Casper

UPC: 025192379420

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Excellent For Children, Scary Moments]

Summary: Based on the popular cartoon character, this family-oriented "ghost story" is about a not-so-scary spirit who bonds with a little girl (Christina Ricci). The eternally irritable Ms. Carrigan (Cathy Moriarty) discovers that the only thing she's been left in her recently departed father's will is a rickety old house in New England. Naturally, the woman is furious about this, until her "close personal friend" and assistant, Dibbs (Eric Idle of Monty Python fame), discovers a secret message that a treasure may be concealed somewhere in the house. The two take off for Maine, only to learn that the house is haunted by Casper "the friendly ghost" and his three ghostly uncles Stinky, Stretch, and Fatso. After futilely recruiting an exorcist (Don Novello, more or less reviving his Father Guido Sarducci character from Saturday Night Live) and a "professional ghost exterminator" (Dan Aykroyd), she brings in a "ghost psychiatrist" (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Ricci). Innocently attracted to the young girl, Casper befriends Kat as they try to save the ghosts' home from the evil Carrigan. Eye-popping special effects highlight this magical story that touches (albeit lightly) on the theme of what lies at the heart of human desires. Clint Eastwood, Rodney Dangerfield, Mel Gibson and The Crypt Keeper (of Tales from the Crypt) all make cameos as apparitions in the mirror Bill Pullman looks into in the house. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Category: Children's/Family

Features: Interactive games
Behind-the-scenes interviews
CGI secrets
Games
Recipes
Costume hints
Safety tips
Deleted scenes
Feature commentary with director Brad Silberling
Talent bios (including the ghosts)
Bonus episode of the animated seriess

Casper

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 09/23/2003

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Digital Theater Systems

Runtime: 101 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
1. The Phantom Photographer [2:44]
2. One Lousy Piece of Property [2:32]
3. Welcome to Whipstaff Manor [5:19]
4. The Ghost Shrink [8:46]
5. The Ghost and His Guests [7:46]
6. Stretch, Fatso and Stinkie [2:33]
7. The Morph the Merrier [7:46]
8. Breakfast With the Boys [3:24]
9. The New Kid in Town [3:29]
10. Goofing on Amelia [5:53]
11. When I Was Alive... [8:11]
12. I Remember [4:02]
13. The Up and at 'Em Machine [2:49]
14. The Lazarus [7:00]
15. A Croaking at the Karaoke [2:53]
16. The Heiress Comes Haunting [5:09]
17. The Late Dr. Harvey [4:52]
18. A Cinderella Deal [1:50]
19. The Life of the Party [5:05]
20. The Party's Over/End Titles [:57]

Robert Firsching

Maybe it's time to start looking at modern Hollywood films from a different perspective. Certainly, the story in this youth-oriented fantasy is nothing to write home about: a haunted mansion containing treasure, a little girl who befriends an amiable young ghost, and various greedy and oafish adults acting like morons. Standard stuff. But the selling points here are the film's visual elements, which take the popular cartoon character and bring him to computer-generated life (afterlife?) with marvelously handled special effects and a production design that's a joy to behold. Other than a few unnecessarily prurient double entendres (which young kids probably won't catch anyway), this is a visual delight despite its workmanlike plot. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Joe Alaskey  Actor 
Ben Stein  Actor 
Amy Brenneman  Actor 
Chauncey Leopardi  Actor 
Devon Sawa  Actor 
Clint Eastwood  Actor 
Garette Ratliff Henson  Actor 
Brad Garrett  Actor 
Don Novello  Actor 
Mel Gibson  Actor 
John Kassir  Actor 
Wesley Thompson  Actor 
Ernestine Mercer  Actor 
Mike Simmrin  Actor 
Jessica Wesson  Actor 
J.J. Anderson  Actor 
Mister Rogers  Actor 
Dan Aykroyd  Actor 
Spencer Vrooman  Actor 
Rodney Dangerfield  Actor 
Jerry Molen  Executive Producer 
Sheri Stoner  Screenwriter 
James Horner  Composer (Music Score) 
Gerald R. Molen  Producer 
Steven Spielberg  Executive Producer 
Deanna Oliver  Screenwriter 
Colin Wilson  Producer 
Brad Silberling  Director 
Jeffrey A. Montgomery  Producer 
Christina Ricci  Actor 
Bill Pullman  Actor 
Cathy Moriarty  Actor 
Eric Idle  Actor 
Malachi Pearson  Actor 
Joe Nipote  Actor 

Country: USA