Ghostbusters (Blu-Ray)

SONY

MOVIE A

SPECIAL FEATURES B

DVD GEEK FACTOR 8

(OUT OF 10)

There’s a lot of talk about a possible Ghostbusters 3, 20
years after the first sequel and a quarter-century after the first one.
I’m a huge fan of this film, and although I hated the sequel, it would
be cool to see Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson
strapping on the proton packs again.

The transfer to Blu-Ray for the original is just OK. The picture is
a bit grainy, something that happens with high-definition transfers of
movies that were a little dark or gray to begin with. One of the things
I always liked about the film was the usage of grays and darker tones
to contrast with the special effects. It made stuff like the green
“Slimer” ghost really stand out.

The film is still funny, and the effects have also stood the test of
time. It also represented Rick Moranis, now retired from acting, at his
best. The moment when he gets locked out of his own party is a howler.
If they make another sequel, I’m hoping they can get him out of
mothballs. Murray and Aykroyd have rarely been funnier than they were
here.

Also out in stores is a new Ghostbusters video game for Xbox 360.
Murray, Aykroyd and Ramis contributed vocals to the game, and
reportedly had a ball doing it. It’s because of the game that Murray,
previously adverse to further Ghostbusters adventures, has been a
little more open-minded about a new film.

SPECIAL FEATURES: You can watch the film in “Slimer Mode,”
with picture-in-picture interviews that pop up during the course of the
film. You also get a fun feature about the resurrection and
refurbishing of Ecto-1, the Ghostbusters car. On top of these features,
commentaries and featurettes from past DVD releases are included.

Thrilla in Manila

TIME LIFE

MOVIE B-

SPECIAL FEATURES C+

DVD GEEK FACTOR 5

(OUT OF 10)

This tries to do for the Thrilla in Manila what When We Were
Kings did for the Rumble in the Jungle. While it falls
significantly short of the high mark Kings achieved,
Thrilla is an interesting film that sheds some new light on the
rivalry between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

The duo battled three times in the ring, and all of the results were
controversial. Ali scored two victories, but some could argue that he
won all three, while others could argue that he didn’t win any of
them.

I was young when these bouts originally aired, but I remember
watching the fights on television with my dad. I also remember him
being angry at Ali for treating Frazier horribly in the buildup to the
fight, although I did not comprehend any of it at the time. Looking
back, with the help of this film, I can see that Ali’s theatrics went a
bit too far when it came to his rivalry with Frazier.

The two started off as friends but grew to hate each other. Frazier
actually participated in this documentary, sitting down for an
interview in his home above a gym in Philadelphia. It’s clear that the
wounds Ali opened in the ’70s by calling Frazier an ugly gorilla have
yet to heal.

The doc spends time on all of the bouts, and includes the infamous
talk-show brawl, during which the two wound up wrestling on the floor.
Director John Dower doesn’t do all that much special with his approach
to the story, but it’s an interesting tale all the same.

SPECIAL FEATURES: About 25 minutes of extra interview footage
is included. It’s pointed out during one of the cut interview scenes
that Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) got a bronze statue in Philadelphia,
yet Frazier (a Philadelphia resident) never did.

Fatal Attraction (Blu-Ray)

PARAMOUNT

MOVIE B

SPECIAL FEATURES B-

DVD GEEK FACTOR 6

(OUT OF 10)

This one has lost a little of its sting in the 22 years since its
release, but there’s no denying the psycho power of Glenn Close, who
plays one of cinema’s all-time-great stalkers. Michael Douglas did a
good job looking freaked out as the guy who screwed himself when he
screwed his mistress. Boiling bunny rabbits, wrist-slashing and crazy
Medusa hairdos abound. The big question still remains: Why would
somebody married to Anne Archer screw around? That’s just crazy
stuff.

Close was a little too good at playing a sicko in this movie. It’s
hard to see her as anything other than crazy Alex. This role will
follow her for her entire career.

SPECIAL FEATURES: This film contains one of the
all-time-great alternate endings, with Douglas being arrested for the
Close character’s murder. It was significantly different, and featured
a sick, gory scene of Close cutting her own neck. They opted for the
shock ending instead. You also get a director’s commentary and some
featurettes, including a making-of documentary during which producers
admit that 20 directors passed on the project before Adrian Lyne
accepted the gig.

This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2009.