This post is actually an expansion of my (deleted) post on 19th May 2014 which was inspired by a trip with my then teenage niece and nephew to a nearby Uniqlo outlet. When we were inside the store, we spotted some T-shirts from their American Movies line being sold which featured some characters from famous 1980s movies namely Star Wars, Gremlins and Ghostbusters. Currently, I don't think Uniqlo are selling them anymore which is a shame because these t-shirts are really nostalgic to a lot of (ahem) older people and they might even introduce these movies to a younger generation who may be unaware of them before this. When I was growing up during the 1980s, there were no internet, smart phones, streaming or (gasp) blogging. Film entertainment then consisted mainly of frequent trips to the local cinema, VHS rental stores or weekly programmed TV shows from a very limited number of channels. Some of my favorite movies during the 1980s, to name a few, were the Back to the Future films, the Indiana Jones films, Ghostbusters, the Superman films (with the late Christopher Reeves), Highlander, Fright Night and of course the James Bond movies which were perennial favorites of my late father. I'm not a fan of the classic Star Wars films but I did like the 1980 sequel The Empire Strikes Back. Life was pretty simple back then and you weren't really spoilt for choice. Basically everyone was watching the same films or TV shows.
Back to my visit to Uniqlo in May 2014. Apparently my niece and nephew were familiar with the Star Wars (who doesn't) and Ghostbusters films but they did not recognize the cute and cuddly little creature featured on one of the T-shirts. I then explained to them that the creature was a 'mogwai' named Gizmo and that he could actually spawn some very ugly, nasty and mischievous creatures called 'gremlins' if you did not know how to care for him. Since they were intrigued and frankly because I got tired of answering their questions, I decided to show them the original 1984 Gremlins film (not the sequel) instead. To my surprise, they really enjoyed the movie and wanted to see Ghostbusters next. This reaction was unexpected as the special effects used in these films looked dated with heavy reliance on puppetry and rudimentary CGI. Today, most kids are used to sophisticated films with advanced CGI and cartoons or animated features that aren't hand drawn anymore. So that got me thinking what made these old movies appealing to them? Despite not having dazzling effects, movies then had a lot of 'heart' meaning they were able to engage with the audience emotionally and transport them to another realm with only great stories and unique but relatable characters. After their exams and on one fine weekend in May 2014, I decided to show them the 1984 film Ghostbusters which they really liked too. This movie is really a perfect example of films from the 1980s. The late Harold Ramis, Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray were the funniest comedians on earth during the 1980s and when they got together for this film, it was pure fun and laughter. The film also featured a catchy theme song by Ray Parker Jr which is still instantly recognizable by many today. The movie itself did not have a complicated story line (it was co-written by Ramis and Akroyd) but it had a feel good element to it which you can't really define. In fact, most of the films from that era had this X factor to them which made them and the characters in them memorable even after all these years. If you don't believe me how iconic and enduring these films are, the fascination for Ghostbusters continues even to this day with reboots like Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) still receiving encouraging responses from younger audiences worldwide.
Last thoughts, these movies have been forgotten largely by me but thanks to Uniqlo I was once again reminded of them and their magic. They also serve as a reminder to us that the success of a movie is not necessarily tied to its budget, effects or stars but the story at heart and perhaps the genuine talents of the directors, writers and actors that bring their own diverse experiences to the film. Incidentally, if anyone is interested in Sony's 30th Anniversary 4K Blu-Ray + Digibook of Ghostbusters 1 & 2, you can click on the link below to my other post dated 16th June, 2014. Unlike the earlier sets in 2014, I don't think the ones being sold now include the figurine of Slimer anymore which is a shame for collectors.
Addendum (23rd July, 2024) : Recently discovered an interesting video on Ghostbusters and Gremlins on YouTube by Minty Comedic Arts, an Australian vlogger who is a fan of cinema, including vintage films, and pop culture. If you enjoy discovering rare facts on older films and TV series like me, you should definitely check out his other videos on YouTube.
The Day Ghostbusters and Gremlins Ruled The World!
(video courtesy of Minty Comedic Arts)
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