I liked 2024's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. I left the theatre feeling happy, wanting to whistle the theme, but it's considered bad luck to whistle at night in Japan. And I felt like respecting the power of accidental spells.
If I could change one thing about the movie, Beetlejuice wouldn't be introduced until Lydia and Justin Theroux summon him fifteen or twenty minutes into the movie. So many of these nostalgia sequels somehow fall into a trap of having too many subplots, feeling compelled to cut between different plot threads simultaneously. In this one we have Lydia's issues, Astrid's issues, Deelia's issues, and Beetlejuice's trouble with Monica Bellucci. The first movie was grounded by following the Maitlands in their normal lives in the small New England town, then seeing their lives gradually shift into their afterlives.
The new one kind of achieves this atmosphere once it gets the noise out of the way. A highlight is Jenna Ortega riding her bike through that same town which we get to see even more of--it's supposed to be in Connecticut but is actually located in Vermont. I don't quite understand that. Do we not talk about Vermont? Anyway, it's in the full glory of autumnal beauty and it really gives you the feeling of dwelling there for a time. Like The Quiet Man or Shadow of a Doubt.
I saw Winona Rider said in an interview that she fantasises about Lydia and Beetlejuice actually getting together. Maybe she wouldn't if the movie made it clear what Beetlejuice actually spends most of his time doing as a "Bio-Exorcist"--that's killing people. What movie did I say it about recently, the reverse of the Dark Knight line? You either die a villain or live long enough to see yourself become the hero. That's pretty much what happens to Beetlejuice here, aside from his faithfully disgusting gags.
I'm not actually sure Jenna Ortega's a good actress. She imports some of her flat line delivers from Wednesday here. Gary Cooper was kind of like that, though. It's a choice and it's cute. She's sort of a Rei Ayanami type in live action. Maybe not Rei herself but like one of the many anime characters she influenced, like Lain from Serial Experiments Lain, Yuki in Haruhi Suzumiya, or Rem in Re:Zero. Usually stoic which makes her occasional blush all the more satisfying.
I wonder when they'll let Tim Burton do something totally original again.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now in theatres.
X Sonnet #1884
Bestowing blades on guards, the swords conclude.
When halberds grace the merry arch, we dine.
But paper thin, the stones would fain collude.
Our last dessert was first among the wine.
No skates escape the wrath of pushy thumbs.
No cloud could carry castles north of Hell.
Intrusive cookies crack your phone to crumbs.
No taco comes for those who ring the bell.
The space between tortillas brokers cheese.
Condemning phantoms led to op'ra change.
The ancient soup was formed of pork and peas.
The dripping meal contains a massive range.
When lunch is served, you eat at someone's home.
Remember grace when choosing far to roam.
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