Review of Casper (1995) by Kaitie M — 07 Oct 2009

This movie has aged better than I ever thought it would. I put it on last night having seen it a hundred times before and I still couldn't turn it off even though I was about to go to bed. The effects still look perfect: not good, not great .

.. honest to god, perfect. Christina Ricci is, to the second, the perfect age for her character: maybe it's 'cos I had a schoolboy crush on her at the time that has stuck with me, but seriously, I'm so in love with her in this movie it kills me in places.

So I relate to Casper a lot you could say. But I relate to her too, having lost a parent (amongst other things and people). There's so much loss in the movie, and so much longing: something we'd see a lot from director Brad Silberling in his subsequent films, he having lost someone too soon too.

Am I still talking about a kids movie? But it's true: it's still a roller coaster ride, don't get me wrong. It's just, the emotional side hits me more each time. The breakfast scene when they pass their hands through each other: "Can you hurt me? Can I hurt you?" So profound.

Casper asking Kat, "Can I keep you?" ⦠so intensely, but his kiss on her cheek mistaken by her for a breeze so she responds, "Close the window, it's cold." Call me a basket case but this movie has such an important place in my heart no amount of words could do it justice.

If you've ever lost anybody and you haven't seen it by now, make the time.