Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

I'm not a fan of the original Beetlejuice, so I went into the sequel unburdened by any expectations, but this really isn't my cup of tea. I'm sorry that Tim Burton has now traded his previously stylish and lush morbidity for nothing but infantile and recycled morbidity. When Michael Keaton wasn't rocking the screen (really, the highlight of both films), all the other humour absolutely passed me by. The plot holds together about as well as a house of cards, the way the bad guys are handled points to the fact that they were really only in the film as a crutch to move the plot along, and the main characters are almost insufferable. I appreciate the return to practical effects and stop-motion animation (or, for the first time in years, Burton has made a film whose visuals don't make me downright nauseous), but it doesn't really improve my overall impression. (2024.09.05)

Tim Burton is finally off the leash again, and honestly, it was about time. Where better to let loose than with the world he first introduced us to, packed with his signature quirky ideas? And he absolutely delivers. A sequel more than 35 years later is a bold move, but as a fan of Burton’s work, I can confidently say it was worth the wait. The only drawback for me was the somewhat rushed script. It opens up a bunch of storylines, then scrambles to tie them all together for an epic, totally off-the-wall finale that feels very Burton-esque. But by the end, you realize some things didn’t quite need to be there, didn’t make much sense, or were just unnecessary. Case in point: Monica Bellucci. Let’s be real—there are obvious reasons why Burton included her, but she didn’t add much to the story. That said, I’m still satisfied. This is what filmmaking should be—full of creativity, fun, and humor, with a cast that’s clearly having a blast. (2024.09.16)