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"That's just gross." |
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Directed by Tim Burton -
Written by Warren
Skarren
Starring Michael Keaton,
Alec Baldwin, Geena
Davis, Winona Ryder
Distributed by Universal -
1988 - 92 mins - Rated
PG |
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Pure Burton... |
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Dark
and gross, but also 100% imagination, humor and downright cleverness,
"Beetlejuice" is one of Tim Burton's best films!
It stars Alec Baldwin (who proves himself to be a great straight man)
and Geena Davis as a couple who die, and must haunt their home. A
snotty, city family moves in, but their repeated attempts to scare
them out result in nothing. So they hire Beetleguese (Michael Keaton),
a "bio-exorcist," a ghost who gets rid of the living.
Tim Burton's imagination is truly let free here, and won't be seen in
this magnitude until "Big Fish." His comic vision of the underworld is
appalling and disgusting, but at the same time, hilarious and
impossible to take your eyes off (just wait until you see one of the
employees in the underworld headquarters).
Keaton really shines here. He never receives the recognition he
deserves because he is usually the masterful underplayer. He's always
very realistic and very controlled. Not here. No way. Clad in
Oscar-winning make-up, Keaton plays one of the most over-the-top
characters in film history. He is a walking corpse with evil powers.
He speaks fast and dirty. He's just insane...and it's fantastic to
watch.
Fans of Burton will be pleased, but the average viewer may be shocked
with what happens in this movie. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall |
TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Richard
Propes' Comment
I need to
watch this film again. No, not because it will
change my rating. It won't. The film is
certainly charming on a certain level, and it's
WAY better than Burton's awful "Planet of the
Apes," but this film barely reaches above
mediocrity. I have to watch this film again
because I truly don't remember Natalie Portman
in it. I love Portman, and thought I knew her
filmography perfectly. How'd this one slip out
of my radar? Darn, here I go again watching
another mediocre film for a second time.
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