Movie Review: Casper (1995)

Hello, world!

Happy Halloween to all of you who participate in it! I've been wanting to do a post for a few days now and couldn't decide what to do. Finally, I realized that today is Halloween so I thought that I'd review the first Halloween movie I ever saw. Happy haunting!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

Casper (1995):

Based on: Casper the Friendly Ghost - by Seymour Reit & Joe Oriolo.
Kat has moved a lot because of her dad's work. He talks to ghosts and helps them to find their unfinished business so they can pass on; he does this because he is always looking for his late wife. A lady named Carrigan hires him to get rid of ghosts and they move into Whipstaff Manor. Carrigan wants the ghosts gone because she has heard of a treasure is somewhere in the manor. Kat tries to make friends at school, but she finds one in a place she didn't expect, a ghost named Casper. Dr. Harvey has a lot more trouble with Casper's three ghost uncles who make all the mischief that they can. Will Dr. Harvey find what is bothering the ghosts, and will Carrigan find the treasure hidden inside?

Genre: Comedy, Halloween.

Length: approx. 101 minutes.

Costumes: 7, nothing exciting.

Script: 8, I think there are one or two times of a name in vain.

Crew:

Directed by: Brad Silberling.

Written by: Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver, Seymour Reit, & Joe Oriolo.

Starring:
Malachi Pearson as the voice of Casper McFadden.

Christina Ricci as Kathleen "Kat" Harvey.

Bill Pullman as Dr. James Harvey.

Joe Nipote as the voice of Stretch.
Joe Alaskey as the voice of Stinkie.
Brad Garrett as the voice of Fatso.
Cathy Moriarty as Catherine "Carrigan" Crittenden.

Eric Idle as Paul "Dibs" Plutzker.

Garette Ratliff Henson as Vic DePhillippi.
Jessica Wesson as Amber Whitmire.
Amy Brenneman as Amelia Harvey.
Ben Stein as Rugg.
Devon Sawa as Casper McFadden.

Cinematography: 7, I know that it must be hard to do ghosts, but the CGI looked a little fake, just a little bit. Otherwise I really like the expressions that they gave each of the ghosts.

Cinematography by: Dean Cundey.

Music: 8, not 100% memorable, but nice.

Music by: James Horner.

Quotes: 7, "All I want 's a friend."

Content: 7, there are a few suggestive things, gross things, drinking, smoking, death, and crude humor. Of course, it deals with ghosts, so if you aren't comfortable with them I wouldn't recommend this.

Originality: 8, I like the idea of a ghost looking for a friend and a lady looking for a treasure.

Good For: people who like Halloween movies, families, people who are looking for friends, someone who has moved a lot.

Age Range: This is definitely a family movie, so any age, but there are a few scary things with the ghosts and some crude humor.

Overall Score: 7.5.

Bonus thoughts:
This is a fun movie to watch each year with my sisters. We also have been reading the picture book from it as long as I can remember.

Happy Halloween everyone! Thanks for reading!!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: Penelope (2006)

Hello, everyone!

I first watched the movie that I am going to review today back in 2009, so 10 years ago! I thought that I remembered it almost perfectly, but both my younger and older sister, who watched it with me, didn't remember it at all! A few weeks ago I was finally able to rewatch it with my older sister. I was right, I remembered pretty much everything (except the last 10 minutes). My older sister liked it, but still didn't remember seeing it before! I feel so old...

(Also, yay Netflix! I watched it both times on there).

Note: I was so excited to be watching it that I kept forgetting to write things down, but then I randomly would so these are out of context. Sorry!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

Penelope (2006):

A long time ago, the Wilherns were cursed that their first born daughter would have the face of a pig. They never thought about it because they only had sons... until Penelope. The curse will only end when one of her own kind, a "blue blood", someone who has money and position, learns to love her. A reporter wants to make money by showing a photo of her to the public. He also has personal reasons for wanting a slight "revenge" because he got hurt when he previously tried to get a picture. Working with Edward, one of the few people who has seen her, they plan to hire someone to pretend to be a suitor long enough to get a photo. Penelope wants to see the world but it doesn't want to see her. Will she finally find a friend, or will they only run from her?

Genre: Low Fantasy (there is the idea of the curse, but all of it takes place in our world and there is no other mention of magic), Romance.

Length: approx. 104 minutes.

Costumes: 8, nothing brilliant, but nothing bad.
My favorite: I couldn't find any good pictures, but she has an awesome coat!

Script: 9, only one or two bad words!
"Once the queen's dead the king is useless." (Chess!)

Crew:

Directed by: Mark Palansky.

Written by: Leslie Caveny.

Starring:
Christina Ricci as Penelope Wilhern. "Plants are great, I just thought of you as a cop."

James McAvoy as Max Campion, "Johnny".

Catherine O'Hara as Jessica Wilhern.

Richard E. Grant as Franklin Wilhern.
Peter Dinklage as Lemon.
Simon Woods as Edward Humphrey Vanderman III.
Nigel Havers as Edward Vanderman II.
Reese Witherspoon as Annie.

Ronni Ancona as Wanda.
Richard Leaf as Jack the Bartender.
Michael Feast as Jake.

Cinematography: 9, at first I thought that it was a little weird, but I think it was just the screen that I was watching it on.

Cinematography by: Michel Amathieu.

Music: 8, if there was a score or soundtrack it didn't really stick out to me, but I love how they have the song "You Are My Sunshine" in there!

Music by: Joby Talbot.

Quotes: 9. "It's not the power of the curse, it's the power that you give the curse."

Storyline: 7, so there is death, suggestive things, mention of an affair, smoking, drinking (we see people intoxicated a few times), and gambling, but it is all mostly shown as bad.
"Will somebody call my mother?"

Good For: People who don't like how they look, who are scared of being seen, anybody!

Age Range: All ages! There are a few exaggerated drawings that might scare really little kids, and there is mild kissing, but that's it! Penelope is not scary at all, she is really sweet and pretty. She is uncomfortable with how she looks and it shocks people when they first see her, but would never be scary to anyone watching it.

Overall Score: 8.5!

Bonus thoughts:
How do I even begin to talk about this wonderful movie? It is so incredible sweet! This is one of those movies that makes you happy and encourages you, and one that I could watch all the time. This movie is so adorable! It has a very fall like feeling, so it would be great to watch this month (hint hint, you should!). The question of "Is beauty skin deep?" is one that I really like to see explored and see what people come up with. I can't stop saying how good this is!


Well, it's up to you, my readers, now! Have you seen this movie, what do you think? Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic