Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Callbacks To The First Movie

Key Takeaways

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice includes numerous callbacks to the original movie, from the model town to iconic scenes.
The film explores character origins, such as Beetlejuice’s mysterious past.
Expect classic references, like the singing Banana Boat song, and the return of the Handbook for the Recently Deceased.

As a long-time fan of Tim Burton’s whimsical and spooktacular world, I can’t help but feel nostalgic when revisiting the hilarious antics of Beetlejuice in his eponymous film. The sequel, while not quite capturing the original’s magic, still manages to keep us entertained with numerous callbacks and nods to its predecessor.

The initial “Beetlejuice” movie, a blend of horror and comedy, premiered in 1988. Over time, it has evolved into an adored cult favorite among Tim Burton enthusiasts. A cartoon version followed suit in 1989, introducing many ’90s kids to Lydia Deetz, Beetlejuice, and a host of other characters. Additionally, several video games based on the movie were also developed.

At long last, “Beetlejuice” is here, bringing a delightful dose of nostalgia for fans from the late ’80s and early ’90s. The film includes numerous references to the original movie, as well as possible winks to the animated series. Let’s delve into the most memorable callbacks with spoilers included.

WARNING! Spoilers ahead!

8 The Model Town

Look Out For The Maitlands

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Callbacks To The First Movie

In the opening of the classic film Beetlejuice, an outstanding theme tune by Danny Elfman is played. Notably, Elfman typically scores Tim Burton’s movies, and Beetlejuice is no different in this regard. As the credits unfold, they pass through a miniature town resembling the one from the original movie, offering glimpses of the Deetz family’s old house, the red-covered bridge, the church, and other familiar landmarks.

As an enthusiastic viewer, I can’t help but notice a fresh element in the town model – the tragic duo, Adam and Barbara Maitland, who meet their untimely end by the river after their car takes their lives. Although these characters don’t physically feature in the movie, these figurines serve as a delightful nod to their unfortunate accident in Beetlejuice.

7 Singing Banana Boat (Day-O) At The Funeral

How Long Did It Take Those Kids To Learn That?

One memorable scene from the initial film involves the Maitlands, ghostly spirits, crashing a dinner party hosted by the Deetz family. They compel them to perform Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat (Day-O)” song. Throughout the original movie, many of Harry Belafonte’s tunes play in the background, with this particular song also featured in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

As a gamer, I can’t help but be reminded of that haunting melody they sang at Charles’ funeral and the one that echoed through the trailer for the movie. It seemed like they were giving away a secret clue early on in the teaser, but when it played out in the final product, it felt like an immortal hit, a timeless banger that left an indelible mark.

6 Delores Is Teased In The Original Movie

Beetlejuice’s Origins Are Dived Into

In the wedding scene featuring Lydia in the original film, Beetlejuice momentarily steps away from the officiant and murmurs something to himself. This implies that he had made a vow to marry only once, suggesting he may have been married previously. Upon giving Lydia the ring, it’s already on his finger instead of being handed over.

In the film “Beetlejuice,” Delores, Beetlejuice’s former spouse, was fragmented and stored in a box. Upon discovery, she had to fasten herself back together, even her fingers, with staples. This could either be an instance of retconning the original movie by introducing Beetlejuice as having a wife or it might be Tim Burton incorporating a character detail from long ago.

5 Charles’ Fascination With Birds

And Tim Burton’s Fascination With Animation

In the latest film, Jeffrey Jones doesn’t reappear as the character Charles Deetz. Despite some intricate reasons, there are still two references to his character that are significant for the plot. Initially, a brief scene depicts Charles as an avid bird watcher, similar to how he was portrayed in the original movie, which partly explains his fate in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”.

He was on his way to an island to look at rare birds when his plane crashed followed by Charles getting eaten by a shark. This backstory is told through an animated sequence akin to The Nightmare Before Christmas, which Tim Burton also worked on.

4 The Handbook For The Recently Deceased

It Returns To Cause Trouble

In the initial film, upon Adam and Barbara’s demise, they discover a book titled “The Handbook for the Recently Deceased” in their residence. It is then that they understand what has happened to them. The book provides essential information to help them navigate death, and various excerpts from it are depicted throughout the movie.

In the movie “Beetlejuice,” the object appears when Astrid discovers it in Jeremy’s room, a boy she encounters in town. At first, he pretends he bought it from some tacky bookstore, but later on, he confesses that he is a ghost. Unfortunately, this ghost isn’t a friendly one; he intends to misuse the book’s powers to snatch Astrid’s soul, hoping to save his own in the process.

3 Beetlejuice’s Scare

It’s Not A Figment

Adam and Barbara are displeased since the Deetz family settled in their house, which they were yet to vacate due to haunting. They’ve attempted several times to frighten them off without success. In desperation, they call for Beetlejuice three times. When asked for evidence of his fearsome nature, the camera captures an angle behind Beetlejuice’s head as he suddenly reveals a horde of snakes emerging from his sides.

Although its appearance remains a mystery, the identical perspective is consistently applied to both Lydia and Rory. This situation causes Rory to believe that Beetlejuice might just be a product of his own imagination, which in turn triggers this response from Beetlejuice: “Does this look like something dreamed up by your mind?

2 Beetlejuice Gets The One F-Bomb Again

Nice Model Dostoevsky

Movie enthusiasts are aware that films labeled as PG and PG-13 can typically include a single use of profanity, such as the F-word. In the movie “Beetlejuice,” the title character exclaims, “What a lousy model!”, but in a way that sounds like he said “Nice F***ing model!” due to the tree’s ease of falling over. In the sequel, Beetlejuice is able to use the F-word once more.

As Jeremy believes he’s on the verge of winning by obtaining Astrid’s soul through his passport, Beetlejuice suddenly appears. He then stamps the passport, but instead, it turns out to be a ticket to hell. In a fitting reference to Dostoevsky’s work, Jeremy reads Crime and Punishment earlier in the film, Beetlejuice quips, “As Dostoevsky might say, ‘You fool! Later.’

1 The Wedding: Another Callback To Banana Boat (Day-O)

Imagine A More Elaborate Dance Number

Although Harry Belafonte’s tunes don’t feature heavily in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, the film does include a nod back to the dinner scene from the first movie. Just like before, we find Beetlejuice attempting to wed Lydia once more.

At the wedding, a grand dance performance kicks off where Beetlejuice puppets manage to get everyone involved in singing “MacArthur Park” by Richard Harris. This song is particularly long, so the spectacle becomes even more intricate. The singer might be familiar to some as he was also an actor who portrayed Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films and has played numerous roles throughout his career.

2024-09-10 20:55