As a long-time fan of Tim Burton’s whimsical world, I must admit that rewatching “Beetlejuice” has always been a delightful experience for me – much like dipping into a box of chocolate surprises on a cold winter’s night. The film, released way back in 1988, has managed to remain relevant and charming through the years, and I believe it’s due in large part to its practical effects.
Even though ‘Beetlejuice’ is cherished today, it’s not hard to remember how unusual it might have appeared when it first hit screens in 1988. Viewers who attended to watch Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis as the sweet couple Adam and Barbara Maitland could have been taken aback by their sudden deaths at the start of the movie. Later, they become ghosts haunting the home of the new residents, the Deetzes, including their goth daughter Lydia, portrayed by Winona Ryder. Some scenes might frighten children, but death and the afterlife are generally presented in a humorous light.
Initially, some viewers found the film underwhelming, even Roger Ebert who felt that the movie was more about tricks than characters and plot development. However, over time and with the public’s response, it became clear that he was mistaken. The audience grew fond of “Beetlejuice” and its unique cast, particularly the title character Beetlejuice (played by Michael Keaton), who remains Tim Burton’s most iconic creation to date. The film was successful at the box office and led to a cartoon series, video games, and a Broadway musical. This popularity reached new heights in 2024 with the release of the live-action sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which was another massive hit at the box office, demonstrating that Beetlejuice, the master of the macabre, is still a crowd favorite.
With “Beetlejuice” conveniently streamable on Max and frequently aired on cable during Halloween, you’ll have ample chances to re-watch it. And upon re-watching, you might notice hidden details or hints (Easter eggs) or foreshadowing with a renewed perspective.
Beetlejuice only has his iconic suit for a few minutes
In an interesting twist you might not have noticed before in the film “Beetlejuice”, the titular character, played by Michael Keaton, appears on screen for only about 17 out of the movie’s total 92 minutes. However, as the saying goes, every role is important and no actor is small. Despite his limited screen time, Michael Keaton managed to make a big impact. What’s truly mind-blowing when rewatching “Beetlejuice” is that the character dons his famous black-and-white striped suit for only two of those minutes.
The outfit is stylishly fashioned, and it’s amazing to consider how the character has become so closely associated with it despite only wearing it briefly initially. In the animated “Beetlejuice” series, he’s often seen donning it continuously, yet with a purple shirt beneath instead of the film’s white one. It’s not surprising that this famous suit makes another appearance in the sequel.
In the film, although Beetlejuice only appears for a short while, he possesses quite a diverse collection of clothing. At different instances, he dons a chaotic tour guide ensemble, Adam Maitland’s garments, and even a maroon wedding suit. It seems that Beetlejuice is not just a mischievous spirit; he also displays an affinity for fashion in the afterlife.
The number three comes up a lot
In certain cultures, the number three is considered an omen of bad luck, which might explain why it appears so often in relation to Beetlejuice. Interestingly, summoning Beetlejuice requires saying his name three times, and escaping him requires Barbara to say “Home” three times. This pattern can be noticed throughout the first movie as well.
When constructing a portal to the hereafter, one must tap thrice. In a specific instance, Adam and Barbara find themselves in Sylvia Sidney’s office, where an announcement over the intercom signals that Flight 409 has landed at Gate 3. This information implies they will only get three opportunities for intervention from Juno. A notable scene features Beetlejuice adorning his wrist with three watches. Later, Delia Deetz voices her dissatisfaction upon discovering there are only three of her sculptures in the new house when she believes there should be four. The peculiarities don’t end there; the house itself boasts a trio of stories.
In the closing scenes of the movie, Beetlejuice is found in the afterlife waiting area with his turn coming up as number 9,998,383,750,000. The number immediately following is… you’ve got it right – three! This could suggest a hidden meaning or maybe a hint towards the ultimate conclusion for this series. If there are indeed more films in the “Beetlejuice” franchise, we might be looking at a trilogy. If so, the title should undeniably be “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”.
Jake Blues from The Blues Brothers maybe has a cameo
In Juno’s office, Adam and Barbara are present with a backdrop of characters outside the window who seem to be watching the same scene as us or waiting for their turn to meet Juno about their concerns. Upon closer inspection, these characters have peculiar figures worth noticing. A notable pair is a skeleton with green and red hues, reminiscent of the transformed human skeletons from the 1996 Tim Burton film “Mars Attacks!”. Additionally, there’s a woman with long blue hair that resembles Delores (Monica Bellucci) from “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, but since she was confined in various boxes within that movie, it can’t be her.
Lastly, there’s a man wearing sunglasses who bears a physical similarity to Jake Blues (John Belushi) from 1980’s “The Blues Brothers.” There’s no confirmation that’s who it’s supposed to be, but it could be seen as a nod to the late Belushi, who died in 1982.
In some online discussions, people aren’t sure if the character is intended to be Jake Blues, as one Reddit user mentioned on a thread about the details: “I always thought it was Roy Orbison.” The sunglasses have a resemblance to Orbison, but it would be quite unusual if that’s who it’s meant to be, given that “Beetlejuice” was released on March 30, 1988, and Orbison passed away later that year on December 6. It could be that the character isn’t supposed to represent anyone specifically, but the similarity to another popular ’80s movie figure makes for an interesting tale.
The bumper sticker points to irony
One reason “Beetlejuice” continues to be a timeless classic is its unique brand of dark humor. Throughout the film, Beetlejuice provides numerous comedic moments, while many eerie scenes are intended for laughs. For instance, Barbara removes her face to scare Delia and Otho (played by Glenn Shadix), but they remain unphased since they can’t see her. However, there is a subtle hint that could be easily missed upon the initial viewing of the movie, which foreshadows future events.
In a yellow Volvo, Adam and Barbara are driving leisurely through town, with a “I Brake For Animals” bumper sticker noticeable from afar. Contrasting the message on the sticker, Barbara doesn’t hit the brakes when they approach a dog at a covered bridge. Instead, Adam frantically seizes the wheel to swerve away, leading them to collide with the side of the bridge. The dog that caused this mishap leaps off the single plank holding it in place, and as it disappears, both Adam and Barbara fall into the water below, meeting their unfortunate end.
Could it be that the dog in the movie was simply avenging another pooch from Tim Burton’s collection of films? In 1984, Burton debuted a 29-minute film titled “Frankenweenie,” where a boy reanimates his deceased dog after it got hit by a car. This short film eventually became a full-length stop-motion animated movie with the same name. However, the good news for dog enthusiasts is that the canine lives on in “Beetlejuice” at the cost of our main characters.
The town model changes after the Maitlands’ crash
Regarding the Maitlands’ car accident, its effects extend far beyond just Adam and Barbara’s deaths. After they become aware that they no longer see their reflections in mirrors, they discover they are ghosts residing in their old house. Notably, they find themselves in the attic with a model of Winter River, Connecticut. This space seems to offer them sanctuary, and observant viewers might notice a modification in the covered bridge depicted within the model.
Over the model, Adam appears to be stooped, revealing what seems to be a deliberate addition: a gap where a car might have rammed into the bridge, suggesting a tragic past event. While it may serve as an intriguing detail, Adam seems to be making adjustments to the model, hinting that he might have created this feature himself. It’s somewhat somber, but perhaps serves as a form of therapy for him, helping him confront the incident that took the lives of him and Barbara.
This type of information doesn’t affect the storyline or character growth in any manner. Instead, it serves as an interesting trivia to share with friends during repeat viewings of “Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice originally had a much darker ending
In the fittingly morbid fashion that permeates throughout the movie, “Beetlejuice” concludes with Lydia finding her place among the strange occurrences. She expresses her acceptance of the coexistence between the Maitlands, Deetzes, and the afterlife inhabitants in a unique manner, by dancing and crooning Harry Belafonte’s “Jump in the Line.” This unusual ending is an ideal finish to a future timeless film, as it was initially planned to have a much grimmer conclusion that might have left viewers with a sour taste.
In Michael McDowell’s initial script, the overall tone was significantly darker. Instead of merely crashing into the covered bridge, a splinter of timber was intended to strike Barbara’s arm, causing her to scream in agony. The swiftness of death, such as suggesting they drowned, simplifies the grimness. Furthermore, Lydia wasn’t meant to live in the final version; she was supposed to perish in a house fire, thereby becoming a ghost alongside the Maitlands in the afterlife.
In a different turn of events, the movie might have had a melancholic conclusion, potentially discouraging viewers from re-watching it throughout the years. Moreover, altering the scene where Lydia expresses her desire for death and Barbara responds with “Death doesn’t solve anything” could have diminished the impact in “Beetlejuice.” Instead, the movie presents a positive outlook on life and later, we witness Lydia becoming a mother herself in “Beetlejuice Sequel: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” emphasizing that life can still be joyful despite its challenges.
How the f*** is Beetlejuice rated PG?
Back in the day, I was thrilled to learn that the PG-13 rating wasn’t just some random creation – it was born out of necessity! Films that were too intense for kids but not quite adult enough for an R rating found their sweet spot in this new classification. The first use of PG-13 was back in 1984 with “Red Dawn,” which makes me wonder if the eerie visuals, off-color humor, and sprinkling of profanity in “Beetlejuice” four years later warranted a PG-13 rating too. But here’s the fun part – despite its edgy content, “Beetlejuice” somehow managed to snag a PG rating!
If we look closely, the film “Beetlejuice” contains language that is not suitable for younger audiences, as phrases like “Nice f***ing model!” are used, and other obscenities such as “s***” and “godd***” can be heard. Additionally, the film features a variety of strange creatures, including a man with tire markings and a woman who has been sawed in half. Although there is no nudity or explicit sexual content, there are many suggestive scenes, like when Beetlejuice enters a brothel called Dante’s Inferno Room. This puts the movie in the PG-13 rating category.
It appears that in the past, the Motion Picture Association of America was less stringent with what could be included in PG-rated films. For instance, the 1988 movie “Big” starring Tom Hanks, which contains sexual situations and uses strong language, was rated PG despite this content. Nowadays, there are stricter guidelines, which is why a film like “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” though not more explicit than the first, earns a PG-13 rating.
Beetlejuice foreshadows with a finger
Discussions about a “Beetlejuice” sequel began shortly after the initial film’s success at the box office. One abandoned comedy sequel, titled “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian,” appeared to be an entertaining continuation of Beetlejuice’s story. Alas, what we got instead was “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” 36 years later, with a substantial part of the follow-up based on a casual joke from the original movie.
In the movie Beetlejuice, when Beetlejuice is moments away from marrying Lydia, he reveals a severed finger adorned with a wedding ring and tells his bride, “She meant nothing to me. Nothing!” This line suggests that Beetlejuice was previously married and it’s amusing to imagine anyone wanting to tie the knot with him. The sequel introduces his ex-lover, Delores, who is revealed to have poisoned Beetlejuice before he died. In a bizarre twist, Beetlejuice cut up Delores into pieces, which explains why he has her finger on hand.
It’s questionable and rather improbable if the intention was originally to bring Beetlejuice’s ex-wife into the storyline. However, upon rewatching “Beetlejuice”, it’s fascinating to notice this minor detail that significantly enriched Beetlejuice’s backstory in an intriguing manner.
I myself am strange and unusual … and a chosen one
1988’s movie “Beetlejuice” introduced the unique character of Lydia Deetz, who quickly became iconic because of her unconventional spirit. Many teenagers who felt disconnected from adults found a reflection of themselves in her. This is evident when she explains to Adam and Barbara why she can see them while others cannot: “I myself am strange and unusual.” This statement encapsulates Lydia’s character, hinting that anyone with an open embrace of their own peculiarities might possess the ability to communicate with the dead. However, it seems that the phrase “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” may have revised the reasoning behind Lydia’s supernatural abilities in later interpretations.
In the movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Lydia, now grown up, explains to her daughter Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega, an unconventional reason for her abilities: “I didn’t receive a manual for this; it manifested when I was around your age.” This dialogue suggests that Lydia’s powers might be inherited and could potentially be passed down genetically, as we later find out that Astrid can do the same things after interacting with Jeremy (Arthur Conti), who turns out to be deceased.
There might be some confusion about this, as it seems less like a retcon (a change made to previously established facts in a work of fiction) and more like Lydia was unaware she possessed a unique ability when she was younger. Her describing herself as strange and unusual could have been her way of explaining the odd occurrences in her life. It’s possible that she later found out that not every goth has the power to communicate with ghosts. This doesn’t necessarily alter the story, but it positions Lydia as a character more fitting the “chosen one” trope, rather than living in a world where many people can speak with spirits if they embrace their peculiarities.
One appreciates the practical effect upon rewatching Beetlejuice
One possible reason why “Beetlejuice” continues to be popular over the years is that it relies heavily on practical effects such as makeup and stop-motion animation. While these effects may not appear realistically, they contribute significantly to the movie’s unique appeal. Re-watching “Beetlejuice” can remind us of the attention and care that was put into its creation.
The video clip above offers a peek into the process of the Beetlejuice snake’s creation by the team. What’s truly astounding is its intricate details, enabling its upper eyes and lips to move expressively. A comparable puppet was manufactured for the sandworm, using stop-motion animation. Additionally, the footage unveils an abundance of makeup artistry, where the deceased characters’ various gruesome injuries add depth to their stories. It’s no surprise that “Beetlejuice” garnered an Academy Award for best makeup during that year’s ceremony.
As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but marvel at the collaborative effort of countless talented artists in crafting the enchanting world of “Beetlejuice.” Even though technology has significantly advanced over the last 36 years, its sequel preserves a similar aesthetic, giving these movies an ageless charm. This timeless quality ensures that Beetlejuice’s hilarious escapades will continue to captivate audiences for many more years to come.
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2024-09-20 14:30