Who you gonna call? How about anyone in your life who loves "Ghostbusters," especially if they've never seen it on the big screen?
“Ghostbusters,” the 1984 science fiction-comedy smash, is returning to theaters for a limited time. Starting Oct. 13, the film will be screened every Thursday in October at 500 theaters throughout the country.
Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson as a quartet of Manhattan ghost chasers, “Ghostbusters” was the most successful comedy of the 1980s. And despite a mediocre sequel, cries for a “Ghostbusters 3” remain strong. This re-release could be a way of testing the waters to see if demand is still there for another adventure.
Can’t wait to see it again? Here are five great scenes from “Ghostbusters.” Someone cue Ray Parker Jr.
'He slimed me'
The first appearance of Slimer — the "nasty little spud," as Ray Stantz put it — is when the film really gets moving. The group causes all sorts of damage to the Sedgewick Hotel to capture the mischievous green ghost, who would go on to greater fame in the animated spinoff, “The Real Ghostbusters.”
Bill Murray’s perfectly deadpan delivery is in rare form throughout the scene. “Why worry? Each of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.”
This scene also includes the classic line "We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!"
'Don't cross the streams'
What’s the first rule of ghostbusting? Don’t cross the streams!
The proton packs designed by Egon Spengler to zap and capture ghosts use a particle accelerator system. For some reason, Egon neglects to mention the potential calamity that could result from intertwining the proton streams until much later in the film. When he finally does, it leads to a classic exchange between Venkman and Spengler:
Venkman: “What’s bad?”
Spengler: “Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light."
'Mass hysteria'
What really made “Ghostbusters” an all-time classic is chemistry. Our four heroes give a master class on comedic timing.
The scene in the mayor’s office after ghosts have overrun New York is a perfect example. Having been shut down by pencil-pusher Walter Peck (William Atherton, honing the slimeball role that would serve him well in the “Die Hard” movies), the Ghostbusters are begging the Mayor to let them help.
As the scene unfolds, Aykroyd and Murray alternate zingers on Peck, which we won’t transcribe here because this is a family website. Ramis and Hudson join in the fun as they all take turns describing the worst-case scenario. As usual, Murray gets the last word. "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together … mass hysteria!"
'Are you the Gatekeeper?'
As Louis Tully, Sigourney Weaver’s neighbor, Rick Moranis’ whiny nerd comedy stylings were in peak form. He really doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves for his great work in this movie.
After he becomes possessed by the demon “The Keymaster,” Moranis runs through Central Park, looking for “The Gatekeeper.” It’s almost impossible not to laugh watching Moranis promise a horse, “Wait for the sign, then all prisoners will be released,” then stumble over a homeless woman’s bags.
Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
Go ahead. Try and find anyone who has seen “Ghostbusters” who doesn’t love this scene. The big villain at the end of the movie is not only a high-fructose corn syrup spin on the marauding monster in Metropolis (think Godzilla or King Kong), it’s also one of the most absurdly funny sight gags in film, period.
Like every other great sequence in “Ghostbusters,” this one’s punctuated by memorable dialogue. None is better than Aykroyd’s hilariously earnest explanation for why the corporate logo of a favorite childhood snack invaded his subconscious.
It never gets old. Neither does “Ghostbusters.”
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Michael Avila is a writer based in New York. Follow his pop culture musings on Twitter.