I saw this TV movie a few times when I was a kid and, from what I remembered, it was a pretty good movie (where Scooby Doo, Shaggy and Scrappy Doo visits a haunted school and attempts to save its kidnapped students) that captures the some of the humor and spirit of the original cartoon series.

The animation was bright and the plot was actually somewhat intriguing, making you eager to know that the events unfold. Although Fred, Daphne and Velma were absent from the movie, Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy did deliver some great fun and laugh-out-loud comedy. After the conventional theme of villains disguised as ghouls and goblins in the series, it was interesting and noteworthy to see this movie contain real ghostly creatures and real witches as villains, such as the villainess Witch Revolta.

There are corny moments here and there, but this is a cartoon and is still better than some of the more contemporary cartoon counterparts of the 2000s and beyond.

Grade B

I've heard people dissing this movie, but I don't agree. I loved this movie as a child, and even now (I'm 19) I still enjoy it. Sure, the whole gang isn't there, but that's fine. I was never a hardcore fan of the series, but this movie is fabulous. The "little ghouls" are adorable and lots of fun. Matches, the "pet" dragon of the boarding school, is really great, and the friendship he develops with Scrappy is nice to see. The beginning to the movie is actually really funny, and the exercise scene (don't ask, you'll just have to see it yourself!) that follows soon after always puts a smile on my face. It all starts as a misunderstanding that results in Shaggy and Scooby meeting monsters they (gasp!) aren't afraid of... and, of course, some new villains that *are* quite scary. All in all, this is a really entertaining watch. I love it, and gave it an 8 out of 10.

It is not perfect and it is not the best Scooby Doo movie, in my opinion that's Witch's Ghost, but Ghoul's School is I think better than people say it is. I admit I hated this movie when I first saw it as I thought it was corny and lame and the fact that I was going through a Scrappy-hating phase probably didn't help either. I watched it again, and like with Reluctant Werewolf which I also hated at first, I am glad I gave it a chance.

It has its flaws mind. The pacing is draggy in spots, Scrappy while not as contemptible as he can be is still rather annoying and I really could have done without Scrappy's rap, then again I have a dislike of rap in general so maybe I'm biased.

That said, the animation is not too bad really, there are some lush backgrounds and a majority of the characters are well drawn. The incidental music is decent, and the jokes, script and puns are funny, perhaps corny in parts but the original show wasn't always sophisticated humour either and that worked. The story is a departure from usual Scooby Doo fare but it does hold interest, and has a lot of entertaining parts especially the party with the ghoul girls' parents, the match between the girls and the boys and any scene with the villainess of the piece Revolta.

And I liked the characters, Scrappy you either love or hate, but Scooby and Shaggy are delightful as always and their antics are just as wildly funny as before. The pet dragon is a very nice addition, and almost makes the movie, and I liked the ghoul girls too, Sebella is my favourite as she is quite beautiful and has this seductive element to her. Revolta who looks as awful as she sounds is an intriguing villainess, her motives aren't exactly original, but she does have some great lines, a sinister presence and a chilling voice. Finally the voice acting is well done, especially Don Messick and Casey Kasem who never fail to bring a smile to my face as Scooby and Shaggy.

So overall, it isn't brilliant, but it's better than people give credit for. 7/10 Bethany Cox