VideOdyssey’s Movie of the Month – ‘Ghostbusters’

Andy Johnson, owner of Toxteth’s VideOdyssey – dubbed ‘the UK’s last video shop’, trawls through his extensive VHS archive to pick out your must-watch classic movie this March.

BEING ASKED BY YM LIVERPOOL to dig through the crates of classic movies at VideOdyssey, filled me with excitement… but also a sense of restless anxiety about recommending which all-time greats, most deserve a rewatch.

People have a palpable desire to indulge in the warm glow of nostalgia. We’ve experienced so much uncertainty recently, it’s no surprise we’re hankering for simpler days. There’s no better film to hit all those sweet spots than ‘Ghostbusters’.

It’s an undisputed masterpiece which is calling to be enjoyed again. With new movie ‘Ghostbusters Afterlife’, starring Paul Rudd, looking like a love letter to the original, coming to cinemas this July.

Director Ivan Reitman’s son Jason is at the helm and fans have high hopes for the resurrection of one of the most beloved film franchises ever. Yes, the new flick also features Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver all playing their iconic characters for the first time, since the underrated sequel was shot in 1989.

Ghostbusters is a straight going into business story, they just happen to stumble upon the power to save the world from the biggest supernatural happening since Babylon. Mostly confidence in the face of adversity.

They are The Beatles of ’80s comedy. Pete Venkman, Ray Stanz and Egon Spengler exude the same irreverent charm and chemistry as John, Paul and George. Picking up the steady observational beat of Winston Zeddemore to ground them in reality.

It’s a movie you can watch again and again and take something new away.

In the highly unlikely event that you’re reading this, having never seen the horror comedy, please tuck this magazine under your arm and stride up to our store at VideOdyssey and tell us. We’ll hook you up without judgement and free of charge.

You can rent the original video tape alongside a VCR on a week by week basis, if you prefer watching it the way nature intended.

Or perhaps you’d like to indulge watching it in one of our private movie screening rooms – surrounded by vintage toys, free play arcade games and movie memorabilia.

Another way to indulge in your love of this genre-bending classic, which tore up the rule book for what was expected from action and comedy films, is to watch the new indie documentary about the making of Ghostbusters.

Featuring more than 50 unseen interviews with the original cast and crew – ‘Cleanin’ Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters’ deftly weaves heart-warming memories with never heard before stories.

It includes one of the final interviews with Harold Ramis, aka Egon Spengler, who sadly passed away in 2014. Apart from co-writing and starring in Ghostbusters – Harold also wrote and directed ‘Groundhog Day’.

To see new footage of him joyously remembering his time donning the famous flight suit and proton pack, will prove an emotional charge for any fan. The documentary also explores the mammoth task the art department and special effects team had bringing the script to life – in less than 10 months.

Or funny tales… have you ever spared a thought for William Atherton, who played Walter Peck? The successful Shakespearean actor spent years dealing with accusations of ‘having no genitals’, from people on the street after Venkman’s infamous quip.

‘Cleanin’ Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters’ will be screened in the VideOdyssey studio cinema on Saturday, 14 March with an exclusive live Q&A, where you and I can grill the director and producer Anthony and Claire Bueno about the stories left on the cutting room floor.

Tickets available at bit.ly/bekindrewind2020

Related posts:

VideOdyssey’s top 5 films to watch during lockdown VideOdyssey’s Movie of the Month – ‘The Big Lebowski’ VideOdyssey’s Movie of the Month – ‘Groundhog Day’ VideOdyssey’s Movie of the Month – ‘Escape From Alcatraz’ Toxteth’s VideOdyssey to deliver ‘SOS nostalgia packs’ featuring classic movies & retro snacks VideOdyssey’s Movie of the Month – ‘Do the Right Thing’