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I think I need to see Scent of a Woman. You might think this is an odd way to start a review on Chaplin but you know I’m a bit eccentric and I swear relevance is coming.

I need to see Scent of a Woman because I want to see why it was so applauded; I need to see the performance of Al Pacino. Pacino is an incredibly talented actor who deserves much acclaim, and I need to see this performance because he won the best actor Oscar for it. I need to see it so I can figure out if he should have won over Robert Downey Jr, because to this day I cannot watch Chaplin without marveling over the sheer amount of talent, care, and the complete transformation that happens on screen. I need to see why Downey didn’t get the Oscar, because if he didn’t get it Pacino must just about melt the screen in Scent of a Woman.

Movies about movies hold a special place in my heart, and Chaplin is one of the best. The fact that the film is a true story, an excellently done one at that makes it all the better. I love that I can see the history of the industry in Chaplin and how mixed with our nation and world’s cultures the movies really are. The fact that Chaplin is an excellently made film just makes it all the better.

Mack Sennett: Now I know this is all new to ya, but remember something, we're all new. This is not an ancient industry. This whole place here is built around speed. Start the story, start the chase. I get bored easy.
Rollie Totheroh: How much you reckon Mack? Couple yards of Mabel?
Mack Sennett: Hmm, yeah. Nah, make it three. But don't go thinking we sacrifice quality. I never make more than two motion pictures a week, but I'll spend up to a thousand dollars on each of 'em if I have to.

In Ghostbusters 2 the entire paranormal crew is back only this time the fame that exploded around them five years earlier has turned on them and they are now hasbeens that not even the mayor they rescued will take calls from. However, the paranormal can always be relied on to shake things up and it does as Dana’s infant son has strange things that begin to occur around him and the boys uncover a literal river of negativity running under the city that is causing more of the paranormal to come out.

I don’t think that Ghostbusters 2 is as funny as the original, but it is definitely a worthy effort and makes me wish they might actually partake on a third installment. I was quite impressed in the follow up film that the writers chose to make the boys less successful; it definitely upped the comedy factor in a few senses and I have to say that I really laughed out loud when it was revealed that Venkman was now a host of a psychic TV talk show that no one will go on.

I have to give credit where credit is due and compliment Sigourney Weaver. This is a woman who can play just about any role (and has) and shockingly in the Ghostbusters series is a match for Bill Murray, her warm personality versus his dry and dark character is incredibly entertaining and you would not think that could be the case.

I would have to say that there is enough to Ghostbusters 2 to keep the audience entertained, but that if the leads can ever find it in themselves to make a third film in the series it would be adored by fans everywhere.

Director: Ivan Reitman
Writers: Dan Aykroyd & Harold Ramis
Peter Venkman: Bill Murray
Ray: Dan Aykroyd
Dana: Sigourney Weaver
Egon: Harold Ramis
Louis: Rick Moranis
Winston: Ernie Hudson
Janosz: Peter MacNicol

Ray: Ungrateful little yuppie larva. After everything we did for this city.
Winston: Yeah, we conjured up a hundred-foot marshmallow man, blew the top three floors off an uptown high-rise, and ended up getting sued by every city, county, and state agency in New York.
Ray: Yeah... but what a ride.

Charlie Chaplin was one of the most influential individuals in film history and even today comedians look to him for inspiration. Chaplin is the bio-pic that tells the tale of Chaplin from his early childhood through his acceptance of his lifetime achievement Oscar near the end of his life.

I must first give props to Richard Attenborough because through his wonderful handling of the wild and twisty life of Charles Chaplin the performers life becomes more than just a history lesson, or a example of filmmaking at the start of the industry; the story is one of a man who wanted people to laugh, and wanted to make sure his films had something to say – the story is one that is far reaching and epic, yet rather than feeling long and strenuous the film feels as light and airy as Chaplin’s films were. Attenborough has to capture a main character at many ages, and in many historical eras and it is never labored or satirical. From the choice of costumes to every single actor that passes in front of the lens this film smacks of a director that knew exactly what he was achieving and how he came about it.

No matter who you are you cannot come out of watching Chaplin without being in awe of what Robert Downey Jr. does in that role. It is no wonder that this role garnered Downey his first Academy Award nomination. Like so few actors are truly capable of when you watch Downey portray Chaplin you quickly forget that he is Robert Downey Jr, and all you see if Charlie Chaplin. I can only marvel at exactly how Downey is able to inhabit the shoes of Chaplin so well, from the way the Tramp walked to creating the real life personality there are no missteps in this role. I commend Richard Attenborough for casting Downey, the film could have been something entirely different if another actor were in role.

Director: Richard Attenborough
Writers: William Boyd, Bryan Forbes & William Goldman
Charles Chaplin: Robert Downey Jr.
Hannah Chaplin: Geraldine Chaplin
Sydney Chaplin: Paul Rhys
Oona O’Neill: Moira Kelly
George Hayden: Anthony Hopkins
Mack Sennett: Dan Aykroyd
Mabel Normand: Marisa Tomei
Douglas Fairbanks: Kevin Kline
Mary Pickford: Maria Pitillo
Mildred Harris: Milla Jovovich
J. Edgar Hoover: Kevin Dunn
Paulette Goddard: Diane Lane
Rollie: David Duchovny

Charlie Chaplin: If you want to understand me, watch my movies.

In New York Drs. Venkman, Stantz & Spengler have a sweet deal going at the local university, they get to continue their research into the paranormal (and Venkman gets to hit on young co-eds) without ever producing results and they continue to be funded and get paid – however, they same day they discover a genuine ghost in the New York library they get the boot from the university. Spurred by their new discovery the men decide to go into business for themselves as the Ghostbusters who will rid you of your otherworldly guests for a nominal fee.

Until last week I had never managed to see Ghostbusters; now that I have seen it I have to say that the exploits of these haphazard scientists are going to gain a permanent place on my DVD shelf. I have to say that I really did not expect the comedy in Ghostbusters to be subtle and intelligent, I kind of thought it was going to be all slime and in your face humor, or at least on par with something like Men In Black; instead, I was delighted to see that Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd were left to their own devices and allowed to do the subtle, adult comedy both can be so dang good at.

While Aykroyd and Murray definitely carried the movie Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis & Ernie Hudson add to the comedy dynamic in a wonderful way that only truly good writing and direction can create. Each character manages to have a distinct personality and flavor and when everyone is woven together Ivan Reitman hit the homerun creating a work of comedy genius. It is no wonder that Ghostbusters is lauded and applauded by so many adoring fans, I have no doubt that Ghostbusters is a film that will be praised for decades to come and continue to be emulated by the ever-evolving voices in comedy.

Director: Ivan Reitman
Writers: Dan Aykroyd & Harold Ramis
Dr. Peter Venkman: Bill Murray
Dr. Raymond Stantz: Dan Akyroyd
Dr. Egon Spengler: Harold Ramis
Dana: Sigourney Weaver
Louis: Rick Moranis
Janine: Annie Potts
Walter Peck: William Atherton
Winston: Ernie Hudson

Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, "biblical"?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.