Surreal and ingenious black comedy, one of the best!

Rating: 9/10 (14 September 2009)

Tim Burton is a man to be commended for his imagination, and Beetlejuice, his second "mainstream" theatrical film, is pure undiluted Burton. All the imagination comes out in this wonderful film. It's a black comedy, although not too dark to be called "bleak." In a way, it's actually very cartoonish, thanks to Burton's brilliant direction that leads to many surreal scenes. Beetlejuice himself is a marker of insanity, his contrasts to the main characters are visible from a mile away. While Beetlejuice is a filthy, loudmouthed, perverted, and ultimately quite twisted, the Maitland's are calm and down to Earth, acting much like they would had they never even died. Each character in this film has their own unique quirk, even the "extras" that appear in the afterlife. Many nameless characters are memorable just by their looks.
With all of Burton's madness running amok, it's hard not to laugh or delight over the exquisite detail put into the films finer work. While the special effects may not "wow," the stop motion is great and represents Burton's style in a very refined way, and the makeup is still impressive years later, especially the scene where Adam and Barbara are briefly resurrected. No wonder it won an Oscar for it.
The biggest problem I have with Beetlejuice is that I felt if they had added a little more time on, some ideas hinted at could be realized in a better way. There are many ideas that are called attention to, but ultimately ignoured. Even the malevolent sandworms and their nameless homeland are mentioned and shown, but their purpose or origin are never explained. Beetlejuice himself raises some questions as well, where he's from, how he got into the Maitland's house, and there are some plot holes considering how to resurrect him; by saying his name Three Times, yet they never explain why *he* can't say his name, and if saying it three times resurrects him or gives him power, why does saying it again banish him? It deserves a little more explanation.
Despite that, Beetlejuice is a very fun watch, and if you haven't seen it even 21 years after it's release, go out and find a copy right now!