Ghost

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Entertainment!!!!!
Review: Ghost is a magical movie. The top grossing film of 1990 is also one of the best movies of the decade, no question. Here is a rare film that can be watched over and over and still make the viewer feel the same emotion every time--you wanna laugh and cry all at once. The film combines elements of almost every film genre--fantasy, ghost story, mystery, horror, romance, drama, thriller, and comedy blend together seamlessly for a touching, emotional, and suspenseful roller coaster ride.

Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are fantastic and Whoopi Goldberg definitely deserves that Oscar for her hilarious supporting role as psychic Oda Mae Brown. She successfully brings a light touch to an otherwise dark and brooding film.

Directing his first film on his own, Jerry Zucker (who was partnered with his brother David and Jim Abrahams on the Airplane! movies and other spoofs) has done an impressive job, with considerable help from a brilliant editor, Walter Murch, and Oscar winning screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin.

Rubin has crafted a well-paced and entertaining tale. He is a born storyteller, with a gift for weaving an intricate, involving narrative as well as an ability to tap into some of our deepest hopes and fears. What makes Ghost special is the way it takes what might have been an unbearably sentimental story and turns it into a powerfully romantic drama with a positive message about life, death and love. He manages to make us feel a flurry of emotions while we stare dumbfounded at the unbelievable events unfolding before us, making them extremely plausible. He sucks us into the tightly knit tale from the very first frame, and doesn't let go until the end credits begin to roll.

Ghost WILL make you believe.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Fantasy About Good vs Evil
Review: Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are an upwardly mobile young couple who meet tragedy when Swayze is murdered by a "mugger", who turns out to be hired by Swayze's friend and collegue as part of a scam involving $4 million dollars. Swayze's "ghost" must take care of unfinished business before resting in peace: By using wanna-be spirit medium Whoopi Goldberg (who won an Oscar for her performance), he "punishes" the ones resonsible for his own death, and gets to "say goodbye" to Moore. -- This is a very entertaining romantic comedy, probably the most popular movie of 1990. The scenes suggesting "Heaven and Hell" are a little disturbing, but work well in the context. This film catapulted the 60s Righteous Brothers hit "Unchained Melody" to all-time-favorite status. You're gonna like this picture!

Rating:
Summary: MY FAVOURITE MOVIE!
Review: This is the best movie ever made. It has a great storyline, great cast. This may seem as a tearjeker for some but if you actually see the movie its hilarious. I have memorised all the scripts and this movie is just one of the excellent movies which are hard to find. It combines happiness, strength, sadness and anger all in one, a kalaeidoscope of emotions. If theres one DVD youll rent make sure its GHOST

Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies from the 90's
Review: Fantastic blend of romance, drama, suspense, comedy, and special effects in this decade old stroy about love after death.

When Sam (Patrick Swayze) is brutally murdered, his spirit, which is trapped between 2 dimensions, returns to earth to investigate the crime and protect his grieving girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore). After discovering that his death wasn't just an accidental mugging and his killing was orchestrated by a seemingly unlikely culprit, Sam realises that Molly's life is very much in jeopardy.

Desperate to communicate to Molly the danger she is in, Sam seeks the help of Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg, who won a deserved Oscar for this role), a confidence trickster/storefront psychic with big hair and an attitude to match. At first Molly is sceptical of Oda Mae's ability to hear Sam's voice (and so is everyone else) but after discovering that it isn't fake, she and Oda Mae team up to thwart the evil intentions of Sam's murderers.

"Ghost" was released cinematically at around the same time as "Always" and "Almost An Angel," and it is by far the best film of the 3. Its story and messages combine to assure the viewer, no matter what religion they may be, that although we will all physically die, we will never be truly dead unless we are forgotten and that love is immortality.

Rating:
Summary: Smart and Passionate Love Story, with a Heavenly Twist.
Review: This film is definately one of the best films of 1990. Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and Whoopi Goldberg all played wonderful parts in Ghost. This film is one of the most original Romance movies ever made. The plot is never slow. The movie is funny, clever, charming, and intriguing. The villain comes unexpectedly, and once the action starts it never seems to stop. This is a definate movie must for anyone that loves romance movies. If you are a fan of Demi, Patrick, and Whoopi this is definately the perfect movie for you.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Fantasy About Good vs Evil
Review: Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are an upwardly mobile young couple who meet tragedy when Swayze is murdered by a "mugger", who turns out to be hired by Swayze's friend and collegue as part of a scam involving $4 million dollars. Swayze's "ghost" must take care of unfinished business before resting in peace: By using wanna-be spirit medium Whoopi Goldberg (who won an Oscar for her performance), he "punishes" the ones resonsible for his own death, and gets to "say goodbye" to Moore. -- This is a very entertaining romantic comedy, probably the most popular movie of 1990. The scenes suggesting "Heaven and Hell" are a little disturbing, but work well in the context. This film catapulted the 60s Righteous Brothers hit "Unchained Melody" to all-time-favorite status. You're gonna like this picture!

Rating:
Summary: The only good dude is a dead dude?
Review: Almost everyone will find something to like about this film, but other parts can really get your knickers in a twist.
Despite having heard the tune for years previously, I didn't really like "Unchained Melody" until it was featured in the movie. There are many surprises here...Demi's unusually convincing performance, Whoopi telling us about traffic patterns in the spirit world ("I got spooks comin' in from Jersey!"), Swayze developing his telekinetic powers with the help of the "subway ghost". Yet there is also Whoopi's annoying ad lib attempts at humor, the uninspired "afterlife" special effects, and the uncomfortable subtext of the plot...that Demi loves the Swayze character even more now that he's deceased (shudder). The theologically inclined will get to weigh in on how the court system in the afterlife would rule on a "revenge killing" plea. Hey, and if this necrophiliac spook-infested romp really is a good movie for Valentine's Day, heaven help us all!

Rating:
Summary: Whoppi's Oscar Winning Role....The Medium With The Most!
Review: This review refers to the Paramount DVD edition of "Ghost"....

A man is shot and killed. His body dies, but not his spirit. Before leaving this world for the next, he must find a way to warn his lover that she is in impending danger from the culprits. Sound just a little familiar? It should. The idea for this story is loosely based on none other then "Hamlet". This though is not quite as deep or complex as Shakespeare's great tragedy. It is however, a thought provoking, touching story that has a little something for everybody. It's got romance,comedy, mystery and suspense, fantasy, action and most importantly...WHOPPI!

So how does Sam(Patrick Swayze) manage to make contact with his beloved Molly(Demi Moore) after his death? Well he goes through a psychic of course. Not just any psychic though..he finds a medium who's larger than life..Oda Mae Brown(Whoppi Goldberg).
Together, they turn Molly into a believer(along with the audience) and chase down the murderous thugs out to get her.

The action, and suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat, the romance will thrill you and the special effects are dazzling. Whoppi Goldberg is fabulous, and provides the wonderful comic relief in the story, as a con artist who finds herself with a gift to give. She took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for this 1990 film. The film was also honored with the Best Original Screenplay. Swayze and Moore seem like they were made for each other and will have you believing in love ever after.

The DVD presents a nice clear picture in widescreen and the sound gives you the choice of DD5.1 surround or stereo surround. It may also be viewed in French(stereo) and has English subtitles for those needing them. The features include commentary by the Director(Jerry Zucker), and Writer (Bruce Joel Rubin), as well as an informative retrospective on the film(this is where I learned of the "Hamlet" connection).

The film is rated PG-13. There are some scenes of violence and of course there's the very sensuous clay sculpting scene to the tune of "Unchained Melody"(who can ever forget that?!)

If you have already seen this movie, and know it's one that you will watch over and over(and to that I would say "Ditto"), this great DVD is a bargain. If you haven't seen it, it's well worth a try and will keep everybody involved for the entire length of the film.

Go for it and enjoy....Laurie

Rating:
Summary: A Valentine's Film: The Love Between A Girl And Her Ghost
Review: When "Ghost" was released in 1990, it enjoyed an immense popularity. It was a different type of love story. There is supernatural elements- ghosts, demons, heaven, hell, the afterlife, a story with action that men could enjoy and comedy that could make anyone laugh at the right times, especially with the supporting role of Whoopi Goldberg's character. This DVD of the film features commentary and restrospective portions. It looks and sounds as good as it did when it was released in theatres. Ghost is an easy story to follow. It's perfect to enjoy for Valentine's Day. Patrick Swayzee (Sam) was murdered by a rival (Tony Goldwyn)in order to get his hands on a lot of money. Demi Moore, his widowed wife, becomes the victim of this same rival's schemes. But as luck would have it, Sam is'nt really dead. He's merely a ghost left around to save his wife and defeat the bad guy. Aiding Sam is a medium-pyschic (Whoopi Goldberg).

There are some genuinely romantic, exciting and comedic moments in this film. The much remembered love scene includes Patrick Swayzee (as a ghost)caressing Demi Moore as she busily makes a clay urn. The love theme for this film, which was also scored for orchestra, is the Righteous Brother's "Unchained Melody". If anything, this film helped to popularize the classic oldie song. Suddenly, after Ghost, Unchained Melody became somewhat of a romantic pop song and every couple just wanted the song as their song (performed at weddings, dedicated to them on the radio, etc and even newer versions of the song are still sung by artists today). The funny moments are with Whoopi. She is a fraud psychic, who does not listen to ghosts at first and is merely scamming people from their money. But when Same comes to her, she is able to really hear him. Especially funny are their scenes together. I.E. "The Bank Scene" in which Whoopi withdraws a fortune in cash and has to give it up for donation to nuns. Tony Goldwin as the villain comes off deliciously evil, scheming and money-hungry. The special effects used in the film were computer graphics. At this time, the new medium of computer imagery was making home in cinema. Even Disney used this in Beauty and the Beast. This film is five stars all the way.

Rating:
Summary: Whoopi Goldberg is a genius
Review: This woman is hilarious, she had me laughing so hard. Go Whoopi!

And the movie is great. Highly recommended.