This year we are taking a look at some of the best and most cherished children's movies that are about ghosts, ghouls, and Halloween.
This week we are reviewing a movie that I personally grew up with and was my personal introduction to the talented and always elegant Christina Ricci. That movie is 1995's Casper.
Casper started out as an early Harvey Comics character in the 1940s and 1950s. He was also a recurring cartoon character in the Famous Studios film productions. In 1995 Casper would get a chance to appear on the big screen in the Universal Studios film adaption surrounding the character.
However, what they don't know is that they are dealing with some very real, and very mischievous, ghosts. On top of it all Kat hates her new home, her new school, and is tired of being dragged around the country on investigations.
However, after some time Kat befriends one of the ghosts, Casper. It is through her friendship with Casper that she begins to find a deeper relationship with her father and a happiness in her own life that she hadn't known before.
The special effects were impressive for the time. The ghosts looked spooky and goofy at the same time, creating an enjoyable and fun environment for children. But the perhaps the neatest part about this movie's visuals is the impressive Whipstaff Manor. The twisting spires on the outside, the maze of corridors on the inside, make this the perfect haunted house setting.
And better yet, the characters throw a Halloween party in the house. What better place for a spooky Halloween dance than in a spooky manor?
Best of all I think that the film's music, combined with enjoyable performances by the whole cast, give the film the ultimate charm that helps us experience the wonders of ghosts and Halloween along with the touching drama of a family just trying to find its place in life.
Summing it Up
Deaths: 0
Language: 1
Gore Factor: 0
Sex Factor: 1
Scare Factor: 1
Fun Factor: 5
Halloween Factor: 3
Overall Rating: 4