Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice - The Ghost with the Most, is the name of a character in the movie of the same name. The movie, a horror-comedy was released in the year 1988. The movie was made on a shoestring budget of $ 13 million, and went on to become a top grosser, earning well over five times the amount invested. Director Tim Burton, who was working on a script of Batman at that time, was roped in by the producers, Warner Brothers, to direct the movie and readily agreed when he saw the script.

Tim Burton went on to assemble a glowing star cast, consisting of such names as Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis and Winona Ryder. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis play the Maitlands, a happily married couple that are killed in an accident and turn into ghosts. They are allowed to live in their former house. Their otherworldly peace is shattered when their house is bought by another couple from New York. The new owners arrive along with their daughter Lydia, played by Winona Ryder. The film revolves around the often-hilarious attempts by the Maitlands to get their house vacated.

In their attempts, they are helped by a mischievous ghost, Beetlejuice, played by Michael Keaton. It turns out that Beetlejuice has his own hidden and obnoxious agenda. Keaton later went on to play Batman in one of the Batman movies.

Beetlejuice is the most well known character of the movie. He is a bio-exorcist with a grotesque and obnoxious appearance and an attitude to boot. His character is a complete mystery. How he became a ghost and his age are facts, which stay a mystery throughout the movie. He abhors neatness, and likes being filthy, and this is reflected in the beetlejuice clothes.

The success of the movie led to the creation of an animated television series, which was aired on ABC network. This show was also named Beetlejuice, and run from 1989 to 1991. The character of the main protagonist, Bettlejuice underwent a fundamental change. In the movie, he is an obnoxious and almost a villainous character. But in the TV series, he is fundamentally good at heart, though he remains mischievous in disposition.

Also, in direct contrast with the original movie, Beetlejuice and Lydia turn out to be good friends. The character of the Maitlands also finds no mention in the TV series. The animated TV series was touted as being "bi-modal", meaning that it appealed to both kids and adults, albeit on different levels. Danny Elfman composed the score and the music for the animated series.

As with most successful Hollywood ventures, Beetlejuice also led to the creation of a whole lot of merchandise. The merchandise was based on both the film and the beetlejuice animation series. It includes a whole lot of products, ranging from the beetlejuice dvd to the more bizarre beetlejuice mask. Incidentally, beetlejuice clothes are a popular brand of kids’ clothes in the UK, but bear no connection to the movie or the series whatsoever!