Casper 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Casper 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

The family-friendly 'Casper' arrives on 4K in the new 'Casper 4K 30th Anniversary Limited Edition SteelBook' courtesy of Universal. Starring Christina Ricci ('The Addams Family', 'Yellowjackets') and Bill Pullman ('Spaceballs', 'Independence Day') and featuring Eric Idle ('Monty Python's Flying Circus') and Cathy Moriarty ('Raging Bull'), the ghostly tale is both funny and heart-felt. This release brings forward the legacy features from the 2014 Blu-ray release, and adds some additional theatrical shorts to the list of on-disc supplemental material for Casper fans to enjoy. Inside the mildly spooky SteelBook, a Blu-ray disc (identical to that of the previous release), and Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere are also included. Please scroll down to the 'Special Features and Extras' section below for a discussion of the newest SteelBook.

Casper 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For an assessment of Casper 4K's 2160p presentation, please follow this link.

Casper 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

A discussion of Casper 4K's Dolby Atmos track can be found by following this link.

Casper 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

From the first glance, the cover of the Casper 4K 30th Anniversary Limited Edition SteelBook is instantly evocative of the film's cartoonish heart and origins, letting the viewer know that inside the cover, a mildly spooky good time awaits. Deep blues dominate the cover, adding the requisite "darkness" without being too dark. In the very center of the image sits decrepit Whipstaff Manor in front a large and brilliantly white full moon. Several of Whipstaff's small windows have been accentuated with shiny gold highlights, giving the appearance that lights are on inside the huge structure. Just above it and to the right, the Ghostly Trio float, each sporting a mischief-laden expression. To the left of Whipstaff, and quite justifiably the largest single element on the cover, floats the friendly ghost himself, with his trademark smile and wide eyes. Below them is the film's title, and below that are the silhouettes of pine trees. The black spine merely contains the film's stylized logo in white letters, and Universal's logo sits at the bottom. On the reverse and maintaining the same dark blue color color scheme but absent some of the brighter white, is a still from the film capturing the moment when Kat and her father enter Whipstaff Manor for the first time. They stand in the towering entryway on the floor with the spiral design, looking up the the ceiling far overhead. Just above center and printed in large, white, block letters, are the words "Seeing is believing". Universal's logo and a copyright statement are found in the lower left corner, while is product number is found in the lower right corner. Opening the SteelBook, the Digital Code rests under the two tabs on the left side. On the right side, the 4K UHD disc and the Blu-ray disc are stagger-stacked, each on its own hub, with the 4K UHD disc on top. Removing the discs and the Digital Code reveals a two-panel image from the film of Casper and Kat together at the breakfast table as the two begin to form their friendship. Casper is found on the left, and Ricci's Kat is on the right. On the whole, it is a very attractive and well-conceived SteelBook that succinctly encapsulates the film.

Regarding on-disc supplemental material, the following legacy features have been brought forward to the new 4K disc. To learn more about them, please follow this link.

• Revealing 'Casper' (47.10)

• Deleted Scene #91: Lucky Enough to be a Ghost (3.15)

• Feature Commentary with Director Brad Silberling

• Original Theatrical Shorts - New to this release are: 'Casper's Spree Under the Sea' (8.04), 'Once Upon a Rhyme' (7.06), 'Boo Hoo Baby' (7.15), To Boo or not to Boo' (6.21), 'Boo Scout' (6.52), and 'Spooking with a Brogue' (6.080). The short, 'Penguin for your Thoughts' (6.58) has been brought forward as well. They are playable individually or as a group by selecting the "Play All" option. As these shorts are from the early 1950s, the humor, themes, and sensibilities may not be perfectly attuned to modern audiences.

Casper 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Those looking for an abundance of scares won't find them here, and that's by design. The film is more of "hug in a mug" than a fright-fest. But what this 30-year-old film lacks in genuine scares it makes up for with solid production values and an entertaining and approachable story punctuated with some surprising cameos (and ghosts). Christina Ricci (who was 15 at the time) turns in a believable and spunky performance as the long-suffering young daughter who is forced to criss cross the country with her unusual father in what is her best early post-Addams Family roles. Co-star Bill Pullman is certainly convincing as the awkward and occasionally bumbling parent and ghost expert searching to reconnect with his wife. The effects, which were innovative at the time, are still charming, and bring the ghostly inhabitants of Whipstaff manor to life with cartoonish gusto. For fans of the film, or and SteelBook collectors alike the Casper 4K 30th Anniversary Limited Edition SteelBook comes strongly recommended.