The Wonders of the Ghostbusters Franchise PT 1 #FanFridays 21

The Wonders of the Ghostbusters Franchise Pt1

N.B. This post is full of spoilers for the original movie, but it's been out for over 30 years, so I hope you don't mind.

I have, along with many others, been a fan of Ghostbusters for a long time. I did not see it in the cinema because in 1984 I was pre-teen and it would have scared the pants off me :). I saw it when it hit TV, but I have no idea when that was. I just know I loved it.

Nothing the franchise has brought to the big or small screen has really disappointed me since either, no, not even Ghostbusters II.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Without a doubt my favourite ghostbuster from the original lineup has to be Ray. Dan Aykroyd plays him beautifully and I love how earnest and enthusiastic he is.

He gives everything his whole heart and seems to be the one who can cause the most trouble just by being himself.

He is, after all, the reason for one of the best lines ever:

Winston Zeddemore: Ray, when someone asks you if you're a god, you say "YES"!

Egon is definitely a close second. Harold Ramis played him so completely straight laced and academic, yet, slightly from left field. I loved the fact that here you have a highly intelligent, gifted scientist who has a complete fascination with spooks.

Dr. Egon Spengler: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

Other things I absolutely love from the film:

• Sigourney Weaver's interpretation of being possessed - she's brilliant.
• Louis Tully's complete social ineptitude.
• The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
• The fact that Gozer is a woman.
• Slimer, sliming Venkman.

This is not a perfect film, but it is a fun one. It has ghosts for a start, which is always a winner for me, but it also brought something new to the genre. It lifted it. I think it was the "science " angle that I loved. Ghostbusters mixes spooks with science fiction so very well and makes us laugh as well.

In 1991 I was lucky enough to go to Florida and I still remember the Ghostbusters experience at Universal Studios. I assume it is long gone now, but it is one of those things that has stuck in my memory, just like the film.

Ghostbusters is a good film - next week, Ghostbusters II.

Are you a fan? Who is your favourite character?