Beetlejuice Reviews

• Great movie turned bad

  
  By A10L8O1ZMUIMR2 on 2002-12-28
  Just to let you know, this movie is one of my personal favorite ghost movies. That said, I feel I need to tell you some details about this terrible DVD. The packaging is fine, nothing great, but it works. The picture and sound quality are good and make it a good cinematic experience. However, the menu is complete trash, the extras are EXTREMELY embarassing, and to play the movie you actually have to click on scene selections and click on the first chapter because there is no PLAY button! What's the problem here? As I recall, this film is on AFI's top 100 funniest movies ever made, so don't you think they could make a better DVD than this garbage? I am so sick and tired of these movie companies getting away with selling us trash.

  This double sided disk is no good. Pick what format you want the first time you watch it, and stick with that side the whole time...because if you switch each time, both sides get scratched! Personally, I think fullscreen is for idiots who think they're getting the whole picture when they're not. You people put no actual thought into making DVDs, you just slap some crap together and think its fine. No, it's not fine! Clean up your acts!
  
  

• Off-color, Irreverent Hilarity

  
  By A23GFTVIETX7DS on 2005-04-22
  I love this film. Barbara and Adam Maitland, a young couple madly in love (played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) discover that they are not only dead but trapped in their home as ghosts waiting for the bureaucracy of the afterlife to set them free. When a New York couple (Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones) and their teenage daughter Lydia (wonderfully macabre Winona Ryder) move into their beloved house, the Maitlands want nothing more than to remove them. The problem is, the Maitlands are too nice to truly scare anyone. They meet a rogue ghost, the ribald, disgusting Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) who promises to drive the family away, with a few strings attached. Lydia, whose goals aren't that far from the Maitlands and who has a morbid, poignantly sad outlook, discovers the ghosts and tries to help them. But Beetlejuice has his own agenda.
  
  The casting for this movie is perfect, with only Alec Baldwin's performance less than memorable. Michael Keaton is suitably slimy and decadent, while Geena Davis plays the earnest innocence of her character equally well. The most startling performance is a young Winona Ryder, who shows tremendous range in her role as the morbid but good-hearted Lydia.
  
  One of the most hilarious, dark scenes ever filmed is contained in this movie, when the New York couple throws a pretentious dinner party and the Maitlands take over. Director Tim Burton uses sight gags, situational comedy, and one-liners that all bear his trademark quirkiness to make this film inventive and, even years after its release, fresh. What's most amazing in this film essentially about the weirdness of being dead is the emotional drive of it. The Maitlands' yearning to reclaim their home even in death and Lydia's wounded, lonely adolescence lend humanity to an otherwise wild comedy.
  
  I highly recommend this off-beat film for its hilarity and irreverence. Parents of young children should be warned that the film contains off-color humor as well as images and ideas that might disturb young minds. -- Debbie Lee Wesselmann
  
  

• Cheesy Reissue

  
  By A1EARN5PUVIF1S on 2008-09-19
  My one-star refers to this so-called "20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" of this hilarious and eye-popping delight from director Tim Burton.
  
  Since the inception of the DVD format, I have been waiting for a proper DVD of Beetlejuice with commentary and special features.
  
  I am sorry to say that this pathetic disc is NOT what I have been waiting for.
  
  Though they supposedly have spruced up the picture, the ONLY special features are three Beetlejuice cartoons and I think some music track or something.
  
  NO commentary, NO behind-the-scenes, NO nothing.
  
  So -- NO sale.
  
  I'm still waiting...
  
  

• Say it once, say it twice, third time's the charm!

  
  By API663PFYRQCP on 2002-11-21
  When this movie first came out about fifteen years ago, my father owned a video store and every Wednesday night was "Beetlejuice" night. I'm older now, obviously, but I still cannot get enough of this movie.

  Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis play Adam and Barbara Maitland, two Connecticut yuppies who die prematurely in a car wreck. Within a couple weeks, their home is overrun by an ultra-trendy New York City family, Charles and Delia Deetz, and their Goth daughter, Lydia (played respectively by Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, and Winona Ryder). Adam and Barbara want their house back, and attempt to scare the Deetz's out of the house by wearing sheets and even by possessing them over dinner, making them sing and dance to Harry Belafonte's "Day O." Those attempts fail and enter Michael Keaton as Betelguese, "the afterlife's leading freelance bio-exorcist." The movie is dark without being scary and funny without being ridiculous.

  In my opinion, one of the real gems in this film is the late Sylvia Sidney as Juno, Your Case Worker. Sidney was pushing eighty when this film was made, but turns in a great performance as the embittered equivalent of an afterlife social worker. Love how the smoke from her ever-present cigarette comes out of the slit in her throat.

  If you've never seen this movie, see it. If you have seen it but don't own it on DVD, get it. The picture quality is better than ever.
  
  

• Some early details about the new Blu-ray DVD due out September 16th, 2008

  
  By A1K94LXX833JTT on 2008-06-19
  Beetlejuice is a very Tim Burtonesque Tim Burton movie, establishing his fascination with the macabre and, especially in this case, the funny, campy side of death and horror. It's the story of a newly dead couple (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) who are essentially stuck as ghosts in their house, and don't like its new owners (parents Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara and daughter Winona Ryder). They enlist the help of a more experienced, half-crazy but very insistent ghost, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), in an effort to scare the new owners away by haunting them. Beetlejuice turns out to have his own agenda, and alliances shift as the story winds through learning to be dead, afterlife bureaucracy, wild chases through small spaces, Calypso dancing at dinner to Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" ("Day-O"), a very goth wedding ceremony, and supernatural comeuppance.
  
  The cast, for the most part, is perfectly suited to the wacky material, the sets and make-up and other effects very imaginative, the story engaging. Great fun.
  
  The extras announced are very limited: three episodes of the Saturday morning Beetlejuice cartoon series ("Skeletons in the Closet," "Spooky Boo-tique," "A-Ha!"), a music-only track, the trailer and, according to the press release but not the Warners Brothers web page for this DVD, an exclusive CD soundtrack sampler. The cartoons are about 11 minutes each. Possibly more features will be announced later, but that would be unusual and I wouldn't count on it. Five-star movie, three-star extras.
  
  The new Blu-ray will be 1080p video, but the complete specs for the sound haven't been announced. There will be sound and subtitles in several languages, including Spanish. The old standard DVD isn't all that great in terms of video quality, so the best thing about this new release is likely to be improved image and sound.
  
  
• Great movie, terrible DVD
  By AZRJH4JFB59VC on 2001-08-09
  I am continually amazed at the shoddy treatment that some movies get in their DVD release. This DVD is simply a disgrace, especially considering what a great movie this is. I give the movie itself 5 stars; it's a wonderful example of Tim Burton's energy and style.

  This DVD has no extras worth mentioning. No deleted scenes, no featurettes, not even a lousy commentary track! To make it even worse, the film has been CUT DOWN from the theatrical release! I have never seen a DVD release before where you get LESS than was originally presented in theaters.

  My advice is to save your money until somebody figures out that when a movie is released on DVD, it needs to live up to the capabilities of the medium, and should always provide more material than was originally released, not less.
  
  

• Tim Burton Goes All Out in His Second Feature Film!
  By AW3FTPCBPVQNB on 2004-05-19
  Tim Burton had come off the blockbuster success of his first feature film PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE (1985) when he was greenlighted by Warner Bros. to direct the project he REALLY wanted to make. It was the picture that would define the rest of his career to this day: the supernaturally weird black comedy (and weirdly-titled) BEETLEJUICE (1988). It was so unique, so strange to me that I didn't know what to make of it when I first saw it on video in 1989. I remember from that first time liking parts of it, but not liking the picture as a whole. The movie was so frenetic, so odd in its mixture of Goth Horror, Comedy, gruesome visual effects (I'm still kind of amazed that it got a PG rating instead of PG-13) and cartoonish slapstick that I really didn't know what to make if it. Well, now that I've seen it at least a half-dozen times since (three of them in the past year alone), I can say that it has held up better than many of the most popular 80's films (TOP GUN, etc) and has become a classic all unto itself.

  With BEETLEJUICE, Tim Burton showed not only that he could direct effective comedy and illicit inspired performances from his actors, but also bring a true artist's touch to the big screen. Of course, the film won the Oscar for Best Makeup (as if there was any real question about it), but I also think that it should have also been at least nominated for Visual Effects and Art Direction, as those truly mesmerizing aspects all come together to create a product that is so unique. Not only that, but this film helped make the careers of several actors who would go on to major success soon after.

  Two of those actors are Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, as the ill-fated newlyweds Adam and Barbara Maitland who, after buying a big Victorian dream house at the film's outset, die in a bizarre car accident soon after. Slowly realizing that they've passed on to the next world, they don't want to give up their house to the pathetically bourgeois Charles & Delia Deetz (Jeffrey Jones & Catherine O'Hara), who along with their chubby, effete chauffeur Otho (Glenn Shadix) have already moved in, and inspire true disgust in the newly-dead couple. However, they seem to have an ally in the older couple's death-obsessed Goth daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder) see an afterlife advertisement for a "Bio-Exorcist" named Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) and decide that their only hope in driving out the destestable Charles, Delia, and Otho is in using the wild, unpredictable Betelgeuse. Of course, good ol' Betelgeuse will gladly provide his unique brand of service, but at a very high price.

  Alec Baldwin & Geena Davis fill their roles very well. The ironic thing is that this was the first film I'd ever seen Alec Baldwin in, so my first impression of him as the nerdy, good-natured Adam ended up being turned around by 180 degrees by the psychotic, tough-guy roles that would define the rest of his career. That turnabout came pretty quickly, actually, as the very next film I would see him in was MARRIED TO THE MOB (1988), in which he was a mobster unbeknownst to his wife who gets offed early on, but it was his psychotic turn in the extremely quirky and violent MIAMI BLUES (1989) that really shocked me and made me realize that Alec really had some range to him (unfortunately, he would be end up being typecast as psychos for the rest of his career). However, Geena Davis, herself at the cusp of stardom (and Oscar acclaim) is playing pretty much the quirky kind of character that would eventually define her career. In fact, it was just the following year that she would win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for playing the truly quirky and inspired Muriel Pritchett in the otherwise uninspired THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (1989). This film, of course, also boosted the career of the now-infamous Winona Ryder, who quickly became the hot new "it" girl in the late 80's with this movie and with others soon to follow: 1969 (1988), HEATHERS (1989), GREAT BALLS OF FIRE! (also 1989), EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990, and another Tim Burton film) and MERMAIDS (also 1990). Of course, former AMADEUS (1984) emperor and FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986) principal Jeffrey Jones, now infamous for his own reasons, is also terrific here, as is former "SC-TV" alumnus Catherine O'Hara. We also get a welcome supporting performance from the great old character actress, Sylvia Sidney, as the chain-smoking receptionist Juno!

  But it was Michael Keaton, who was already an up-and-coming comedic actor known for quirky hit comedies such as the Ron Howard-directed NIGHT SHIFT (1982), MR. MOM (1983), JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY (1984) and GUNG HO (1986), who really stole the show and hit paydirt in the process. He would immediately be elevated to "A" list status with his truly brilliant, maniacal and hilarious performance as the titular Betelgeuse, going immediately on to bigger & better things with Tim Burton himself, starring soon after as BATMAN (1989)! It's funny; I think that in 1988, Keaton was robbed of Oscar nominations not only for this truly unique comedic role, but for also his surprising dramatic turn as a recovering alcoholic in CLEAN AND SOBER. It just shows that, for whatever reason, comedians just don't get recognized enough for their acting ability.

  BEETLEJUICE is a lot of fun. It looks like it must have been a lot of fun to make. Despite the liberal PG rating, I would recommend it only for ages 9 & up, as the humor is quite adult and the rather gruesome visuals are likely to give any young child nightmares. It is still a truly unique movie with incredible special effects, and it still makes me laugh to this day. Oddly enough, whenever I see it, it makes me that much less afraid to die!

  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
  
  

• BeetleJuice- DVD
  By A1U1GYM2SIA2PY on 2008-05-09
  If you like BeetleJuice and the supernatural then buy this movie you won't be let down. This is a very good movie fun for all ages. See this movie is what started the cartoon series on cartoonnetwork in the early 1990's BeetleJuice. Personally I think Micheal Keaton did a fantastic job as playing BeetleJuice I just really like this movie alot it talk's about what the after life is like basically see Barbara and Adam Maitland die and their ghost's in the movie and they meet BeetleJuice and I'm not going to tell you the rest because you have to watch the movie trust me this movie is really good it will make you want to say BeetleJuice three times.
  
  
• Five Star Movie, No Star DVD
  By A3CN5P5Q01FAJ5 on 2006-09-23
  This is a review of the 1997 DVD release- thus far, as of September 2006, the only release I know of.
  
  Of all of the DVDs in my collection this has to be one of the most disappointing. Without going into minute detail of what makes the film brilliant- the classic score, the hilarious comedy and Burton's twisted but brilliant vision- the quality of the film transfer to DVD is almost criminal. It probably wouldn't be noticed on television screens smaller than 27 inches, but on larger screens the picture becomes soft and grainy, devoid of detail and utterly perplexing, given that the movie was shot in the late 80's. The first thought that sprang to my mind when watching it was that it almost immediately reminded me of my time in elementary school before we switched to video tape- the transfer is reminiscent of an old, battered 8mm film reel. I own a S-VHS vcr, and I have seen better film transfers on video tape. Additionally, the extras... well, what extras? There are several paragraphs of "production notes" which are basically brief overviews of Danny Elfman and Tim Burton, but nothing you couldn't gleam from Wikipedia in three minutes.
  
  All that aside, I did pay $9 for it at Sam's Club, so the old axiom of getting what you pay for is truer than ever- but I expected so much more. If you're a Beetlejuice fan, wait for the inevitable Criterion Collection or Special Edition remaster.
  
  
• Some early details about the new 20th Anniversary Beetlejuice DVD due out on September 16th, 2008
  By A1K94LXX833JTT on 2008-06-19
  Beetlejuice is a very Tim Burtonesque Tim Burton movie, establishing his fascination with the macabre and, especially in this case, the funny, campy side of death and horror. It's the story of a newly dead couple (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) who are essentially stuck as ghosts in their house, and don't like its new owners (parents Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara and daughter Winona Ryder). They enlist the help of a more experienced, half-crazy but very insistent ghost, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), in an effort to scare the new owners away by haunting them. Beetlejuice turns out to have his own agenda, and alliances shift as the story winds through learning to be dead, afterlife bureaucracy, wild chases through small spaces, Calypso dancing at dinner to Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" ("Day-O"), a very goth wedding ceremony, and supernatural comeuppance.
  
  The cast, for the most part, is perfectly suited to the wacky material, the sets and make-up and other effects very imaginative, the story engaging. Great fun.
  
  This new release is being marketed as the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. It will be newly remastered, but the extras announced so far are very limited: three episodes of the Saturday morning Beetlejuice cartoon series ("Skeletons in the Closet," "Spooky Boo-tique," "A-Ha!"), a music-only track, and the trailer. The cartoons are about 11 minutes each. Possibly more features will be announced later, but usually that doesn't happen. I've subtracted one star for the poor features in a "deluxe" anniversary edition; if they announce more features I may up my rating. The best thing is likely to be the remastering, which is needed, since the older DVD wasn't all the great. Looking forward to that.
  
  
• "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetleju..."
  By A3MCQSIBV7QW8Q on 2002-07-18
  When a young couple Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Bladwin and Geena Davis) die, they return to their house as ghosts without any possibility of leaving their own home. Innocently they think that the dead have no problems but they couldn't be more wrong. A New York family, Charles and Delia Deitz (Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara) and their daughter, Lydia (Winona Ryder) move into the Maitlands home. The situation would have been all right but unfortunately, the family decides to re-decorate the whole house with 'modern art'. Adam and Barbara do all they can to get rid of them to no avail. They believe that only one person can help them and his name is Betelgeuse (pronounced Beetlejuice, played by Michael Keaton), a bio-exorcist. But Adam and Barabara just might be getting even MORE trouble than they bargained for!

  A very... how would I put it... 'interesting' and 'strange' movie. The director Tim Burton has an incredible imagination, using the movie as a advantage to put his clever ideas and dark humor into the plot. "Beetlejuice" most definitely falls into the category of a dark comedy, the boundaries of the strange and remarkable broken through.

  The acting is done very well with a star-studded cast. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis are strangely play their part as 'the cute but dumb couple'. Alec Baldwin has always been a favorite of mine playing Jack Ryan in "The Hunt for Red October" and Lamont Cranston/The Shadow in "The Shadow" so seeing him in this movie was a treat. Winona Ryder was also delightful as the 'strange and unusual' girl who is the only one who can see the Maitlands. But by the end she just makes an total about-face in her character. Jeffrey Jones who I liked a lot as Matthew Broderick's principal in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" also has a good role as does Catherine O'Hara. But Michael Keaton takes the prize for being absolutely perfect for his part as Beetlejuice. He gives such a remarkable performance, making the character of Beetlejuice give you scares, chills, and laughter.

  The special effects are just fun to see as it's being put to good use. From the creepy light effects, the strange creatures in the 'recently deceased waiting room', Beetlejuice's incredible scary forms, and much, much more!

  The movie is very hilarious in a dark sense. The movie is rated PG since for kids I must admit it might be scary, some jokes aren't for kids, and for some language (on of the reasons I give the movie 4 stars). But my favorite part of the movie has to be the scene where the Deitzs have invited some guests for dinner. And for dinner something very strange goes on, they get haunted by ghosts in a very HILARIOUS way! I laughed soooooo hard in the scene!

  So, if you're looking for an escape from a dull and boring evening, put "Beetlejuice" on and I'm sure you'll have an enjoyable time!
  
  

• WARNING: CLAMSHELL EDITION IS EDITED TV VERSION
  By A1B2IZU1JLZA6 on 2000-01-20
  I, myself always enjoyed this movie, it's very funny and entertaining, so I didn't hesitate to pick up the clamshell edition. I guess it was a marketing plan to make the movie more for families or something, but they have eliminated all strong profanity and elements that are usually edited in the television version. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. If you want the uncut version, AVOID THE CLAMSHELL EDITION!
  
  
• A REVIEW BEFORE THE FILM IS EVEN OUT
  By A1DV21D4P7G796 on 2008-06-22
  Hi - I am an Amazon idiot that likes to post reviews for films that are not even out yet. It is so cool how I do this and also give them poor ratings because all the info I read is FACT.
  
  Please - stop rating and reviewing films that ARE NOT OUT YET!
  
  
• .
  By A1QD82B5ORFRF7 on 1999-10-24
  High-quality Tim Burton movie; energetic, funny, weird, and possibly his best. It's everything that Pee Wee's Big Adventure was, crossed with the darker aesthetic of the films that would follow (Batman, Edward Scissorhands, etc.) A whimsical and imaginative story enhanced by fun, creative special effects and good performances all around.
  
  
• Don't try to analyze it...
  By AAECAHBNP1VD2 on 2005-03-17
  Just watch it. Who give's a rat's hindquarters about deep hidden meanings and symbolism? It ain't here, OK? Beetlejuice is simply a highly enjoyable film, funny as hell and completely bizarre ... but in a totally followable and almost delightful sort of way. Good acting, great special effects, and a script that pretty much keeps you guessing throughout the film. Definitley worth owning!
  PS: Amazon, you're sleeping on the job! Not one but TWO "reviews" give away the entire film, including the ending...
  
  
• Good movie, HORRIBLE DVD
  By A39W3263A9HCMN on 2005-11-01
  I love this movie and I bought it on VHS a long time ago. Recently I bought the regular PG version on DVD at my mom's store. The first thing i noteced was that the disc was double sided! about halfway thru I had to flip the disc over to watch the rest of the movie. and another thing: It was censored. I don't mean just the "violence" i mean language. Then I bought the PG-13 version hoping for a better verson. Instead I found out it was the same thing, just with a different cover. So i reccomend you buy the VHS.
  
  Trust me, it sucks.
  
  
• Great Movie Which SCREAMS for a Special Edition DVD
  By A1JBLIBZJ5VHO2 on 2006-07-10
  I won't go into detail about the movie itself, which has been reviewed in much greater detail and much better than I can do at the moment (it is one of my all time favorite movies - 5 stars). I'd like to focus on the DVD for a moment.
  
  This DVD was released in June, 1997, a scant three months after the initial rollout of the DVD format. As such, the inadequate menus and lack of functionality reflect a company just learning its way around the capabilities of the format. The early releases have standard menu designs (with the Warner Logo), standard extras (cast & crew, production notes, trailer (sometimes)), and are usually double-sided with a widescreen format on one side and a fullscreen format on the other. This was all quite adequate for 1997, but....
  
  In 2006, Beetlejuice seems to have been forgotten by Warner. In a time when so many movies have "Special", "Extra Special", "Extra-Extra Special Extended", and "Ultimate" editions, this is one movie which has missed the bandwagon. What's it going to take, Warner? A bio-exorcist??
  BEETLEJUICE
  BEETLEJUICE
  BEETLEJ.... SPECIAL EDITION, PLEASE!!
  
  
• Fabulous Comedic Fanasy Directed by a Master
  By A1GB1Q193DNFGR on 2000-10-04
  Beetlejuice is an awe-inspiring wonderfully amusing comedic romp that explores the incredible possibilities of the after-life and the boundaries of the absurd. Telling the tale of a recently dead married couple that suddenly gets led into the chaotic world of the supernatural. Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) discover many of the conflicting rather human imperfections that haunt the lives of the living also plague the afterlife as well.

  Unlike some film projects that seemed to be blindly assigned to dispassionate filmmakers for commercial reasons, Beetlejuice's plot and bizarre subject matter remarkably complemented Burton's unusually macabre artistic sensibilities extraordinarily well. Created by the unbelievably brilliant guidance of imaginative film director, Tim Burton (Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Batman, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow). The film's uniquely creative landscape was a culmination of essentially all of the abundant irony and outlandish yet human behaviors that have graced the body of Burton's work.

  Augmented by deviously energetic performances from Glenn Shadix, Jeffrey Jones, Winona Ryder, Catherine O' Hara, Geena Davis, and Alec Baldwin, the film bustles with uninhibited brilliant hilarity that persistently pushes the film to a level of almost affable euphoria. Paired with its ingenious screenplay and a tour de force performance by Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice. This film transforms itself into an exuberant jovial exercise that is extremely satisfying and philosophically perceptive on many levels. Though comedy is usually considered to be unable or undeserving of deep critical analysis, Beetlejuice is an undeniably inspired concept that has been flawlessly transferred to film. One of the most outstanding comedies of the 1980's.

  As for the film's DVD package, the DVD includes the theatrical trailer, an isolated Danny Elfman musical track, and the choice to watch the film in anamorphic widescreen or Pan and Scan. Hopefully Beetlejuice will eventually be graced with a special edition. We can always hope.
  
  

• Burton's true debut!
  By A1DU58OZJNPUHV on 2004-03-16
  At the time of its release in 1988, 'Beetlejuice' was a huge hit. Although it does seem a little dated now, it still has some wonderful visual jokes (especially the characters in the waiting room). The laughs begin with the main characters' deaths after only 10 minutes. They look expectantly at a little dog who is balancing their car on a plank of wood over the edge of a bridge. He tip-toes off and they fall to their deaths. The film is full of satirical vignettes e.g. the after-life is managed by a number of desk clerks who have condemned themselves to an eternity as civil servants because they committed suicide. The Deetz's interior designer Otho is unafraid of all the ghoulish horrors that surround him, but yet finds himself in his most frighteneing moment when Betelguise removes his designer suit to reveal a 70's pastel leisure suit and he runs in terror.

  Apparently director Tim Burton loved making the film as Warners stayed off his back for most of it, so he had greater freedom to improvise with the actors and the story. Half-way through its making, he didn't know how it was going to end. The stop-motion techniques might look a little dated but Burton was a big fan of Godzilla as a child.
  
  

• 5 stars for the movie 2 stars for the dvd
  By A48VQ893Z2KQR on 2004-05-16
  not much i can say about this movie that fans of the movie dont already know!what i can say is this movie needs better dvd treatment and almost every one can agree with me on that,2disk special edition anyone?!
  
  
• MY FAVORITE MOVIE!
  By A212YFPHGX0GMK on 2004-08-20
  This has been my favorite movie since I was a little kid. I used to watch it every day! It has perfect casting. This movie has a little of everything-comedy, drama, horror(well sorta).
  Definitly a must see!
  
  ~silence~
  
  
• They got more than they expected for out in the country
  By A1OBPHRXHZF8P6 on 2004-12-16
  When Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam(Alec Baldwin) Maitland move out into the country, they have rest and relaxation on their mind. Not even the well-meaning but intrusive antics of uber-realator Jane Butterfield (Annie McEnroe) can rattle their spirits.
  
  ...until they discover that they died on an old country bridge near their house after a dog stopped balancing a broken bridge beam. After 'somehow' returning to their house, the Maitlands discover the 'Handbook for the recently deceased' and attempt to decipher it.
  
  The plot thickens when the Detzes move in from New York; Jane finally was able to sell their house. Delia (Catherine O'Hara) fancies herself an artist, but husband Charles (Jeffery Jones) just wants to relax in the country after having survived stressful city life. Both he and gothic daughter Lydia (Winnona Ryder) are the most likeable ones in this family.
  
  After their own attempts at the supernatural fail, the Maitlands call up Beetlejuice, a disgruntled former bureaucrat for the living impaired. Because their caseworker will not help them get rid of the Detzes, the Maitlands soon turn to Beetlejuice for assistance. The Maitlands want their house back, and do not want to become circus attractions for Lydia's equally loopy friends.
  
  Otho (Glen Shadix) is in this play only to show that some people really only talk big. During the supernatural ceremony he puts on an attitude of being in charge 'until something goes wrong'. Since it's likely that he was reading this ceremony as he went along, Otho had not known what he was doing. In other films, this would be dangerous for everybody within a close radius, but Beetlejuice comes to save the day.
  
  Michael Keaton steals the show as a fast/smooth-talking demon. He's not an angel, but you definitely want him on your side when the chips are down. The only thing he is really scared of is sandworms (in the otherworld). Keaton would later continue to work with Burton on the first two Batman movies, as of now considered the best in that series.
  
  Despite the gothic/gloomy tone of this film, it does end on a happy note. The Maitlands and the Detzes end up living together in the same house and Lydia actually gets along with the former couple.
  
  
  
• Heads off, I mean up, Beetlejuice fans! New DVDs due out in September, details here
  By A1K94LXX833JTT on 2008-05-26
  Beetlejuice is coming back to DVD in a newly remastered 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, in both standard definition and Blu-ray, on September 16th, 2008. The extras announced so far are very limited: three episodes of the Saturday morning Beetlejuice cartoon series ("Skeletons in the Closet," "Spooky Boo-tique," "A-Ha!"), and for the Blu-ray version an exclusive CD soundtrack sampler. Possibly more features will be announced later, but don't count on it. The new Blu-ray will be 1080p video, but the specs for the sound haven't been announced.
  
  Beetlejuice is a very Tim Burtonesque Tim Burton movie, establishing his fascination with the macabre and, especially in this case, the funny, campy side of death and horror. It's the story of a newly dead couple (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) who are essentially stuck as ghosts in their house, and don't like its new owners (parents Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara and daughter Winona Ryder). They enlist the help of a more experienced, half-crazy but very insistent ghost, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), in an effort to scare the new owners away by haunting them. Beetlejuice turns out to have his own agenda, and alliances shift as the story winds through learning to be dead, afterlife bureaucracy, wild chases through small spaces, Calypso dancing at dinner to Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" ("Day-O"), a very goth wedding ceremony, and supernatural comeuppance.
  
  The cast, for the most part, is perfectly suited to the wacky material, the sets and make-up and other effects very imaginative, the story engaging. Great fun.
  
  If you don't have the old, not-so-great DVD, the new release might be worth waiting for. Amazon has a page to pre-order the new standard DVD here. The Blu-ray version has a pre-order page here.
  
  
• Beetlejuice - Blu-ray Info
  By AHABFECTNE15I on 2008-09-30
  Version: U.S.A / Region A, B, C
  Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
  VC-1 BD-25 / Advanced Profile 3
  Running time: 1:32:06
  Movie size: 19,89 GB
  Disc size: 21,85 GB
  Average video bit rate: 20.94 Mbps
  
  Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1580 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 16-bit / 1580kbps (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps)
  Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio Italian 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio Japanese 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 1.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
  
  Subtitles: English SDH / Chinese / Danish / Danish / Dutch / Finnish / French / German / Italian / Japanese / Korean / Norwegian / Portuguese / Spanish / Swedish
  
  Number of chapters: 28
  
  # Theatrical Trailer
  # Beetlejuice Cartoon Episodes:
  * Spooky Boo-tique
  * Skeletons In The Closet
  * A-Ha
  # Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus: Soundtrack CD Sampler showcasing Danny Elfman's score and featuring Harry Belafonte's timeless performance
  
  1. Main Titles (Elfman Geffen)
  2. The Family"/Sand Worm Planet (Elfman Geffen)
  3. The Aftermath (Elfman Geffen)
  4. Showtime! (Elfman Geffen)
  5. The Banana Boat Song (Belafonte Sony BMG)
  6. End Credits (Elfman Geffen)
  
  
• Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!
  By A2E1UPR4LZJSF2 on 2002-06-06
  What can I say? This is a CLASSIC! I've seen this movie so many times I actually have most of the words memorized. This movie is hilariously funny, but at the same time it has a touch of drama in it. It's an all around great movie.

  Michael Keaton does an excellent job of playing the odd, funny, and perverted Beetlejuice who causes quite the chaos with a newly deceased couple, Adam and Barbara. Let me just say no one and I mean NO ONE could've been better for the part of Beetlejuice.

  The only disapointting thing about the DVD Beetljuice is there were no deleted scenes or extra footage.. I was disapointed, but I love this movie so much it was still worth it!

  If you haven't seen Beetlejuice, then YOU MUST SEE IT. And for all the Beetlejuice lovers and fans out there this is a must have to your video or DVD collection~
  
  

• Great Comedy
  By A1CAA94EOP0J2S on 2002-10-31
  Beetlejuice is the story of ghosts (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who can't get along with the family (Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, and Winona Ryder) that moves into their house. The ghosts enlist Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to help them, and the fun really starts. The movie is directed by Tim Burton. Robert Goulet and Dick Cavett make cameos. The score is by Danny Elfman. This movie has a great cast and a great director.

  If you're a fan of Burton's other movies, you'll especially like this movie. Like all his movies, it has his distinctive look and feel to it. But anyone can enjoy this far-fetched comedy. Being PG, it should be appropriate for most members of the family. The DVD is lacking some of the special features that I would like to see though - like outtakes, behing-the-scenes, etc...
  
  

• I wanna DVD upgrade like now!!
  By AO4J90YPX5RU6 on 2004-04-20
  If I was told to name one movie that needs a DVD upgrade, it would have to be BEETLEJUICE. It's such a classic, it's hard to believe it's been so overlooked all these years. You know it came out on DVD before DVD's were released with a whole 2nd and sometimes 3rd disc devoted to special features. Also this DVD requires you to press menu in order to veiw it's very limited features, most DVD's start out on the menu and there is a "play movie" option. Not here, which isn't the worst that could happen I suppose. Even though this film has great sound mainly due to Danny Elfman's superb soundtrack, I would like a DTS soundtrack to enhance it. A director commentary is a must for a film like this. I hope I've made a point here, and I hope to see an upgrade sooner than soon. Don't you?
  
  
• Brilliant
  By on 2005-11-02
  This movie is amazing! I remember dressing up like Beetlejuice when i was 6, simply because I was (and am still) so fond of the movie. Despite what some may think or say, everyone fit their role perfectly. I highly doubt you could find anyone better to play the main role of "Beetlejuice" or Lydia. Tim Burton's my favourite producer, and I think his creative, dark, and twisted characters are awesome! (like the ones in nightmare before christmas - my other fav movie) Anyway, my point is I give "Beetlejuice" 5 out of 5 stars!!!!!!
  -Anne
  
  
• 5 stars... actually 10 stars for the movie but 1 star for the DVD!
  By on 2006-07-25
  GREAT MOVIE! Tim Burton at his best, so what's up with the really really crappy DVD!? I mean you can't get crappier than this! All the other Burton movies have good DVD's if not fantastic and this one has the crappiest DVD release you can get! GET A SPECIAL EDITION OF BEETLEJUICE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
• Great Movie...But NOT Given DELUXE Treatment
  By A4GB8I8ACS4PM on 2008-10-14
  Why oh why do studios stamp "Deluxe Edition" on movies and then provide nothing to make it worthy of that title?????? I absolutely LOVE the movie Beetlejuice, and just about anything else Tim Burton has done. The Blu-ray version of this movie looks and sounds better than any version I've seen before. The colors are sharp and the sound is greatly improved over other DVD iterations I have seen before. The movie comes with a nice slipcover featuring the cover art in lenticular motion. That's about the only really special feature you are going to get on this disc. With it being the 20th Anniv. of this film, I thought that surely something would have been included about the making of the film, but there is NOTHING. There is no commentary track, no making of doc., no interviews with the cast.......NOTHING. Oh you do get 3 episodes of the Beetlejuice cartoon.....yaawwwwnn and the original theatrical trailer. I'm not complaining too much, because I do love this movie, and it is worth the price just to see it in High Definition. It just ticks me off a little when studios stamp the "Deluxe Edition" on the cover, when there is nothing Deluxe about it.
  
  

• The Nightmare Before Christmas (2-Disc Collector's Edition + Digital Copy)
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• Iron Man (Single-Disc Edition)
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Single Disc)
• Incredible Hulk (Widescreen Edition)