Simply Perfect

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

As far as special effects were concerned, 1995 was a year with quite a special effect on the technological department of filmmaking. And I'm not even speaking out of facts gathered from IMDb or Wikipedia but from my own memories. Indeed, I'm old enough to remember all the buzz around "Toy Story", the first major animated movie all in 3D, the Pixar that started it all and paved the way to a new revolutionary substitution for hand-made drawings. I can also remember the fuss about "Jumanji", a film so overflowed by CGI that the story seemed almost accessory. And if memory doesn't fail me, I remember that the opening explosion of "Die Hard With a Vengeance" was quite a remarked practical effect. But there's an unfairly forgotten little gem whose special effects garnered a fair deal of applause yet the film itself didn't hold up very well despite being in the same vein of inspirational sweetness than "Toy Story".In fact, I'd go as far as saying that "Casper" almost plays like the kid brother of "E.T.". Steven Spielberg was the executive producer and you can tell from the few little nods made to the film that the film wasn't just intended to be a CGI fest. Indeed, computer imagery wasn't a new thing in 1995 and the early precursors (such as "Jurassic Park" and "Terminator 2") had proved something essential: all the special effects of the world can't amount to much if there's no story to justify them. Yet "Casper" might be the one exception because you can say the real star is the special effect, because it's the first film where the lead protagonist is entirely made in computer, it's an unprecedented feat. Brad Silberling's movie has lead human characters but you can feel a kinship with a movie like "Who Framed Roger Rabbit". There's a difference though with Zemeckis' movie: ghosts are transparent, they fly, float and can't touch humans, which simplifies the crossover but on the other hand, they also extend the possibilities and the range of action. It's not as easy as it seems, you have to deal with characters who pop up everywhere, who can make the body either freeze or elastically move, and there's a moment where Bill Pullman tries to handle Casper's mischievous uncles and his body language is very convincing. One of the strengths of the film is to handle ghosts like characters with properties and abilities of their own and make them adapt to human standards or humans trying to interact with them, which provides a nice share of action, fun and even tenderness that the format of the initial cartoon couldn't carry. I knew Casper from the cartoons but I never "enjoyed" him, I found him too bland and dull as a lead character, but I did enjoy the horrified reactions of people, one of the series' running gags. So, there has always been a little comedic aspect of "Casper", which the film efficiently explores while also testing more dramatic waters, portraying Casper, not as a ghost but as a deceased child. This was a gutsy move because it seems to establish the rule that once you're a ghost, your face turns into an animated version of yourself, a rule abandoned though for the climax, which we forgive since it does work on an emotional level. "Casper" is a film to watch without cynical eyes in order to embrace its sensitivity and gentleness, even the uncle trio who provide the obligatory spice aren't as bad as they seem and their presence is obviously meant to be a wink to more adult audiences.But watching the film so many years after, I think the friendship story works even better than the rest, it seems to be infused with a sweetness that lacks today. Granted the issue of Casper or Kat (Christina Ricc) is of universal level but can you imagine today a teenage girl complaining about not having friends, in the days of virtual relationships? Kat would be so busy on her i-phone she wouldn't even notice Casper, and if she did, maybe she'd try to have a selfie with him. Would still kids be scared of Casper? Wouldn't they try to get him on film and play it on Youtube? "Casper" reassured me that I still belonged to a generation that would act like Elliott and "E.T." And Ricci's performance confirmed what her acting showed in "The Addams Family", she is a very underrated actress, what a change from the creepy Wednesday to the sweet and open-minded Kat, and she's the perfect counter-balance to her zanier father, played by Pullmann.The casting is quite excellent in fact, from the voice actors to a pair of nasty villains played by Cathy Moriarty and Eric Idle, not to mention some very well-thought nods to the cinematic realm of ghosts. That cameo of Dan Aykryod alone was funnier than any moment from the dreadful "Ghostbusters 3" and of course, I had my share of horrified reactions and Bill Pullman's opening the closest only to find Casper remains one of my funniest memories. The man is a psychiatrist, supposedly dealing with the dead and more hilarious than the scream itself is the knowledge that it comes from someone who couldn't stop bragging about his 'ghost' connection. The film did well at the box-office but it's a shame it's not remembered as well, maybe the relative thinness of the plot or that it came too early or too late, I don't know, I can only speak for the teen I was and who enjoyed the film, and the adult who enjoyed it even better.So, not much "E.T.", not quite "Harry Potter", but it's a sweet, gentle film that all the family can enjoy, and I don't know why it shouldn't be recommended.

Casper is a most heartwarming, endearing and beautiful film, especially Christina Ricci. Casper the movie is well written combining a love story, comedy and drama. Although Casper is a ghost in the finale the love given to him by Christina's character brings him back to a moment of corporal essence finding himself in the girl's arms. The girl suddenly discovers that they are floating above the floor mid-air. At first startled she soon realizes that the levitation symbolizes the miracle of what had happened, what she made happen to Casper. Their love is sealed with a memorable kiss. Pure. Good. Beautiful. For this performance alone Christina Ricci is immortalized as one of the most accomplished actress's of our times. Like her, the movie Casper the Ghost shall also endure. Art is common. Great Art is rare.

Casper is a 1995 film that stars Bill Pullman from While You Were Sleeping,Christina Ricci from Penellope and Brad Garrett who voices Fatso in this movie. The movie tells the story of Casper a friendly boy who happens to be a ghost. Kat Harvey(Ricci)and her dad Dr James Harvey(Pullman) (who is a ghost hunter btw)move to another city and land in a house that was once owned by a young boy who use to live there.But what Kat and her dad don't know is that Casper and his uncles Stretch,Fatso and Stinkie are still living in the house. Of course the reason why Dr Harvey moves is because these people(who were going to live in this house that they moved in,is haunted so he stays there with his daughter).Also Dr James Harvey lost his wife so he raises Kat by himself.So when Kat one day is packing her bags in her room,Casper shows up and she freaks out that she can see him. Kat of course has to start school and she gets bullied by this girl who wants to have a Halloween party. But when Kat mentions that she lives in a haunted house,the kids want Kat to have her party in her place. But the girl who bullies her sets up some guy to go with her as a date where she has her party. Of course Casper later falls for Kat and his afraid to admit it since Casper is dead and can't come back to life. So he tells Kat later on in the film that there is a machine that his deceased dad worked on that can bring people back to life again. So will Casper become a human and be with Kat?Well overall I liked this film as a kid and I found it to be a truly heartwarming story. The charcthers are cute and I like the chemistry between Ricci and the guy that voices Casper. Also I like how Casper wishes to be human for one night and Ricci's charcthers mom shows up and makes his wish come true. So he becomes a human for the night to be Kat's date. I found it cute.Overall like I said I liked this movie as a kid and I still do.6/10

I have loved Casper since I was of five years of age it's a film that makes you feel so many emotions you laugh and you cry. Every person has a place in their heart for Casper the little friendly ghost who just who just wants a friend. Kat and her farther Dr. James Harvey are living the life of a paranormal therapist, in which they are never in one place too long until they move into the Whipstaff Manor. There they become friendly with Casper and his three unfriendly obnoxious uncles Fatso, Stretch & Stinkie. The story unravels and you begin to like Casper more and more. Kat becomes very close with Casper and discovers a newspaper article that describes how Casper's heartbroken father created a machine called the Lazarus designed to resurrect his dead son. You learn more & more and your emotions run wild with the film the end scene is so touching when Kats mothers ghost makes an appearance to her lonely father James absolutely touching. All ages will love it!