Beetlejuice: 1,331
I grew up with both Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands (ES) which is one of the benefits of being a 90’s baby. As a kid when I saw these movies, their really just funny movies at that time. But its not till you get older and your able to understand not only the impact that they had, but the messages they were trying to tell through their various scenes and metaphors. I think the biggest theme in both Beetlejuice and ES is not only the main character being very introverted (like myself) but also being bullied and / or not appreciated. I see alot of myself in both of those characters, and I can relate to them which makes it easier for me to discuss these scenes, so here goes:
1. Basically a giant replica of the town in ES. This movie came out 2 years prior to ES and (from what I read) the budget was 15 million while ES was 20. Not a huge gap, so maybe Tim just wanted to start small but you can tell early on he had the vision for it.
2a 2b. They just wanna be alone till this chick arrives, trying to help and / or move stuff around. She reminds me of my mother lol.
3. Most of this movie takes place inside the house, so these early shots are very short and their really the only shots we get outside. I didn’t realise this till I was older, but alotta directors do this: their first movie is in 1 location and if it’s a success, they take that money and make an even bigger movie with bigger sets, which is what we see in Edward Scissorhands 2 years later.
As I mentioned above, the budget difference between these 2 movies was only $5 million so maybe he just wanted to do something easy first.
(don’t feel like renaming the rest of the numbers, so 4-5 are missing)
As I mentioned above, the budget difference between these 2 movies was only $5 million so maybe he just wanted to do something easy first.
(don’t feel like renaming the rest of the numbers, so 4-5 are missing)
6. Besides a few of the opening scenes, these are probably the biggest shots in the movie. Again this was Burton’s first big movie (atleast to me, I know he did Pee Wee and a few others) so he played it safe and stuck to 1 location like alotta first-time directors. I think alot of what their doing out here is just random stuff to keep the movie interesting. Their obviously adding more rooms or whatever to the house, but its not really important to the movie itself, its more of a visual thing I guess.
7a. We finally meet Beetlejuice himself. He’s all riled up, and he just wants to be noticed, galloping very excitedly on that horse. It’s also ironic in the sense that in Beetlejuice, the lonely character wants someone to come in, but in ES the lonely character doesn’t wanna be bothered. Edward is in his own world mentally, but Beetlejuice is in his own world physically, I like the contrast between the two, they complement each other.
7b. I don’t know why they spell it with a G here, but on the topic of the name, I thought about it and came up with my own little theory on it. Everybody hates beetles, but everybody loves juice. Beetles are the things you don’t wanna see, while juice is the thing you feel you need. It’s 2 polar opposites right next to each other. Nobody wants to see him, but they later find out they need him.
7b. I don’t know why they spell it with a G here, but on the topic of the name, I thought about it and came up with my own little theory on it. Everybody hates beetles, but everybody loves juice. Beetles are the things you don’t wanna see, while juice is the thing you feel you need. It’s 2 polar opposites right next to each other. Nobody wants to see him, but they later find out they need him.
8. Tim Burton loves to draw, so I’m assuming that’s why they do this…
9. After being alone so long he’s finally happy to see some people…
10. But he still fears being left alone…
11. “If I’m left alone I’m gonna lose my head…”
12. Same sculptures from Nightmare Before Christmas, very cute…
13. I still don’t fully understand this scene. But remember, earlier in the movie they took over the house and were actin kinda bossy, now look at em…
14a 14b “You want my help, then you wanna belittle me, but I’m untouchable…”
15a 15b “I tried to help you, but it looks like I’ll have to get my fix elsewhere…”
16. Making the football players / jocks look dumb, same thing he does in ES. My guess is Tim Burton had a thing against bullies.
17a 17b. This scene probably would’ve been on the beach, but again this movie is strictly 1 location. But the idea here is their outside chillin while the daughter is inside writing a suicide note. Just that image is depressing.
18. B tells Lydia she has to say his name 3 times. It’s really a respect / acknowledge thing, since he’s been unappreciated through most of the movie. By saying his name 3 times, in his mind, you really, really acknowledge his existence, and it probably feels good for him to hear too.
19. They try and talk to Lydia, but Adam still has his nose out. To me that says their trying to give her advice but Adam is still a liar.
20. They (the producers) don’t have the money to show us this stuff visually, so they show us through a diagram…
21. Art never gets old, but people do...