Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Like many other GenXers who was a goth in highschool, the original Beetlejuice was (and still is) among one of my favorite films, and I had high hopes for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Visually and aesthetically, I was not disappointed; the film captured the blue-filtered, twisted atmosphere of the original afterlife effortlessly, including character design, and it was nice to see some claymation and good practical effects again. The writers did their best at making an excuse for Jeffrey Jones not to appear, I think the best they could given the circumstances, but given that he was a key character in the original it felt odd how much they kept the character at arms' length during the film. My main misgiving, however, was the sardine-can storyline. There were far too many side stories happening at once throughout the course of the film, making the new characters who were introduced feel superficial and consequently unrelatable and even forgettable to the audience. Shoehorned in was significantly more song and dance than the original, which make the film feel almost more like a macabre variety show than a story to sit and watch, unlike the original where there were outbursts of noise and activity but needed pockets of silence, melancholy and creepiness. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was missing these bits of reprieve, instead being a constant merry-go-round of noise and activity. Although there was a good bit of throwback references and fan service, this film just felt like it was trying to be everything to everyone at once, and as a result misses the charm and tone of the original. In summation, it has the look but is missing the heart.

The special effects were amazing. The acting was good. But there were SO many storylines. And none of them got enough time to be fully developed. Any one of the storylines, could have been the focus of the entire movie. Each storyline was rushed through and ended so fast. It's really unfortunate. And they put too much focus on Lydia's father. They honestly didn't even have to address the fact that he's wasn't in the movie. The actor in real life is a sex offender, so why even discuss his character? It added nothing to the movie.

There are also a lot of ghosts from part 1 that I felt should have been in this sequel-just use makeup and special effects like they did for Beetlejuice. Or recast them if you don't want them to show that they've aged. Also, I almost walked out during the first hour. It was boring. The movie didn't get good until the second hour.

I don't like giving bad reviews for films, and mine kinda isn't. BUT...it isn't very funny so feels like a step down from the original. The best storyline isn't really developed (at the expense of a tired rehash from the original cast). There's a few Easter eggs for fans of the first film but it doesn't feel like enough. They've toned down some of the weird stuff from the first film that's no longer acceptable, without really addressing it, which leaves it all hanging a bit. Look, it's still quite fun, but probably not worth paying for a trip to the cinema. Overall I left feeling that I was glad a film was only about an hour and a half.

Since I watched the original movie only recently, I didn't come to this movie with huge anticipation. In that sense I might judge it differently than someone who was a fan of the classic, so keep that in mind.

Overall, I had a very good time, and I think the movie is a decent continuation of the cult classic. Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who I've been a fan of since watching "Smallville" as a child, bring their unique storytelling style to the world of *Beetlejuice* in a movie that is very different from its predecessor, but in a fresh way that also respects the original.

Tim Burton, of course, brings his unique style, and this certainly feels like a Tim Burton movie in every sense of the word. The visual effects and production design are beautifully crafted, with that classic feeling of Burton films from the '80s and '90s, but enhanced with today's technologies and more extensive options.

The acting in the movie was excellent from all parties involved. Michael Keaton, in the iconic role, looks and behaves exactly the same, as if 36 years haven't passed since filming the first movie. Winona Ryder, who has become a much more experienced actress since the original film, leads the film proudly, and the great Justin Theroux is hilariously funny in his unique way. Jenna Ortega, while delivering a good performance, feels a bit overexposed to me in recent years, with the sense that her presence is unavoidable wherever you look. I would love to see her take on a more challenging role that presents a drastically different performance from what she usually does, to justify the hype. Another standout performance in the film was Willem Dafoe's, in an excellent and unconventional comedic role. Overall, the cast is packed with big names that are always a delight to see on screen.

Another strength of the movie is the musical aspect - something the first movie was very famous for. From a good choice of songs, especially fun "musical numbers," references to classics from the first movie, and in particular, a slightly different spin on Danny Elfman's iconic and wonderful theme music that will thrill any fan of the classic film.

In general, while I watched the first movie just recently, it's impossible to ignore the amount of fan service in this movie for fans of the classic film - and I mean that in the most positive way possible. It's not the modern, tiring fan service seen in quite a few franchise movies lately, but rather something that honors the original and gives fans who have been waiting for a sequel what they wanted, doing so in a logical, enjoyable way that remains true to the spirit of the story and what cinema should be.

While not a masterpiece or anything of that sort, I had a great time watching this film in IMAX, and I would recommend it to everyone - fans of the original and casual viewers alike.

Beetlejuice, specifically Beetlejuice, and maybe Bob, were the only decent things about this sequel. The original Beetlejuice is legendary, and I'm going to pretend this one doesn't exist because, seriously, come on. 🤔 The sequel just didn't capture the magic of the original. The charm, wit, and unique style that made the first movie a classic were missing. It felt like a cash grab rather than a genuine attempt to continue the story. Fans of the original will likely be disappointed. It's a shame because there was so much potential. Hopefully, future projects will do better justice to the legacy of Beetlejuice.