Casper (1995)
C. – 100m.
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen.
Starring: Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, Cathy Moriarty, Malachi Pearson, Eric Idle, Ben Stein, Don Novello, Fred Rogers, Terry Murphy, Joe Nipote, Joe Alaskey, Brad Garrett, Dan Aykroyd, Rodney Dangerfield, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson and Devon Sawa.
A paranormal expert and his daughter stay at a mansion in Maine while they try to rid it of three mischievous ghosts and one nice one. But are they helping the wrong entity?
Trivia: Turing the filming Christina Ricci, Bill, Pullman, etc. had to speak to tennis balls, as the ghosts were C.G.I.ed in later. A piece of fishing line filled in for Casper during the scene where Kat gets dragged out the window and taken to the lighthouse. And finally: This is the second movie where Christina Ricci’s love interest, in this case the human form of Casper, is played by Devon Sawa. The other was: Now And Then (1995).
Rated: [PG] – Mild Language & Thematic Elements.
Out Of Print on VHS & Laserdisc, but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.
Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997)
C. – 90m.
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 – Fullscreen.
A.K.A.: Casper II: Ghost Central Station, Casper: The Beginning
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Lori Loughlin, Michael McKean, Sherman Hemsley, Brian Doyle–Murray, Casper Van Dien, James Earl Jones, Pauly Shore, Michael McDonald, Jeremy Foley, Bill Farmer, Jess Harnell, and Jim Ward.
Casper tells the story of how he became a friendly ghost. A little less spirited than the title would suggest but still an easy watch. Story takes a back seat in this one while cameos abound.
Trivia: Ben Stein and Rodney Dangerfield previously appeared in Casper (1995).
Rated: [PG] – Language, Crude Humor & Threatening Situations.
Out Of Print on VHS but Available on DVD & Digital Copy.
Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
C. – 90m.
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 – Widescreen.
Starring: Cathy Moriarty, Shelley Duvall, Teri Garr, George Hamilton, Hilary Duff, Vincent Schiavelli, Michael McDonald, Travis McKenna, Patrick Richwood, Alan Thicke, Casper Van Dien, Pauly Shore, Jeremy Foley, Jim Ward, Bill Farmer, Jess Harnell, Norm MacDonald, Joel Ross and Ben Stein.
Casper the friendly ghost teams up with Wendy the witch (Hilary Duff) against an evil warlock (George Hamilton). A very entertaining third entry in the series is a step up from its predecessor. A spunky cast make this a delight to watch. Note that George Hamilton’s flamboyant performance as the wicked warlock keeps this from getting too scary for young viewers.
Trivia: The voices of the ghosts from Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997) are back along with Casper Van Dien and series runner Ben Stein. This was Hilary Duff’s television debut. And finally: Cathy Moriarty, who plays Wendy’s Aunt Geri here, played Carrigan in the first Casper (1995).
Rated: [PG] – Mildly Scary Scenes, Some Thematic Elements & Language.
Out Of Print on VHS but Available on DVD & Digital Copy.