MovieChat Forums > Beetlejuice (1988) Discussion > Watching it for first time

Watching it for first time

posted 3 months ago by bozo_500 (13100)
5 replies | jump to latest

Just never got around to it until now (aside seeing the odd clip over the years). Got halfway through last night. its pretty good, love all the set designs, and quirky crazy Tim Burtoness, just pure Tim Burton meets..sort of Ghostbusters? (maybe it was influenced by the success of GB in '84 , I guess the studio mustve ok'd it bc it was a comedy to do with ghosts, but what a gamble for a studio to do a film as 'tim burton' as this before tim burton was a thing)

Its kind of amazing Burton directed Keaton and Baldwin in this yet his next movie he cast Keaton as Batman despite Baldwin physically being the more obvious choice for Bruce Wayne/Batman (looks/hair/height and even voice), but as we know Burton wanted someone that could be legit insane as the joker for the role and when MK scrubbed up he was good enough for Wayne. also bit surprised Geena Davis never featured in a batman film after this as shed have been good in any of the roles (Vicki Vale, Catwoman, Dr Meridian, Poison Ivy)

Anyway watching the second half tonight , and am now considering see Beetlejuice 2 in the cinema when its out soon, which I had no intention of doing before seeing the 1st one,(im back in cinema mode after seeing Deadpool&Wolverine and Alien Romulus and there's nothing else want to see until Gladiator II)

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14379) 3 months ago

What's interesting about this film is, Beetlejuice was originally a villain in this story, whereas in the cartoon, he's just a goofball that causes chaos, but Lydia brings out his good side (strange as that sounds). I frankly wouldn't wanta be in the same room as this guy for the most part, but his interactions with other people can be entertaining.

That's actually surprising that Michael Keaton could go from playing a nutty, chaotic ghost that causes trouble; to a serious, straight-laced, badass superhero with emotional baggage. Shows you had good his acting range is.

[–] Sparky (2582) 3 months ago

Absolutely. He can channel anything from an intimidating character to the silliest most innocuous fellow, and convincingly. I wonder how posterity will see him.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13920) 3 months ago

I think he'll go down as one of the greatest actors to never win an Oscar.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13920) 3 months ago

'That's actually surprising that Michael Keaton could go from playing a nutty, chaotic ghost that causes trouble; to a serious, straight-laced, badass superhero with emotional baggage.'

A lot of the people who sent those letters complaining about Keaton's casting as Batman felt the same way. They didn't believe he could pull it off. Fortunately he showed them how wrong they were.

[–] HellFire (561) 3 months ago

I think it's Burton's best.