Before Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners or the upcoming
Terry Gilliam film, The Brothers Grimm, free floating, full
torso, vaporous apparitions (that’s ghosts to you and I) were afraid of
only one group, the Ghostbusters. Marshmallows around the world still cower
in abject, debilitating dread at the mention of their name.
THE MOVIE Ghostbusters first hit theater screens in 1984. Part comedy,
part thriller, part special effects extravaganza, Ghostbusters
became an overnight phenomenon, going on to gross over $200 million dollars
(the most of any comedy in history at that time). The story of three out-of-work
scientists who go into business as supernatural exterminators in New York City
made bone fide superstars of its leads, Saturday Night Live alums Bill Murray
and Dan Aykroyd and Second City TV alum Harold Ramis (Ramis and Aykroyd also
co-wrote), and cemented the skills of producer/director Ivan Reitman.
Five years later, the Ghostbusters returned in a sequel, Ghostbusters
II, which reunited the cast with Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis and
Ernie Hudson in a cataclysmic battle too wrestle control of New York City from
an ancient, evil tyrant who intends on making it a literal hell on earth.
SOUND AND VISUALS Ghostbusters is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic Widescreen format,
preserving the original theatrical aspect ratio. The audio is presented in the
original English 5.1 Dolby Digital with additional Dolby Surround 2.0 options
in French and Spanish. Subtitles are available in English, French, Spanish,
Portuguese, Chinese, Korean and Thai.
Ghostbusters II is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic Widescreen
format, preserving the original theatrical aspect ratio. The audio is presented
in the original English 5.1 Dolby Digital with additional audio options in Spanish
and Portuguese. Subtitles are available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese,
Chinese, Korean and Thai.
The visual softening that seems to plague many films of the era is nowhere
to be found here. Remastered in High Definition, both films look and sound great.
I wish I could say the same for the various menu screens which are plain and
cheesy and yeah, just plain cheesy.
[Error Note: The technical data provided on the shell does not agree with that
on the DVD cases. The shell lists Ghostbusters as a 1.33:1 fullscreen aspect
ratio film and Ghostbusters II as a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio
film. The information provided on the individual cases appears to be correct.]
PACKAGING AND LAYOUT
The Ghostbusters Two Disc Gift Set is presented in an attractive shell sporting
the Ghostbusters logo encased in ectoplasmic slime, which cradles
a movie scrapbook in addition to the two DVDs, each in its own mini bubble case.
The back of the shell and the cases give brief descriptions of each film as
well as a rundown of the specific technical aspects.
The 26-page movie scrapbook includes a brief making-of exploration (for the
first film only), original artwork, storyboard selections, a very brief Q&A
with Ghostbusters logo creator Michael Gross as well as some of his initial
designs, bios on the cast and crew, and images of the original posters.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Most of the special features reside on the first disk and specifically relate
only to the first film.
Ghostbusters:
• Audio Commentary: Director Ivan Reitman, star and co-writer Harold Ramis
and Executive Producer Joe Medjuck sit down to chat about the making of the
film, which turns into one giant yuck-fest with several fun revelations thrown
in. Did you know: the ghost, Slimer is based on the late John Belushi; John
Candy was originally offered the role Rick Moranis eventually took; the character
of the fourth Ghostbuster, Winston, was originally offered to Eddie Murphy and
was written in to ask the dumb questions the audience would be asking; the “marshmallows”
that drop on New York City and coat our heroes after the Stay Puft Marshmallow
Man is vaporized are actually massive vats of shaving cream; the role of Gozer
was originally supposed to be Paul “Pee Wee Herman” Reuben; actor
William Atherton played his role as the vindictive EPA agent so well that he
found himself publicly reviled for years afterwards.
• Two Making-of Featurettes: The first featurette is a 1984 original and
the second is a contemporary cast and crew vehicle. Highlights include the actors
talking about their feelings about the supernatural (Aykroyd is a real-life
believer, psychic aficionado and quite the philosophical fellow!), their children’s
reactions to the films, and their favorite moments. Each featurette is about
10 minutes in length.
• Deleted Scenes: A handful of deleted or expanded scenes have some good
moments, which would have worked great, but generally deserve their fates on
the cutting room floor. (One of Murray and Aykroyd dressed as homeless bums
is incomprehensible.)
• Special Effects Featurette: the FX team (that also worked on the original
Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies, gather together years later to discuss
how they produced the movie’s effects. Did you know: Some of the shots
of Slimer were actually a peanut painted green?
• Conceptual Art: a plethora of images in various stages of development
• Production Photos: what seems like hundreds of images from which to
choose
• Storyboards
Ghostbusters II:
• Two episodes of the enjoyable animated series, The Real Ghostbusters
(Citizen Ghost and Partner in Slime) with the late Lorenzo Music are the only
special features on Disc 2.
[Note: For those who already own the Ghostbusters films from their original
DVD releases, this 2-disc gift set contains a lesser DVD version for the first
movie, the same DVD for the second movie, with the only new additions being
the 26-page booklet the two animated episodes. Unless you happen to love the
shell artwork or the overrated scrapbook, keep what you already have.]
CROSSING THE STREAMS
There’s no doubt about it, it’s fun to see the boys back at paranormal
pest control. There are some movies – especially those you haven’t
seen in ages – that have the power to bring a smile to your face no matter
what. Watching the Ecto-1 scream down the streets of Manhattan, I realized these
were just such movies.
While I adore the way in which Bill Murray has reinvented himself in recent
years (Rushmore, Lost in Translation) it’s
great to see him at the heights of his post SNL powers. Who can forget Murray
covered in green goo, muttering, “He slimed me,” or the ever-popular,
“Back off man—I’m a scientist.”
These genre-bending classics are guaranteed to brighten your day, and at only
$19.94 for the set, enliven any DVD collection. When you find yourself walking
down the street humming that familiar Ray Parker, Jr. theme, you’ll thank
me.
Movie Scores: A-
DVD Sounds and Visuals Score: A
DVD Packaging and Layout Score: A-
DVD Extras Score: B+ DVD Overall Score: A-
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