Reviews

Throwback Review – ‘Ghostbusters’

The 1984 version, not the Melissa McCarthy one….

video-how-many-calories-is-stay-puft-marshmallow-man-from-1984s-ghostbusters

I’ve decided I’m going to write a weekly review on some of my favorite movies and I’m starting this list off with a movie that some days I consider to be my favorite movie of all time. It’s a weird/tough question to answer, what is your favorite movie? What does that even mean? The movie you have watched the most in your life? The movie you know the most quotes too? Is it simply the movie you enjoy watching the most? Well if so, rthe answer to all three of those questions is Ghostbusters. It came out 4 years before I was even born, it came out shortly after Michael Jordan was drafted to the NBA, this movie is super old, but it has and will always stand the test of time. Regarded as one of the greatest comedies of all time, to me this movie is can summed up in two words, almost perfect.

To this day I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen this movie, earlier this year AMC decided to air Ghostbusters everyday. (Thank you AMC). Regardless of which part the movie was at, I found myself immediately sucked into the Ghostbusters vortex and couldn’t get out. Ghostbusters is kind of like my sunken place (Get Out reference). There’s just something about this movie that I find truly magical, maybe it’s because I owned the Ghostbusters Firehouse growing up as a kid, and still have my Stay Puff Marshmallow Man toy, or maybe because I just think it’s such an incredible concept for a movie, that I can’t help but love it. Ghostbusters just holds a really special place in my heart, and it will be a movie that I know I will enjoy until the day I die, so I thought it was only fitting that I wrote a review for it.

You have to know the run down by now, Peter (Bill Murray), Ray (Dan Aykroyd) and Egon (Harold Ramis) all of whom are paranormal experts, but once their university grants dry up, it’s time for them to go into business for themselves. It’s up to them to protect the city of Manhattan from all things ghosts, before the all-powerful Gozer destroys it. Calling themselves The Ghostbusters, word spreads around town quickly and they soon become the talk of the country, as the city begins to become overrun with ghosts and they are the only ones who can stop it. They don’t do it alone; they bring in Winston (Ernie Hudson) of course after their plate gets a little too full. Let’s be clear, this is Bill Murray’s movie, the guy is a living legend and this is up there for one of his greatest roles. He has so many incredible one-liners in Ghostbusters, and the comedy is so natural. It doesn’t try to be funny it just is, something that a lot of comedies have a hard time doing today. The laughs are so subtle that if you’re not paying much attention it’s really easy to over look some hilarious stuff. Ghostbusters was written by two of its stars, Aykroyd and Ramis and honestly they are gods for it. This is such a unique and original idea, that I can’t even fathom ever coming up with an idea like this. It started off with Aykroyd and John Belushi writing a script for the movie, but when Belushi suddenly passed away, Ramis stepped in and helped him rewrite the movie, to become what we know now as The Ghostbusters. Not only did these two guys write the thing, they also were superb in it, the three of them are comedy legends, and it was really sad that Harold Ramis died before the 2016 version came out, because I wish he could have been apart of all the celebrations and reunions because he deserved to be there just as much as anybody else. Once Peter’s girlfriend Dana (Sigourney Weaver) gets possessed by a spiritual ghost, along with her over-protective nerdy neighbor Louis (Rick Moranis) things become personal for the team. I can’t stress enough how much I miss Rick Moranis, he retired from Hollywood shortly after his wife passed away, and he was an awesome actor. (Little Giants, Strange Brew!) The science-fiction queen herself Sigourney Weaver is fantastic in this movie, she really was a kick-ass chick back in the day, from this franchise to the Alien franchise. She will always be known as the nice lady who paid them in advance before she became a dog. Ghostbusters gave us a lot of memorable characters and performances, and helped launch the careers of many people, and it even gave us Slimer! It also gave us one of the coolest movies cars ever, the Echo 1 that thing was a real beaut.

Towards the end of Ghostbusters, something happens, a scene that for the life of me, I can’t explain why I love it so much. I think its badass, awesome looking, considering it was 1984 at the time, fantastic movie score playing and when I think about this movie, this is usually what comes to mind first. Maybe because these guys were just four average joes who happened to have unlicensed nuclear accelerators strapped to their backs, and could destroy life as we know it in a blink of an eye, but yet they were the only guys who could save the world from annihilation. This is supposed to be a comedy, yet this scene just gets me fired up every single time. So here’s that scene…. Nimble little minx isn’t she!

The last 30 minutes is all time for me, from the scene above to the showdown with Stay Puff. Let’s just stop and talk about the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man for a second. “It just popped in there, I tried to think of the most harmless thing,” as Ray puts it. When coming up with character Aykroyd he wanted something that seemed puffy and cute — but given the right circumstance everything can be turned into dark and evil. Stay Puff was something that could never possibly destroy The Ghostbusters, and he might have if they didn’t cross the streams. I just always find myself smiling when he comes on screen, I don’t know it’s something about a 100 foot marshmallow man that I find endearing. He’s just one of the most memorable things in all of movies, I swear to god. It just reminds me so much of a classic Godzilla movie, Stay Puff slowly walking down the streets of Manhattan destroying everything in its path, before a showdown with our boys. Not before ultimately getting roasted just like Ray used to do around the fires at Camp Waconda. I’ve always wondered how long it would take to clean up all that marshmallow? Were the people of Manhattan just going around eating all of it, like everyone loves marshmallows! Like the mayor just comes out and provides enough chocolate and gram crackers for a massive s’more party, actually if that movie is made today, that is 100 percent a post credit scene. Or did it kill a lot of people, like hot falling liquid marshmallow falling from the sky, that sounds so dangerous. But it would be a really cool way to go out now that I think about it. Why did they think it was a good idea to have a goddamn painting be the bad guy in the sequel, why make a sequel at all, it was fine with just one Ghostbusters, actually I like to pretend there is just one Ghostbusters. See these are questions you ask yourself when you have watched this movie as much as me.

When it comes down to it, this movie just makes me happy. I love when it’s on TV, I can quote the shit out of it. Bill Murray is one of my favorite people ever; it has everything I want in a movie. Laughs, action, great acting, writing and directing. It’s almost a perfect movie, I could go on forever about Ghostbusters, it’s a cult classic, a cinematic masterpiece. They just don’t make movies like this anymore, unfortunately they try to “reboot” or “remake” classics like these, and it’s a shame. I’m not even a big fan of Ghostbusters 2 it just doesn’t have the same effect on me as its predecessor. So just remember if someone asks you if you’re a god, you say YES!

Check ya later,

Nate’s Movie Tour Reviews — Ghostbusters = 92/100

News

Basketball Movie All-Stars


“Basketball is my favourite sport. I like the way they dribble up and down the court”

Basketball fans! It’s that time of the year again, NBA All-Star weekend is looming and I thought I would take it upon myself to have a little fun. Movies and basketball, two things I hold dear to my heart, two things I’m very passionate about. So I thought it would make complete sense to combine these two passions into a fun little exercise. I have picked 10 of the very best basketball players from movies. From there I decided to make two all-star teams and have them battle it out in a winner takes all game, because well I guess I have to much free time on my hands. Side note, I didn’t choose any players that were played by an NBA player. Seeing how it just didn’t make things fair. Sorry Jesus Shuttlesworth maybe next time.

The East All-Stars
Jimmy Chitwood (Hoosiers) — Player Comparison = TJ McConnell
Clutch, the one word to describe both Jimmy Chitwood and TJ McConnell. Hoosiers, what a classic. Jimmy Chitwood, the soft-spoken lights out shooter from Hickory Indiana. Maybe the first player ever, to be considered to have ‘ice in his veins’. With the game on the line who else do you really want taking the last shot? The answer is pretty simple, it’s Jimmy baby! One of the best things about this movie, the fact that the Indiana Pacers sometimes rock theses incredible Hickory throwback jerseys! TJ McConnell on the other hand has TWO game winners this year, without question the most underrated clutch player in the NBA right now. Squint your eyes and watch both videos, you would swear they are the same person. TRUST THE PROCESS!!!

Spaceman (Sunset Park) — Player Comparison = Tristan Thompson

“It’s time to get loud, it’s time to represent, Sunset Park what time is it!!” Only known as “Spaceman” was played by a super young Terrence Howard, in this 1996 lesser-known movie, Sunset Park. About a New York City high school team, that like most sports movies must find themselves and come together as a team to finally reach their true potential. Spaceman just like Tristan Thompson was a beast on the boards, and was the energy, glue guy of the team. Spaceman was quiet and kept to himself mostly, having difficulties communicating with his teachers and his teammates. Once he finally opens up, he becomes unstoppable on the boards and a vital part of the teams success in the movie.

Quincy McCall (Love & Basketball) — Player Comparison = Derrick Rose

“Who you going to the dance with anyway? Spalding?

This movie man. Love & Basketball straight up pulling on your heartstrings! Remember how good this movie actually was? Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan killed it in this. Quincy McCall, what a beast! The only reason I’m comparing him to Derrick Rose is, much like Rose who has had multiple injuries and set backs in his career, it just reminds me on Quincy’s story. He was almost on top of the mountain, when a devastating knee injury finished his career. He could never really reach his true potential, much like Rose now (Sorry Derrick). This scene though, gets me every time.

Timo Cruz (Coach Carter) — Player Comparison = Lou Williams

Timo!! He is instant offence baby. A tortured soul in this movie, always trying to prove himself, while juggling the hardships of his personal life. Timo would have made a great sixth man for this game, much like Lou Williams. A great streaky shooter, deadly from the corner, Timo Cruz was one of my favourite characters from Coach Carter. Yah I put him on this list over Damien Carter! Timo is willing to die for his team, and I love that about him. This is the type of guy I would want on my team. Remember how many push-ups and suicides that guy did, just to get back on the team? That’s why he’s on this list, and well because he was awesome. I also totally forgot Channing Tatum was in this movie!

Scott Howard Aka Teen Wolf — Player Comparison = Russell Westbrook

Okay, okay, okay. I know what you’re thinking. Really, Russell Westbrook? Yes! This wolf could do it all on the basketball court. He could even surf on top of a moving van!! Rebounding, passing, dunking, honestly Scott Howard could do it all. Just like my man Russell Westbrook, he would have been a triple double machine, if he didn’t realize that he could win without becoming the wolf (what a shame). Howard plays the brand of basketball I love, rough and tumble basketball. Do you remember some of the fouls in the finals in this movie? Straight up murder people! He is the spark plug of the East squad, and team captain no doubt. He is odds on favourite to win All-Star MVP. What an insane concept for a movie though, and lets not speak of the sequel. Damn you Jason Bateman.

The West All-Stars

Billy Hoyle & Sidney Deane (White Men Can’t Jump) — Player Comparison = JJ Reddick & Jamaal Crawford

These two guys are a package deal. I don’t care what anyone says! Without question my favourite basketball movie, and these two guys really could play. I decided on Reddick and Crawford because to me it just felt right, ironically enough they are actual teammates in real life. Billy Hoyle will out work anyone on the court and he doesn’t want to admit it, but is a knock down shooter. Sidney Deane, no one in any movie ever, has looked as stylish when playing basketball as Wesley Snipes did in this movie. His outfits are on point, and now lets get to his game, unorthodox to say the least, but just an overall great scorer. The West team has instant chemistry, but it could derail them in the end, seeing how they could have a side bet going, that could ultimately hurt the team. Don’t bank on Woody Harrelson going into the dunk contest. Everything you need to know about this movie is in the scene below. Also, if they remake this movie, I want Chris Pratt for Hoyle and Michael B Jordon for Deane! 

Kyle Watson (Above The Rim) – Player comparison = Kyrie Irving

Handles for days! Without a doubt a show off, Kyle Watson was the original Kyrie Irving. Could be a burden to the West team if he doesn’t share the rock. The opening scene in Above The Rim is the reason I never learned how to dunk, still chilling to this day. Kyle just like Kyrie is a playmaker, who is always looking to score the ball. Could be looking at the high-scorer of the game.

Junior Battle (Coach Carter) — Player Comparison = Serge Ibaka

He was the best player on Coach Carter’s team, the heart and soul of it too. Junior Battle was an all-around solid player. Shot blocking, mid-range jumper, could finish around the rim, just like Serge. Junior found himself in an unusual spot, after the top two scorers from the previous season left the team. The only big on this West squad, looking forward to the big man battle we have always wanted to see; Spaceman vs. Junior!

Bill Murray (Space Jam) Player Comparison = Brian Scalabrine

Hear me out people! Bill Murray in the limited minutes he played, in the biggest basketball game this world has ever seen, deserved a spot on a roster. He’s a team player, who is going to get the other guys hyped for this game! Some times you need that on your roster, sure he will be a defensive liability, but it’s an all-star game. NOBODY PLAYS DEFENCE! Scalabrine, the white mamba was crucial to the Celtics winning a title, and he was the hype man for the team. Bill Murray is also an underrated passer, and is looking for the all time all-star game assist record. Space Jam, a time in my life when I found myself having a weird fascination with bunnies. Tell me I wasn’t the only one?

The Coaches

I would have loved to have Birdie from Above The Rim, who was played by Tupac, but obviously that can’t happen (RIP). So coaching the West will be Ken Carter (Sam Jackson) and coaching the East, I’m going with Norman Dale (Gene Hackman). Both different in styles and at the end of the day, it will be interesting to see how the players react to their coaching styles.

The Game

I’m having a tough time picking a winner here. All I know is, if the game is close down the stretch, you know Jimmy Chitwood is knocking down a game winner. That is a fact, they are running the picket fence for Jimmy and he’s knocking it down. Hoyle and Sidney will be tough to handle together, so honestly I don’t know! Teen Wolf himself, gets the rare all-star game triple double, before turning back into Scott Howard, for the final minutes of the game, which hurts the East team. For the 10 people reading this, let me know which squad is coming out victorious! At the end of the day I’m probably going with the team that has a werewolf on it, just saying.