I never lived in a world without Ghostbusters. The original film was #1 at the box office the day I was born (although my parents decided to see Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom that day), and it and its sequel have been movie viewing constants all my life. I yearned for a sequel for years and years, only to be disappointed when it finally became clear that that was never going to happen. Instead we were given a remake with an all-female cast, which unfortunately still brings out the worst in a certain segment of the population who can’t stand to see women in positions where they feel only men should reside. The result is both an important milestone for women in cinema, a big-budget, sci-fi, action comedy based on a beloved franchise resting solely on the backs of four talented women, and the internet firestorm that’s come to surround the film shouldn’t detract from the fact that it’s nevertheless shattered some glass ceilings. But the question of the film still remains, whether it can both hold up on its own and live up to the legacy that goes along with the name. Could it ever be as funny as the classic from 1984? Well, the answer to the second question is no, it’s frankly not as funny. But better than funny, it gives us deeper characters, more exciting action, and a more interesting world than we’ve ever seen under the Ghostbusters banner. It might not be the non-stop laugh riot we might have hoped, though it is still frequently hilarious, but it just might be a better all-around film.
Mrs. Kim: You break, you buy!
Man: But it was sticking out in the aisle.
Mrs. Kim: You break, you buy!
Man: But I didn’t put it in the aisle.
Mrs. Kim: You have eyes, yes?
Man: Yes I have eyes.
Mrs. Kim: These eyes work?
Man: Yes these eyes work.
Mrs. Kim: They can make out shape, sizes, and colors?
Man: Yes they can do all that, but—
Mrs. Kim: Eyes work! They see lamp in aisle, send message to brain. ‘Lamp in aisle — move’ You move. You don’t break lamp.
Man: I —
Mrs. Kim: You have no eyes, not my problem, that is between you and them. You break, you buy.
(He gives her some money.)
Mrs. Kim: (smiling) We appreciate your business.
Gilmore Girls — Season 1: Episode 12 — “Double Date”
Mal: You know what, you all are makin’ a big deal. I would appreciate it if someone on this boat would not assume that I’m an evil lecherous hun dan (bastard).
Zoe: Nobody’s saying that, sir.
Wash: Yeah, we’re pretty much just giving each other significant glances and laughing incessantly.
Firefly — Episode 6 — “Our Mrs. Reynolds”
Uhura: Captain! Starfleet just signalled your transfer-of-command orders, sir.
Sulu: Captain!
Kirk: I appreciate your welcome. I wish the circumstances were less critical. Epsilon Nine is monitoring the intruder. Keep a channel open.
Uhura: Aye sir.
Kirk: Where’s Captain Decker?
Sulu: He’s in engineering, sir… He… doesn’t know.
Kirk: Mister Chekov!
Chekov: Aye sir.
Kirk: Assemble the crew on the Recreation Deck at 0400 hours. I want to show them what we’re facing. (leaves)
Sulu: He wanted her back. He got her!
Ensign: And Captain Decker? He’s been with the ship every minute of her refitting.
Uhura: Ensign, the possibilities of our returning from this mission in one piece may have just doubled.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Wesley: And you say this demon wanted cash? That’s very unusual.
Giles: Demons after money. Whatever happened to the still beating heart of a virgin? No one has any standards anymore.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Season 3: Episode 17 — “Enemies”
Emily: So what exactly is going on between the two of you?
Luke: Nothing. Really. We’re friends, that’s it.
Emily: You’re idiots, the both of you.
Gilmore Girls — Season 1: Episode 10 — “Forgiveness and Stuff”
Wash: Something smells good.
Zoe: Havin’ yourself a little supper, captain?
Mal: Well, Saffron insisted on… you know, I didn’t want to make her feel… it’s damn tasty!
Wash: Is there any more where that came from?
Saffron: I didn’t think to make enough for your friends. But everything’s laid out if you’d like to cook for your husband.
Wash: (laughs uncomfortably) Isn’t she quaint? I’m just not hungry.
Zoe: So, are you enjoying your own nubile little slave girl?
Mal: She wanted to make me dinner. At least she’s not cryin’.
Wash: I might! Did she really make fresh bao? (Zoe shoots him a look) Quaint!
Zoe: Remember that sex we were planning to have, ever again?
Firefly — Episode 6 — “Our Mrs. Reynolds”
Scotty: Admiral.
Kirk: Mister Scott.
Scotty: Those departure orders, twelve hours, Starfleet cannot be serious.
Kirk: Why aren’t the Enterprise transporters operating, Mister Scott?
Scotty: A wee problem, sir, really. Just temporary. Admiral, we have just spent eighteen months redesigning and refitting the Enterprise. How in the name of hell do they expect to have her ready in twelve hours?
Kirk: Take me over, please.
(they board a travel pod)
Scotty: She needs more work, a shakedown.
Kirk: Mister Scott, there’s an alien object with unbelievable destructive power less than three days away from this planet… The only starship in interception range is the Enterprise. Ready, or not, she launches in twelve hours.
Scotty: The crew hasn’t had near enough transition time with all the new equipment. And the engines are not yet tested at warp power. And an untried captain.
Kirk: Two and a half years as chief of Starfleet Operations may have made me a stale but I wouldn’t exactly consider myself… untried. They gave her back to me, Scotty.
Scotty: Gave her back, sir? I doubt it was that easy with Nogura.
Kirk: (in a Scottish accent) Yer right.
Scotty: Well, any man who could manage such a feat, I would’na dare disappoint. She’ll launch on time, sir, …and she’ll be ready.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
The Love Pirate 