubt that the film is entertaining.

Why not buy it now and save it for Halloween. Give the younger generations something to share with you. Then send them to bed and you can crack out the real terrifying stuff.

Oh, and for those who are interested: Rumour has it that Ghostbusters 3 is in progress right now!

Movie Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Additional film information: Ghostbusters (1984)

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Tom Atkinson

Tom is one of the editors at Love Horror. He has been watching horror for a worryingly long time, starting on the Universal Monsters and progressing through the Carpenter classics. He has a soft-spot for eighties horror.More

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