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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will go down as Tim Burton's Young Frankenstein.

Watched both in the last 2 days and the original is still the superior film. Liked the new one (7/10). Just felt off for periods of time. Keaton and O’Hare were on point and the “demon baby” was good for a laugh. Will buy it on Blu Ray when it comes out but it won’t blow your mind.
 

SpiceRacz

Member
One of the worst Burton films and just worst films in general I’ve seen in a while. They could have removed several of the story threads and made a more cohesive film. Felt like he put together the cast before writing the story and just wrote it around the cast rather than the other way around. Great SFX though.
 
I saw it the other day, while Keaton was great, he didn’t have that energetic spunk as the original. Winona’ performance was also lack luster. Everyone else was great.

I really liked seeing more of the underworld. Great for Halloween. Overall like other La may have stated, 7/10. Liked it a lot but overall the main villain fell flat to the point you didn’t need her. The whole thing should have spent more time trying to find and save her daughter. I feel like that could have been a better adventure.
 
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Ovek

7Member7
I agree with RLM that it feels like multiple Beetlejuice 2 scripts merged into one and nothing really has any satisfying payoff as a result.

However if your a fan of Tim Burtons earlier work you will like this.
 

demon

I don't mean to alarm you but you have dogs on your face
Who was even the primary antagonist in this movie? Like what the hell were they doing? I enjoyed it more than any other Burton movie from the past couple+ decades, but that ain't saying much. Almost kinda feels like it could have been a miniseries, with Monica Bellucci being one episode, treehouse kid being another, the dead dad being another, maybe an offbeat more dramatic episode about poor Bob, etc. The plot was such a mess.
 
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Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Weird comparison; Young Frankenstein was basically Mel Brooks' victory lap after the success of Blazing Saddles. Its more than just a comedy, its an exceptionally loving homage to Universal's classics. His devotion to fidelity stretching to getting Kenneth Strickfaden out of retirement to ensure that the lab was authentic to the 30's original.

Beetlejuice was a fun movie, no idea about this new one but its hardly comparable in intent.
 
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Deerock71

Member
Weird comparison; Young Frankenstein was basically Mel Brooks' victory lap after the success of Blazing Saddles. Its more than just a comedy, its an exceptionally loving homage to Universal's classics. His devotion to fidelity stretching to getting Kenneth Strickfaden out of retirement to ensure that the lab was authentic to the 30's original.

Beetlejuice was a fun movie, no idea about this new one but its hardly comparable in intent.
You're actually hitting on why I feel like this is his Young Frankenstein. This movie is authentic to the original Beetlejuice (just saw it a second time), and he has an unlimited budget for this movie (like how Brooks had an enormous budget for Young Frankenstein), yet he is restrained enough to make you think this movie came out in 88 like the original. Were it not for the obvious slapstick comedy, Young Frankenstein maintains an aura of being filmed right alongside the original horror classic.

Objectively, I believe Brooks to be a superior filmmaker over Burton, but I'm certain some would take umbrage to that. After seeing it a second time, I feel bad for those that can't keep up with the four or five storylines this movie juggles. They are handled with a deft touch, and literally every one of those stories get resolved as neatly as a movie that treats life and death as a mere serving suggestion can resolve them.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
You're actually hitting on why I feel like this is his Young Frankenstein. This movie is authentic to the original Beetlejuice (just saw it a second time), and he has an unlimited budget for this movie (like how Brooks had an enormous budget for Young Frankenstein), yet he is restrained enough to make you think this movie came out in 88 like the original. Were it not for the obvious slapstick comedy, Young Frankenstein maintains an aura of being filmed right alongside the original horror classic.

Objectively, I believe Brooks to be a superior filmmaker over Burton, but I'm certain some would take umbrage to that. After seeing it a second time, I feel bad for those that can't keep up with the four or five storylines this movie juggles. They are handled with a deft touch, and literally every one of those stories get resolved as neatly as a movie that treats life and death as a mere serving suggestion can resolve them.

When I wrote that post last night I was thinking the Young Frankenstein comparison was inappropriate as much as anything because of the 40+ year gap between the film being made and its inspiration. This morning I realized that Beetlejuice came out in '88, 36 years ago....

Christ, I'm old!
 

Halcyon

Member
I thought the movie was legitimately terrible. None of it worked for me. It is like a 3/10 for me and another in the list of unnecessary sequels that kinda spoil my love for the originals.
 

NahaNago

Member
You're actually hitting on why I feel like this is his Young Frankenstein. This movie is authentic to the original Beetlejuice (just saw it a second time), and he has an unlimited budget for this movie (like how Brooks had an enormous budget for Young Frankenstein), yet he is restrained enough to make you think this movie came out in 88 like the original. Were it not for the obvious slapstick comedy, Young Frankenstein maintains an aura of being filmed right alongside the original horror classic.

Objectively, I believe Brooks to be a superior filmmaker over Burton, but I'm certain some would take umbrage to that. After seeing it a second time, I feel bad for those that can't keep up with the four or five storylines this movie juggles. They are handled with a deft touch, and literally every one of those stories get resolved as neatly as a movie that treats life and death as a mere serving suggestion can resolve them.
The multiple storylines just ended up being meh. I can see where they were going with it, but they just didn't put it together well for me to find it entertaining enough to want to see more of each storyline.
 

KaiserBecks

Member
We went to see it yesterday, had a good time. I don’t know how they marketed this movie (haven’t seen the trailers etc), but there were a lot of kids in the room who were quite loud in the beginning, but then got a lot quieter as they were either shocked by the explicit images or confused by the dark humor.

I agree that the plot is all over the place, but it was worth it for Keaton‘s and Dafoe’s performance. It’s also always nice to see Justin Theroux. Hope there’s going to be a third one soon.
 

Mozart36

Neo Member
I like the movie. Nothing groundbreaking, but I was in the right mood for something like that.
Bob was by far my favorite character. I was really sad when he died :(


MCDBEBE_WB042.jpg
 
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sloppyjoe_gamer

Gold Member
I saw it over the weekend. I enjoyed it much more than i thought i would.

1. Sad we didn't see Otho again
2. Beetlejuice's ex wife story was underwhelming.....she chases and kills people the whole movie and when she finally finds him, she gets off'd in 10 seconds by that snake
3. Poor Bob :(
4. The kid's love interest being a ghost was a cool thing that i didn't see coming, cool stuff!
 

Deerock71

Member
I saw it over the weekend. I enjoyed it much more than i thought i would.

1. Sad we didn't see Otho again
2. Beetlejuice's ex wife story was underwhelming.....she chases and kills people the whole movie and when she finally finds him, she gets off'd in 10 seconds by that snake
3. Poor Bob :(
4. The kid's love interest being a ghost was a cool thing that i didn't see coming, cool stuff!
I think it was a masterful twist when the prick ghost got his passport stamped, and it was masterful in this way; Burton had just killed the Grandma in the most blase way, and she just ran into her Dad wherever that place was supposed to be. Burton made Beetlejuice look just like any other generic social worker down there, and I got COMPLETELY suckered into saying,"okay, let's see where this story goes. So Astrid's dead now."

EDIT- Oh, and I think Justin Thoureax's character was the new Otho. It felt like they sat and brainstormed how many different ways to create an utterly contemptible nacissistic prick.
 
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VulcanRaven

Member
I saw the original for the first time a week ago because my local theatre was showing it. It was great and made me very excited about the sequel. I just came back from seeing it and really enjoyed it too. I think I prefer Keaton's performance in this. Will get both on 4K at some point.
 
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Deerock71

Member
I saw the original for the first time a week ago because my local theatre was showing it. It was great and made me very excited to watch the sequel. I just came back from seeing it and I really enjoyed it too. I think I prefer Keaton's performance in this. Will get both in 4K at some point.
I sincerely think this is the superior film. Not leaps and bounds, but back to my Young Frankenstein analogy, I think Young Frankenstein is just a wee bit better than Blazing Saddles.
 

VulcanRaven

Member
I sincerely think this is the superior film. Not leaps and bounds, but back to my Young Frankenstein analogy, I think Young Frankenstein is just a wee bit better than Blazing Saddles.
My only problem was that
Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis weren't in this. Not even a cameo. I can understand why they wouldn't want to use Baldwin but it felt odd that they were just mentioned twice.
 

Comfortgel

Member
It was fine, but with all the plotlines it felt like they were trying to set up for the third movie.
because we all know you have to say his name three times
 
It would be kind of ironic if the success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice results in him getting clout to work on Blockbusters again…I’d shill for him to James Gun. to be able to finally make Batman 3 with digitally de-aged Keaton Billy D Williams as Harvey Dent/Two Face just sayin…even a CGI version would be cool. #thiswillneverhappen
 

Pejo

Member
For a memberbies movie, I really enjoyed it. I feel Jenna Ortega's character and plot was unnecessary, but it wasn't terrible or overly drawn out. Catherine O'Hara was the highlight for me, and Keaton was fantastic as always. Had a few laughs and the chaos was great in the 2nd half of the movie.

If I had 2 negatives it would be that the first part of the movie was too much setup for plot points that didn't really matter, and that there wasn't enough Beetlejuice. Still, compared to other recent movies I've seen, it was a solid 7/8 out of 10. No regrets seeing it in the theater.
 

The Fartist

Gold Member
Me and my sister grew up as big Beetlejuice fans and I have yet to see since I hate sequels to films that don't need it. She saw it and said it was really disappointing needless to say I'm skipping it lol
Yup, that's exactly what this is, a sequel that didn't need to be made. I'd wait for it to show up on streaming, which is what the whole movie felt like to me, a high budget Netflix movie.
 

kondorBonk

Member
Saw it last night and really enjoyed it. Lots of practical effects and wasn't a reskin of the originals plot which is always my fear of a sequel. Probably one of the better movies I've seen in the theater in a while.

Criticism; yeah the side plots were not needed as fun as they were. They ended up just feeling a little rushed. You do kind of lose the focus.
 

TransTrender

Gold Member
Saw it on the big screen over the weekend.
It was fine.
Mostly forgettable, nothing remarkable.
Some stuff didn't seem to make sense even in this universe, and the subplot (or plot?) felt like it was added just for more runtime.
I did like the use of the practical effects.
Maybe it was the screen or the projector, but some of the scenes looked out of focus or even the depth of field was wrong in the shoot.
 

Blade2.0

Member
It would be kind of ironic if the success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice results in him getting clout to work on Blockbusters again…I’d shill for him to James Gun. to be able to finally make Batman 3 with digitally de-aged Keaton Billy D Williams as Harvey Dent/Two Face just sayin…even a CGI version would be cool. #thiswillneverhappen
When did he ever stop? He was in Homecoming and The Flash in recent-ish years.
 

Dacvak

No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
What’s the word on this? Did it turn out to be any good?
 

Dacvak

No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
I didn't like it, it shouldn't have been made, felt like a Netflix movie. Tim Burton is a shadow if his past self.
Okay but hear me out. What if I get blitzed beforehand.
 

Dacvak

No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
Alcohol or Marijuana? The flaws will be more apparent on weed, it could be enjoyable while drunk, I guess?
Probably after a couplabeers. 🍻
 

The Fartist

Gold Member
Not bad as far as long overdue sequels go.

But definitely not a Young Frankenstein as OP suggests.
I was so irritated by the fact that Burton felt like he had to modernize it by having the internet and smartphones, and fucking Teslas. It would've been so, so much cooler if the movie was written in a way where only time passed but everything technological stayed the same and be faithful to the Beettlejuice universe. The movie just screamed of:

30 Rock Fellow Kids GIF by Peacock


fuck outta here with that.
 

ResurrectedContrarian

Suffers with mild autism
What’s the word on this? Did it turn out to be any good?
Not bad at all, very watchable if you enjoy the original.

Compared to the absolute trash Burton has made for the past 15-ish years -- a downfall into mediocrity worse than that of George Lucas -- it's a gigantic leap back in the right direction. It has real sets and practical effects. It has genuine humor (mostly from Catherine O'Hara), proper scenes with characters, etc. It's creative at a lot of points, and not the phoned in Burton-Inc nonsense.

The actual plot is a bit of a mess, but who cares about the plot structure; it's much better than the pure memberry-fest I expected, and the actors do a fine job.
 
I was so irritated by the fact that Burton felt like he had to modernize it by having the internet and smartphones, and fucking Teslas. It would've been so, so much cooler if the movie was written in a way where only time passed but everything technological stayed the same and be faithful to the Beettlejuice universe. The movie just screamed of:

30 Rock Fellow Kids GIF by Peacock


fuck outta here with that.
Given Burton's last ~10 years of movies, I didn't really have any expectations for a good movie, let alone any plot details.

But I was pleasantly surprised to discover a well-made movie with good actors (Dafoe lights up any movie he's in) and some fun scenes + sequences. Not as good as the original but, again, not bad as far as these kind of sequels go. A solid 6/10 IMO
 

ResurrectedContrarian

Suffers with mild autism
Given Burton's last ~10 years of movies, I didn't really have any expectations for a good movie, let alone any plot details.

But I was pleasantly surprised to discover a well-made movie with good actors (Dafoe lights up any movie he's in) and some fun scenes + sequences. Not as good as the original but, again, not bad as far as these kind of sequels go. A solid 6/10 IMO
Pretty accurate -- I expected the worst from every part of it, and every time it didn't go there (no pointless "modernizing" of characters or trendy inserts of current day obsessions; no horrible CGI, actual real sets; no horrible action fest or "look how much junk we can throw into one scene"; no ruining the legacy of any of the characters, generally staying very faithful to them; etc). Not a masterpiece but a solid little sequel.
 
While I don;t think Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was as good as the first movie, I do think that it was one of the best 'legacy sequels' that I have seen up to this point. It was a solid movie, with some great practical effects, the cast was solid, Michael Keaton was on fire (TBH). The first movie is a much more iconic film, with some really striking visuals and an incredible sense of art design.

The sequel does follow a bit too closely to the first movie in those regards.. and that is not necessarily a bad thing. But, because of those aspects; it just didn't have the same impact as the first film. It is worth watching.
 
I was so irritated by the fact that Burton felt like he had to modernize it by having the internet and smartphones, and fucking Teslas. It would've been so, so much cooler if the movie was written in a way where only time passed but everything technological stayed the same and be faithful to the Beettlejuice universe. The movie just screamed of:
I'm not trying to slam your opinion. But during the initial height of Tim Burton's career in the mid 1980's with Beetle Juice up to the mid to late 90's, a common theme that ran through all of his films was 'future shock' , which was 1980's/ 1990's 'modern' conventions infiltrating 1950's Americana.

The first Beetlejuice movie starts with a newly wed family who were stuck in that old 1950's mindset. They die via a very strange series of events, and haunt their old house that becomes occupied by much more modernized urban family who slowly changes the genetic make up of this 'quaint' little American town that is still stuck in the past. The sequel continues that trend pretty well, the small town really hasn't changed much from the first movie, but you can still see that slow push forward into current day conventions. To me, I find that to be on point with the mindset of Tim Burton.

While I think Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a solid entry for Tim Burton, it was not one of his best movies. I feel like it was Burton trying to get back to his older style of film making. I'd give it maybe a B or B-. White the first movie was an A or an A-.
 
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