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Beetlejuice Customer Reviews (34 - 36 of 39 Reviews)

Burton's true debut!
At the time of its release in 1988, 'Beetlejuice' was a huge hit. Although it does seem a little dated now, it still has some wonderful visual jokes (especially the characters in the waiting room). The laughs begin with the main characters' deaths after only 10 minutes. They look expectantly at a little dog who is balancing their car on a plank of wood over the edge of a bridge. He tip-toes off and they fall to their deaths. The film is full of satirical vignettes e.g. the after-life is managed by a number of desk clerks who have condemned themselves to an eternity as civil servants because they committed suicide. The Deetz's interior designer Otho is unafraid of all the ghoulish horrors that surround him, but yet finds himself in his most frighteneing moment when Betelguise removes his designer suit to reveal a 70's pastel leisure suit and he runs in terror.

Apparently director Tim Burton loved making the film as Warners stayed off his back for most of it, so he had greater freedom to improvise with the actors and the story. Half-way through its making, he didn't know how it was going to end. The stop-motion techniques might look a little dated but Burton was a big fan of Godzilla as a child.

"Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetleju..."
When a young couple Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Bladwin and Geena Davis) die, they return to their house as ghosts without any possibility of leaving their own home. Innocently they think that the dead have no problems but they couldn't be more wrong. A New York family, Charles and Delia Deitz (Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara) and their daughter, Lydia (Winona Ryder) move into the Maitlands home. The situation would have been all right but unfortunately, the family decides to re-decorate the whole house with 'modern art'. Adam and Barbara do all they can to get rid of them to no avail. They believe that only one person can help them and his name is Betelgeuse (pronounced Beetlejuice, played by Michael Keaton), a bio-exorcist. But Adam and Barabara just might be getting even MORE trouble than they bargained for!

A very... how would I put it... 'interesting' and 'strange' movie. The director Tim Burton has an incredible imagination, using the movie as a advantage to put his clever ideas and dark humor into the plot. "Beetlejuice" most definitely falls into the category of a dark comedy, the boundaries of the strange and remarkable broken through.

The acting is done very well with a star-studded cast. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis are strangely play their part as 'the cute but dumb couple'. Alec Baldwin has always been a favorite of mine playing Jack Ryan in "The Hunt for Red October" and Lamont Cranston/The Shadow in "The Shadow" so seeing him in this movie was a treat. Winona Ryder was also delightful as the 'strange and unusual' girl who is the only one who can see the Maitlands. But by the end she just makes an total about-face in her character. Jeffrey Jones who I liked a lot as Matthew Broderick's principal in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" also has a good role as does Catherine O'Hara. But Michael Keaton takes the prize for being absolutely perfect for his part as Beetlejuice. He gives such a remarkable performance, making the character of Beetlejuice give you scares, chills, and laughter.

The special effects are just fun to see as it's being put to good use. From the creepy light effects, the strange creatures in the 'recently deceased waiting room', Beetlejuice's incredible scary forms, and much, much more!

The movie is very hilarious in a dark sense. The movie is rated PG since for kids I must admit it might be scary, some jokes aren't for kids, and for some language (on of the reasons I give the movie 4 stars). But my favorite part of the movie has to be the scene where the Deitzs have invited some guests for dinner. And for dinner something very strange goes on, they get haunted by ghosts in a very HILARIOUS way! I laughed soooooo hard in the scene!

So, if you're looking for an escape from a dull and boring evening, put "Beetlejuice" on and I'm sure you'll have an enjoyable time!

A Creepy Comedy to Die For
Director Tim Burton really made a name for himself with this, his second full length feature after PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE. He also fortified a look and style that will forever be recognized as his. Overall, the piece is a simple comedy following a young, deceased couple as they make their first experiences in the after-life. But, there rest in peace is shattered by chic city folk played by the hilarious Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara. They try many things to get them out of their home until finally, and somewhat reluctantly, they turn to the 'bio-exorcist' Betelgeuse. Michael Keaton pulls out all the stops as the human exterminator who works his anti-magic on the family and even tries to get hitched to the human daughter, a young Winona Ryder. The storyline is always clever and the visuals are pure Burton, a pleasure to watch. The Calypso Dinner Party is the funniest scene from any movie made in the 1980s. So, check this out on DVD where you can hear Danny Elfman's wonderful score isolated on its own track, and watch the film in a nice widescreen format. All you have to do is say his name three times... Betelgeuse... Betelgeuse... Betel

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