RE-UPLOAD - Ghostbusters (1984) Retrospective / Review

Originally published April 2014
Review re-uploaded due to a copyright claim by Sony Music (SME).
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[@Gundam_90]

I'm so glad I discovered your channel. You retrospectives are like BBC documentaries for Film buffs. 🙂

[@Olebull93]

Above and beyond bbc if you ask me.

[@lokuzzz]

Thank god there is no BBC involved but otherwise i agree : )

[@Gundam_90]

@@lokuzzz I know about all the issues with BBC news, I personally don't like how they report south East Asian countries, but BBC documentaries and nature shows are still untainted.

[@gergemini2993]

@@Olebull93 the BBC of old was FANTASTIC i grew up in Ireland in 80s/90s watching some of the best tele ever produced and alot was "re-runs" also from 60s-70s from documentaries to comedies to game-shows and nobody did it better than the Brits! sadly those days are gone and all BBC is good for now is propaganda as its just an echo chamber for "special interest" sponsors!

[@r3tr0gam3r89]

@@gergemini2993 thank god there are many other channels that provide us with those re-runs we so deserve. Like Challenge!

[@mzoe12]

1984 was such a great year for classic movies. 80s movies have a certain nostalgic charm about them.

[@beeman2075]

Agree 100%

[@dannycruz5446]

Indeed! 84 was a magic year for genre movies!

[@ForceMaximus84]

84 fights with 82 for me, but it’s a close race.

[@Hb2N]

It’s the acting.

[@dannycruz5446]

Hb 2N it's more than just the acting. Its great stories and concepts augmented by amazing practical fx.

[@calideson]

As much as I love John Candy, I can't imagine anyone but Rick Moranis in the role of Louis Tully!

[@buffalodebill1976]

He's one of the very few actors who are capable of being entertaining and annoying at the same time - and be likeable and memorable in a result. A brilliant casting choice.

[@OliverHarper]

*Originally published April 2014* Review re-uploaded due to a copyright claim by Sony Music (SME). Sony Pictures had claimed the original review and released the claim under fair use but their music label always deny disputes till the very last minute, very cheeky. So the review has been edited slightly to remove the copyrighted material.

[@captainpungent]

These people are upset your retrospectives/docs are better than what's on their blu-ray/dvd specials. The best on YT, by far.

[@WilliamHaywardPainter]

Since it was a re-upload I half expected that reference would be made to the new Jason Reitman-helmed Ghostbusters sequel, like it would be an update on the prospect of a legit GB 3, which could come in another form of video, but often vids are reuploaded and tweaked to appease the copyright claimant, yeah. Still such a shame that happens still, music labels tend to stake the biggest claims.

[@Sliider36]

love this video so much oliver. ive been a subscriber for a long time now, and this one has always been one of my favorite retrospectives. btw, im going to continue to request a retrospective for Innerspace and Short Circuit until the end of time... or until i get them i suppose. thanks for the great content, always look forward to your stuff.

[@rustyshackleford9588]

Buncha nozzes if you ask me.

[@passthesalt2000]

Ah, that would explain why the comment about the music video not appearing on the dvd and blu ray releases. It's on the mastered in 4k blu ray release from 2016.

[@brycevo]

Busting for 35 Years and still counting! *Ghostbusters* We're ready to believe You!

[@thefonzkiss]

Murray and Ramis had a major falling out filming Groundhog Day a few years later so Murray refused to do a 3rd movie for years. Akroyd always wanted to do one. They made up shortly before Ramis’ death. The superb 2009 Ghostbusters game serves as a third movie in some regards.

[@DecemberFilms-m8w]

But At Least We Got Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

[@dnasty312]

​@@DecemberFilms-m8wI hope you like _Frozen Empire_ too

[@cms1138]

"listen...... Can you smell something?" gets me everytime!

[@daustin8888]

I don't get it

[@cms1138]

@@daustin8888 he should say listen.... Can you HEAR something... But he doesn't. But if you have to explain it....

[@PaulV3D]

Brilliant quote! Mine is; A duly designated representative of the city, county and state of New York I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin, or to the next convenient parallel dimension.

[@ArrowValley]

Just the opening music alone is makes it one of the most perfect starts to a movie.

[@dead0ntime]

Anytime is a good time for Ghostbusters, given this a rewatch

[@indytim]

I've been watching a lot of your retrospective videos recently and keep feeling it's a shame you weren't born 10 years earlier to experience all of these films upon their initial releases. I turned 7 years old when the original Star Wars came out and from that point on movies became my number one passion in life. Growing up through the 1980s every year presented numerous films that are now looked upon as classics of the sci-fi, action-adventure, and fantasy genres yet at the time I just assumed that every single year to come would offer equally amazing, and most importantly unique, movies. It's amazing to look back now and realise how lucky I was to be just the right age to appreciate what the 80s films had to offer. I can clearly remember the weekend of December 7th, 1984 when Ghostbusters and Gremlins opened on the same day in UK theatres. My friends and I went to see Gremlins on the Friday night and then returned on Saturday to see Ghostbusters. To think that I saw both of these classics within 24 hours of each other at the cinema just blows my mind today but back then it just felt like that's how things would always be. The one huge downside was not getting to see the big summer blockbusters until about 6 months after their American releases. The UK cinemas would then get the prints that had been running in USA cinemas all summer long and sometimes the quality of them could be pretty poor, especially at the points where the reels change. That I do not miss. Also, trying to find information about movies in those pre-internet days was a bit of a treasure hunt. Starburst and Starlog magazines were probably your only sources with the one exception being the annual summer blockbuster round-up on the last episode of the BBC's film show with Barry Norman before its yearly summer break. A USA correspondent called Tom Brook would run down all of the big movies for the summer in about five minutes and that was normally the first chance you'd get to see the briefest of clips of them. In some ways that made them feel all the more special. I'll never be that age again so never experience the seemingly never-ending wonder and excitement of it all but I wouldn't change it for the world.

[@goregoreboys13]

“My uncle thought he was Saint Jerome” kills me every time.

[@shainewhite2781]

This film is a blend of sci-fi, action, horror, and comedy.

[@ck552]

Probably my favorite movie of all time.

[@jorgezarco9269]

Ghostbusters(1984) is one of the best films ever made. In the Fall of 1985, a woman in my grade school class read a Ghostbusters book to us.

[@2namtaB]

Ivan Reitman did not make Sigourney Weaver do an impression of a Terror dog. It was actually Sigourney Weaver who said she thought Dana should get possessed by a dog and did an impression of that. Ivan liked it so much it was added to the film as the final third of the film had not been written yet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a52XkImCer2emac In his own words in the clip above.

[@densealloy]

"This reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole in your head"...."That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me."....best line ever!

[@pts5217]

Love these reviews! Oliver’s voice and narration style is so pleasing to the ear.

[@TruckerJenkins82]

After all these years and all the times I've watched this film, I never noticed the packet of Stay Puft marshmallows in the exploding eggs scene.

[@James-mz7tv]

Took me forever too man, it's amazing the shit people catch and the quick was with which they catch it. In fairness my recorded VHS version was such a shit quality I actually thought Michael Keaton was Peter Venkman and that Bill Murray played Walter Peck. Jk. But it was a VHS tape made by TDK that my Gran used to record from another VHS tape. Lol. Not great quality.

[@WrecklessEating]

Hyped to watch this again :)

[@TheCrazyHedgehogLady]

Same here! One of my favorites to revisit. 👍🏻

[@dukehorse5887]

I'm 42 years old at the time of writing and still have to look away when the librarian comes out on my annual viewing, possibly the number one thing that shat me up watching any film as a kid. My dad had bought the VHS and wouldnt let us watch it until a couple of years later when I was maybe 8? If he was still around I would show him the first part of this video showing this was vindicated by Egon himself. Been watching loads of these retrospectives lately having come across the channel recently, all are so well done, loads of new info on lots of personal favourites. Thankyou Oliver

[@Harri927]

Happy 35th Anniversary to one of my top 20 favorite movies of all time.

[@Jim73]

This is a very enjoyable video. My favorite stuff you do is production/script details. You went deep on this, and it's well worth it.

[@MrBlue3rd]

The Elmer Bernstein Score soundtrack has now been rereleased for the 35th anniversary. I'm hoping to buy it soon.

[@lookbovine]

Hopefully on LP… Or else it’s worthless.

[@BlackShardStudio]

20:33 "The *flowers* are still standing!"

[@jessehilton1337]

Well, yes, of course I am going to watch it again 😁

[@speckledjim9895]

How many times have i opened MY fridge and found a gateway to another dimension?.......sheeesh.

[@michaelblaine6494]

It does get annoying,back when tv stations used to go off the air did you ever get sucked into it? It makes the refrigerator dimension gateway look like a walk in the park. I still keep a few tennis balls handy just in case😉

[@jwnj9716]

Upload or Re-upload, its Ghostbusters, you cant avoid it.

[@James-mz7tv]

Oliver is so spot on about the GB soundtrack and how they used the ONLY good little segments of the pop songs in the film, lol. It makes no sense how the rest of each song is so freaking bad! Like how the hell did the person selecting songs know about these disparate pop tracks and how to effectively use the only good parts from them to deploy them with mastery theoughout the film? Actually, I kind of recall when I was a high schooler making little films for the banquet celebration at the end of each sporting season and theoughout editing I would think aha, that part of that Sugar Hill song can *plop* go right there, and *plop* theres that part of that intro to Crowded House there, etcetera. It is kind of a form of DJing I guess, and whoever did the Ghostbusters film's pop selections was a master. I guess the question really should be, how the hell did those bands/pop artists manage to miff and strike out & ruin their own songs after havinf such excellent parts in them?? Lol

[@dustinhodges3665]

This is one of your best edits on the intro! The part of the Ghostbusters song you used to cut in when the Ecto 1 license plates revealed is 🔥! Find myself watching this vid just for that intro, great work mate!

[@danieldevito6380]

Even though Ghostbusters was supposed to be a comedy, there are some truly scary scenes.

[@mrbumbumwilly]

Great movie, and the sfx have held up well!

[@bradleythomas27]

Gotta say i love the editing at the start of your videos, very well done.

[@shainewhite2781]

Holy crap, this film is 35 years old, and it still holds up to this day. The first Ghostbusters I saw was GB 2 when I was 4 years old.

[@thefonzkiss]

Shaine White More shitty patenting. That’s not suitable for a 4 year old.

[@jamesl.anderson1384]

R.I.P. Harold Ramis and Ivan Reitman

[@ergonautilus]

I love the spooky/goofy music of the original GB. It’s something every iteration since has missed.

[@densealloy]

17:45 I was in high school when this was out and liked The Real Ghostbusters as well. I even bought a box set of it on DVD 15 years or so back. My son and I watched when he was young (born in 95) as well on Saturday mornings.

[@natsune09]

Ghostbusters works well the same reason Shawn of the Dead and Zombieland work well. They are horror first, comedy second. Comedy isn't a great driving force for storytelling, the core idea is. It is harder to make a good story when it comes second to comedy. Comedy always works when it comes 2nd. No matter how serious you want to make a movie, you can add comedy to it. But it is really hard to add seriousness to a comedy first approach.

[@MultiSmartass1]

As a former online film reviewer, I simply want to take time to commend Oliver for his reviews on KZbin. Good research and solid analysis. His reviews are well worth watching.

[@shainewhite2781]

3:25, RIP Harold Ramis.

[@jcollins1305]

I just finished watching this for the first time in a while, and the movie just makes you smile! And it’s not the famous lines, but a lot of the lines you don’t remember if you haven’t seen it in some time. The characters are great, and are totally believable, the performances are top notch, and the story is amazing. Nearly a perfect movie if you ask me.

[@BuDDaHStefaN]

Certainly the best 80's movie.

[@FujiRob52]

Would anyone like to see a Dragonslayer retrospective?

[@MultiSmartass1]

Ghostbusters has always worked as a hybrid sci-fi/slight horror/comedy . well structured with enough witty lines mixed with a threat / immense jeopardy to make it interesting.

[@funnypicturescomics]

This is one of my favorite reviews Oliver!

[@rocknrollkid90]

Have you watched the 90’s spin-off, “Extreme Ghostbusters?”

[@edcano2293]

Another great retrospect video. I have the 2014 digibook Blu-ray release of both films. And will be rewatching it as soon as I finish your video.

[@braddockakalatis2]

Ron Jeremy's second best movie. Only behind Candy Stripers 2.

[@robinhooduk8255]

do a biggles adventures in time review

[@entennstudio]

Guys just want to let everybody know, that if you are like me trying to track down the gorgeous Elmer Bernstein score for this film for years, then you will be happy to know that they finally released a deluxe version on the 6th of June. With all the films music! Finally! It was about bloody time!

[@Clay3613]

My favorite movie of all time.

[@trevorrandom]

Fantastic intro editing

[@BjornsLIfe]

Loved it!

[@NoName-fc3xe]

My parents took me to see this when I was a kid. I ran screaming out of the theater when the librarian ghost underwent her transformation. Lol

[@MGSBigBoss77]

WTF? never knew this, Ernie Hudson auditioned for his own character from the film as Winston Zeddmore for the animated series of The Real Ghostbusters and didn't get the job? How in the blue hell this this ever come about i'm wondering?!! Thats if like the 1988 Ruby Spears animated Superman series at the time. Held auditions to voice Superman in their series right?! And Christopher Reeve at the time auditioned to play Superman again for the animated show (coming off Superman 4 the year beforehand in theaters) and was turned down so easily! Does this example stick with folks?, yeah i reckon it does!

[@lookbovine]

How? Ummm, he’s black. Duh.

[@tuamae]

Been waiting on this since you did the second one! Awesome stuff!

[@stevedocherty6240]

One of the best films about friendship ever made. They caught a fantastic cast at the peak of their powers, and the script has some great lines. I was around 8 when it was released and I remember pestering my father to go and see it. I loved it but found the ghost in the library quite scary! I also bought the 7" single and played it to death.

[@3GPtv]

There was a little more to the Huey Lewis story. According to Huey, he was approached by someone from Ghostbusters wanting to use "I Want A New Drug," and Huey declined, so they used it anyway by making a knock-off version.

[@Kajerman]

Loved the song as a kid and just recently heard it on Spotify while driving and put it on repeat for an entire hour. As you mentioned with the PG rating I can recall seeing the start of the movie when I was very young. Again, like you mentioned, the Librarian ghost really gave me a scare.

[@psychodfunk]

Dude, you’d make the BEST theatrical trailers .. EVER!!!

[@ANas-xq3ly]

Bang on review! The comedy still works, the special effects still hold up.

[@werecam56]

I'd love it if you did a retrospective on Killer Klowns From Outer Space!

[@edcano2293]

Your retrospect videos are the best. Thanks. Cant wait for part 3. Ghostbusters baybay!!

[@semicharmedlife311]

Imho, the brilliance of the film is derived from it's ability to successfully mix multiple genres of filmmaking. Ghostbusters is a "comedy", but one with action-adventure, horror, and sci-fi elements that also qualify it for discussions of the best films in those genres, as well.

[@ajdawgfan]

By way my favorite channel on KZbin, I look forward to all of your episodes.

[@joeriveracomedy]

I love Dana's theme. Sounds so much like Elmer's Heavy Metal tune.

[@sadderthanyou7793]

Comedy gold. It had the perfect cast.

[@allysanchez7275]

3:34 loved that hug they had

[@moviebuffshatto7375]

Your Trailer Making Skills are Amazing. Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II were your best

[@raymondwiggins354]

I'm about to watch it on the big screen again with someone that's never seen it. It's like going to watch it again anew. Can't wait.

[@mrpopsful]

Seeing this movie as a kid, it was the Winston and Ray scene talking about judgement day that gave me the willie-squidgets

[@kclink1579]

16:27 I love this game and played it a lot.

[@Attlanttizz]

Loved the C64 version as a youngster

[@BrendanPramjee]

Gives us another chance to watch this retrospective!! As always it's worth it

[@midnitesnac]

Thanks for the reupload. Always love the content!

[@jamesl.anderson1384]

2:22

[@spectre1004]

2:23 lol the funny part is that I watched this movie before I was 8. There were moments like the library scene that scared the shit out of me but I loved the movie

[@windsweeper8002]

I always laugh at the way Bill Murray pops up at 20:16. 1984. The year of great franchises. Ghostbusters, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Terminator...

[@mooseyman74]

84 was a great year, love this film!

[@danielherrin]

The only bit of this movie that scared me as a child was the refrigerator.

[@zillauniverse7208]

3:24 Lol I saw the film when I was 5 and I still loved it

[@danielbloomquist9810]

Egon, but not forgotten.

[@wanderingspacecritic]

Another banger from Oliver.

[@garym6315]

As a kid who grew up with the cartoon and toy line, the films were more of the same but I often wonder if others who were adults at the time saw it more as an SNL movie. I kinda get the feeling that this was how Murray thought of the film, rather than the child-friendly adventure many of us saw it as.

[@lordteabelly]

Great review, my all time favourite movie.,. Id like to add too about the casting of louis tully, yes dan aykroyd had john candy in mind for the role but from what ive ready many times that dan aykroyd has stated that it was john candy who actually turned down the role BUT because he thought his friend, rick moranis suited the character better so suggested him to aykroyd :)

[@TonyZi]

lol...the music video is included for the first time with a new Ghostbusters 1 & 2 Ultra HD Blu-ray Steelbook set..they took their sweet time :D It also includes some other new goodies that I haven't had time to watch yet.

[@retrorider-NYC]

Dude Awesome video, I was born 1980; 4 years later GHOSTBUSTERS!!! Love it ever since 😍

[@eoyguy]

2 things. Huey Lewis was actually asked to do the theme, but either decided not to or couldn't. When he heard the Ray Parker song, he immediately knew what they had done, using his song as a basis for the theme without his permission. And Ernie Hudson's character is absolutely unnecessary. Just think about the movie without him. Would it be any better? Any worse? Would you even NOTICE??? He was only there because they planned on having Eddie Murphy. When he dropped out, they got Ernie and seriously cut the part back. They would have been better off just accepting they didn't have Eddie, and just keep the 3 original Ghostbusters and not tack him on.

[@dougmasters4579]

To make matters worse, Ernie Hudson basically accused Reitman, Aykroyd, etc of being racist for rewriting his character. Very disappointing to see him slander them with such lies. You're right, they could've just left it at three ghostbusters and it would still be the same movie.

[@newdefsys]

Conglaturations on another fine upload ! Now rest our hero.

[@Xegethra]

Still got the Ghostbusters firehouse and car. And for some reason two different figurines of Winston. One way they could have explained their equipment would to have been as a joke. Have it all written in text somewhere on display and have someone in the fire house ask about it, and one of them just points to it and it hangs for a couple of seconds and moves on. People would have to pause to read it but it keeps the pace going. Or have that joke as scrolling text on a T.V or something. The second time I went to New York we went to the firehouse....was covered in scaffolding....of course.

[@lookbovine]

13:22 How does something “sell out” on iTunes???

[@DevilDogMuNky]

*in Zeddemore's voice* I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!

[@dillonohlemiller9027]

Good news: the score is now on iTunes

[@MGSBigBoss77]

Beautiful review of the film Oliver, although i wished you addressed some of the well known deleted scenes from the film mind you. Even if some of the more word of mouth legendary ones? haven't been seen at all. Like the; "Fort Detmerring" scene, and the possessed; "Louis Tully" being attacked by muggers in Central Park (much to their regret). You should've shown this off by the existing pictures though Oliver? This is still a kickass review so don't worry about it too much dude!

[@blazerocker1734]

R.I.P. - Elmer Bernstein. Your music will be with us till the end of time.

[@shainewhite2781]

2010 was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

[@MatsMovieReviews]

Always a good excuse for a rewatch 👍😎

[@B33FY2011]

Was the original storyboard and design of the man in the suit not meant to be Ivo Shandor? It would be great to get a nod to him Ghostbusters Afterlife to link the original 2 films to it. Maybe we could have an appearence from him, I think that would be awesome.

[@katiemeeker4146]

Omni is a real magazine?

[@joek81981]

I wonder what were Candy's "creative differences" in freaking *Ghostbusters* of all things. Is it what I'm guessing?

[@NebLleb]

One of the best, most iconic fantasy movies of the 1980s.

[@RichardM-kv4uu]

What a great excuse to rewatch this then!