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Ghost Blu-ray Review

“Ghost” breathed new life into the romantic drama.

Sam seems to have it all. A good business job, a loyal friend (Carl), and a loving artist girlfriend (Molly) that he has moved in with. Just as everything seems to be going his way, however, he is tragically shot dead. Death is not the end for Sam though as he has become a ghost. Alas, he can only speak to other ghosts and can’t communicate with anyone else until he meets a phony medium named Oda Mae Brown who can actually hear him. With Oda Mae Brown’s help, Sam has to unravel the mystery of his murder while also ensuring that Molly and Oda Mae remain safe from harm.

Directed by Jerry Zucker (yes, the “Airplane!” director), 1990’s “Ghost” is a romantic drama that had crossover appeal. This wasn’t just another “chick flick” as romantic films tend to be dubbed. Instead, it was a romantic drama with healthy doses of comedy that also happened to dip into the supernatural, horror, and even spiritual genres as it dealt with the afterlife. Basically, there’s something here for everyone which is why it was such a smash hit at the box office. It didn’t hurt that the script by Bruce Joel Rubin (which won an Oscar) was also emotional, touching and sexy (who can forget the now iconic pottery scene?). The only real downside to the story is the financial greed conflict which really feels like a leftover plot from the 80’s.

The script aside, much of the film’s success is due to the core cast featuring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg (who gives an Oscar winning performance). All 3 actors are in top form here. Demi Moore was perhaps never better, Swayze showed versatility, and Goldberg gives one of if not her best role.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p. How does it look? The film has been remastered from a 4K transfer and the results aren’t quite what I was hoping for. Yes, some shots look fantastic but others look a bit too murky and fuzzy for my taste.

Audio Track: Dolby TrueHD 5.1. How does it sound? The audio fares much better here. Maurice Jarre’s score particularly sounds superb.

Extras:
* “Ghost” theatrical trailer
* “Filmmaker Focus: Director Jerry Zucker On Ghost”- A new 6 ½ minute interview with the director
* “Ghost Stories: The Making Of A Classic”- A 13 minute archival making of that contains interviews, discussions about how the project came about, and more.
* “Alchemy Of A Love Scene”- A featurette on the iconic pottery scene

July 19, 2020 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Demi Moore, Ghost Blu-ray Review, Ghost: Paramount Presents Blu-ray Review, Patrick Swayze, romance, Whoopi Goldberg