Ghostbusters 1 & 2 (Double Feature Gift Set)
Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Susan Boehm, Henry J. Deutschendorf II, William T. Deutschendorf, Kurt Fuller, Ernie Hudson, Mordecai Lawner, Peter MacNicol, Janet Margolin, David Margulies, Michael P. Moran, Rick Moranis, Bill Murray, Annie Potts, Harold Ramis, Olivia Ward, Sigourney Weaver, Harris Yulin, Wilhelm von HomburgStudio: Sony Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: Color, NTSC
DVD Release: August 2nd 2005
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DVD Review
Prepare to spend some quality "slime-time" with Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2, together for the first time in this exclusive DVD gift set. These spooktacularly successful fillms captured the imagination of audiences around the world and redefined the action-comedy genre in the process. This gift set includes the two films, each with an assortment of otherworldly extras, and a deluxe Collector's Scrapbook, loaded with production notes, character sketches, insider info and more. Because when it comes to supernaturally classic comedy, Who you gonna call?
User Reviews
Looks great, one great comedy, one good one, and some interesting extras - Rating: 5/5
Since these movies came out in 1983 and 1989, before my youngest son was born, he had somehow missed out on seeing Ghostbusters. While he had seen the second film, he had not seen the first. And for me, I did not remember the second installment being nearly as much fun as the first. So, when I saw this set with the two of them, I bought it. It is a terrific set and has a nice little booklet with some of drawings and sketches that were done to originate the ideas for the first Ghostbusters.
The first movie was a sensation. The title song was remarkable and was the song of 1984. The exuberance of the actors, their chemistry, and the downright strangeness of the story delighted nearly everyone and if my youngest son's reaction is representative of young people today, it is still a great deal of fun. Yes, the effects look much cheesier than they did in 1983 (the year the film was made) before CGI took over effects in film.
It is also fun to watch the film with the commentary and learn more about how the story evolved from Ackroyd's original treatment and what went on in making the movie. Some of the classic lines of the film were improvised or were done by the actor. For example, Dana's (Sigourney Weaver) line to Venkman (Bill Murray) that he didn't seem like a scientist, that he seemed more like a game show host was perfect and supplied by Weaver. The original line given her was more hackneyed, that Venkman seemed more like a used car salesman. The difference is one is fresh and memorable the other would just be lost in the rest of the movie.
There is so much that is wonderful in the first Ghostbusters that it is impossible to list them all. We all have our favorite moments and as we watch the movie we are reminded of more that we really like. Just for fun, look up the cast on IMDB and see what they have all done since. It is quite an interesting exercise.
The second film was inevitable given the success of the first. The domestic box office was $231 million and worldwide it was $291 million for the first movie.
However, I remember feeling that Ghostbusters 2 was a bit of a disappointment. The music wasn't very good (the Bobby Brown stuff was terrible!) and the story seemed too much a sermon instead of the best story they could invent (but maybe it was). As I watched it again after all these years, I have to say that it was better than I remembered. Yes, the Bobby Brown stuff and the rap crap are still awful, but I can look past that.
The beginning picks up five years after the other filmed ended. They are on hard times. Ray and Winston are doing kids parties for extra cash. As they do a little dance to the Ghostbusters theme from the first movie and come to "Who ya gonna call?" the kids shout back "HE MAN!". Quite deflating for the boys. Ray also has an Occult / Paranormal bookstore. Egon is doing research about on how emotions affect the human environment. Venkman has a cable access show interviewing paranormal nutjobs. And Dana is working at a museum because she has a young baby, Oscar, and can't travel with the orchestra.
We get introduced to the main idea of the film when Dana rolls Oscar's baby carriage through some goo on the sidewalk (who would notice in 1980s New York?). When she stops to talk with someone the carriage starts moving on its own!
I did enjoy many of the scenes. The digging in the street, the courtroom scene, the ghost train. It is all quite funny. Yes, it is very tough to surprise and delight the way the first film did, but there is a lot to enjoy. But whomever it was that insisted on Bobby Brown should still be taken outback and given a stern lecture about how bad an idea that was.
There are also two shorts about the first film. One from 1984 and the other more recent. Both are very interesting. There are also some deleted scenes and it is clear why they weren't included.
One great comedy, one good comedy, and some nice extras in this fine two DVD set.
Ghostbusters 1 & 2 - Rating: 5/5
Great collection! Shipped timely and in excellent condition. Great price for the set.
"I ain't afraid of no ghosts" - Rating: 5/5
Ivan Reitman's 1984 mega-hit, and it's lesser sequel, are both included in this double feature DVD gift set that long time fans of the Ghostbusters should consider an absolute must own. Chances are you already know the story: three bumbling scientists (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis) lose their campus jobs and go into business for themselves. Only thing is, their business involves capturing and containing gross and slimy ghosts throughout New York. Also featuring Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, and Rick Moranis; Ghostbusters ended up being a super hit which spawned an animated series, tons of toys, and a sequel five years later. Ghostbusters 2, while nowhere near as wonderful as the first film but still pretty fun, finds the guys back in business as a new breed of evil is about to be birthed in time for New Years. Although this isn't the first time both films have appeared on DVD, there's enough special features here to make this Gift Set worth picking up. There's a nice selection of deleted scenes (nothing substancial), a couple featurettes, and commentary from Reitman and co., but there's no features devoted to Ghostbusters 2. Instead, there are two animated episodes that are linked to the two films, and there's an exclusive scrap book included too with a nice variety of information for fans. If you've already been double dipped by the Ghostbusters on DVD, picking this up is entirely up to you. However, if you're a fan of these films and don't own them on DVD, pick this affordable Gift Set up and enjoy.
Hilarious - Rating: 4/5
I had not seen this movie in years. But I had to buy it, because I was going to teach my little 2 years old guy to aim true into the toilet bowl. He heard the term to cross beams all the time. And I wanted to show him where the term came from.
Anyway, very hilarious movie. You just don't see the talents of Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, etc anymore.
Ghostbusters I & II (Double Feature Giftset) - Rating: 5/5
My son ask for this for Christmas (He's 17). He has watched these movies too many times to count. He can quote lines and he knows all the songs. I would rather my 17 year old watch these movies than some of the other movies out these.
