| ♥ | This article is dedicated to Sylvia Sidney (August 8, 1910 - July 1, 1999), Robert Goulet (November 26, 1933 – October 30, 2007), Glenn Shadix (April 15, 1952 – September 7, 2010), Carmen Filpi (March 22, 1923 – May 9, 2003), Jack Angel (October 24, 1930 – October 18, 2021), and Patrice Martinez (June 12, 1963 – December 24, 2018). |
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Beetlejuice is a 1988 American fantasy comedy horror film directed by Tim Burton, produced by the Geffen Company, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The plot revolves around a newly-deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who become ghosts that haunt their former home, and an obnoxious, devious poltergeist named Betelgeuse (pronounced and occasionally spelled "Beetlejuice" in the movie; portrayed by Michael Keaton) from the Netherworld who tries to scare away the new inhabitants (Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones and Winona Ryder). The film was released on March 30, 1988.
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.png) "It's showtime!"
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A sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, had its theatrical release on September 6, 2024.
Plot
A couple of newly-deceased ghosts (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) are hellbent on getting a couple of obnoxious yuppies (Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones) and their suicidal goth daughter (Winona Ryder) out of their house, hiring a freelance "bio-exorcist" (Michael Keaton) to dispose of them.
Why It's The Ghost of the Most
- It paints death in a more positive light. According to it, people who die remain in the land of the living. But they still cannot be seen by those who are still alive. Those who are dead gain abilities beyond the living, as Adam and Barbara show in many scenes in the film. Such as the ability to access certain areas like the afterlife and the ability to pull their faces into nightmarish and freaky forms to the point where they strongly resemble really good masks you would find for Halloween (despite easily surpassing most of them in terms of just how straight-up creepy they are).
- Funny and likable characters such as Adam and Barbara Maitland, Lydia Deetz, and Beetlejuice himself.
- The stop-motion in this film is impressive by 1988's standards, especially for Beetlejuice's terrifying snake form and the sandworm.
- Amazing production design.
- Funny jokes, such as Beetlejuice attempting to make Lydia say his name.
- The ending is nice. It has Beetlejuice being devoured by the sandworm (which saves Lydia from having to become his wife after the deal she made with him to have him save Adam and Barbara), the Maitland and the Deetzes making amends and agreeing to share the house, and Lydia becoming more confident and comfortable around others and when it comes to making social interactions. Not to mention how the ending scene of the film with Betelgeuse impatiently waiting in the afterlife room and stealing the Witch Doctor's number, only for the latter to shrink the demon's head in retaliation, was pretty funny (original summary from Wikipedia's page of the film). However, it could wonder what will happen next in the sequel.
- Amazing score by Danny Elfman.
- The dinner party scene is hilarious.
- Great acting from Alec Baldwin (who portrayed Alan Hunley from Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Nicholas St. North from Rise of the Guardians, Micj Dugan from Working Girl, Jack Ryan from The Hunt for Red October, Blake from Glengarry Glen Ross, and Captain Ellerby from The Departed) as Adam, Geena Davis (who portrayed Yoriko Sasaki from When Marnie Was There, Mrs. Eleanor Little from the second and third Stuart Little films, Veronica "Ronnie" Quaife from The Fly (1958), and Samantha Caine / Charlene "Charly" Baltimore from The Long Kiss Goodnight) as Barbara, Winona Ryder (who portrayed Veronica Sawyer from Heathers, Beth Macintyre from Black Swan, Kim from Edward Scissorhands, Amanda Grayson from Star Trek (2009), and Elsa van Helsing from Frankenweenie) as Lydia, and (of course) Michael Keaton (who later reprised his role in the sequel. Keaton also voiced Chick Hicks from Cars, the 2010 film incarnation of Ken from Toy Story 3, Bruce Wayne/Batman from the Batman duology, and The Flash, Riggan Thomson in Birdman (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Jason Hudson in Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and the titular character in Porco Rosso) as Betel Geuse Jr.
- The film's success spawned a spin-off animated TV series, several video games, and a 2018 stage musical. The latter of which not just being responsible for introducing some amazing new songs such as "The Whole "Being Dead" Thing", "Say My Name", "Dead Mom", "That Beautiful Sound", and "What I Know Now", but also arguably changing the film's plot for the better and making it more emotionally powerful and giving Betelgeuse a character arc, and a great one at it (make no mistake, this movie's plot is amazing, but the musical is responsible for arguably improving it).
Qualities That Are No Ghost of the Most
- There are some dark moments, such as the Maitlands' exorcism.
- Some adult jokes, the scene where Beetlejuice drops the f-bomb at one point (this issue would later be seen in this sequel where he dropped it, albeit censored) and then grabs his crotch and honks it, even though the said scene is funny and memorable.
- The plot here arguably isn't as emotionally powerful as the musical adaptation (although it's still excellent here).
Reception
Box office
Beetlejuice opened theatrically in the United States on March 30, 1988, earning US$8,030,897 in its opening weekend. The film eventually grossed US$73,707,461 in North America. Beetlejuice was a financial success, recouping its US$15 million budget, and is the 10th-highest-grossing film of 1988.
Critical response
Beetlejuice was met with a mostly positive response by both moviegoers and critics alike. Based on 57 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, Beetlejuice received an 84% "fresh" approval rating with a weighted average of 7.17/10. The website's critical consensus reads "Brilliantly bizarre and overflowing with ideas, Beetlejuice offers some of Michael Keaton's most deliciously manic work - and creepy, funny fun for the whole family". On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 18 reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a B grade on a scale of A to F.
Pauline Kael referred to the film as a "comedy classic", while Jonathan Rosenbaum of Chicago Reader gave a highly positive review. Rosenbaum felt Beetlejuice carried originality and creativity that did not exist in other films. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it "a farce for our time" and wished Keaton could have received more screen time. Desson Howe of The Washington Post felt Beetlejuice had "the perfect balance of bizarreness, comedy and horror".
It won the Academy Award for "Best Makeup" and three Saturn Awards: "Best Horror Film", "Best Makeup" and "Best Supporting Actress" (for Sylvia Sydney).
Trivia
- Beetlejuice made an appearance in LEGO Dimensions, and the Teen Titans Go! episode "Ghost with the Most".
- Coincidentally, LEGO Dimensions also had Teen Titans Go!.