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Ghostbusters

year 1984decade 80sdirector Ivan Reitmangenre Comedygenre Fantasy
host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Van Lathanproducer Craig Horlbeck
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The film

Ghostbusters (1984)

Directed by Ivan Reitman · Comedy

105 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

42:43

Roger Ebert's review
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:43Read transcript
  • The stated review score is three and a half stars. — Bill Simmons
  • The quoted review praises the film's many quotable lines and the survival of its fragile comic vision inside an expensive production. — Bill Simmons
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1:33:36

Casting What-Ifs

Michael Keaton as Venkman; Jeff Goldblum as Egon; other reported candidates (credibility questioned)

Michael Keaton as Venkman; Jeff Goldblum as Egon; other reported candidates (credibility questioned)

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:36Read transcript
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1:39:02

Recasting Couch

John Candy as Louis Tully

John Candy as Louis Tully

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:39:02Read transcript
  • John Candy's proposed version of Louis remains the most interesting recasting option even though the group values Moranis's performance. — Bill Simmons
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1:39:27

Half-Assed Internet Research

The title rights, effects company, Stay Puft suits, library puppet, deleted ghost encounter, rooftop power, and Murra...

The title rights, effects company, Stay Puft suits, library puppet, deleted ghost encounter, rooftop power, and Murray's last-minute commitment

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:39:27Read transcript
  • Frank Price is said to have sold Columbia the Ghostbusters title for $500,000 plus one percent of profits. — Bill Simmons
  • The special-effects supervisor used part of the effects budget to establish Boss Film Studios. — Bill Simmons
  • Eighteen toxic foam marshmallow-man suits cost nearly $600,000 and required a separate air supply; shaving cream stood in for marshmallow debris. — Bill Simmons
  • The original library-ghost puppet was considered too frightening and reused in Fright Night. — Bill Simmons
  • A more extensive sexual encounter between Ray and a female ghost was deleted. — Bill Simmons
  • The rooftop set reportedly needed 50,000 amps, forcing Columbia to shut down its other stages. — Bill Simmons
  • A Vanity Fair account says Murray arrived late with a stadium horn, reviewed the rewritten script with Ramis and Reitman, offered no changes, and agreed to proceed. — Chris Ryan
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1:46:29

Picking Nits

Dana's apartment and attraction to Venkman, falling debris, city oversight, and jailhouse blueprints

Dana's apartment and attraction to Venkman, falling debris, city oversight, and jailhouse blueprints

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:29Read transcript
  • Dana's expensive Central Park West apartment is questioned, then defended through her implied family wealth and career.
  • The group revisits why Dana likes Venkman and suggests his new success and cash changed her view.
  • The finale appears likely to kill many street spectators with falling debris. — Bill Simmons
  • The city's limited response to paranormal chaos and reliance on four recently dismissed academics are called implausible. — Chris Ryan
  • The team being allowed to study building blueprints in a holding cell is questioned.
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1:51:32

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Would Belushi or later effects improve the movie?

Would Belushi or later effects improve the movie?

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:51:32Read transcript
  • Replacing Murray with John Belushi is judged to make the movie worse even though the role might have become a major Belushi vehicle. — Bill Simmons
  • Releasing the movie years later for better effects is rejected because 1984 is considered the perfect moment. — Bill Simmons
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1:55:08

Best Double Feature

Big Trouble in Little China, The Blues Brothers, and Beverly Hills Cop
Ghostbusters
Big Trouble in Little China
The Blues Brothers
Beverly Hills Cop
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:55:08Read transcript
  • Big Trouble in Little China is chosen for a similar comic science-fiction mixture. — Chris Ryan
  • The Blues Brothers is selected as another choice. — Chris Ryan
  • Beverly Hills Cop is selected as the third choice.
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