Happy National Ghostbusters Day!

Today marks the startling thirtieth anniversary of Ghostbusters, maybe the most successful comedy film of all time. The film was so successful at release that it stayed the number one film in the country for seven solid weeks, and adjusted for inflation, it is still one of the highest grossing films of all time. Now … Continue reading “Happy National Ghostbusters Day!”

Today marks the startling thirtieth anniversary of Ghostbusters, maybe the most successful comedy film of all time. The film was so successful at release that it stayed the number one film in the country for seven solid weeks, and adjusted for inflation, it is still one of the highest grossing films of all time. Now we are as far from the release of Ghostbusters as Ghostbusters was from Rear Window. There’s probably too much hemming and hawing these days about the passage of time, but thirty years is a great milestone for classic film. Considering that we lost Harold Ramis this year, this anniversary feels particularly weighty.

The most exciting part of this anniversary is, by far, the re-release of Ghostbusters in theaters. If you look up any local theater listing, you will find dozens of screenings for the movie over the course of the Labor Day weekend. If you need an excuse to see it, remember that the first weeks of classes is nearly over, and you probably need a break. Bustin’ does make one feel good.

If you’re in further need of retrospection, the Los Angeles Times published a look back on the franchise from director Ivan Reitman, and SDRS Creative created a terrific infographic of trivia explaining the somewhat complicated production of the now legendary movie.

Who cares if it’s two months before Halloween? This is a great weekend for ghosts. Do not perish in flame!

Today, we’ve had 25 years to Do the Right Thing

25 years ago today, Spike Lee released Do the Right Thing (HU DVD 38), a landmark film about race relations that nearly speaks for itself. The film generated enormous controversy at its release, with one critic calling it “dynamite under every seat.” It immediately became a cultural touchstone and quickly cemented its status as one … Continue reading “Today, we’ve had 25 years to Do the Right Thing”

25 years ago today, Spike Lee released Do the Right Thing (HU DVD 38), a landmark film about race relations that nearly speaks for itself. The film generated enormous controversy at its release, with one critic calling it “dynamite under every seat.” It immediately became a cultural touchstone and quickly cemented its status as one of the most significant (and most beloved) films of its time.

In commemoration of a big day for a big movie, there’s been a whole slew of retrospectives and essays. For your reading pleasure, we’ll leave you with NPR’s recap of an Academy-sponsored screening (complete with a stop-in by the Obamas, who saw Do the Right Thing on their first date); Spike Lee’s reactions to early reviews that he slams as racist; and a piece from Complex about how the film anticipated today’s problems with gentrification. They’re all great reads and provide some interesting insight into how this film has stayed relevant and shocking even after a quarter century. You might also want to check out Spike Lee’s Instagram, where he’s been having some fun with the big anniversary.

Appropriately, it was swelteringly hot outside today. (Maybe not a good day to get pizza though.)