MovieChat Forums > Ghostbusters (1984) Discussion > Peck: maybe he was right?

Peck: maybe he was right?

posted 5 years ago by Heisenberg (6313)
14 replies | jump to latest

The movie clearly portrays him, the EPA agent, as the bad guy. In fact he was:
1- following the lawful rules and regulations.
2- working for the environment protection agency, and doing what his job entails (enforcing the
law).
3- stopping the ghostbusters from repeatedly breaking the laws.

I personally think he's the kind of man that should stfu, just an impediment to progress and does't understand when something is good to be outside of the established rules.
If it were for these people, we would be still living in caves.
On the other hand, these kind of people have to deal with hard stuff on a daily basis: how many criminals has he rightfully prevented for doing exactly something like the ghostbusters do (which is, running a totally outlawed power grid endangering the community/environment)? How was he to know that the ghosbusters were the exception? (hint: see what kind of dick is Venkman when Peck starts the inquiries)

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

well , he was correct they were breaking several regulations , i dont know if they were EPA regs tho.

For me what made him wrong was not waiting to find out wtf he was dealing with, not even listening to hardhat guy.

shut it down NOW!

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7401) 5 years ago

It wasn't that he was from the EPA. But he actually wasn't professional at all when you pay attention. He marches right into their facilities claiming to be from the EPA without showing any ID to prove that. He claims the EPA wants to inspect their facilities without providing any kind of statement from the EPA that this is the case. And later in the movie makes an accusation against the ghostbusters that they were spraying nerve gas on people to make them see ghosts without any evidence to back it up. There's no way around it. He was a horrible excuse of an EPA employee.

[–] Heisenberg (6313) 5 years ago

I guess you are right, he didn't follow protocol and acted like a snotty kid.
But his motivations are still correct: the ghostbusters were breaking laws and regulations.

[–] howgamer (3644) 5 years ago

I think he overstepped his bounds when he releases all the ghosts. He was reckless and we aren't even sure if he was following all the established rules and regulations.

He took measures into his own hands without proper safety precautions when he shuts down the containment system. He actually only has a warrant to enter/search the premises, not a court order to shut down the system which he doesn't even know what it does so is he actually following the law? How does he know it's function is illegal? He even ignored professional advice from the hardhat guy. In that instance he was acting negligently. Other than that, he was just doing his job without an ounce of professionalism.

[–] Heisenberg (6313) 5 years ago

Hey guys, I agree with all of your critics on Peck's behaviour and lack professionalism.

But, what seems like the movie and every viewer miss, myself included, is that Peck was stopping the criminal activity of somebody he considered dangerous.
I think almost nobody questions the lack of professionalism or arrogant behaviour of any hero in any other movie when they are stopping the criminal activity of somebody they consider dangerous (like any John Mc Lane/ Martin Riggs/ Harry Callahan etc - the idiot is ALWAYS the boss telling them to behave more professionally, isn't it?).
So I say: Walter Peck - this time John Wayne does not walk off into the sunset with Grace Kelly.

[–] strntz (10801) 4 years ago

He actually only has a warrant to enter/search the premises, not a court order to shut down the system which he doesn't even know what it does so is he actually following the law?

Dickless not only had a Federal Entry and Inspection order, he also brought A Cease and Desist All Commerce order, a Ban on the Use of Public Utilities for Non-Licensed Waste Handlers and a Seizure of Premises and Chattels.

So I guess technically he could have ordered the switches thrown as well as confiscated anything he wanted. What's egregious is that he didn't listen to the Con-Ed dude who said he had never seen equipment like that before and was quite ambivalent about shutting down something he didn't know about, particularly when the owners of the equipment were warning of disaster if it was shut down.

On the other hand, what if Peck did wait to shut down the GB equipment while waiting for engineers to show up and the system blew on its own, maybe killing people.

But there's no doubt his motivation to shutting down the GBs was just to stick it to Venkman who he hated.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7401) 4 years ago

I have a cousin my age (I am 34) who hates this film because of the bad guy being an EPA agent. He went on and on about how the EPA does nothing but good for the world. Though he also hated it because he hated Peter Venkman. He did not see this til about 2 years ago though. I admit he is very far to the left politically.

[–] kwestmo (4114) 4 years ago

First, remind your cousin Richard Nixon (republican president) signed the EPA into existence.

Second, tell your cousin that Peck is a white, straight, male, baby boomer who is acting like a cop.

Third, video the reaction and post it here.

Thanks.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7401) 4 years ago

I am not talking about that with my cousin. He and I do not talk about politics. Also I am not videoing him and putting it online.

[–] Noddy_Comet (18) 5 years ago

Peck is, in many ways, the classic petty official who thinks he has the power of God (we've all encountered them), but I think Peck is quite reasonable and polite during his first visit to the Ghostbusters' office. It was just unfortunate that he happened to encounter Venkman, who isn't remotely respectful of authority, and, as you pointed out, was basically a dick.

If Peck had spoken to either Spengler or Stantz in the first instance, things might have ended better. They might even have had a productive discussion about whatever regulations were being broken and tried to put them right. It's only after Venkman tells him to do his worst that Peck decides he's going to bring these mothers down whatever the cost, and kind of loses his shit in the process. Even the cop he brought with him thought he was an asshole.

[–] Heisenberg (6313) 5 years ago

Yes, exactly! Like I was arguing, if you reverse the roles, or if you make a movie where Peck is the main character EPA agent shutting down criminals, everybody would see this Venkman guy as just another villain who doesn't respect the authority and thinks he can do as he pleases with society norms and regulations.

It's a superficial approach very popular in the 80s to have correct people characterized as "pencilneck goody two shoes" that don't get how cool is the hero for breaking every rule to achieve his goal. Anybody in real life knows that , for instance, if a cop acts like in Lethal Weapon, he would be behind bars before any of the criminals he's fighting.

[–] Martoto (4142) 5 years ago

No EPA agent messes with equipment they don't understand if they believe the equipment is hazardous, and don't know for certain that unqualified personnel shutting it down would not also be hazardous.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2389) 5 years ago

In 1984 though Reagan was president and he believed trees caused pollution (yes) and global warming was something only REALLY extreme people cared about.

so the movie is a product of the times....even though EPA was yes signed into law by Republican and commie hater Richard Nixon himself!!

Part of the joke and one way the movie DID NOT age well is that most of America still did not understand what the EPA was or why it was needed in 1984. Protecting the enviroment was considered 'extra' back then.

If this (the original movie) were made in 2019 , EPA guy would be level headed and Egon would be talking with him.

The EPA guy would not get anything turned off. but would just jail the ghost busters with a really big fine which they would have to gradually work (double time!!) to pay off.

[–] Xcalat3 (3701) 4 years ago

Dickless cannot be right!