Because in three and a half minutes here Harold Ramis manages to pretty much write a hologram for almost the entire movie. Not entirely perfect – no Sigourney Weaver, no Annie Potts – but in terms of plot and characterization you know everything that you need to know. If this is the only clip that survives of Ghostbusters, you could watch it and still know what the movie was all about.
It’s the three and a half minutes that’s really impressive here, too. But that’s also due to director Ivan Reitman, who simply showed you everything, secure in the knowledge that you’d follow along. How did this movie not win an Oscar?
“I am the Dungeon Master.”
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“I am the Player Character.”
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What – don’t tell me you are surprised.