Beetlejuice: "Strange and Unusual" (Beetlejuice (DVD))

Member Name: MonsoonBaby

Product:	Beetlejuice (DVD)
Date:	13/07/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Darkly funny, imaginative characters, perfect casting [especially Michael Keaton], catchy soundtrack

Disadvantages: None, unless you do not like the now-dated looking stop motion.

Beetlejuice is a 1988 dark comedy directed by Tim Burton. It tells the tale of Adam [Alec Baldwin] and Barbara Maitland [Geena Davis], a recently deceased couple who end up becoming ghosts and haunting their own house. When the quirky Deetz family move into the Maitlands house, this ghostly couple seek the help of a vile, obnoxious "bio-exorcist" named Beetlejuice to scare away the family and regain their house, against the advice of their case worker Juno's advice. During the process of this, the Maitlands befriend Lydia Deetz, the young gothic girl [Winona Ryder] a misunderstood outcast who sees herself as being "strange and unusual." The Maitland's soon realise that Juno's warnings were correct, and so the combined efforts of the ghostly couple and their new resident Lydia combine forces to take down Beetlejuice and banish him to the afterlife pernamently.

Upon viewing this, it is clear this is a Burton film. Featuring his now all too familiar gothic auteur style, Beetlejuice is visually stunning. Although the stop-motion effects may seem a little dated when compared to the more superior stop motion effects of today [see "Coraline" to see this], they show a certain charm, and really focus on Tim Burton's unique creative vision. Burton successfully combines his own ideas on the two worlds depicted in the film-the living and the afterlife. With the living, we are treated to bright scenes of a quaint surburbia, which is then turned into harsh blacks, and stark whites of the modernism of the Deetz family. The afterlife is where the most interesting scenes in the film happen however. We are treated to quirky looking sets which capitalise on Burton's now trademark love of black and whites. The characters we encounter in the afterlife are darkly humourous and all represent a certain death which is then exaggerated for extra comedy. Most of these characters are given puns that relate to their cause of death. The waiting room in the afterlife is the main port of call for these references, and are greatly appreciated for it's imaginative take as well as humour.

Choosing Harry Belafonte tracks in the film actually work, even though they may seem like an odd choice for a dark comedy. The scene in which the Deetz's hold a meal in their newly furnished house features Belafonte's most memorable song "Day-O" [or to some, the Banana Boat Song]. This song gives the scene added comedy and really fits with the ridiculous behaviour the guests are posessed with due to the Maitland's ghostly doings. Combining these Belafonte songs with long time Burton collaborator Danny Elfman's fitting score really makes for a satisfying soundtrack which will be remembered even after the film has ended.

In relation to the acting, the cast are well chosen, especially when narrowed down to two roles. The first of these is the character of Beetlejuice, played by Michael Keaton. Keaton is an absolutely perfect casting choice. He looks completely at ease in his role, and he proves to be utterly hilarious in most of the scenes he is in, whilst retaining an element of creepiness about him. Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz is the other standout performance. She manages to effortlessly show change Lydia from being a gothic, unusual and outcasted teenager to a significantly happier one by the end.

Upon release, the film was a critical success, and on the back of this it earned a spin-off cartoon TV series which Burton had creative imput in. A rumoured sequel was also rumoured [Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian]. Beetlejuice is one of the most satisfying films in Burton's filmography. The film oozes with Burton's gothic creative stamp. It is brilliantly funny, has a fantasticly lively and catchy soundtrack and is highly enjoyable. A must-see for anyone, especially Tim Burton fans.

Summary: A classic in Burton's filmography with an excellent performance from Michael Keaton.