Beetlejuice (1988)

Inventive and Fun take on the Afterlife.

RELEASED IN 1988 and directed by Tim Burton, “Beetlejuice” chronicles the story of a couple (Alec Baldwin & Geena Davis) who accidently perish after moving to a quaint Connecticut town. They find themselves sentenced to “haunting” their former house where they try to scare the new wannabe swank couple out (Jeffrey Jones & Catherine O'Hara), but they find that their Goth daughter is more curious than scared (Winona Ryder). Michael Keaton plays the eponymous madcap “bio-exorcist” while Glenn Shadix is on hand as the new couple’s interior designer.

This was Burton’s debut on the silver screen and the first half is hilarious entertainment mixed with some interesting insights on the afterlife. The movie puts its best foot forward, but the second half isn’t as compelling and I think the title character is more annoying than amusing.

THE FILM RUNS 1 hour & 32 minutes and was shot in beautiful East Corinth, Vermont, and (studio) Culver City, California. WRITERS: Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson and Warren Skaaren.

GRADE: B+

Thin on story but the practical effects are good and Michael Keaton is a lot of fun even if he doesn't fully arrive on screen until the 40-minute mark. My feelings more or less remained the same from the last time I saw, probably 10+ years ago. I probably don't place this in as high regard compared to others, but still was entertained. **3.5/5**

This is so insane… I love it!

This is so bad… I goddamn love it.

"Beetlejuice" will undoubtedly be difficult to surpass certainly in terms of pure visual imagination which incorporates some sets skewered at desperately crazy angles and outrageously cluttered administrative areas and waiting rooms where you can literally sit in monotonous silence for months at a time while listening to muzak. Tim Burton excels marvellously behind the cameras to deliver what is probably one of the most quirky films to come along in recent decades. His unique visuals strive to achieve an almost Georges Melies quality to them as Burton places all manner of incredible visual marvels on the screen and they are given an added dimension with generous splashes of garish colour all over the place. This film is unquestionably an amusing and appealing piece of entertainment and it is difficult to see how it could possibly be bettered and anyone would be certifiably insane to even try.