8.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.9 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
Three university parapsychologists lose a research grant when their experiment methodology is proven to be bogus. The team decides to go into business for themselves as "Ghostbusters," a ghost removal service. After struggling to get on their feet, they are summoned to investigate the strange happenings in a woman's Central Park West apartment. What they discover is that all Manhattan is being besieged by ghosts and otherworldly demons through a portal in her building.
Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick MoranisAction | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 90% |
Fantasy | 63% |
Supernatural | 29% |
Comedy | 26% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Social network features
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Why worry? Each of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.
Released both at the peak of the last great age of Comedy and featuring three of the funniest of all
the funny men in the business, 1984's Ghostbusters delivers a deliciously over-the-top and
completely inane movie experience that remains one of the greats of the genre. Molding the laughs
in the context of a special effects-laden supernatural extravaganza, Ghostbusters earns its
hearty hysterics through a unique incorporation of dialogue and visual gags that overpower the
deadly-serious nature of a story that dabbles in Biblical prophecy and other assorted
end-of-the-world pleasantries. Combined with absurd plot devices that work wonderfully in
the spirit of the film and the conglomeration of zany one-liners, physical humor, and over-the-top
performances, it's no wonder audiences time and again call on Ghostbusters for gut-busting
entertainment.
High definition? Nobody said anything about high definition!
Ghostbusters slimes Blu-ray with a faithful-to-the-source 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. Grain haters, beware. Ghostbusters features plenty of the swirly stuff in most every scene. There is certainly no evidence of noise reduction performed on this one as the film features some of the heaviest grain seen on any Blu-ray release. Nevertheless, the transfer captures the intended look of the film admirably, and while it's certainly not a smooth and slick production, it retains a pleasing film-like appearance while also encapsulating the essence of what Blu-ray can do for a transfer. Still, the film occasionally wavers between sharp and soft scenery. Fine details in faces and objects are not hard to come by; whether the cobweb-infested firehouse that becomes Ghostbusters headquarters or the clean lines that define the interior of Dana's kitchen, the visuals appear adequately rendered in most every shot. There is also a nice amount of depth to be seen in some of the long-distance outdoor New York City shots. Black levels don't stray too far from black, but some of the heaviest grain in the film is noted across darker backdrops. Flesh tones generally look natural, perhaps with just a slight red push. Although not a terribly vibrant, crystal-clear image, this transfer reflects how Ghostbusters should look, and makes for another winning catalogue release from Sony.
Ghostbusters crosses streams on Blu-ray with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Though not particularly engaging in every scene, this one holds up rather nicely and the lossless soundtrack, while not a revelation, does bring out some subtleties that seemed lost in the shuffle of previous home video releases. Both the music and sound effects enjoy a nice boost here, some of the film's softer musical cues and more nuanced sound effects off to the sides of the action adding to a more distinct, lifelike environment, whether in the stacks of the library as seen at the beginning of the film or during the "Slimer hunt" sequence partway through. Dialogue occasionally sounds a bit low in volume at reference level, though sound effects and music never drown out the spoken word. Throughout the first act of the film, the track takes on a completely front-heavy tone with little in the way of atmospherics or rear channel activity. Once the action gets going, however, the track picks up in intensity. Surrounds enjoy more frequent usage with both music and sound effects, the low end rumbles when called upon, and the track seems to create a broader sense of space and depth. Whether the beams flowing from the proton packs or the rumbling of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man's heavy, sugary steps, the TrueHD soundtrack enhances the overall experience in a big way. Certainly not among the best pure soundtracks on the market, this one nevertheless easily bests all previous Ghostbusters releases and should satisfy the film's many longtime fans.
Ghostbusters debuts on Blu-ray jam-packed with extras. First up is a commentary track
with Prodcucer/Director Ivan Reitman, Writer/Actor Harold Ramis, and Associate Producer Joe
Medjuck. A track that delivers plenty of dry information on locations, special effects, the script,
the
cast, and other assorted tidbits but with a breezy, funny air, the track both informs and
entertains,
a worthwhile listen for fans and budding filmmakers alike. This disc also offers CineChat,
an
on-screen feature that allows users to chat with friends while the movie plays, available as part of
the disc's BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) functionality. Viewers may also choose to watch the disc's
many special features using Blu-Wizard technology. Once users have chosen their own
selection of features, the film will begin playback and branch out to the selected content and,
upon
completion, return to the film until the appropriate start time of the next feature.
Slimer Mode frames the movie with a Ghostbusters-themed façade and
provides
picture-in-picture interview segments with cast and crew as they share their thoughts on the
entirety of the production. Intercut with the interview pieces is a plethora of behind-the-scenes
videos and still photographs. Also included here is a series of pop-up trivia tidbits. Ecto-1:
Resurrecting the Classic Car (1080i, 15:37) looks at the car's history, place in the film, and
the process of refurbishing it. Ghostbusters Garage: Ecto-1 Gallery (1080p, 5:27)
showcases a collection of detailed still photographs and videos of the famed car. Making of
'Ghostbusters - The Video Game' (1080i, 11:18) takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the
creation of the upcoming game that reunites the entire primary cast and will be available for the
PlayStation 3 console. Ghostbusters The Video Game - Preview (1080i, 1:43) is an
advertisement for the game.
Moving along, Scene Cemetery is a collection of 10 deleted scenes, presented in 480p
standard definition. 1984 Featurette (480p, 9:45) is a vintage piece that takes a
superficial look at the making of the film with cast and crew interview clips and behind-the-scenes
footage. Cast and Crew Featurette (480p, 10:53) features more interview clips with cast
and crew discussing various aspects of the film. SFX Team Featurette (480p, 15:22)
examines the making of some of the film's special effects. Multi-Angle Featurettes
(480p) allows viewers to compare three scenes -- Spook Central Exploding (2:49),
She's a Dog (2:00), and Crossing the Streams (1:23) -- in two versions, one
with effects and one without. Storyboard Comparison (480p) allows viewers to see the
final sequence from the film below the hand-drawn storyboards for three scenes: Slimer
(2:13), Dogs Drag Dana (2:09), and Atop Spook Central (2:04). Concluding this
supplemental package are 1080p trailers for The Da Vinci Code Extended
Cut, Close Encounters of the Third
Kind, Men in Black, Fired Up!, Paul Blart: Mall Cop,
So I Married an Axe
Murderer, and You Don't Mess With the
Zohan
Smartly written and perfectly played, Ghostbusters remains a seminal work in the Comedy genre. Intertwining deadly-serious overtones with lighthearted fun, the film manages to take absurd material and craft it into an exciting and side-splitting Paranormal Comedy featuring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis at the very top of their games. Also enjoying fine performances from Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and William Atherton, Ghostbusters hasn't aged a day in its quarter-century of existence, the material remaining as fresh and funny as the day it premiered in theaters. Sony's Blu-ray release does the film justice. Sporting a true-to-the-source 1080p video transfer, a solid lossless soundtrack, and plenty of bonus materials, Ghostbusters comes highly recommended.
Combo Pack + $5 Vudu Offer
1984
Mastered in 4K
1984
30th Anniversary Edition | Mastered in 4K
1984
1984
Project Pop Art
1984
Ghostbusters: Ultimate Collection 4K
1984
Blu-ray Essentials
1984
1989
Extended Edition
2016
25th Anniversary Edition
1997
2019
2016
2014
2002
2012
2011
2007
2015
2017
2006-2016
2018
2016
Highlander II: The Quickening
1990
2011
Cinematic Universe Edition
2012
1978
2012