Ghostbusters II

Back again with a new review. Hey that rhymed. After the events of the previous movie, a certain sect of paranormal investigators damn near sued for the explosion of an expensive building, the boys in brown had to make ends meet through alternative means. Not far too long, spooks and spirits make their way into NYC and get restless. This is Ghostbusters II.

At least they're not crossing the streams.

5 years after the Gozer incident, Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd of Spies Like Us, The Blue Brothers, Ghostbusters, Nothing But Trouble, The Great Outdoors, War, Inc. And According to Jim) and Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson of Dolemite II: Human Tornado, St. Elsewhere, The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians, Sugar Hill, No Escape, The Crow, Shark Attack and The Family Business) are regularly entertaining kids' birthday parties.

Egon Spengler (Writer/actor Harold Ramis of Caddyshack, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Baby Boom, Groundhog Day, As Good as It Gets and High Fidelity) has thrown himself into research and studies while Peter Venkman (Bill Murray of Saturdy Night Live, Caddyshack, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Rushmore, Lost in Translation and The Life Aquatic)hosts a budgeted show about the physic phenomenon.

Ungrateful Yuppie Larva.

Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver of Alien, Aliens, Gorillas in the Mist, Working Girl, Dave, Copycat, Galaxy Quest and The Defenders) becomes concerned for her son Oscar after a few spiritual encounters and she seeks Egon's help. She and Peter apparently didn't part on the best of terms and she has no interest in pursuing any interaction with him. Dana left the conservatory and music to becoming a restorator at the Manhattan Museum of Art and a curious portrait of Vigo of Carpathia seems to be a center attraction piece of a conqueror, tyrant and fabulous trend setter. Dana's boss Dr. Janosz Poha (Peter MacNicol of Sophie's Choice, Dragonslayer, Ally McBeal, 24, The Batman, Agents of SHIELD, Tangled: The Series and All Rise) is infatuated with this painting and frankly feels like the comic relief that Rick Moranis was in the first film.

Upon investigating Dana's supernatural encounter, Ray, Egon and Peter find an ectoplasmic river in the sewers. I'd point out at this time, the city, county and state forbid them to use any of their paranormal equipment due to the MASSIVE lawsuit of exploding more than 5 stories of the building from the first flick. Also they impersonated construction workers so yeah it doesn't look good for the boys. Poor Winston wasn't involved, so he wasn't brought before the court. After containing with a pair of executed ghosts, the boys zap and trap, the judge rescinding the order allowing a music montage and they're back in business. So they kept the building, rebuilt the containment center that burst in the original flick and brought everything up to code via EPA and OSHA??? Right, right. Disbelieve.

Hmm Science Fair's not going well.

With the tremendous amount of slime absorbed negative energy, combined with mass turbulence of full roaming vapors, combined with Vigo's influence; the boys' work is really cut out for them. The mayor is once again not a huge fan of the Ghostbusters agrees they are the only ones that can deal with this massive hysteria and ghost uprising.

Um something something more immigrants joke.

What can be said about this sequel that countless critics haven't already covered? 

 Well it doesn't surpass the original but does compliment it. It's great to see the guys back in harness blasting the undead. The overall tone of the film became more family friendly due to the popularity of the cartoon, The Real Ghostbusters. With a budget of 37 million the overall gross was over $112 million in spite of the opening weekend only managing $29 million. Keep in mind, Batman was opened at the same time too. Imagine the hell for Weird Al's UHF was. Given the actor Wilhelm von Homburg portrayed Vigo, his lines were dubbed by Max Von Sydow. This apparently pissed off Homburg and he left the premiere in a huff.

Bill Murray and Harold Ramis had a few issues with one another and future projects were not happening. A third film was always on the books and never came to light, however the 2009 video game where the quartet voiced, along with Aykroyd and Ramis wrote incorporated gags and story ideas of a previous script where the guys was supposed to end up in Hell. More near H.P. Lovecraft creatures and stories went into the game as well as a boss battle of a giant Sluur, the beast possessed Louis Tully a.k.a.Vince Chlortho the Keymaster (Rick Moranis) spoke of.

Suffice to say, this game is essential to Ghostbusters fans. Brian Doyle Murray is added to the cast as the new mayor and reprising his EPA dickless character Walter Peck (William Atherton) and Alyssa Milano as curator of the Manhattan Museum.

Will Afterlife capture the same magic as the previous films? I cannot say. After the 2016 all-female cast that DIDN'T bother to acknowledge the original source material, but who knows? It may cash in on nostalgia or might stand on its own.

Think we gonna get more screen time?

Bill Murray Week: Scrooged

Howdy kids!  I bet you thought I was off into another dimension again and shirking my blogging review duties!!  WELL YOU WERE WRONG!!!!  That other dimension problem took about 20 minutes real time so I decided we would finish up Bill Murray week with a delightful holiday treat of Christmas. Yes, I am aware that it is January and it is unnecessary to be reminded of such.  With that in mind what could be more traditional Christmas but a bit of Charles Dickens?    And just so we do not lose the crass and cultureless Americans we can always modernize it.  So grab that 18 year old scotch, don’t miss your power lunch and beware of three spirits. This is Scrooged.

Now, don't cry.  You're pretty too.

Frank Cross: No, you are a spoiler brought on by alcohol…Russian vodka poisoned by Chernobyl!

Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a cold, cynical TV programming executive that has found success and wealth in the field but not without the cost of joy and a normal relationship.  Chasing his career to excel makes him lost the one girl that makes it all worth living, Claire (Karen Allen of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Starman, The Basket, Falling Sky and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) he is strained from his brother James (John Murray of Starting Over, Caddyshack, Moving Violations and A Darker Reality) and in general is a miserable bastard to be around.  His overworked personal secretary Grace (Alfre Woodward of St. Elsewhere, Blue Chips, How to Make an American Quilt and Star Trek:Generations) has to break her family plans and force her to neglect her son Calvin who is withdrawn and mute.  His board of executives put together a commercial for a re-telling of Dickens’ Christmas Carol which Frank finds it too fluffy and cheery.  He then presents his cut of the commercial that would have made young mothers freak quicker than Silent Night, Deadly Night promos.  When criticized by his diminutive yes-man Elliot, Frank takes the complaint in and fires the poor guy on Christmas Eve.

What is Marian doing without Indy?

Heading the live broadcast of A Christmas Carol, Frank’s life begins to almost mirror the story as he is visited by his long dead mentor Lew Hayward (John Forsythe of The Trouble with Harry, Kitten With a Whip, Charlie’s Angels and Dynasty) who tells him to make amends for the error of his ways or he is doomed.  He is to expect three ghosts to come a knocking.   Well unlike some Murray characters, this one does not have an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back and must to deal with his boss Preston (Robert Mitchum of Out of the Past, El Dorado, Cape Fear, Night of the Hunter and Jake Spanner, Private Eye) and the expectations of this show. 

I have just a few comments to be made about this film now.   The spirits are to die for…pun intended.  With the makeup and effects you end up enjoying each ghost for their presence and personality.  Carol Kane portrays the Ghost of Christmas Present and is just inherently wrong as this sweet angelic pixie that kicks the crap out of Frank.  For those of us who have seen it, watch again.  For those that have not, give it a shot.

Whaddua mean Ghostbusters II sucked eggs??!!

Bill Murray Week: Ghostbusters

Welcome back to the double feature day of Bill Murray Week.  As was previously mentioned, this is to make up for yesterday’s lack of movie review.  As this was the sixth film under the wing of director Ivan Reitman (Foxy Lady, Cannibal Girls, Meatballs, Heavy Metal, Legal Eagles, Twins and Kindergarten Cop) Three parapsychology professors Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) and Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) have had their grants pulled, their tenure not renewed and they have been forcefully removed off campus of ESU.  Broke and destitute what will they do?  Go into business for themselves of course.  So grab your proton pack, set your trap and DO NOT shut off the main grid.  This is Ghostbusters.

I like the cut of your gib, sir.

Dr. Ray Stantz: Symmeterical book stacking. Just like the Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947.

Dr. Peter Venkman: You’re right, no human spoiler would stack books like this.

After being tossed out on their collective ears from Eastern State University, our paranormal professors invest in developing technology that can trap, transport and contain spooks, ghosts and specters for a nominal fee.  After this usual eyeball rolling and skeptical standings their business starts booming and they are the talk of the town and country.  A reluctant client Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver of Alien The Year of Living Dangerously, Aliens, Copycat, Galaxy Quest and Avatar) claims that her apartment is haunted and Venkman is more than willing to check her out in her apartment…I mean head over to her apartment and check things out. 

Nerves of steel our scientists.

Stantz and Spengler start investigating the building itself and notice that its architecture draw ups are focused on natural ley lines that could draw enough psychokinetic energy to open a portal to a different realm of existence.  That alone should cause for worry but the other aspect is they are lacking in manpower to handle the massive load of undead plaguing New York and hire on Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson of Dolemite II: The Human Tornado, Highcliffe Manor, Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, The Substitute, The Crow and The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure)   To make matters worse a member of the EPA Walter Peck feels the power grid requirements of the Ghostbusters is a dangerous threat to the city and state.  My theory is he wasn’t hugged enough as a child.  Their power grid is shut off and the containment unit overloads releasing all the nasties they spent months capturing.   They all journey towards Dana’s building converging to bring out an awesome entity the likes humanity had not seen in thousands of years.   With the mayor receiving threats, pleas and demands on what will be done he allows the Ghostbusters a crack at the problem in order to save all of New York.

I had just a few comments and notes to mention about the movie at this time.  Prior to his unfortunate death, John Belushi was slated to play Peter Venkman.  Think on that for a second.   Aykroyd used to joke that “Slimer” was the ghost of John Belushi.  The electric shock treatment in the beginning of the movie was a parody on the 1930’s Rhine Experiments testing subjects for ESP.   To this day, this is one of the most highly quotable movies in existence.  According to the DVD commentary, Ivan Reitman got a call from William Atherton who played Walter Peck that is was such a hated ass they wanted him dead and actually he got in more than a few fist fights in bars over this character and somehow that was all Ivan’s fault.   Hmm, maybe Atherton just plays jerk a little too well.

This...could be a problem.

Bill Murray Week: Stripes

Back again boys and girls for Day 3 of Bill Murray Week and we need to do a double feature due to yesterday kinda caught up with me so no worries you will get your fix.  That being said; today’s film is a collaboration of Harold Ramis (SCTV, Meatballs, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II), Len Blum (Meatballs, Feds, Dream Tower, Private Parts and Over the Hedge) and Daniel Goldberg (Cannibals Girls, Meatballs, Heavy Metal and Feds) collective writing to bring out brash comedy, reckless behavior and the modern Army.   Our boy of course is the focus of this movie as former cab driver John Winger so make roll call, get your gear together and get ready to raise Hell.  This is Stripes.

Cabs handle better after an entire bottle of cough syrup.

General Barnicke:  Are you telling me that you men finished your training on your own?

John Winger: That’s the fact, Spoiler!

Soldiers: That’s the fact, Jack!

John Winger (Bill Murray) is a cab driver who manages within the sitting of a few hours systematically loses his job, his car is repossessed and his girlfriend leaves him.  His best friend Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis of SCTV, Heavy Metal, Ghostbusters, Baby Boom, Ghostbusters II and As Good as It Gets) a professor of English at a community college and they both make the decision to join the Army.   Off the bus to Fort Arnold they meet up with their cohort recruits and their drill sergeant, Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates of In the Heat of the Night, The Wild Bunch, Badlands, 1941 and The Border) who does not see eye to eye with the sarcastic Winger and helps him with his attitude with pushups and a bit of an ass whooping.  Due to training accident with a mortar explosion; Hulka is in medical so the boys sneak out with their fellow boot campers to a mud wrestling bar.

War games gone askew.

Their floundering commander Captain Stillman (John Larroquette of Black Sheep Squadron, Altered States, Green Ice, Cat People, Night Court and The John Larroquette Show) reprimands them and demands the whole unit does not get to graduate.  Winger and company shape up and finish their training for graduation proving them to the brass and are on assignment watching an Urban Assault Vehicle called the EM-50 (the RV from Hell).   Winger and Ziskey take off to West Germany to visit their MP girlfriends AWOL and Stillman is convinced they are commie spies so it is a search and destroy mission off the books.

Now I have a quick couple of highlights of the film.   A gathering of actors cut their teeth on this film such as: John Diehl, Judge Reinhold, P.J. Soles, Sean Young, John Larroquette and Timothy Busfield.  SCTV Network 90 members joined this film were of course Harold Ramis, John Candy, Dave Thomas and Joe Flattery.  This is deemed by many as a Bill Murray classic for the raunchiest behavior, sexual references, drugs, liquor and snarky comedy that is still funny.  Czechoslovakia of course now the Czech Republic now no longer under Soviet standing but hey it’s no Wisconsin.

Clearly she is getting the Aunt Jemima treatment.

Bill Murray Week: Where the Buffalo Roam

Welcome back my little campers to Day 2 of that funny man Bill Murray’s week.  I have been doing some digging for the more obscure titles that he has done as well as find something for me to watch and chuckle at.  Today’s bijou flick hails from the askew brain of one Hunter S. Thompson (American journalist of Rolling Stone magazine and author of such titles as: Where the Buffalo Roam, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Woman Found Dead in Elevator and The Rum Diary) the self proclaimed Gonzo writer that indulged in various drugs and alcohol prior to involving himself directly in the action of said story that he became the focal point of the story.  Now I am sure many of you saw Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Thompson in Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas but few can probably tell me of Murray’s likeness in today’s movie.  So grab that bottle of ether, do a few lines of this Bolivian dust and for God’s sake watch the road.  This is Where the Buffalo Roam.

Nick Nolte?? Oh no, wait it's Thompson.

Hunter S. Thompson:  In my case, you know, I hate to advocate spoilers or liquor, violence, insanity to anyone.  But in my case it’s worked.

Our film opens in the Colorado ranch of Dr. Thompson (Bill Murray of SNL, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day and Lost in Translation) as he feverously tries to finish a story about his former attorney and long time friend Carl Lazlo (Peter Boyle of Young Frankenstein, Taxi Driver, Outland, NYPD Blue and Everyone Loves Raymond) when he suddenly flashes back to some shenanigans he and Lazlo got up to.  LSD can do this folks so don’t hunt for the formula. 

Murray's Batman audition as the Penguin does not go as planned.

In 1968, Lazlo is avidly fighting for some young kids in San Francisco who are getting stiff prison sentences for the possession of marijuana.  Yes 5 to 10 for grass, people.  Lazlo convinces Thompson to write an article about this injustice in Blast Magazine.  Thompson’s editor Marty Lewis (Bruno Kirby of The Godfather: Part II, Good Morning, Vietnam, When Harry Met Sally…, City Slickers and Sleepers) is at his wit’s end in reminding Thompson he has a little less than 19 hours to make the deadline.  During the trial the last kid get s a five year stretch for having a pound of wacky tabaccy in his possession and Lazlo reacts badly by beating the crap out of the prosecutor and jailed for contempt.

The story is a huge success and Lazlo disappears out of Thompson’s life for 4 years only to pop back while our hero is doing a freelance gig covering the Super Bowl, Lazlo tells him to drop the story and journey with him on a smuggling ring story instead and enlist with his freedom fighters.  

This whole film revolves around drunken antics, falsified representation in the search for the truth and benders that would put Charlie Sheen off his lunch.   It was said that to capture the character of Thompson that Murray hung out with him, drank, went shooting guns and in general had a great time but much to the chagrin of his fellow SNL cast members as he was still a bit “Gonzo” for the next season of Saturday Night Live.  Hey that just makes the audience’s show that more enjoyable, gang!

No smoking on the flight, sir!

Bill Murray Week: Caddyshack

Welcome to Day 1 of Bill Murray Week!  With it being a cold miserable day out, I thought I would start us off with some light nudity, vulgar comments, life altering decisions, a persistent groundskeeper and one wily gopher.  It is important to note this film does not revolve around the lead actors but in fact the story arcs envelope the caddies rather than the golfers.  That being said I would invite you to gather your clubs, bend at the knees for better swing and above all else, be the ball.  This is Caddyshack.

Danny, you ever seen a grown man naked?

Carl Spackler: Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion.  It looks like a spoiler… It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!

From the demented minds of writer/director/actor Harold Ramis (SCTV, Meatballs, Stripes, The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me, Ghostbuster and Back to School) and character actor/screenwriter/voice actor Brian Doyle-Murray (Modern Problems, Saturday Night Live, Sixteen Candles, Scrooged, Nothing But Trouble, JFK and Groundhog Day) comes a story of the madcap goings on an a prestigious and rather exclusive golf club known as Bushwood Country Club.   The members are insanely wealthy and easily bored, the staff are back breaking blue collars that need some squirrelly in their lives to relieve the monotony.

Jeez, haven't seen this much chest sweat since Night of the Living Dead.

Our film revolves around a young caddie name of Danny (Michael O’ Keefe of M*A*S*H, The Great Santini, Fear, Against the Law and King & Maxwell) who is scrounging all his funds to go to college, he attempts to befriend a prominent member Judge Smails (Ted Knight of 13 West Street, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Aquaman, The Batman/Superman Hour, Super Friends and Too Close for Comfort) a petty man that feels he is entitled more than he already is but can offer a recommendation and the Caddy scholarship for Danny if Danny plays by the rules…yawn. 

Enter eccentric Ty Webb (Chevy Chase of SNL, Foul Play, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Fletch, Spies Like Us and Community) an exquisite golfer and playboy millionaire whose point of view on life is mostly based on the ideal swing and the pursuit of young women.  Danny is asked to attend the christening of the Judge’s new sail boat and Danny gets above and beyond friendly with the Judge’s niece Lacey (Cindy Morgan of Up Yours, Tron, CHiPs, Bring ‘Em Back Alive and Falcon Crest) but Smails tells Danny all is alright so long as he keeps things quiet.   Land developer Al Czervik (Comedian Rodney Dangerfield)torments our uptight judge during a game and informs Smails he wouldn’t bother being a member of this snooty club and just turn the land into condos.

I saved the best for last.  You are probably asking, “Jake, where in the fresh hell is Bill Murray??!!!”  Well, stop shouting and hang on.  Our hero steals the show in many solo scenes as Carl Spackler, the greenskeeper who has been tasked with the continuous problem of gophers in the court and engages in a one man war against the furry antagonist.   Visual effects guru of Industrial Light and Magic John Dykstra makes small scale and life scale burrows and animatronics for the gopher giving a ridiculous but elaborate network of tunnels under the course.  It reminded me a bit of Dagobah in Empire Strikes Back.

It’s raunchy, rude and really funny.  A side note this was Dangerfield’s first film after a steady career in stand-up couldn’t understand why the film crew wasn’t cracking up from his one-liners and antics.  His co-star Scott Colomby (Tony D’ Annunzio) told him the crew is biting their tongues and cheeks so they don’t laugh over the soundtrack and he is slaying them.

Burying a human body can be a lot of work...where you goin'?!

Bill Murray Week

Howdy campers!!! How are we doing this fine frosty Monday???  In my ultimate wisdom I could not think of a weekly topic but thanks to the influence of my lovely lady's teasing about cheesy 80's films it hit me.  I thought I would pay homage to a man that has made me laugh throughout the years, provoked emotion from his drama and compelled me in appreciating that I still have hair.

I might be wrecked...I am still processing.

I speak of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Player" SNL beloved Bill Murray.  From his early radio days of National Lampoon Hour with fellow SNL actors Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi and Gilda Radner to portraying Hunter S. Thompson on the big screen; this 6' 2" man of mirth has a lastly career ranging into Comedy, Drama, voice work for animation and children's movies.  It is only fair that I take time to bring some of his noteworthy performances to light.

Gather around your various media devices and join me for Bill Murray Week.

Thanks Jay.