Monday, September 12, 2011

Movie Monday: Reboots

They're rebooting Beetlejuice.

Don't get me wrong - some movies need a reboot. Remember the 2003 Hulk?

Or the "reboot" of Batman - which I always thought was more a telling of another story arc (comic books are complicated). The original Batman movies were good - but there are so many storylines - The Dark Knight movies were worth making.

But I don't think classics should be rebooted. Which brings me back to Beetlejuice.

It's a 1988 cult classic (which is a good way to describe about any Tim Burton movie). I'm sure you know the story, but in case you were under a rock in the late eighties: Couple dies, decides to haunt the people who move into their home, meet a rogue spirit who's trying to come back from the after-life to cause trouble.

Chaos and hilarity ensue.

It's one of those movies you think you might want to watch because Netflix doesn't have anything better (or in 1988, because the video store was out of Dirty Dancing or Halloween). You watch it by default - and then it becomes a favorite.

Personally, I don't like to see this type of movie rebooted. Did the studio goof up on the first one, and need a do-over? Go for it. Is there so much more to tell, or a new way to tell the story? Rock on.

But a movie that just "found" its audience? The perfect combination of cast, director and story? That's the sort of chemistry that can't be created; it either happens, or it doesn't.

Don't mess with the ghost with the most.

2 comments:

  1. They shouldn't touch Bettlejuice. It's a classic.

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  2. I totally agree! I feel as though they are going to KILL it! And who can play Beetlejuice other than Michael Keaton! This is going to be a disaster...

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