Ghostbusters (2016 film): Difference between revisions

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* [[Anachronism Stew]]: While the skyline, cars and other ~~details~~ point to a contemporary (2010s) setting for the film, there are other details, such as the presence of a Woolworth's, Loft's Candies, and Regal Shoes in Times Square, movie posters, a sign celebrating the end of the Vietnam War, plus a Times Square news ticker referencing the Carter presidency, all of which suggest the action is taking place in the 1970s.

* [[Anachronism Stew]]: While the skyline, cars and other elements point to a contemporary (2010s) setting for the film, there are other details, such as the presence of a Woolworth's, Loft's Candies, and Regal Shoes in Times Square, movie posters, a sign celebrating the end of the Vietnam War, plus a Times Square news ticker referencing the Carter presidency, all of which suggest the action is taking place in the 1970s.

* [[Another Dimension]]: What lies beyond {{spoiler|Rowan's gate. Abby gets sucked into it during the climax, and Erin dives in after her}}.

* [[California Doubling|Boston Doubling]]: The majority of the film's exteriors were filmed in Boston, not New York.

* [[Chekhov's Gun|Chekhov's Swiss Army Knife]]

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* [[Demonic Possession]]: Well, ''ghostly'' possession -- of Abby, by Rowan. Complete with shout-outs to ''[[The Exorcist]]''.

{{quote|'''Patty:''' (slapping Abby) The power of PAIN compels you!}}

** Also {{spoiler|Rowan's possession of Kevin in the last quarter or so of the movie}}.

* [[Diabolical Mastermind]]: Rowan.

* [[Distracted by the Sexy]]: Erin, by Kevin most of the time.

* [[Distracted by the Sexy]]: Erin, by Kevin, most of the time.

{{quote|'''Erin:''' Kevin? That's a manly name! My name's Erin. With an E... for Every... thing you want.}}

* [[Dumb Blonde]]/[[The Ditz]]: Kevin is ~~an extremely~~ rare male example of the Dumb Blonde ~~who is~~ ''so'' dumb that he shouldn't be allowed out without a minder.

* [[Dumb Blonde]]/[[The Ditz]]: Kevin is a rare male example of the Dumb Blonde; he's ''so'' dumb that he shouldn't be allowed out without a minder.

* [[E=MC Hammer]]: Averted: the production team brought in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlLkQYXPDas real particle physicists] to create all the equations seen in the movie, and to redesign the proton packs with 21st century science and technology.

* [[Elephant in the Living Room]]: A meta example appears in the film: When Erin and Abby post their first ghost footage on [[YouTube]], they make the mistake of reading the comments. The first thing Erin's eye falls on is "Ain't no bitches gonna hunt no ghosts." This was a deliberate acknowledgement (and a clever defusing) of the incredibly vitriolic outrage a [[He-Man Woman Hater|small sexist segment of the Net]] raised over the gender-flipped casting.

* [[Gender Flip]]

* [[Ghostly Goals]]: Virtually every ghost in the movie is type B: forces of pure, motiveless evil.

* [[Cool Gate|Ghoul Gate]]: {{spoiler|Rowan opens one at the climax of the film.}}

* [[Government Conspiracy]]: While the city government of New York (especially the mayor) is very aware of the supernatural problems plaguing the city and let the Ghostbusters handle them, they simultaneously paint the Ghostbusters as crackpots and troublemakers to keep the people from panicking.

* [[It Won't Turn Off]]: Averted with Rowan's "ghost machine". Holtzmann is easily able to shut it down after {{spoiler|Rowan's electrocution. Unfortunately, Rowan-in-Kevin's-body is just as easily able to turn it back ''on''}}.

* [[Jacob Marley Apparel]]: Implied of some of the ghosts.

* [[Ley Line]]: A pair of ley lines intersecting in Times Square is key to the plot.

* [[Licking the Blade]]: Jillian Holtzmann licks her proton-pack-handguns after kicking ghost butts near the climax of the film.

* [[Locked Into Strangeness]]: {{spoiler|Abby and Erin's hair ([[Special Effect Failure|but not their eyebrows!]]) turns white during their brief sojourn on the other side of Rowan's gate. Either they dye it or it goes back to normal by the time the end credits roll}}.

* [[Mad Scientist]]: Holtzmann gives off this vibe oh so strongly.

* [[Mirror Monster]]: There are numerous mirrors with ghosts behind them in {{spoiler|Rowan's basement lair. When he activates his machine, they shatter, releasing the ghosts and more}}.

* [[Mythology Gag]]: Many many.

** When looking for a building, they are initially presented with the firehouse from the original film, but have to pass on it because it's too expensive.

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** When they first enter Times Square, a billboard advertising Twinkies with the slogan "That's a big Twinkie!" is briefly visible in the lower left of the screen.

** A reference to Zuul slips in during [[The Stinger]].

* [[Night of the Living Mooks]]: The ghosts manifested at the climax of the film are at least semi-corporeal, making for a disturbingly physical opposition for the Ghostbusters.

* [[Old Shame]]: In-universe, the book that Erin and Abby authored together, for Erin.

* [[Place Worse Than Death]]: During one of the credits scenes, Holtzmann announces the successful creation of holding facilities for the ghosts they catch. Then she admits she doesn't know where the ghosts go when they are captured but thinks it might be Michigan.

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** [[Rick Moranis]], having retired from show business, declined to take part in the movie, but a reference to Vinz Clortho can be seen in one of the credits scenes as a tip of the hat to him.

** Slimer makes an appearance, and even turns out to be critical to the plot.

* [[Reverse Polarity]]: {{spoiler|The Ghostbusters send Ecto-1 and its nuclear reactors into Rowan's gate; it explodes and changes the gate into a giant ghost trap that sucks in all the entities at loose in the city}}.

* [[Sassy Black Woman]]: Patty.

* [[The Stinger]]: Easily a half-dozen separate little vignettes appear during and after the credits.

* [[Too Incompetent to Operate a Blanket]]: Kevin. What can you say about someone who has no idea how to answer an office phone?

* [[Whispering Ghosts]]: Referenced several times with various team members listening to tape recordings for [[wikipedia:Electronic voice phenomenon|electronic voice phenomena]].