Ghostbusters Blu Ray
June 16, 2009
Ghostbusters Blu Ray Review
Twenty five years after the release, the Ghostbusters is one of my favorite films of all time. If you were growing up during the 80s, you will most likely remember the original, the sequel, and the bombardment of animation series. A lot of us gobbled up everything related to Ghostbusters. Even with limited technology, the Ghostbusters displayed great special effects along with great story and even greater dialogues. Even though the film is clearly aimed at younger kids, the jokes and dialogues are funny to the adults. I find myself laughing hard at the film even as an adult.
Ghostbusters is a comedic gem that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Three scientists, Venkman, Stantz, and Spengler decide to start up a business to deal with paranormal beings after being let go by the University. This gets them a case dealing with Dana Barrett, played by Sigourney Weaver, where they have to deal with portal openings in her refrigerator. From there, the Ghostbusters have to deal with the evil forces that threaten to destroy entire Manhattan. The story is rather simple but very fun.
A lot of the credit for the movie’s success rests on the funny dialogue as well as great directing and acting. Bill Murray as the funny Dr. Venkman is one of the most memorable characters played by Bill Murray. Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis round out the perfect partners for the Ghostbusters. Without a doubt, this is the best movie directed by Ivan Reitman. He’s had hand in some semi successful films since the Ghostbusters and its sequel. However, they don’t come close to the greatness of Ghostbusters movies. With the release of the new video game as well as the new Blu-ray version, this would be great time for new generation to experience this fantastic movie before the release of the third installment in 2012.
What do you think about this movie? Please leave your thoughts below.
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Still a great movie
What’s there to say? It’s Ghostbusters. If you liked the movie, then you’ll like the blu-ray. The image quality is a little grainy, but it wasn’t notable while watching the movie. Only when I focused in on it.
There are some negatives about the extra features. I’m not too big on extra features, but for those who are, they only transferred the features from the DVD release. They were not upgraded for Blu-ray resolutions, and the movie states this when you attempt to view the extras. BUT, at least they ARE still included. There are a few new extras in HD though.
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Gostbusters + Blu-ray = awesome
You know and love Ghostbusters, so I won’t get into the full critical review of the movie. But the Blu-ray version is great. Who knew such an old movie could look so good? As long as you have a decent 1080p TV it is well worth buying on BD even if you already own the DVD. And it’s cheap, too! Stop procrastinating and do it!
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A classic in a few words
The movie is great! the video quality is awesome
and if you have a ps3 like I do, you will receive a free PS3 theme when you insert the BD in your PS3; that’s an extra that’s not mentioned on the product’s description!
buy it, you won’t regret it!
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Ghostbusters
Love it! This movie reminds me of my youth. It arrived quickly and was in perfect shape.
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Ghostbusters
Shipping and seller was great, but the game cannot be played by more than one player which causes conflict if you have more than one child. It is a disappointment considering my 9 yr old would rather watch the movie than play the game
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Ghostbusters the movie (Bluray)
Good… no, it’s Great…
It’s Ghostbusters!
Need I say more…?
I wanted to be one as a kid.
We came… We saw… We kicked it’s a$$…!!
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It’s the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
Why worry? Each of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.
High definition? Nobody said anything about high definition!
I’ve been a fan of Ghostbusters since it’s release back in 1984.
This is going to be just a review of the blu-ray release and not the movie itself.
Just to be clear this blu-ray release is the original film as it appeared back in 1984 not some prettied up slick looking HD transfer.
I had a blast watching it because it was as i remembered seeing it back in 1984.
Video 4 out of 5
Grain on this Blu-ray seems surprisingly heavy especially in the opening 20-minutes. This lends the film a more authentic, textured, look. The film’s effects couldn’t compete with today’s standards but suited Ghostbusters quite adequately, well, a few might look a bit cheesy today. Some scenes show some decent depth but it’s not a hallmark of the transfer. Colors seem lively, but true, without unnatural brilliance applied as an after thought.
Any softness is probably inherent in Ghostbusters original source and I don’t notice any indication that DNR or boosting was applied. This Blu-ray probably looks quite similar to the film as it appeared back in 1984 or at least the best possible reproduction for home theatre.
Audio 3.5 out of 5
It’s a meager TrueHD 5.1 audio transfer at only 1504 kbps. Ray Parker Jr’s Ghostbusters theme sounds great throughout the film. It’s funny how small improvements can go a long way and the track is notably superior to any I’ve heard from DVD. It’s not the crispest nor has the most depth for demo’ purposes but it does wonders for the film on Blu-ray.
Extras 4 out of 5
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 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 looks at the car’s history, place in the film, and the process of refurbishing it.
Ghostbusters Garage: Ecto-1 Gallery showcases a collection of detailed still photographs and videos of the famed car.
Making of ‘Ghostbusters – The Video Game takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the creation of the upcoming game that reunites the entire primary cast.
Ghostbusters The Video Game – Preview is an advertisement for the game.
Moving along, Scene Cemetery is a collection of 10 deleted scenes.
1984 Featurette 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 features more interview clips with cast and crew discussing various aspects of the film.
SFX Team Featurette examines the making of some of the film’s special effects.
Multi-Angle Featurettes allows viewers to compare three scenes — Spook Central Exploding, She’s a Dog and Crossing the Streams — in two versions, one with effects and one without.
Storyboard Comparison allows viewers to see the final sequence from the film below the hand-drawn storyboards for three scenes: Slimer, Dogs Drag Dana and Atop Spook Central.
Concluding this supplemental package are HD 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
Bottom Line
Ghostbusters is a timeless classic and remains a pile of fun to watch. It’s kind of imbedded itself into the pop culture and the Blu-ray is strong on all fronts – transfer and supplements and is recommended on blu-ray only if you don’t already have it on DVD.
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The perfect movie
To me this is the perfect movie for everyone to see. Unlike a lot of movies now a days that rely on disgusting toilet and sex humor, out-dated pop culture references and a lot of unnecessary violence, this movie fits the taste of anyone who watches it. It’s a romantic comedy, it’s a supernatural thriller mystery, it’s a paranormal action movie, it’s all sorts of great movie Genres all rolled into one movie!
I highly recommend Ghostbusters!
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Check out the original!
If you liked Ghost Busters as I did then you might enjoy the film that may have been it’s inspiration. The film is from the 1950′s and is called Ghost Breakers starring Bob Hope. Amazing how many films popular in our times seem to spring from earlier works. Enjoy!
$crooge
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A Classic Comedy/Horror Film
I grew up watching Ghostbusters. It was always funny and somewhat scary. And so I was excited to see it on DVD. It has all the classic scenes, and a lot of great extras like deleted scenes and commentary. Fans of this classic movie should check this DVD out.
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A brilliant comic masterpiece with a not too shabby new BLU-RAY release
I’m not going to lie to you. This is a movie from over 20 years ago, and it shows with some of the special effects, and shows even more so with the new BLU-RAY transfer. Unfortunately, the opticals(the term that used to be used for special effects before CGI became in vogue) can’t hold up to the BLU-RAY scrutiny. Well, not all of them, some still look quite brilliant. Some of the bright composite opticals, like the lights above the Zuul tower, still hold up and look even more striking on BLU RAY. But, when the Stay Puft Marshmellow man shows up the composites just give way and he becomes transparent, literally. Also, some of the composites of the actors into backgrounds with special effects it looks even more jarring, way more so then when this film debuted on Video. Some of the Onion Head(AKA Slimer) shots have their seams showing more obviously with their new digital clarity. I was worried about this when I heard of BLU RAY. Older special effects benefitted a lot from the lack of digital clarity. Bottom line though, good writing, good concept, great acting, and great direction make up for special effects. I don’t go to movies for special effects. Modern audiences need to realize thaty the films they think are so hi tech now will look just as silly in ten years.
Enough with the faults and onto the good stuff and the reason this thing gets five stars. Firstly, all the special features from the 1999 DVD are all here. Storyboards, retrospective doc with Ramis, Aykroyd and Reitman, deleted scenes, commentary, and a really cool special effects featurette, they’re all here along with the trailer thank you very much. New to BLU RAY we get three new features, one that is neat, and two that are awesome. The neat feature is a behind the scenes look at the making of the new video game(which is a real fun play, too easy, but fun and loaded with nostalgia) that talks to writers Aykroyd and Ramis and the cast members who return to lend thier voices for the game, which takes place in 1991 and considered by Aykroyd to be the third Ghostbusters. No Bill Murray, who is notorious for not doing publicity for anything, though he did show up for the features on the special edition of Stripes. Next up, we get a short featurette showing the refurbish and updating of Ecto-1, which was done as a promotion for the new video game. Aykroyd is interviewed in regard to the vehicle and comes off quite well versed in auto mechanics and old cars in general. We get a fairly depthful look at the process of fixing the car up and what additions were made, made and hidden so not to come off too far from the original design. It’s a real treat to see the end when Aykroyd sees the refurbished car and then gets to take a nostalgic spin in it. Finally, and most noteworthy, there’s a feature called Slimer Mode. It’s your basic picture-in-picture pop video while the film is running with the cast and crew talking about making of tid bits and anecdotes. It’s much more in depth then the original ten minute retro doc and has interviews and thoughts from the entire speical effects team, Reitman, Ramis, Aykroyd, William Atherton, Ernie Hudson, designer Bernie Writson, and Sigourney Weaver. These are newly recored interviews, not a culmination of old or vintage footage. It’s quite informative and only rehashes what was gone over in the retro doc and original commentary a few times. I never tire of hearing the original Ghostbusters story involving time travel, dimensional jumping, and John Belushi. It’s the closest and best thing we have so far to represent a making of doc.
The movie itself, and has done so for over twenty years, and still holds up. The chemistry of the Ghostbusters and the natural behavior based humor juxtaposed against silly Lovecraftian mythology and the supernatural is perfect and quite inspired. Billy Murray and Sigourney Weavers’ romance and onscreen chemistry is great and glues the film togehter with some heart and human drama. I really believed these two as a couple and a budding romance. This film will live on forever.
No, no BLU RAY of Ghostbusters II. Yes, it’s a weak sequel in a sense, its plot too closely rehashes the first film’s structure, but it has the same elements that worked in the original, neat special effects, the entire original cast, and some laugh out loud moments. I say bring on a special edition of the sequel, better yet, bring us the much rumored Ghostbusters III!
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A Welcome Addition to My Collection
This blu-ray is great. While picture quality isn’t phenomenal, the movie is great visually despite some heavy grain in places and dated special visual effects. The classic commentary from the dvd is as hilarious as ever and the blu-ray has other extras to pass the time. For the price and quality, I’m glad I picked this one up.
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unbias review from ghostbusters fan
ok.. i bought this just to compare to the hd one i recorded off HBO HD from Dish..
thoughts:
-alot of the scenes look amazing for the year that this movie was made.
+i had said MOST because there are alot of scenes that are just beyond grainy and get on my nerves. Im running a ps3 blu ray with a nice 50” samsung plasma and proper hdmi cables.. its the transfer, not my equipment.
-audio is great for the most part as well.
-bonus features are nice to have..
-packaging is attractive to the eye
final decision:
i like the one i recorded from hbo.. honestly – id rather have a 1080i that is pretty good 100% of the time, than a picture thats incredible for the movie but only 60% of the time, and 40% is grainy.. (those %’s are just estimates)
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Ghostbusters Blu-ray! The closest version to the theatrical experience!!!!!
I saw “Ghostbusters” two years ago in Seattle at the Cinerama. It was a 70mm projection and gorgeous! Of course there was plenty of dirt, scratches etc. It was an old film print. Very well loved! And still the projection of film was a real treat!
Now comes “Ghostbusters” on blu-ray. The transfer looks almost as good as the 70mm version I saw at Cinerama. Maybe better. The transfer is clean. No scratches. No dirt. Many shots have a 3-D quality. Including shots of the gargoyle statues. The Stay Puft Marshmellow Man hasn’t looked so good. The only noticable issue is grain. Grain is good. This makes a movie retain its original theatrical look.
Many customers will argue the transfer is so grainy it’s unwatchable. Untrue! You will be disappointed if you’re looking for a Lowry Digital 4k restoration transfer or if you compare this to any Bond Blu-ray or other modern films, you will be sad! “Ghostbusters” is a product of 1980s with use of heavy grain film stock. My “Donnie Darko” Blu-ray is a worse transfer than “Ghostbusters”. All of the optical shots are clean and vivid. This is a great Blu-ray and recently one of my favorites! I even compared the DVD and obviously, 480i does not stand a chance to 1080p. The Blu-ray is much superior!
Don’t listen to others complaining about grain. This was shot on film in 1984!!! There is bound to be loads of grain. And the worst parts of noticeable grain happen in the first moments. The rest is nothing. Sony did a great job with the solid transfer. The special features are alright. Nothing to write home about.
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2009 BluRay a Big Twinkie
They don’t make them like this anymore to the 3rd power. One of the most quotable movies ever. Film entertains on many levels and lasts as long as that Twinkie. A film to keep around for when you need to bail on bad life or bad movies
BD is great A/V great but limited by source; well done, still powered like it’s release, best yet and
“I always have low sodium mineral water and other nutritious foods.”
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