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Grade
Content Grade:
A-
Sound Grade:
B+
Picture Grade:
A-
Specs
Directed by Ivan Reitman Columbia-Tristar/MSRP-$24.95 Widescreen-English Subtitles Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound 107 minutes-Color-1984- Rated PG
Review
Ghostbusters was a huge hit back in the eighties and Columbia has done an excellent job in producing this disc. While keeping the price right, the disc has top notch picture and sound with extra commentary by Harold Ramis and Ivan Reitman. The menu that begins this disc is also cleverly done, with a view of the city and its haunted elements. It is terrific comedy entertainment with Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Dan Aykroyd delivering the punchlines with wit and style. Rick Moranis turns in a hilarious performance as Harold, Sigourney Weaver's nerdy neighbor.
Sigourney Weaver's apartment is being inhabited by creatures ( starting in her refrigerator) and she seeks help from the Ghostbusters, who have all recently started a fledgling business. Bill Murray likes the looks of Weaver and checks out her apartment with no success. Meanwhile , a series of hauntings has increased in the city and the Ghostbuster's become famous after capturing a particularly mean "spud" haunting a famous New York hotel. Activity seems to center around Weaver's apartment building and soon she and her neighbor (Moranis) have become possessed by the spirits wanting to take over the city. It's up to the Ghostbusters to stop the spirits from taking over Manhattan.
Picture and Sound
Picture-The colors are vivid, the picture clear and bright. Color balance and contrast are well adjusted. Some noticeable dirt is at the beginning of the movie but only during the opening scene. Artifacts were kept to a minimum. The special effects for this movie are incredible and the Stay-Puf Marshmallow Man is in fine form for the finale. Sound-Dolby Digital 5.1 is standard and is also mixed well for a film from the eighties. It has been remixed to take advantage of DVD sound technology and the surrounds are used frequently. As with most action films, there are a lot of sound effects and the Columbia team did a excellent job with the remix. While most of the information is piped through the center and front channels, enough of the effects were divided into the rear speakers to make a superior soundtrack.
Extras
Not too many extras in this edition except the added commentary of Harold Ramis and Ivan Reitman. It is presented in Widescreen but lacks subtitles other then English. A little more in the extra department would have made this a must have disc.
Summary
It was amusing watching Ghostbusters again and I had a good time watching this film. It certainly stands up over time and is well worth the price. All Saturday Night Live fans will enjoy the comedic talents of Murray and Aykroyd again but to me, the real star of the film is that fat, greenish blob they first encounter. Slimer is worth the price of admission.
