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Movie Picture of the Day 7/28/13
Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin put on their frightening faces to try to scare the living in Tim Burton‘s classic film Beetlejuice (1988).
Who Knew Michael Keaton and Heath Ledger Could be Brothers?
These two movie characters look strikingly similar. They could almost be brothers. I never would have noticed how much Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) from Beetlejuice (1988) looks so much like the Joker (Heath Ledger) from The Dark Knight (2008) if I had not seen this picture. Their characters were 20 years apart from each other on screen, but in this picture they could be twins.
Looking at this picture, I could totally see each actor play the other character. Heath Ledger (Rest in Peace) would have been a great Beetlejuice. At the time that Michael Keaton was Beetlejuice, I bet he would have been a great Joker. Ironically Keaton played Batman (the Joker’s nemesis) in Batman (1989) a year after Beetlejuice was in theatres.
Do you think that Beetlejuice is about to trade numbers with the Joker? Instead of shrinking Beetlejuice’s head, what do you think the Joker would do to Beetlejuice?
Trailer for R.I.P.D. (2013)
R.I.P.D. (2013) (Click on the title for my full review.)
R.I.P.D. looks like a cross between Beetlejuice (1988) and Men in Black (1997).
The movie is directed by Robert Schwentke and stars Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, Robert Knepper, James Hong, Mike O’Malley, Stephanie Szostak, Devin Ratray, Larry Joe Campbell, Marisa Miller, Josh Sussman, Alexandra East, and Tobias Segal.
This action comedy looks like it will be right up my alley.
The film is set to release on 7/19/13.
Frankenweenie (2012)
One of the darkest, creepiest Disney kids movies that I can recall in recent years.
The awesome, unique animation was obviously influenced by the warped brilliance of Director Tim Burton. It is basically the love child of The Nightmare before Christmas (1993) and Corpse Bride (2005). Ever since Burton made a name for his crazy self when he directed Beetlejuice (1988), every one of his movies has been a visually stunning work of art.
Burton takes the classic Frankenstein (1931) and puts it in a blender with Lassie Come Home (1943), Pet Sematary (1989), The Mummy (1932), Dracula (1931), The Wolfman (1941), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Gremlins (1984), and Godzilla (1954). The monster that is created from this movie concoction goes by the name of Frankenweenie.
Frankenweenie is a touching, heartfelt, twisted tale of a boy’s love for his dog, Sparky. After a Sparky dies in a terrible accident, the boy cannot cope. He tries to use science to bring his beloved dog back from the dead. His classmates think that he is doing the experiment to win the trophy at the science fair. In order to compete, the students try to raise dead animals of their own.
The entire film has a classic old-movie feel that is incredible. It is the first full-length animated film that I have seen that has achieved the sense of an earlier time in such a realistic way.
The movie has a handful of big names (Martin Short, Martin Landau, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder) that supply some of the characters voices.
Fun facts: O’Hara and Ryder played stepmother and stepdaughter in Beetlejuice. The character that Ryder voiced actually looked a lot like she did in Beetlejuice. Landau was in Burton’s Sleepy Hollow (1999) and Ed Wood (1994).
The movie is rated PG. Parental guidance is suggested. I highly suggest that you view this movie before you show it to your little ones. It was pretty frightening for a Disney movie. That being said, you might just get pulled into this funny, clever, tender, superbly crafted film.
I rate this movie an 8.5 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Buy.
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