-
Robert Harris
- Archivist
- offline
- Joined: February 1999
- Post Count: 2,914
The HD video master of Ivan Reitman's 1984 Ghostbusters had the input of cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, and as such must be considered incontestable as far as a Blu-ray is concerned.
Those who saw the film theatrically 25 years ago, may or may not recall that the look varied from sequence to sequence. While some interiors seemed to have a pushed, grainy look, fully exposed exteriors appeared to have far less apparent grain. Some of the film is sharp, some parts lesser so.
Created from an archival 35mm interpositive, what has been delivered via Blu-ray is Ghostbusters as it originally looked, and I couldn't be happier.
I'm certain that there will be some who will find the grain too course, to evident, too brown, too angular, not pretty enough, or in one of my favorite phrases, simply about one would expect from an old (read: antique) film from a bygone era.
Love it or hate, this is Ghostbusters as created and released in 1984. Still a fun film and perennial home video favorite, it holds up well after a quarter century. It's appearance on Blu-ray also makes it one of those legacy titles that has made its way through every home video format, inclusive of CED, arriving after the end of production of CED hardware.
Those who remember the film from its theatrical release will be thrilled with the new Blu-ray. Those who have only seen it on inferior home video formats will find themselves in for a treat. And those few who are new to Ghostbusters are in for a fun ride into the ancient past of filmmaking, when special effects were special effects without the aid of computers. And it all works beautifully.
A terrific Blu-ray release that holds true to the Sony / Columbia ethic of making their films on Blu-ray continue to look like film.
Like Dr. Strangelove, Ghostbusters is encoded for all three regions.
Recommended.
RAH
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did." T.E. Lawrence
- Joined: July 2002
- Post Count: 2,608
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Well, I don't know what to say about your review really. Your first sentence has me worried as it reads as a sort of preemptive strike on what you seem to feel will be a controversial release. I certainly trust your opinion, but I hope Laszlo Kovacs input wasn't given on the last DVD release because it looked terrible.
Universal Blu-ray Discs I will not be buying while they're offered only as Blu-ray + DVD 'flipper' discs:
The Jackal, Out of Africa, and Traffic.
- Joined: July 2003
- Location: Lacombe, AB
- Post Count: 2,677
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Given the extensive optical work involved in Ghostbusters, I would have expected some softness and grain in any event. What I am curious about is the visual effects work that was supposedly completed for the first DVD release: if this looks as it did in 1984, does that mean those visuals were left untouched? For clarification, I'm referring to the
Warning Spoiler! Click to showStay-Puft marshmallow man sequence
*Spoiler tags added for Ghostbusters "virgins."
\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert
- Joined: July 2002
- Post Count: 2,608
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Fritz Nilsen
I suppose he's talking about this: (not my cap)
|
That's exactly what I'm talking about (i.e. blown-out contrast, etc.)
I couldn't for the life of me find the thread here that discussed the differences between the two DVD releases in detail though.
Universal Blu-ray Discs I will not be buying while they're offered only as Blu-ray + DVD 'flipper' discs:
The Jackal, Out of Africa, and Traffic.
- Joined: July 2002
- Post Count: 2,608
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben
Is that the 2000 release vs. the 2005? As I sit here today, I can't even remember the discussion (not saying it didn't happen; I just can't remember it). I also don't think I ever saw the later version. My DVD is the earlier release.
|
Yes, 2000 (Old Transfer) vs. 2005 (New Transfer). I don't remember a whole lot of the discussion myself apart from the consensus being the Old Transfer was truer to the original look of the film and that the New Transfer had severely boosted contrast that eliminated detail.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben
|
That's the one. Thanks! I bow before your superior search skills.
Universal Blu-ray Discs I will not be buying while they're offered only as Blu-ray + DVD 'flipper' discs:
The Jackal, Out of Africa, and Traffic.
- Joined: May 2008
- Location: The Netherlands
- Post Count: 770
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
This should look and sound great. Not a title to show off the home theater, but it wasn't made for that purpose.
My only small gripe is the cover. I do wish they would have used the logo on a simple black background, instead of the blue slime artwork they have now.
Never go out with anyone who thinks Fellini is a type of cheese
My Blu-Ray/DVD Collection
- Joined: September 2005
- Post Count: 1,428
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
I love me some Ghostbusters! Curses for posting this three weeks early!!!
If the trailer for the Bluray is accurate then we need not worry about color and contrast issues.
"Because he's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him... because he can take it... because he's not a hero... he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a DARK KNIGHT."
- Joined: May 2008
- Location: The Netherlands
- Post Count: 770
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by ChadMcCallum
They probably went with the blue background to help distinguish it from the video game released the same day that does use the logo over a simple black background. I don't find it too bad and I prefer the blue slime to the green the previous dvd had.
|
Then they should change the cover of the video game
.
But you're right, it doesn't look that bad. At least we got the original logo, didn't we? And I'm glad the film was handled with care.
Never go out with anyone who thinks Fellini is a type of cheese
My Blu-Ray/DVD Collection
-
Robert Harris
- Archivist
- offline
- Joined: February 1999
- Post Count: 2,914
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jim_K
Let's see. One guy likes preserving film grain as long as it's not too grainy. check. Another claims it's the worst BD transfer by far. check. Another that equates grain with aliasing. check. and a reviewer that describes grain as "noise" in the same sentence. umm....yeah, got it.
Too much grain, not enough grain.
This is exactly why I ignore 99.99% of reviews and just evaluate the PQ myself, on my own system with my own eyes.
The one thing that does concern me is the contrast level for this release. It's curious that RAH hasn't acknowledged this question.
|
To me, it looks much like the film that I first saw in 1984. Way back then there was occasional image softness, a good healthy dose of heavy grain in interiors, and effects that look very much like pre-CGI effects.
My take is that "it is what it is" -- which is what it was. This isn't about the transfer, but rather the original elements.
RAH
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did." T.E. Lawrence
- Joined: May 2008
- Location: The Netherlands
- Post Count: 770
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
My take is that "it is what it is" -- which is what it was. This isn't about the transfer, but rather the original elements.
|
I have to agree with you. Too bad most people tend to forget that. I guess some people will go on and compare it to, like Blade Runner, and wonder why it doesn't look 'as good'.
Never go out with anyone who thinks Fellini is a type of cheese
My Blu-Ray/DVD Collection
- Joined: April 2000
- Post Count: 4,365
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
I agree. Five years ago I saw the 70mm blow-up in Seattle at the Cinerama Dome and it had grain the size of golfballs.
Quote:
| My concern with film "grain" is that sometimes on BluRay, it just looks like digital noise. |
I think so far it's handled grain better than DVD ever did. The use of codecs other than MPEG-2 helps.
STOP THE MADNESS! STOP THE BUTCHERING AND ABANDONMENT OF TV SHOWS ON DVD!
My DVD List at DVD Aficionado, Now Featuring Blu-Ray
- Joined: May 2008
- Location: The Netherlands
- Post Count: 770
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by David ©
Didn't BR get a complete 4k digital restoration?
|
That's why it probably looks better
.
But some people will either ask why they don't look the same as both are 'older movies'. Or worse, they're going to compare it to a film like 'How the West Was Won' and complain that that one looks far better.
Or they want every older film to have a 4K digital restoration.
Neither is going to happen.
Never go out with anyone who thinks Fellini is a type of cheese
My Blu-Ray/DVD Collection
-
Robert Harris
- Archivist
- offline
- Joined: February 1999
- Post Count: 2,914
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by David ©
Didn't BR get a complete 4k digital restoration?
|
Films from the 1960s and beyond are generally not in need of restoration.
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did." T.E. Lawrence
- Joined: September 2002
- Post Count: 3,974
Re: A few words about...™ Ghostbusters -- in Blu-ray
People are surprised that B&W films look so good are of the (incorrect) mindset that B&W has less detail than color. What makes B&W so great in HD is that they can capture a lot more of the grey scale detail, which is usually dialed down for SD to reduce color banding.
My DVD/BD CollectionCriterion DVD/BDs Owned: 60, Total DVDs Owned: 533, Blu-ray Discs Owned: 242
![Ghostbusters [Blu-ray]](http://static.hometheaterforum.com/imgrepo/thumbs/9/9c/B00164GDD2-51M5VN6X8rL.jpg/60x60px-LS-B00164GDD2-51M5VN6X8rL.jpg)
