Not a Review Necessarily - My Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice trailer reaction

I have mixed feelings about Tim Burton's 1988 supernatural comedy, "Beetlejuice." 

Michael Keaton's performance as the titular character is one of my favorite performances of his. It's pure Michael Keaton all the way. He's a natural born comedian who's immensely likeable. He brings that likeability to this comically sinister "bioexorcist" character. 

Keaton is so at ease as Beetlejuice, with his class clown kind of humor and mannerisms. 

In my head, "Beetlejuice" is the most Tim Burton-y movie of Tim Burton movies. It's certainly one of a kind. I can't compare it to any other movie I've seen or know about. 

Some of the jokes in the movie work, and the gimmicky concept of the afterlife as being one big corporate system operated by the dead who appear just as they did when they died is hilarious. 

The set design is unique and unforgettable. It's like a dark ride version of Tim Burton's 1985 movie "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure." 

Beetlejuice, though, is more of a side character in his own movie. The story is really about the small town couple, Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) who pass away and are stuck in their  house as ghosts. 

They have to get use to "life" in the afterlife while attempting to scare away the upscale eccentric Deetz family who move in from New York City. 

What makes Beetlejuice stand out, aside from his unkept hair, molding face, dark eyes, and cartoonish behavior, is how he contrasts with the story around him. 

Outside of the titular character, the movie has a somber tone within a surreal atmosphere. It's a weird mixture of small-town country style side by side with Tim Burton's dark and dreary ambiance sprinkled with awful looking gaudy kitsch artwork. That's part of the comedy, though. 

And Keaton's Beetlejuice contrasts with it all with his slapstick comedy. It's a movie that seems intended to a specific audience. Who that audience is, I have no idea. 

It's Keaton's likeability that surely kept Beetlejuice a pop culture staple ever since his 1988 debut. Though the movie is really aimed at adults, with its adult humor, it still managed to gain the attention and affection of kids. It even managed to get a Saturday morning cartoon that ran for four seasons between 1989 to 1991. I never missed an episode each Saturday morning.  

Thirty-six years later, in this cinematic era when long-awaited sequels come to fruition, a new Beetlejuice movie is coming out in September called "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice." Rumors abounded for years of another Beetlejuice movie in the works. Now, it's a thing. 

Michael Keaton reprises his role as Beetlejuice 36 years
after playing the character in Tim Burton's 1988 movie, "Beetlejuice."

I think a sequel is manageable for the story. Afterall, Beetlejuice is dead, so he's not going anywhere. 

I'm curious enough to wonder what became of the oddball Deetz family. Has this upscale eccentric New York City family managed to adapt to country life in the rural town of Winter River, Connecticut? What became of the ghosts of Adam and Barbara Maitland? My guess is their number was finally called, and they moved onto the great beyond past the afterlife waiting room. 

Above all, what else is there to explore in the afterlife?

I don't get the impression, based on this trailer, that Keaton still has the same comedic energy he did 36 years ago. Then again, it has been a long time. How long is too long? Evidently, it doesn't matter since, again, this is the age of sequels intended to pump new life and interest (money) into older movies past their prime.

The heart of the original movie is the satirical treatment of the afterlife and all the weird dark spiritualism unfortunately associated with it, at least among people who think they know all about the unknown. 

"Beetlejuice" is a ghost story told from the ghosts point of view. The Maitlands are not only thrust into a completely unfamiliar domain that doesn't meet their expectations, they also have to figure out how to haunt their house. It's a clever scenario that's perfect for a comedy setup. There's a lot to do with a scenario like that. Hence, a sequel. 

So, now where does it go?

I bet "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice" will explore the "other side" a little more. It looks as though since the happenings of the first movie, Beetlejuice has started working at a job inside the corporate processes of the afterlife. 

I think the inclusion of Jenna Ortega as "Astrid," who must be Lydia Deetz's (Winona Ryder reprises her role) daughter is a great casting choice. 

Ortega is masterful as Wednesday Addams in Burton's mystery series "Wednesday" based on the "Addams Family" series." I expect she'll be fantastic in this movie! 

Catherine O'Hara also returns as Lydia's mother, Delia Deetz. Again, based on this trailer, she seems to bring a more reserved demeanor with a sense of true sophistication. In the first movie, she's an impulsive and self-absorbed character. Surely that aspect of the character will carry on. I am really intrigued, based on the trailer, what Catherine O'Hara will do with an older Delia who's a grandmother. 

Above all, I truly appreciate Burton utilizing stop motion animation just as he did for the first movie. 

Despite the mixed feelings I have towards the first "Beetlejuice," I'm curious enough to see where Burton will take everything.

Most sequels that have come out years and years after the initial film are really just attempts to rehash old franchises and allow old timers to relive their old movie experiences. This, I'm sure, is following that trend.

There are a few callbacks seen in the trailer which is expected. I anticipate it'll be another attempt to capture the feel of the first flick. That's probably a no-brainer. 

By the way, I have to say, for a dead guy, Beetlejuice has certainly aged considerably. 

189) Teen Wolf (1985)

"Well, dad, it didn't pass me by. It landed on my face."

Director

Rod Daniel

Cast
Michael J. Fox - Scott Howard
James Hampton - Harold Howard
Susan Ursitti - Boof
Jerry Levine - Stiles

Mark Holton - Chubby
Matt Adler - Lewis
Lorie Griffin - Pamela
Jim McKrell - Mr. Thorne
Mark Arnold as Mick
Jay Tarses - Coach Finstock

I'm really pulling the meaning of "horror movie" rather far with 1985's "Teen Wolf." It's not really a "horror" movie as the genre is commonly understood. That is, a horror movie is usually a film intended to frighten its audience. 

Aside from the fact that the main character turns into a werewolf, which are a common horror trope, "Teen Wolf" is not really a horror movie as it's clearly not trying to scare its audience.

Unlike other werewolf movies, this werewolf isn't a ravenous bloodthirsty monster. He maintains his typical teenage personality, and he suddenly becomes really good at basketball. So, I'd categorize "Teen Wolf" as a horror comedy although it's really tame as far as frightening scenes and general horror elements go. 

In fact, "Teen Wolf" even got its own Saturday morning cartoon which ran for two seasons in 1986 and 1987. For some reason, I remember the cartoon airing in the early 1990s. 

Growing up, my family had a VHS copy of "Teen Wolf" which somebody recorded off of television. 

Last week, I stumbled upon a copy of at my local library. I haven't seen the movie since the early to mid 1990s. I watched it a lot in my youth and remember constantly rewinding the werewolf transition scene to really soak in the effects. So now, I was a bit excited to watch it again after about 30 years. 

In this movie, Michael J. Fox plays high school teenager Scott Howard who lives with his dad, Harold (James Hampton). It's implied that his mother has since passed away. 

He lives in a small Nebraska town and... wait! I also live in a small Nebraska town! 

Anyways, Scott plays on the high school basketball team, the Beavers. He's also going through the usual teenage stuff. 

He has a major crush on the popular girl, Pamela Wells (Lorie Griffin). However, she's dating Mick (Mark Arnold) who plays on the rival basketball team, the Dragons. Pamela could care less about Scott. 

His long-time friend, Boof (Susan Ursitti) likes Scott but he's clueless about how she clearly feels. 

Michael J. Fox as 'Teen Wolf' Scott Howard.

Scott is also noticing some odd changes taking place with himself. Hair is suddenly growing on his hands. His ears changing shape in certain moments. His finger nails will suddenly turn into claws. Long hairs are suddenly appearing on his chest. Spooky stuff!

Finally, he can't control these changes and one night he transforms into a werewolf. That same night, his dad reveals he's also a werewolf. 

"An explanation is probably long overdue," his dad says.

Scott doesn't know how to deal with this. 

He first reveals his secret to his oddball friend, Stiles (Jerry Levine) who is shocked at first but promises to keep it a secret.

Finally, when being pummeled on the basketball court during a game, the wolf suddenly comes out in front of everyone. 

As the entire school now knows about Scott being a werewolf, they take a liking to him. He becomes not only Mr. Popular around campus, he's also suddenly good at basketball. And he finally gets the attention he wanted from Pamela Wells, much to Boof's chagrin. Though Pamela goes out with Scott, much to the jealousy of her boyfriend, she declines to actually be his girlfriend as she is still Mick's girlfriend. 

While Scott maintains his school popularity, one person still has it in for him - the Vice Principal, Mr. Thorne (James McKrell). 

He has a vendetta against Scott, which ultimately stems from an incident Thorne had with Scott's dad.

Disappointed with Pamela, Scott asks Boof to the Spring Dance. Boof agrees under the condition that she goes with Scott Howard, not "the wolf." 

Scott declines. People like the wolf. That's who they want to see. So, he goes alone. 

At the dance, he and Boof meet in the school hallway, and kiss. This turns Scott back into his normal self. 

When they return to the dancefloor, an angry and jealous Mick punches Scott in the face. He also starts mocking Boof. Angry, Scott turns back into the wolf and tries to attack him. 

Scott gets a grip on himself and runs into the hallway instead where he meets an all-too-happy Vice Principal Thorne who has Scott right where he wants him, He's about to kick him out of school but Scott's dad comes to his son's aide against Thorne. 

For Scott, he faces a choice to continue on from there as himself or as "the wolf." Despite all the benefits the wolf paved the way for, Scott of course realizes it's better to be who he really is... although he is actually a werewolf so, it's not like he'd be lying to himself or anyone if he chose to be the wolf. 

"Teen Wolf" is as formulaic a coming-of-age movie as it gets. 

Nothing much happens after Scott realizes he's a wolf. He becomes popular and wins the big basketball championship. Outside of Michael J. Fox playing a werewolf, this movie is bland. It carries on in pop culture simply because of Fox. The only dilemma is whether Scott keeps up being the wolf or not. Other than Michael J. Fox playing a werewolf teen, and a few still funny moments. the movie is just boring.

Scott's coach, Mr. Finstock (Jay Tarses) is my favorite character in all this. Perhaps the premise that the coach is rather disinterested in the team has not aged well, the joke that he can't offer any sensical motivational advice to his players to save his life is pretty funny. 

"There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Now you stick to that, and everything else is cream cheese," he tells Scott in one scene. 

In another scene, when Scott is noticing the odd occurrences taking place, unaware it's his inner werewolf coming out, he goes to his coach in the hopes of receiving some advice. 

"Look Scotty, I know what you're going through," the coach says. "Couple years back, a kid came to me much the same way you're coming to me now, saying the same thing that you're saying. He wanted to
drop off the team. His mother was a widow, all crippled up. She was scrubbing floors. She had this pin in her hip. So, he wanted to drop basketball and get a job. Now these were poor people, these were hungry people with real problems. Understand what I'm saying?"

"What happened to the kid?" Scott asks. 
"I don't know. He quit. He was a third stringer; I didn't need him."

I see this movie as a bit of a spoof of teenage horror movies such as "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" from 1957. In one scene, Scott uses his wolf abilities to scare a liquor store clerk into selling him a keg of beer. 

A few years before its release, an actual horror comedy with the same general premise was released called "Full Moon High" (1981). I've heard it come up in content and conversations about "Teen Wolf", but I have yet to watch it. 

The whole teenage werewolf motif has stuck around for a lot of years. Yeah, yeah... "Twilight." We all know about that. 

The marketing for "Teen Wolf" was heavy with the fact that not only is Michael J. Fox in this but that Michael J. Fox, the star of "Back to the Future," is in this. 

Time has been good to Fox. If it wasn't for him, "Teen Wolf" would surely have fallen into the deep, dark recesses of obscure 80s movies where titles like "Invaders From Mars" (1986), "Hell Comes to Frogtown" (1988) and "Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann" (1982) dwell. 

It's a bit of a nutty professor kind of scenario in that the main character becomes much more popular and liked when he becomes a monster than he is when he's his normal self. 

While Scott Howard isn't so popular at school, when he becomes a werewolf, the students love what he becomes and the success he brings to the Beavers. 

Scott the werewolf is rather novel, but not who he "actually is" personality wise, I guess. He's always been there, but the werewolf side of him was always a secret. At the advice of his dad, Scott has to choose to either be himself regardless of what others think of him or be the superficial wolf and enjoy this newfound popularity for as long as it lasts. 

What's odd is that Scott doesn't start changing until his teenage years. Did he not go through this during his childhood days? And he doesn't learn that his dad also becomes a werewolf until the night when Scott fully changes into the wolf. 

I don't get why his inner werewolf suddenly decides to show itself now at random in his teenage years. It's vaguely implied that it's tied to his hormone changes common with puberty. Later, Scott tells Stiles he can bring out the werewolf whenever he wants. And evidently being a werewolf is a genetic thing, passed down through generations.    

"Teen Wolf" is an alright update to the teenage horror subgenre, though again, it's a real stretch calling it "horror." 

The story line is cut and dry. Once the werewolf shows up, it's a matter of waiting for something else to happen. Though it does still have some funny moments, outside of the novelty of Michael J. Fox being a wolf, the rest is a complete lull. Not to mention the fact it's the only other movie that I know Mark Holton from other than "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure." That is, until I saw him in "Leprechaun." 

Also, is "Boof" a real name? Has anyone out there had a child and declared, "And I shall name her, 'Boof'?"