Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!

Rating: 7/10 (9 June 2007)

Beetlejuice (1988, Dir. Tim Burton)
Story
Beetlejuice is basically the story of a dead couple who requires the help of Beetlejuice. He's a bio-exorcist who helps with ridding the house of the new family who has recently moved in. Beetlejuice isn't the friendliest of bio-exorcist. Say his name three times, and he would be out to help you, but he won't take going back in an easy job. Tim Burton eerie atmosphere adds to an instant hit.
Actors
Before I get onto Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, I want to start with the other actors. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis really do make a wonderful couple. The names Adam and Barbara for them were very simple but still made them fell as a nice American couple. They really work well together and you can feel the love between the two characters. The family which move in are completely different to Adam and Barbara. Each character is completely different and you can really sense much tension has happened between them off screen. The Dad is a bird spotter, the step-mother is a sculptor lover, who is quite obnoxious sometimes, and their daughter is a very dark character. There's also Otho, which you can see as having more of a relationship with the mother than the actual husband does. Finally, there's Beetlejuice. This is a character which you would have never seen before. Michael Keaton really brings life to him like no one else could have done. The make up on him is remarkable and he really does feel out of this world. The character is that distinctive that you will still get sudden memories of him long after you have watched this film.
Music
One of the many highlights of Tim Burtons' movies is Danny Elfman. Although you may see similarities from the soundtracks of Batman and Mars Attacks, the soundtrack of Beetlejuice still feels so new and original. It's so different to other soundtracks, and has it familiar Elfman spot. You can tell it's his work easily. It really fits in with the world of Tim Burton. There are some really good spots and some really strange tunes. There's a theme tune which is one of the best of Elfman's work which has been re-used in many trailers for other films.
Special Effects
The thing about the special effects in Beetlejuice is that it uses very old effects and not the blue scene techniques used at that time. The effects vary in believable. There are some amazing effects such as the floating daughter or the headless body running to lock the door. There are also some effects which are stop-motion are sometime look shoddy, but these doesn't take away from the experience. It's all part of the typical Tim Burton experience. Again, Beetlejuice comes with his own effects and not just amazing but also entertaining and humorous. One minute he might be engulfed in spikes and the next would have turned into a snake. All the effects are such fun to watch and doesn't put off from the viewing experience.
Conclusion
When you start watching a Tim Burton movie, you know what you're going to find. It's going to be a dark and sinister viewing experience. The story will be fun, the soundtrack amazing and appearance from some familiar faces. It's going to be a film you will surely not forget easily. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice.
"Nice F***ing Tree!" Â– Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton)