Ghost: Special Collector’s Edition

Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 2, 2007

One of the most unforgettable scenes in movie history is when the bare-chested Patrick Swayze sat at the potter’s wheel while the timeless classic “Unchained Melody” plays in the background. What could be better you say? Maybe a bare-chested Demi Moore…

Shortly after Sam (Patrick Swayze) and Molly (Demi Moore) move in with one another, tragedy strikes. Sam and Molly find themselves on the wrong end of a stickup, and Sam ends up being mortally wounded. Instead of just “following the light” up to the pearly gates of heaven Sam decides to stay on earth just a little longer, as a ghost. He stays to protect Molly, and to figure out why he was killed.

Ghost has been thrown around in conversation as one of those timeless “date movies” or “chick flicks.” I personally just never understood what all the fuss was about. I understand that love is supposed to conquer all, and that it is just a movie. I still can not understand how people can embrace this film when the plot is absolute fantasy. I’m sorry but if my dead significant other was lurking around my apartment and trying to come in contact with me, I would start throwing holy water and yelling “the power of Christ compels you!” I just think it is creepy.

Speaking of creepy, just the thought of Patrick Swayze (ghost or not) just sends shivers down my spine. I have always thought of him as creepy, and I think that seeing him in this film when I was 7 could be the reason. Why can’t he just keep his damn shirt on and his feet on the ground? Demi Moore on the other hand, has only gotten better with age. She is the one of the only reasons I’d ever watch this film again, other than a truly great performance from Whoopi Goldberg.

The special features for this Special Collector’s Edition seem to fall a bit short.

Ghost Stories: The Making of a Classic – How the script, director, actors and themes were chosen

Inside the Paranormal – A bunch of psychics and mediums talking about how they hear voices

Alchemy of a Love Scene – How beautiful Demi found a way to connect with creepy Patrick

Cinema’s Great Romances – Experts talk about cinema’s greatest love stories. Oh, they talk about Ghost too.

Read more articles by Brian C. Gibson