It's been 25 years since Ghostbusters first hit theaters, and it's debatable that there hasn't been a comedy since then. What's undeniable is the impact this movie has had on pop culture, and how the film still holds up as a masterpiece decades later. Despite the success of the film, there's never really been a definitive home video version of the movie. The various DVD incarnations have been good, certainly, but never home runs. Now, for the film's 25 th anniversary, it's been released in hi-definition on Blu-Ray Disc, one of the most anticipated releases in the format's history. Does it hold up to expectations and give us a definitive home video version of this classic film? Find out in my review of Ghostbusters on Blu-Ray.

THE FILM:

What more can one say about Ghostbusters that hasn't already been said? I don't think I need to bother describing the plot or anything, because if you haven't ever seen this movie, you're probably either A) living under a rock or B) too young to appreciate it anyway...and that would have to be pretty young, because this is a film that is fun for all ages, but just becomes funnier the older you get.

I suppose I'll just discuss my favorite elements of the film, the parts that make it work so well. It really comes down to a perfect combination of great writing and great acting. So much of the dialogue is obscure references to paranormal sciences that sounds made up on the spot, but the actors deliver it totally seriously, and that makes it all the funnier. Rick Moranis' rant about how Gozer came in the form of a giant "Slor" may just be the funniest thing I've ever heard.

But then again, nearly every last line in this movie is insanely quotable, with lots of it coming from Bill Murray. Every scene has a classic moment or line, and while I'm sure all of it was funny on page, it's the cast that really elevates it and makes it work. I suppose the line that sums the movie up best for me is this one from Dr. Ray Stanz himself: "Gozer the Gozerian? Good evening. As a duly-designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin or to the next convenient parallel dimension." That right there is everything I love about this movie summed up in one line.

But Ghostbusters also impresses because it's a comedy on a truly epic scope. The special effects, while dated by today's standards, were state-of-the-art when released, and still look cool today. The story is exciting and complex, but at the level of complexity that still allows the movie to be hilarious. It's a perfect pairing of humor, action, effects, and just plain old good storytelling. You don't see that a lot these days, and I suspect that if Ghostbusters were made in the CGI era, the effects would probably overrun and compromise the story and humor.

But as it stands, they don't, and after all these years Ghostbusters still stands as one of the funniest, most entertaining movies ever made. It's one of my all time favorites, and I'm sure the same holds true for many others.

Film Rating: A+

VIDEO AND AUDIO:

Expectations have been high for this release, and the fact of the matter is that Sony's 1080p hi-def transfer is going to disappoint some people; those accustomed to images seen on brand-new movies with digitally-scrubbed transfers are going to pop this disc in and dismiss it as a grainy, washed out mess, and they'd be very, very wrong.

The HD image on this disc is EXACTLY how Ghostbusters should look; film grain is heavy throughout, and never really dissipates. It's apparent that no DNR (digital-noise-reduction) has been used for this transfer, and that's a blessing, because through that grain shines a colorful, pristine image. Detail is extremely sharp, and while there are occasional soft spots, you've never seen a proton pack with this amount of clarity. In fact, there are lots of little details in the image that I had never noticed before, and it's very fun to look at. Colors are solid, vibrant, and often seem to jump off the screen; flesh tones are, for the most part, accurate and realistic. Contrast is slightly weaker; more often than not, I could ask for more depth out of the black levels, but that's a very minor complaint. The effects shots, which by all logic should look dated, instead look more colorful and impressive than ever. When everything is taken together, you have an image with lots of depth that even feels three-dimensional at times.

But the biggest praise I can give this image is that it's extraordinarily film-like. I saw a 35mm print of this movie projected in a large theater a few years ago, and the Blu-Ray looks just like that print but without the dirt and specks. Yes, the grain is often fairly heavy, but that's how the print looked and that's how the film is supposed to look. Ghostbusters was made 25 years ago when quality film stock was hard to come by, and it's remarkable that it looks this good. Despite some small flaws, this is an amazing image that should please fans.

The audio is just as impressive, if not more so. The 5.1 Dolby True HD mix is probably stronger and more robust than the film demands; after all, this started off as a stereo sound mix. Most of the film is center-heavy, but surround effects are used quite often to good effect, especially in action sequences. The fight with Gozer at the end showcases a great use of the entire sound system, and there's an effective amount of ambient noise throughout. Dialogue comes through crystal clear and music never overpowers. It's an effective sound field that really draws you into the movie.

Video Rating: 17.5/10
Audio Rating: 18/10

EXTRAS AND PRESENTATION:

In my mind, Ghostbusters has never been a movie that's demanded an exhaustive, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink special edition. In fact, the bonus features on previous DVD editions, while somewhat light, sufficed for me. But Sony still saw fit to produce a number of new features for the film's Blu-Ray debut, along with the inclusion of (nearly) every extra from the DVD versions, creating a robust slate of extras that are perfect for this movie.

First off is an Audio Commentary with Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis, and Joe Medjuck. This is the same commentary you've heard on previous DVD incarnations; it's a good listen, with some interesting tidbits, but not required viewing by any means. Slimer Mode, on the other hand, is something every purchaser will want to check out. It's a Picture-in-Picture commentary, and one of the best I've ever seen. The film is outlined on top and bottom by a decorative Ghostbusters border, and in the lower left hand corner, video interviews with the cast and crew play. The whole thing plays out like a big making-of documentary, and could have been included as a separate video feature. But the occasional scene-specific discussions make it serve better as PiP. It's a great, great feature that fans won't want to miss, and certainly the highlight of the disc's extras.

From there, we have a few HD featurettes made exclusively for the Blu-Ray release. Ecto-1: Resurrecting the Classic Car is a featurette about the history and design of the Ghost-busting mobile, and a look at the recent restoration and refurbishment of the car. It's a cool look at an iconic cinematic prop. There's also Ghostbusters Garage: Ecto-1 Gallery, which is a slideshow of images of the car during the refurbishment process. Making of Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a ten-minute look at the brand new game, written by Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis and starring the original cast. This feature shows that the game is more than just a cheap cash-in; I'll have to play it at some point. The Video Game Preview is also included in HD.

Next is a large amount of archival material from past DVD releases, all presented in 4x3 standard definition. Scene Cemeterycontains 10 deleted scenes were left on the cutting room floor for a reason, but are still worth a watch. 1984 Featurette is a vintage, ten-minute promotional piece about the movie from when it first came out. It's a bit hokey, but it is fun to watch. Cast and Crew Featurette has a bit more weight to it, though, as the stars talk about how the project came about and their interpretations of the material. SFX Team Featurette is a fifteen-minute piece about the film's visual effects, all of which had to be done without the use of computers. Finally, there are 3 Multi-Angle Featurettes and 3 Storyboard Comparisons.

All in all, it's a great set of extras. My only major complaint is that the film's Theatrical Trailer and a number of photo galleries have been left off of this release. Why? There's absolutely no explanation-those two things would take up almost no space on a Blu-Ray disc, and if all the other archival material is here, why can't these things be as well? Despite that small misstep, this set of extras makes for a good special edition. And on the presentation front, this disc does contain some of the coolest menus I've yet seen on a Blu-Ray.

Extras and Presentation Rating: 8/10

CLOSING THOUGHTS:

Ghostbusters is a practically perfect film that is infectiously fun, and this Blu-Ray is the definitive way to experience it. The HD image replicates the theatrical experience wonderfully, and the sound is strong and enveloping. A strong slate of extras complement all this. Better yet, most stores are actually selling this disc for just $20 dollars, a steal for such an excellent package, and if you visit the official Sony site for the disc, www.ghostbustersishiring.com, you can print a free, no-frills attached $5 dollar cupon good anywhere. $15 dollars for this disc? That's a deal you absolutely cannot miss out on. This package comes highly, highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 9/10