Reagan's Ghostbusters | Renegade Cut 

"Ghostbusters is the most American film ever made. People discover that there's life beyond the pale veil of death - so, they start a small business and cash in." - SMBC comics by Zach Weinersmith

I have a special loathing in my heart for Reagan: My father, who had broke his back before I was born, and had five back surgeries (this was in the 70's) was on disability. When Reagan took office and had Social Security disability reformed my father was taken off because he cold walk, and was forced to work physical jobs due to his lack of education and inability to gain more training due to lack of resources. He essentially worked himself to death, and by the time he was able to get back on disability (after Clinton took office) he only live a couple of more years. So yeah. Reagan is garbage. Thanks for this video, great analysis as always.

It honestly baffles me that any could see what Reagan and Republicans did since the 80s onward to today as “beneficial” to the country.

The bit about "bustin" is awesome

The fact that the EPA is the bad guys in the original Ghostbusters has never made sense to me.... except as nonsense antienvironmentalism.

What I do lament is the fact that, when I was younger, I was naive enough to be goaded into rooting against Walter Peck ... and only when I got older did my viewpoint shift to: "why should I hate this guy? He's only doing his job, trying to protect the public". Good catch re the dean, the cop and the army, BTW. Especially when looking at these characters, it's pretty hard not to see the political/ideological message the film tries to spread. Poor William Atherton, BTW. Between Walter Peck and Richard Thornburg, he was pretty much the poster boy for what/whom a good Reagan-believer should hate in the 80s. What I might want to add are some of the leaps the movie makes to paint the GB as these successful businessmen. It takes a very specific and friggin supernatural set of circumstances for a bunch of "poor scientists" to become successful. Plus the movie pretty much goes from "brilliant business-idea" to "successful company" in a heartbeat. Never even explaining why or how the team got their cutting edge equipment. The proton packs, the containment system, the traps ... they just have all that stuff all of a sudden when they need it. The thing is that the very work academia does that is mocked in the firing scene (study, research, experimentation, etc) is exactly what would be required to obtain all that tech.

What about "Nobody steps on a church in my town!" Reagan and conservatives love them some religion (as long as it's Christianity).

To update it to modern conservatism, Peter would need to sleep with possessed Dana: "What? She invited me in and came on to me!" Also, the Ghostbusters would need to charge way more, insist on being paid upfront, and then not catch any ghosts.

Love Ghostbusters, but Peck was right. Even on the elevator Egon admitted the untested packs could be dangerous.

Im from Scandinavia, and i remember when i watched Ghostbusters for the first time, i was really confused about Peck. Of course as a child i still rooted for the ghostbusters and was annoyed that Peck didnt listen. But i was also very confused why they didnt want their equipment to be safe? Whats the harm in letting the governmet look at it? Of course Peck shouldnt have shut it down just like that. But thats one thing ive never understood when it comes to America, whats wrong with safety? Whats wrong with securing people arrent killed or cheated? Fx watching something like Kitchen Nightmares horrify me, as i cannot fathom how the government has not closed most of those places down already. But maybe its just becaurse im a 'socialist' european...i dont know.

Interestingly, the film then exemplifies the inherent hypocrisy of American conservatism, too. It scoffs at "liberal academia," yet the Ghostbusters are only able to do what they do thanks to their extensive scientific education (all three have PhDs, after all). The Church, longtime ally of the conservative movement, offers "no position on these...phenomena," proving utterly useless in any actual crisis. The Ghostbusters literally kill a god with science, the film even going so far as to suggest that the myths and prophecies of the Bible were actually about Gozer all along, merely misinterpreted and changed over the ages.

Reagan, Ayn Rand and basically almost every Republican in office in the last 20 years, if they were never born the world would literally be vastly improved.

Only after watching this video did it occur to me that you also never see them busting ghosts from the homes of regular people, only from expensive hotels, jewelry shops and art galleries/museums. The games and the tv shows are better about that, but realistically, the average family couldn’t afford to pay five grand in 1980s money.

Even in the film, the machines break and all the ghosts escape because they were unsafe. A non-strawman environmental inspector would have worked with them to make sure they were safe.

I recently rewatched this movie and I was like...yeah, their ghost-busting should have been regulated.

I still like this movie a lot but like Dark Mother says, just because something is problematic, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it

As sad as it is that my childhood love for this movie is gone in favor of the knowledge of its messaging, I'm very thankful for this video. Learning that your childhood movies have disagreeable theming can be a downer, but it also adds a greater dimension to the discussion.

Suddenly, I think I'm starting to understand where the pre-emptive MRA/broflake backlash against Paul Feig's movie came from.

I still love this movie, but I admit watching it recently, now that I'm older, I notice how they make the EPA out to be the villains when in fact they're actually right. "Nuclear Storage Facility" in a basement in New York City lol. I didn't know the anti-government stuff was on purpose though.

Honestly kinda surprised by this, I always thought it was making fun of "both sides" as a kid. Then again I'm not American so that probably left me without some context

Reganomics was a joke and so was Regan. The fact people believe these corporate sellouts is astounding.

I think the IDW comics may have unintentionally addressed this a little, the Ghostbusters are a bit more regulated if I'm remembering right, and have to work with Walter Peck.

Ah yes, Reaganomics- the "Willy Wonka" plan. Except this isn't a kids' book, so it didn't work.

It's over a year late but I honestly think that we can still view this movie through a multi faceted lens. You can argue that the University dismissing them was justified from an academic standpoint. The field that they're studying is the paranormal, which is seen in most academic circles as pseudoscience. And why would it be seen as anything else if there's no proof for any of their findings? If anything this may also potentially be seen as an indictment of the private sector considering that any person with a crazy crackpot theory can succeed as long as their idea makes money. Just look at the History Channel. That Venkman, Ray, and Egon happened to be right about their theories but not taken seriously is not the fault of either the private or public sector, but a matter of evidence, or lack thereof. Someone else also made a comment here about the interaction between Walter Peck and Venkman, about how it was Venkman who screwed up initially and made cooperation impossible when egos clashed. I totally agree with this assessment. The movie as a whole definitely seems a lot more balanced politically than the authors intended, when examining deeper into the subtext.

Your videos seem to just be getting better with each one.

Another great one! I really enjoyed the analyst on the Ghostbusters ('84)! Its amazing--but I understand why now when I recently watched the film (which I also loved and can quote lines) something that struck me quite surprisingly--that GB had a right leaning theme. And you're right--its not that the first hasn't aged well--its how and what it originally stood for that bugs me now.

Politically motivated or not, Peck was completely right.

I was really ill when I watched the movie, so I figured it was making fun of Reagan's bullshit... the director's comments killed that thought. Great video, Leon!

I still really like Ghostbusters but I also like Walter Peck so my reading of the movie is uh...against the text I think. Great analysis as always.

I've always thought of Ghost Busters as one of the great classics of the '80s, and I still sort of do, but I watched it recently and found some aspects of it pretty off-putting. The main one is Peter Venkman. He's just a detestable person with no real redeeming qualities besides his dry comedic timing. His pursuit of Sigourney Weaver's character is just gross. She hires the Ghost Busters to take care of a haunting in her home, and Venkman has no interest in taking her or her problem seriously but instead uses the job as an excuse to try to get a date with her. She repeatedly turns him down, but he's the sort of creep who won't take no for an answer, and as she tries to kick him out of her apartment he asks her for a kiss. We're supposed to find this cute, but as someone who's dealt with this kind of behavior myself, I find it pretty gross. And Venkman is pretty useless as a Ghost Buster. He couldn't even use his proton pack to defend himself against Slimer.

THANK YOU. I heard someone say there was no themes of Ghostbusters and I had to explain this!

I hit like when you said busting. Knew it was coming, still well played w such dryness.

Walter Peck Was (Mostly) Right

Ok but I really needed the last part. Thank you🙌🏽

I did notice these things. But I also noticed how the guys are bumbling idiots who only luck into saving the day. I noticed how much damage they caused along the way. So, while I don't disagree at all with Leon's analysis, I am able to watch it as also skewering the private sector. Since they are self effacing, it makes it where I can see the humor. Though, honestly, I much prefer the cartoon.

Great video Leon, you keep outdoing yourself!!!

The intent behind a film won't stop me from reading it in the way that entertains me the most. In fact, knowing Reitman was sincere about that perspective makes some of the hilarious irony I've always loved in the film even more hilariously ironic to me.

Bustin' is one helluva drug.

Awh shit, now Ghost Busters makes me sad. Oh well, very well done analysis and video essay! I subscribed recently, and now I'm even more glad that I did! :) Keep up the good work mate!

Great content!

Though I don't agree with its politics, I still enjoy Ghostbusters because I think its framing is robust enough to support multiple interpretations. I hardly think the note about the proton packs being nuclear powered or the ridiculous levels of destruction they cause were meant to make me think the characters were glorious rebels. This isn't like the Fountainhead where ideology blinds the creators to the attitude and implications of the work.

Fantastic work.

Nice work Leon.

Fuck one of my favorite movies as a kid (I was 13 when it came out). I’ll never be able to look at it the same way. I guess I’m growing

I love the message at the end.

1. Bustin' so good haha

But... but... busting makes me feel good.

This was absolutely delightful.

WoW you just blew my mind

Nothing makes me nearly puke more than the idea of private prisons...

Upon rewatch, I think Venkman is the villain of Ghostbusters. He is a reckless, egotistical, misogynist who only lucks his way into helping save the day. The characterization of Venkman as huckster or modern PT Barnum is apt, even if the science was real, he was first a showman. Damn the rest. I agree that they should not have survived the explosion that closed the gate. They, and few city blocks should have been vaporized and irradiated. A sacrifice to save humanity. But that'd be too dark I guess.

i love this freaking movie, i never noticed the rightward underlying message

That was a brilliant piece.

Moral of the story: be a disillusioned cynical adult from the start, so it won't going to hurt (as much) when stuff like this is unveiled...

This is beautiful.

Good analysis. I always saw Ghostbusters as what happens when a '70s and '80s era "slob" comedy is cross-pollinated with a horror movie, and that the punchline of the film is that New York City is going to be saved by four guys you wouldn't trust to clean your house. As such, I am a bit baffled that this film spawned a fan base that lionizes the Ghostbusters as heroes, because they are completely missing the film's main joke. On the other hand, slob comedies of this era always had a conservative streak to them, no matter how rebellious or anti-establishment they claimed to be. Will you be doing a genre analysis of slob comedies?

11:16 "So what if ghostbusters are carrying nuclear weapons on their backs?" "So what if they're firing these weapons all over the city?" Ok call the EPA, goddamn. Unregulated nukes in backpack form...ok!?

Are you going to do an examination of The Exorcist and it's placement in American history and it's presumed tie to the Regan/Evangelical rise of the Moral Majority? It sounds like an interesting premise, but I've never heard a very detailed examination of this idea.

I do wonder if the film’s conservative messaging was one of the reasons the backlash for GB2016 was so intense.

Yea you definitely like radiohead. Nice sendoff at the end also, its refreshing to hear that we should cherish our adulthood

I bet lots of my favorite childhood movies are like this too. Damnit.

Would you ever consider making a video on The Big Short?

ty for the Bustin'

Leon is making america great (not exactly again but it's a start)

Awesome

Going into this video, about 75% of me expected this to be about a little known brother to Reagan’s Star Wars plan. Stymied by international regulations, President Reagan turns away from nukes in space and forms a plan to place nuclear weapons on the ethereal plane. Find out more at 6!

The story relies on very good and smart scientists, practicing outside the scientific establishment, I'm not even sure that a thing outside books and movies.

Film AND political analysis? Ohhh I'm gonna have fun binging all your videos till daybreak

My parents are Conservatives, and my Dad especially has a strong distaste for Liberals and anyone who supports the idea of "giving free stuff to people who don't want to work." In fact, he always quotes Dan Akroyd's line about how the Private Sector expects results when he talks about how if you want a decent living you have to work for it. The problem is that he and my Mom will never be able to retire, they're completely unaware that the party they blindly support doesn't have their best interests in mind, what with the tax cuts for the rich and increase in prices, among other things, and they haven't seen a dime from all the money that was supposed to trickle down upon them by these policies. Lord knows the Democratic party needs a lot of fixing, but I'd rather stay where I am than support a party that still embodies the spirit of Reagan.

What is your intro song btw?

Puts the reaction to the Ghostbusters remake into perspective. The new Ghostbusters does not do any of these things. :(

Bustin' government control of businesses makes me feel like 300% profits.

Realizing as an adult that this movie was basically just simping for Reaganomics and libertarian capitalism bummed me but fuck it, i still love it, it's still an all time favorite.

love the Scott Joplin song

The rich people who run this country could care less about someone elses debt. The country goes bankrupt not them.

Don't forget the origin of the word "privatization".

I gave a like at Bustin´ ...

wtf I hate ghostbusters now it's a joke you guys

Well, certainly didn't notice that when I originally watched the film. Will probably be weird re-watching the film nowadays. The point at the end was really good. Power structures are important in comedy. You should aim towards punching up, not down. In my opinion that seems to be the kind of comedy that's the most funny, and the one I prefer.

Oooo, burn. I don't have to agree with a film's politics to still enjoy it. I've been aware of "some" of the movie's problematic aspects for ages, but I don't care. I still love Ghostbusters! Thanks for another excellent analysis. I didn't realize quite how deep this rabbit hole went. I'm looking forward to the rest of the Horror Month videos, though I might have to skip A Nightmare on Elm St. 2 since I've never seen it.

It also reminds me of the gun nuts saying that, the only thing stopping a bad guy is a good guy with a gun. In this case the ghostbusters with their dangerous weapons

Nationalize ghostbusting

Bustin’ makes me feel bad :(

And that's why RoboCop is a much better film.

May ( or may not) explain why certain commentators got so annoyed at the remake

I think a sort of missing point in this video, as it is not quite verbalized but is demonstrated, is that Reagan was not “conservative” but rather neoliberal/corporatist.

Lol. My favourite movie is Ghostbusters and I HATE Ronald Reagan.

“THER IS NO DANA ONLY ZULE! >:•D”.

I enjoy watching movies from different eras. Every era has things that I like and dislike about it. I feel lucky.

I know you're not taking requests, but I recently watched Ghostbusters II after many years of not seeing it, and I think there's room to expand on the ideas you brought here, if not a full episode than at least a mini episode. In Ghostbusters II, they go out of business because the mayor screws them over and refuses to pay them for their services. Then they discover the recent ghost activity, and DIG A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET, without asking anyone for permission and even lying to the police and pretending to be working for the public utility provider. When they are discovered and taken to court, despite being completely at fault, they are of course presented as the righteous party being wrongfully accused. The judge is an irrational maniac who keeps shouting at them, refuses to believe anything they say or even believe the existence of ghosts altogether (even though everyone in the city experienced ghosts in the previous movie) and only when ghosts appear right there in the courtroom and threaten him, he cowers and begs the Ghostbusters to save him and agrees to change his ruling if they do so. So basically, the first film went after the EPA, the second goes after the courts. Sounds familiar? (On the plus side, Venkman is much less of a douche and Dana Barrett is given far more agency)

I remember watching another movie, that has a "Minor Antagonist" just trying to do his job. And that's the Journalist from Die Hard 1 & 2. Or do you think he actually was in the wrong, for letting the people know what was going on?

If you want to get "pejorative", you should use the more descriptive term "Voodoo Economics", in many ways more accurate.

I've noticed comments saying they got CRTV ads in front of your video. Well, same here. I'm pretty sure I've seen other ads for that garbage on other left-wing videos too.

It should be pointed out that the other person to become a "demon dog" is an artist, also a conservative boodyman...

I still love Ghostbusters I grew up with the film, but I watched again recently and picked up on the political theme's. I definitely don't agree with the film, but I think you can still enjoy it despite that

Having watched this video I guess I was wrong for having read this aspect as a kind of satirical and ridiculous aspect of the film - even as a child.

While I think you make some excellent points with this video, I still enjoy Ghostbusters a lot. It’s one of my all-time favorite comedies.

I still love this movie, but it is interesting to view it in this context.

WTF I love the remake now.