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Ghostbusters Blu-ray (1984) 30th Anniversary Special Edition (blu-ray film review).

I can’t believe 30 years have passed since the ‘Ghostbusters’ apparition but here we have the anniversary special edition Blu-ray. The actors are older and have gone on to do other things but they will be remembered for that special movie which has become a cult masterpiece and a financially successful franchise. They have a copyright trademark that can’t be infringed!

Ghostbusters

Everybody knows about ‘Ghostbusters’, even Martians on holiday in Peru. It has been one of the most successful comedies of all time. Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd team up with Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson to form the Ghostbusters team located in an old fire station. Annie Potts is the unfortunate secretary and along comes Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett, the lady unfortunate enough to be located in an apartment which will be the centre for the second coming of a Babylonian god. We all know the story and watching it recently, for the first time in about 20 years, I still found it funny and even picked up jokes I had missed on previous occasions, so what can be said about this special edition that makes it out of the ordinary?

First of all, the 4K picture is very sharp. This isn’t exclusive to this particular Blu-ray but it does make for excellent viewing and the sound seems to be much better as well, more suited to modern televisions and surround sound. What you do get with this 30th anniversary edition is plenty of extra material on the Blu-ray disc.

Some of this material is new while the rest has appeared on Blu-ray. Versions before. Let’s go over what you get:

The new stuff includes: a retrospective feature including a discussion between Dan Aykroyd and director Ivan Reitman. A poster art gallery collection from 1988. Ray Parker Jr music video. Alternative TV version takes.

The other material includes the following: a commentary with Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis and Joe Medjuck. 10 deleted scenes. A featurette from 1984. A cast and crew featurette. A featurette about special effects. An item about the vehicle used in the movie.

While the extra material is fine and the picture quality is first class, I don’t think I would wish to recommend this particular Blu-ray version because for a little extra money you can buy a disc with the same quality version plus the sequel, ‘Ghostbusters 2’. There are also a few extra items you do not get on this reviewed version, in particular a discussion with Aykroyd and Reitman about ‘Ghostbusters 2’. There are also deleted scenes and a Bobby Brown music video.

This is a classic movie and it could never be successfully made again because it hinges so much on the particular actors who turned it into reality. If you watch it again the theme tune by Ray Parker Jr. will be a ghost in your head for hours thereafter, be warned, and if you buy a Blu-ray enhanced version, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Rod MacDonald

October 2014

(Region O: pub: Sony Home Entertainment. 1 blu-ray 101 minute with extras. Price: £ 7.99 (UK). ASIN: B00KWWFV64)

cast: Actors: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis

Subtitles: Hindi, German, French, Finnish, Swedish, Arabic, Norwegian, Dutch, Turkish, English, Danish

Dubbed: French, German

Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired: English

check out website: www.sonypictures.com

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