The first installment of Beetlejuice, released in 1988, became one of the most important films in Tim Burton's career. With this film, he was able to show studios that he was capable of making high-grossing projects for relatively little money. At the same time, it was with Beatlejuice that Burton's signature style, in which even disgusting things seem homey, resonated with the mass audience. And the Beatlejuice as a character still remains unsurpassed thanks to Michael Keaton's acting skills and unconventional concept. A whole franchise with an animated series, video games, comic books, and a Broadway musical followed.
However, the premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice still seems like something fantastic, because the story of the original source is categorically complete. However, Burton found a way to continue the plot and involve the actors from the first part. The result is something that cannot be described in two words. It's neither good nor bad, but it's definitely unforgettable and tangibly incomprehensible at the level of emotional perception.
| Title | Beetlejuice Beetlejuice |
| Genre | comedy, horror, fantasy |
| Director | Tim Burton |
| Starring | Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Gara, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, Arthur Conti, Willem Dafoe and others |
| Studios | Plan B Entertainment, Tim Burton Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Timing | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Year | 2024 |
| Website | IMDb |
The events of the first part of Beatlejuice have forever left their mark on the fate and character of the girl Lydia Dietz (Winona Ryder). Even when she has grown up, she still continues to encounter paranormal phenomena. And the fear of meeting up again with Beatlejuice (Michael Keaton), whom she almost married as a teenager, constantly haunts her. However, paranoia turns into a very real danger when Lydia's daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) begins to explore the past of the town of Winter River and the estate where the Ditz family once moved, and death once again makes adjustments to everyday life. So, there will be some more Beatlejuice frenzy.
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Still from the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice[/caption]
In the first third of the film, it may seem that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will indeed be an interesting sequel to the first part, and the plot will take center stage among other elements. However, we must warn you right away that the story of the film does not seem to know what it wants to tell the audience. The script introduces more and more plot branches that move further and further away from the supposedly main theme, and they do not receive a worthy climax. As a result, Beatlejuice Beatlejuice as a story seems both overloaded and empty.
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Still from the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice[/caption]
Yes, you can still try to track down the main ideas about true love, which even death will not prevent. But where other works would lead to a similar motif throughout the entire runtime, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is limited to only a few scenes towards the end. This is a movie whose ideological content you have to create for yourself. And this does not fit its general perception at all.
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Still from the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice[/caption]
However, we should also remember that Tim Burton's films and cartoons were not always about an adequate plot. The director was loved for his visual aesthetics and the spirit of the otherworldly, which in the hands of a master turns into cute, almost everyday things. At this point, Beatlejuice Beatlejuice fits perfectly into Burton's overall style. It's easy to see how much love and inspiration he put into everything in this movie. But there were some nuances here, too.
From the opening credits, it becomes clear that the director tried to convey the spirit of the 80s in the new film. And it is exactly "convey", not "make friends with the present". Because of this fact, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will evoke strong nostalgia in some people, while others will find it incomprehensible on the level of directing or even morally outdated. There is an opinion that Burton always makes movies primarily for himself. His new film is no exception to this rule, as the emotions and opinions of the audience are secondary to the essence of the work.
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Still from the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice[/caption]
But where the aesthetics of the '80s definitely benefited the movie was in the practical effects. A lot of moments that other production teams would have left to CGI are brought to life in Beatlejuice Beatlejuice. Even the most disgusting and vile ones. Against the backdrop of Hollywood's total dependence on computer graphics, which seems to be getting worse and worse over the years, Burton's new film looks not only beautiful and interesting. It even seems to be a protest aimed at the whole of contemporary cinema. Indeed, even Marvel and Disney should take a closer look at the practical effects, because sometimes it's completely impossible to watch their CGI.
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Still from the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice[/caption]
The image of the titular character, Beatlejuice, is also a protest. This is also a specific intention of Burton, who did not want to make the character more "politically correct" for modern viewers. That's why Beatlejuice didn't want to sneeze at the institution of family and marriage again, and some of his jokes and actions in real life would most likely have been "kenseled." However, the character's charisma and charm have not disappeared, which is a big plus. However, just like in the original, we must remember that there is not much of Beatlejuice on the screen, and he cannot even be called the main character. It's just that every scene with him is worth everything else in the movie. Michael Keaton seems to have not aged at all in these almost 40 years.
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Still from the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice[/caption]
It is very difficult to talk about the movie, because Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as a product of cinema is something beyond all descriptions. It has a confusing plot, the ending of which brings no satisfaction, but only a hysterical attack. The atmosphere is unconventional, but not everyone will like it. At times, the film resembles a collection of sketches and humorous essays that have been crudely edited into a single film and released for distribution. And from some objective, critical point of view, the result cannot be called good.
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Still from the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice[/caption]
But Beetlejuice Beetlejuice goes beyond all that is objective and critical. Even without the tangible weight of nostalgic feelings that many people will experience while watching it, the film still has something to offer to a wide variety of viewers. It's a strange work of art that doesn't give a damn about modern trends and standards. It's this detachment that makes Beatlejuice Beatlejuice worth watching.