In 1988 a then relatively unknown director named Tim Burton arrived with a new horror comedy movie. The movie was called Beetlejuice, and was a monster hit. Even I saw it, and was expecting to hate it since it was a genre I hate. However, there is just something about this movie that makes it impossible not to enjoy it. The movie of course is...
In honor of Halloween, and it's thirty anniversary that I totally ignored, let's discuss this film. It came out March 1988 and I still remember how my whole school was talking about it. Normally I list bad things in a good movie. But since it's Halloween, and finding anything bad in this movie is very hard, I decided to discuss the five things I love about this movie.
Scary and Funny
Its often hard for a movie to settle on one tone, let alone managed to successfully handle two. And yet this movie does, being down right scary at times and really funny. A great example is when Delia and Otho look into the closet and Barbara pulls her face off. Not realizing Delia and Otho cannot see her. The scene is horrific and funny in a way only Tim Burton could pull off.
Soundtrack/Music
It goes without saying but Danny Elfmann's score is perfect here. Setting the mood perfectly. And then there's the Calypso scene. I want to hate this scene for how silly it is...but I can't. Is there anyone who can honestly sa they don't like it? Harry Belafonte's Banana Boat song is perfect here, though it was scarier on The Muppet Show. I don't think it makes sense the group were happy after it, but who cares. But will someone explain why some ball parks continue to the play the song to this day?
Effects
I decided to rewatch this movie, and that prompted this article, and I can't believe just how good the effects hold up here. This movie pre dates CGI so aside from the giant snake the bulk of the effects are practical. And they still hold up! Yeah some of the animation effects are dated, which is understandable since it was 1988. That last effect where Beetlejuice's head shrinks is horrible as is when Adam and Barbra don their scary faces. Overall, the effects still work including the famous snake scene which is just as scary today. The Make-up won several awards and you can sure see why, from Beetlejuice himself to the decomposed Barbara and Adam during the séance scene. Not to mention all the gags in the afterlife which requires watching the scene a few times to get them all.
The Cast
I love how this is such an all star cast. And they all do well. A young and mainly unknown Alec Baldwin who I forgot was in this movie for a long time. Geena David back when she was so cute. Catherine O'Hara a few years before Home Alone. Jeffrey Jones..before he wrecked his career. And of course Winona Ryder in the role that got people's attention. She became a star thanks to this role, and I think that she nailed the character of depressed teen perfectly. Of course Glenn Shadix as Otho, Robert Goulet and Dick Cavett..for some reason. Finally Sylvia Sidney who was an actress for 70 years but will always be remembered as Juno.
oh and of course.......
Michael Keaton
What in the world can I say that has not been said? Keaton is truly underrated (well he was I think people respect him more these days). Maybe that's because he was in that dreadful "Mr. Mom" years before this. Yeah I saw it, it's cliche. He is so awesome in this movie that it's no wonder people couldn't accept he could be Batman a year later. He steals every scene he's in by owning every single line he utters. It's amazing that he is only in the movie about twenty-five minutes! Also reports say that nearly all of his dialogue was improvised, which is quite amazing. That must mean Burton really trusted Keaton. Keaton is generally known for more dramatic stuff so it's easy for forget he is a pretty good comedian. His time and energy is amazing to watch and he made this character into a house hold word.
So is it a perfect movie? Eh maybe not perfect. The story isn't much really. Why is Lydia so depressed? Why does saying Beetljuice three times call and him and get rid of him? Heck we don't even really know our main characters well. We know they were on vacation, from something, and were recently married but that's about all. Why can't they leave the house they didn't die there? However, this is just nitpicky because I love watching this movie. It is one of those films where it's just fun to just sit back and enjoy. The movie is so quotable and memorable, it's a movie you have to see with friends. It gave us a cool animates series, a couple video games, and Beetlejuice headlined many stage shows from amusements parks to an official off Broadway production.
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