Jman888 Moderator February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 Ghostbusters star, comedy writer Harold Ramis dead at 69 AFP Tuesday, Feb 25, 2014 photo of American actor, director and comedy writer Harold Ramis. CHICAGO - Harold Ramis, the American actor, writer and director of classic comedy films "Caddy Shack" and "Groundhog Day," whose star turn came in "Ghostbusters," died on Monday. He was 69. Ramis, a longtime resident of Chicago, was surrounded by family and friends when he succumbed to a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels, the United Talent Agency said in a statement. He came to prominence in an era in which US comedy made a major leap forward on the big screen and his success lay in a combination of clever humour, outright silliness and absurd stunts. His early films were often centred around a rebellion against authority or stuffy institutions - be it the military comedy "Stripes" in 1980, or college administrators in the frat house caper "Animal House." His later work was infused with a subtly spiritual striving for redemption, such as in "Groundhog Day," where Bill Murray is forced to relive the same day again and again until he gets it right. Ramis was cited as an inspiration by a new generation of comedians and directors such as Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow, who cast him as Seth Rogan's father in the 2007 hit "Knocked Up." His rise to fame started when he joined Chicago's Second City improv group in 1969, where he worked with Murray and Dan Aykroyd, whom he later starred with in "Ghostbusters," and also with comedy legend John Belushi. After a stint on the National Lampoon Show in New York, Ramis headed up to Toronto where he was head writer and a regular performer on Canada's wacky hit television show SCTV. He began a long-time Hollywood collaboration with director and producer Ivan Reitman when he helped write the script for "Animal House," the 1978 film that propelled Belushi - and college toga parties - to fame. Ramis made his directorial debut two years later with the cult classic "Caddyshack," a comedy in which Rodney Dangerfield and a destructive, dancing gopher wreak havoc on an exclusive golf course. While he became recognizable through acting jobs like the studious scientist Dr. Egon Spengler in "Ghostbusters," Ramis did not achieve the stardom of his comic collaborators. Instead, he helped Murray, Chevy Chase, Billy Crystal, Michael Keaton and even Robert De Niro showcase their comedic talents in films he wrote and directed such as "Stripes," "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Groundhog Day," "Multiplicity," and "Analyze This." His final film, which he both wrote and directed, was "Year One" a ridiculous romp through Biblical times starring Jack Black and Michael Cera that was released in 2009 and produced by Apatow. "The world has lost a wonderful, truly original, comedy voice with the passing of Harold Ramis," Ivan Reitman said in a statement issued to Entertainment Weekly. "He possessed the most agile mind I've ever witnessed. He always had the clearest sense of what was funny and how to create something in a new clever way." Dan Aykroyd remembered him as a "brilliant, gifted, funny friend," and said he hoped Ramis, who was raised Jewish and turned to Buddhism later in life, will "now get the answers he was always seeking." Tributes also poured out on Twitter from fellow comedians and directors. Billy Crystal remembered Ramis as a "brilliant, funny, actor and director. A wonderful husband and dad. Big loss to us all," while Steve Martin called him "a comedy master." "Funny, gracious, kind hearted. A joy to have known you," Steve Carell wrote, while director Ron Howard tweeted: "No one could ever top him in terms of somehow being Cool & off-the-charts creative and incredibly kind & gracious." my wife and i just bought the first ghostbusters dvd few months ago to let our kids watch ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lala81 Hypersonic February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 ah sad. loved the ghostbusters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1fast1 Supersonic February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. He was one of my favourites - not just as a comedic actor in the Ghostbusters series, but also as a director in the brilliant Groundhog Day (one of my favourite movies). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocus Turbocharged February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 So Sad. This year marks the 30th Anniversary for the Ghostbusters. It's sad to see one of the main cast go at such significant year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerwoods Turbocharged February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 RIP hope he can be the real Ghostbusters in the spiritual realm fighting for our cause ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toothiewabbit Supersonic February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. He was one of my favourites - not just as a comedic actor in the Ghostbusters series, but also as a director in the brilliant Groundhog Day (one of my favourite movies). Groundhog Day - great film. Andie Macdowell 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1fast1 Supersonic February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 Groundhog Day - great film. Andie Macdowell There are many movies that employ a plot that is an allegory of Christianity. This is one of the few that is an allegory of Buddhism. And it does it very well, without being overtly preachy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toothiewabbit Supersonic February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 There are many movies that employ a plot that is an allegory of Christianity. This is one of the few that is an allegory of Buddhism. And it does it very well, without being overtly preachy. thanks for the new angle. shall keep that in mind if I watch it again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count-Bracula Twincharged February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 National Lampoon starring Chevy Chase, funny scene is one where they went round and round and round the roundabout, unable to filter out. RIP Egon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman888 Moderator February 25, 2014 Author Share February 25, 2014 There are many movies that employ a plot that is an allegory of Christianity. This is one of the few that is an allegory of Buddhism. And it does it very well, without being overtly preachy. i can't tell which part was the preaching but the story living the day over and over again has been used by other movies, it was really good at that time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1fast1 Supersonic February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 (edited) thanks for the new angle. shall keep that in mind if I watch it again Basically, it's quite easy to see. He starts out as a normal human (even worse than normal - narcissistic and self-centred), and relives ("reincarnates") many, many lifetimes in the course of a single day. During this drawn out cycle of "rebirths", he learns about many things: how others view him, the consequences of his action, the inevitability of mortality (that very touching scene where he repeatedly tries to save the poor old tramp, and ends up slumping, defeated), and what's really important in life. He also starts bettering himself - at first it's for the selfish motive of trying to bed Rita, but later "just because". He learns new skills (becomes a very proficient piano player, an ice sculptor, etc.) and helps people *even though he knows that i's all ultimately pointless* when the day repeats. For instance, he saves that kid falling from the tree repeatedly, helps the old women with the jack, does a Heimlich on the mayor, continues feeding the old man, etc. etc. At that point, he is almost completely selfless, and he only seeks to do dharma while divorcing himself from its results (a concept that is very important in Hindu thought, and which was adopted in Buddhism). He no longer does things to reap the rewards in "this" life - because he fully expects everything to reset when the day begins again. And he no longer despairs at the futility of it all, he actually seems to attain a real bliss. At that point he is enlightened, an allegory for the Bodhisattva. And just at that point, he manages to break free of the endless cycle of "rebirths" and attains Nirvana (or as the Hindus would call it, Moksha). Edited February 25, 2014 by Turboflat4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Bear Turbocharged February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 did the marshmallow man get him? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcann 6th Gear February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. He was one of my favourites - not just as a comedic actor in the Ghostbusters series, but also as a director in the brilliant Groundhog Day (one of my favourite movies). Yours was Ramis while mine is Bill Murray, his co-start in Ghostbusters series. This guy had me in stitches in What About Bob? together with Richard Dreyfuss as his psychiatrist. One of the funniest comedies I have ever watched Anyway, R.I.P. Ramis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count-Bracula Twincharged February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 Yours was Ramis while mine is Bill Murray, his co-start in Ghostbusters series. This guy had me in stitches in What About Bob? together with Richard Dreyfuss as his psychiatrist. One of the funniest comedies I have ever watched Anyway, R.I.P. Ramis. My goodness! Bill Murray?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ins1dious Turbocharged February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 Yep, Groundhog Day was - for me - one of the most top movies of all time. I could see it again and again and again... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcann 6th Gear February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 My goodness! Bill Murray?? Bro he IS the man to see for comedies... Just looking at his deadpan face is enough to make me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman888 Moderator February 25, 2014 Author Share February 25, 2014 Bro he IS the man to see for comedies... Just looking at his deadpan face is enough to make me but not in this movie ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myxilplix Turbocharged February 25, 2014 Share February 25, 2014 For relaxing times, make it Suntory time. But seriously goddamn, RIP Egon. Don't make us bust you. ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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