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Love Story Movie Review : Sekhar Kammula delivers a heart-touching ode to love

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The storyline of this movie is just amazing and The acting is also very good. Very nice movie with an amazing story. They did very good and natural-looking acting.

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Love Story Releases Today LIVE: Review, Box Office, Where to Watch, HD Download and Book Ticket Online

Superstar naga chaitanya and sai pallavi's romantic drama film love story releases on september 24. if you are planning to watch the sekhar kammula directorial love story, know where to book the movie tickets, release date, how to download in hd and other details here..

Love Story Releases Today: Review, Box Office, Where to Watch, HD Download and Book Ticket Online

What is Love Story Movie Release Date?

24 September 2021

Where to book Love Story movie tickets?

You can book Naga Chaitanya's Love Story movie tickets on BookMyShow or on PayTM for any theatre/cinema hall near you. If you book through Amazon Pay, you may also get cashback in your Amazon wallet. 

Who is the Director of Love Story?

Sekhar Kammula

Who are the producers of Love Story movie?

Narayan Das Narang, Puskur Ram Mohan Rao

Who is the writer of Love Story movie 2021?

Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film is written and directed by Sekhar Kammula.

What is the star cast of Love Story movie?

Naga Chaitanya as Revanth 

Sai Pallavi as Mounica  Devayani as Mounica's mother  Posani Krishna Murali  Rajeev Kanakala  Easwari Rao as Revanth's mother  Satyam Rajesh  Thagubothu Ramesh  Uttej 

What is the running time of Love Story?

2hours 36minutes

Who is the Music Director of Love Story movie?

The film score is composed by Pawan Ch.

How can I see Love Story Movie Trailer?

You can watch Love Story movie trailer on the official YouTube channel called Aditya Music. 

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Love Story Review: Matured Narration

Movie: Love Story Rating: 3/5 Banner: Sree Venkateswara Cinemas Cast: Naga Chaitanya, Sai Pallavi, Easwari Rao, Devyani, Rajeev Kanakala, Uttej, and others Cinematography: Vijay C Kumar Music: Pawan CH Producers: Narayan Das K Narang Puskar Ram Mohan Rao Written and directed by: Sekhar Kammula  Release Date: Sep 24, 2021

One film that has occupied media space for a long time is Sekhar Kammula’s “Love Story”, one of the most-anticipated Telugu films. He teams up with Naga Chaitanya for the first. It also marks his second combination with Sai Pallavi after Fidaa (2017).

Amidst the hype, the film hit theaters today. Let’s analyze.

Story: Revanth (Naga Chaitanya), a youngster with ambitions to achieve something in life, runs a Zumba center in Hyderabad. He hails from Armoor in Telangana and is a Christian.

Mounika (Sai Pallavi), an engineering graduate, comes from the same village to Hyderabad to find a job. Her room is adjacent to Revanth’s Zumba center.

She is also from Armoor but they have not met before as she is from a higher community and rich. Her uncle Narasimham (Rajeev Kanakala) holds a tight grip on their family and financial matters. 

Seeking freedom from the clutches of her uncle, she decides to stay in Hyderabad and joins as a partner in Revanth’s Zumba center. They begin to fall in love with each other.

What will happen if her uncle gets to know her love story?

Artistes’ Performances: For the first time in his career, Naga Chaitanya has portrayed a role with so much conviction. As a lower-caste Telangana youngster, he has done a remarkable job. His sincere efforts in getting the dialect can be noticed. This is his career-best performance.

Sai Pallavi once again excels in the role of Mounika. With her impeccable dance skills and nuanced performance, she steals the hearts. Sai Pallavi gets a complex and emotionally charged character and she doesn’t falter a moment. She holds the scenes. 

Senior actress Eeswari Rao as Chaitanya’s mother is excellent. Devyani, Rajeev Kanakala, and Uttej also leave a strong mark.

Technical Excellence: There is no need to mention that the songs have already chartbusters. Newcomer Pawan’s music is the main pillar of this film. The background score is also terrific.

Cinematographer Vijay C Kumar captures the moments neatly. The production design is apt.  

Highlights: Naga Chaitanya’s performance Sai Pallavi’s magic Emotional moments Music

Drawback: Hurried climax Slow-pace

Analysis Addressing caste discrimination has become a regular feature in Tollywood lately. Not completely moving away from his style of presenting sensible love stories, director Sekhar Kammula touches upon two important issues – caste discrimination and sexual abuse.

“Love Story”, starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, as the title says, is a love story but is not a chirpy drama as Kammula’s previous film “Fidaa” was. It is more of a serious film, with a realistic approach. 

“Love Story” begins on a somber note. It takes a while to get into the groove. The film picks up when Sai Pallavi grooves to the song “Evo Evo Kalale..Tara Ram Pam” in a gay abandon. Sai Pallavi mesmerizes with her dance steps in this song. Even from the narrative point, it sets the tone for the rest of the romance.

Their romantic thread cutting from Hyderabad to Armoor engages us. There are simple, yet beautiful moments here. 

After engaging in romantic drama in the first, the film comes to the core point of the issue. The class differences come to the fore, and the movie turns into a serious drama. However, in a sudden jolt, the penultimate portion deals with another issue (sexual abuse).

While the climax makes our hearts heavy, it also gives the feeling that the director has suddenly changed the tone. The climax portion makes different from the other regular movies that have dealt with caste issues like ‘Uppena’, ‘Sridevi Soda Center, etc. But care should have been taken for better results. There is a hurried feeling.

The second issue that is dealt with in the film may not be palatable to a section of the audience. However, Kammula took a risk. 

Sekhar Kammula’s films always suffer from bloating. Sharp editing has never been his strength. “Love Story” also does have this drawback. This is the reason why the film loses grip in the middle portion.

But Sekhar leaves his mark with some terrific scenes – like Sai Pallavi slipping her tongue about Chaitanya’s caste and her love proposal, sanitary pad episode, sequences with Easwari and Naga Chaitanya stand out.

All in all, despite slow narration, “Love Story” scores high on excellent performances from the lead pair, music, and some emotional sequences. But if you are looking for a cheerful romantic comedy, you might be disappointed. It is a sensible romantic drama with two important issues. Watch it for music, and the lead pair. 

Bottom line: Captivating music and Sai Pallavi's magic

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Tags: Love Story Love Story Movie Review Love Story Review Love Story Rating Love Story Movie Rating

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Review: Love Story

Article by Satya B Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 10:27 am, 24 September 2021 | Updated on 2:34 pm, 25 September 2021

2 Hr 37 Mins   |   Love   |   24-09-2021

Cast - Naga Chaitanya,Sai Pallavi, Ragiv Kanakala and Others

Director - Sekhar Kammula

Producer - Narayan Das K Narang; Puskar Ram Mohan Rao

Banner - Amigos Creations, Sree Venkateswara Cinemas

Music - Pawan

Sekhar Kammula’s Love Story with Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi had a long wait for theatrical release and finally, the movie hit the screens. Brand Sekhar Kammula already enjoys a huge fan base among the class audience and his Love Story raised the expectations with the very talented Sai Pallavi in it. Sekhar claimed the Love Story to be a different movie from his usual style and many are also curious to see how Naga Chaitanya fits in the Kammula-style direction. The movie is out with chartbuster songs and huge expectations. Let us get into the review now.

What Is It About?

A lower-caste youngster Revanth (Naga Chaitanya) lives in the city, running a Zumba dance institute on his penthouse with little earnings from it. He aims to become successful in the business but his financial and family background does not support him much. Mouni (Sai Pallavi) comes to the city with IT job aspirations but ends up becoming a partner in Revanth’s Zumba dance institute. They fall in love, but Mouni’s upper-caste becomes an obstacle in the form of Mouni’s uncle Narasimham (Rajeev Kanakala). Mouni is dead-scared of Narasimham for a strong reason already. How Revanth and Mouni overcome these issues to keep their ‘love’ alive forms the ‘story’.

Performances

Naga Chaitanya appears as a Telangana chap and he tried the slang too. His accent won’t sound great and it is neither bad. Picking a movie that is partially based on dance is an adventure to Naga Chaitanya who is not excellent at it. But he improved his moves too and did well, though we cannot compare it to that of Sai Pallavi. While he improved his acting skills too, the performance can’t be blamed for a poor plot.

Sai Pallavi has the ease and presence on the screen that she eats up everyone else in the frame and all the spotlights turn to her. As always she did very well in the role she was given. Needless to say, her dances are a treat to the eyes. Chay says ‘Varshamlo Nemali lekka’ after she dances for the first time for the ‘Evo Evo’ song on the terrace..and the comparison is so apt. Sai Pallavi did what she was told to do as Mouni, except that her role was not written well.

Rajeev Kanakala is okay as a baddie and he does not have much to perform here. Gangavva brings few laughs though she appears in very few scenes. Mail fame Gouri Priya will be there in many scenes in the first half but was not given a prominent role. Devayani is fine as Sai Pallavi’s mother. Uttej and others are fine in their roles.

Technicalities

Love Story’s songs are a big success already. Saranga Dariya is very colorful and great to watch. Almost all songs are good. Background music is fine. Cinematography is also fine. Editing could have been better. The screenplay is alright. Run time of 156 minutes is a culprit, as we can feel a slow down in some places in first half and many in second half.

Sai Pallavi Songs

Thumbs Down

Clumsy and half baked story Lag in Second half Abrupt ending

Sekhar Kammula’s previous movies earning him fame for making classy stuff that attracts overseas and class audiences mostly. Love Story too appeared to be one of his marks, but it is a complete misfire. A very good performer in the female lead, good songs, Telangana backdrop, and many other factors made it look like a Kammula movie, but the story itself with too many clumsy conflicts lost it big time.

A lower-casted youngster falling for an upper-casted girl is not uncommon for many film stories off late. But both Chay and Sai Pallavi’s roles here are matured enough to understand the consequences and they act accordingly. While the love story in the first half is mostly about dance and the institute, the scenes of discrimination and insult also were shown.

The love track between Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi is just a song and few scenes, which look artificial mostly. Before we could find depth in their love story, the caste discrimination scenes come up. The scenes where he was told that business is not for folks from a lower caste, don’t make sense at a later point as the aspirations to prove himself in the same business vanish into the thin air.

The lead role shuts down all his dreams and leaves for Dubai to work for odd jobs there. The typical Dubai kind of scenes like finding a small room to stay, wearing an apron to work for a daily job, walking in the sands give us the feels of peak monotony and cliche.

While the lovers try to find a way to get married with the caste-based hurdles, the point of child molestation comes up, which the director keeps under the wraps until pre-climax. The director fails to justify the love story part, just like he did with the caste-based discrimination and child molestation. He picked too many conflicts in which he could coordinate between none.

While the clumsy merry-go-round of multiple issues goes on, the director walks us out with an abrupt ending where the protagonist puts an end to everybody’s villain after uttering some strong dialogues and throwing some punches. The Love Story is an outdated inter-caste love story that also has a point of ‘me too’, but justifies no point by the end.

Love Story does not look like the work of the director who delivered a cult-like Leader or a classic like Fidaa, not even close.

Bottom line: Age Old Love Story

Rating: 2.75 /5

Tags Love Story Movie Reviews Naga Chaitanya Recommended Sai Pallavi

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Love Story: Release Date, Trailer, Songs, Cast

• Release Date 24 September 2021
• Language Telugu
• Genre Drama, Romance
• Duration 2h 45min
• Cast Naga Chaitanya, Sai Pallavi, Rajeev Kanakala, Devayani, Easwari Rao, Uttej, Ananda Chakrapani, Gangavva, Rana Daggubati
• Director Sekhar Kammula
• Writer Sekhar Kammula
• Cinematography Vijay C. Kumar
• Music Pawan Ch
• Producer Narayan Das, K Narang, Puskar Ram, Mohan Rao
• Production Amigos Creations, Sree Venkateswara Cinemas

About Love Story Movie (2021)

Revanth (Naga Chaitanya) and Mounika (Sai Pallavi) are finding their space in society, and trying to work up their careers while they fall in love. Their story marks the begining of something new, while also erasing their hardships from the past.

Love Story Movie Cast, Release Date, Trailer, Songs and Ratings

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‘bonjour tristesse’ review: chloë sevigny and claes bang headline a handsome misfire of an adaptation.

Lily McInerny also stars in this updated take on Françoise Sagan's 1954 coming-of-age story, about a young woman meddling in her father's love life.

By Caryn James

Caryn James

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Cecile’s mother died years before and she and Raymond are especially close, although not suspiciously so. Chew-Bose makes a smart choice by starting the movie with Cecile and her new love, a neighbor near her age named Cyril (Aliocha Schneider). Whatever Cecile’s daddy issues are, she is not simply obsessed with her father; one night she surprises Cyril by quietly sneaking into his bed.

But she has been a sophisticated observer of Raymond’s womanizing. Part of the new version’s problem is that the sexual freedom that seemed shocking seven decades ago no longer does, for either father or daughter. The most outlandish behavior here is that everyone smokes and the adults even light Cecile’s cigarettes for her. Chew-Bose’s screenplay doesn’t explore the characters deeply enough to replace the book’s jaw-dropping quality with any psychological depth.

Sevigny does much better in her role, partly because Anne is already so tightly wound. She wears her hair up in a severe twist, has a prim bearing and tries to get Cecile to study for her college entrance tests. The actress has one amazing scene when the camera, close on her face, captures a look of pure, eye-opening pain as she recognizes how faithless Raymond can be. But too often these characters merely announce their feelings.

Crew-Bose has written about cinema and published a collection of essays, Too Much and Not in the Mood (2017). Her screenplay is thoughtful enough to try to enhance the motivation behind Raymond and Anne’s unlikely decision. She and Raymond’s late wife had been close friends, and it’s suggested that Anne and Raymond may have more history than anyone else knows. But all that zooms by. It’s true that from her limited perspective, Cecile can’t understand what’s happening any better than we can. But that doesn’t offset the movie’s overall shallowness.

Cecile’s plotting leads to the tragic consequences that end the book and introduce her to real sadness. Crew-Bose makes the daring choice to extend the story beyond the novel and it gives her one of the film’s best episodes, chilling in its revelation of the emotional fallout of Cecile’s actions. More of that boldness might have made Bonjour Tristesse something beyond just a pretty picture.

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‘Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali’ movie review: Heartwarming love story from Rakshit Shetty’s stable

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Stories of unrequited love and lost love have a larger impact emotionally than the ones that end on a happy note. Chandrajith Belliyappa explores both in Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali .

Sid (Vihan Gowda) who hasn’t been able to move on from his first love Anahita (Ankita Amar), calls off his wedding with Radha (Mayuri Nataraj). Then begins a series of flashbacks.

A younger short-tempered SId meets a timid Anahita at a college fest. It’s love at first sight but it takes him a while and a couple of challenges to meet her again and confess his love for her. However circumstances part them. It’s been seven years. After breaking his engagement with Radha, Sid decides to check on Anahita.

The film tries to explore if love for a person can still mean the same years after separation. The director presents two perspectives from two different generations. An old cab driver’s narration of his love story is one of the most beautiful and the most heart-warming sequences in the film. I think it has something to do with the charm of old school romance.

Vihan and Mayuri Nataraj in the film.

Credit: Paramvah Studios

With Ibbani… , Kannada love stories seem more evolved. Sid has the traits of your typical commercial film hero. He’s short-tempered. He beats people up. But he also respects the boundaries Anahita sets for him.

When she says he is making her feel uncomfortable, he backs off, unlike most films — released over a period of time — that have had the hero stalking the heroine and making her feel more uncomfortable before she falls in love with his toxic masculinity that she mistakes for chivalry.

Chandrajith follows a simple method of storytelling without any confusions or any major plot changes or twists in the narrative. The film takes references from books like Erich Segal’s Love Story and O Henry’s The Last Leaf. Having said that, when Sid meets Anahita again, she is at her weakest point. He tries to do his best to make her more positive and also tries to fulfill her dreams.

The film however has its bleak moments. One of the major drawbacks is the treatment of the emotions of the male protagonist. Sid’s character requires a certain amount of emotion that can make the audience vouch for him. The audience will perhaps be able to connect emotionally with Anahita’s struggles but not through Sid which is essential in a love story. There are also some unnecessary parts in the film that can make one feel bored but in retrospect, the film leaves a soothing feeling in the heart.

To conclude, Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali is a feel good romance made of polaroid pictures, poetry, wine, beautiful visuals by Srivathsan Selvarajan and Gagan Baderia’s music — all in the backdrop of the Goan monsoon and Bengaluru’s aesthetics.

(The film is currently running in theatres)

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Love Story Reviews

Some love stories just don't hold up well

Full Review | Feb 28, 2024

The production values here are not very strong as the imagery is bland and unmemorable, the costumes don’t tell you anything about the characters and the production designers seemingly forgot what it was like to be a university student.

Full Review | Feb 9, 2023

It wears its heart on its sleeve and makes no apologies (remember what love means ...), and more than anything that is what audiences responded to then and continue to respond to today.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 8, 2021

The impact of Love Story cannot be overstated. Yet despite its touchstone status, it's not a particularly good film.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Feb 12, 2021

Love Story certainly isn't the first or the last romantic drama that will grace the big screen but it has that intangible 'it' quality that makes it one of the best.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Feb 5, 2021

A genuinely moving love story with vivid characters in a singularly cinematic romance.

Full Review | Original Score: 10/10 | Aug 30, 2020

Love Story is a three-handkerchief movie if you are hard boiled. Otherwise it rates six hankies.

Full Review | Apr 5, 2019

Ryan O'Neal gives the character of the neon scion a warmth and vulnerability entirely missing from the bestseller.

Full Review | Feb 8, 2018

MacGraw never could act her way out of a paper bag, but she dies very prettily, cuing Oscar winning violins and O'Neal's Big Scene.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 30, 2012

If you're going to make a serious tearjerker, somebody's got to die. It's in the handbook of romantic platitudes.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Jan 24, 2012

Mega-hit of the 1970s is a real cringer today.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 1, 2011

Guilty pleasure par excellence: How did this poorly-acted schmaltzy romantic melodrama ever get Best Picture Oscar nomination? Arthur Hiller's direction is inept, bringing out the novel's weaknesses instead of strengths.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Sep 23, 2008

By the time O'Neal gets around to intoning the famous tag line, you'll be so sick of hearing Francis Lai's love theme that you'll want to strangle the projectionist.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 19, 2007

Love Story is an excellent film.

Full Review | Dec 19, 2007

Cornball classic weeper is at least true to its book basis.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 10, 2006

Dated before it was made.

Full Review | Feb 9, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 10, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 22, 2005

The only really depressing thing about Love Story is the thought of all of the terrible imitations that will inevitably follow it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 9, 2005

Hiller earns our emotional response because of the way he's directed the movie.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Oct 23, 2004

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Common Sense Media Review

Mega-hit of the 1970s isn't as powerful today.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that some of the dialogue is peppered with mild expletives. Although Jennifer supports Oliver in law school, she promptly gives up her musical aspirations to be a housewife as soon as he finds a job.

Why Age 13+?

Jennifer's dialogue is peppered with mild expletives.

A love scene.

Any Positive Content?

Although Jennifer supports Oliver in law school, she promptly gives up her music

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Although Jennifer supports Oliver in law school, she promptly gives up her musical aspirations to be a housewife as soon as he finds a job. Modern audiences may find the gender roles out of sync with the times.

Parents need to know that some of the dialogue is peppered with mild expletives. Although Jennifer supports Oliver in law school, she promptly gives up her musical aspirations to be a housewife as soon as he finds a job. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (2)
• Kids say (3)

Based on 2 parent reviews

A bit of an empty love story...

What's the story.

Radcliffe music major Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali McGraw) and Harvard man Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O'Neal) fall in love despite the differences in their backgrounds. Oliver is from an affluent WASP family while Jennifer grew up in her father's bakery in Rhode Island. Oliver is destined for Harvard Law School, while Jennifer's planning to study piano in Paris, but all of that changes when they announce their engagement. Unwilling to give in to his father's demand that they postpone their marriage, Oliver is cut off without a penny. Jennifer gives up music and takes a job as a teacher to support him while he's in law school. Her investment pays off when he graduates with honors and finds a well-paying job in New York. When Jennifer tries unsuccessfully to get pregnant, she's discovered to be terminally ill. She and Oliver spend their last days savoring every moment together.

Is It Any Good?

Although this corny reworking of Romeo and Juliet is almost saved by Ryan O'Neal's quietly smoldering charm, young viewers may be quick to hit the eject button. Jennifer's constant putdowns and continual sarcasm are so irritating that they undermine the plausibility of Oliver's love for her. Jennifer's illness and death is designed to evoke strong emotions, but viewers who can't get past her abrasive personality may have trouble summoning sympathy. However, sensitive teens may share in Oliver's intense feelings of loss and sadness.

Released in 1970, LOVE STORY was adapted from Erich Segal's best-selling novel and was equally popular onscreen. But the highly romanticized handling of Jennifer's death makes it unlikely to appeal to viewers today. Instead, audiences may cringe when they hear the famous line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." These words were ubiquitous when this tearjerker was released, but their message hasn't aged particularly well.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how death and dying are portrayed in films. Was Jennifer's death portrayed realistically? Families who have experienced the dying and death of family member might compare that to the movie. Why do movie makers make death and dying either seem idyllic, as in this case, or gruesome, as in horror movies? Would you like to see movies that portray death realistically? Why or why not?

Movie Details

• In theaters : December 16, 1970
• On DVD or streaming : April 24, 2001
• Cast : Ali MacGraw , Ryan O'Neal , Ray Milland
• Director : Arthur Hiller
• Studio : Paramount Pictures
• Genre : Romance
• Topics : Book Characters
• Run time : 100 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : language and a love scene
• Last updated : June 4, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

Romeo and Juliet

West Side Story

The Notebook

Love stories: classic romance tales, related topics.

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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Review: Michael Keaton stars in his funniest role ever as Beetlejuice makes his freak flag fly

The fall film season kicks off in high gear with " Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ," now in theaters after opening the fancy schmaltzy Venice Film Festival. The sequel feels possessed by the 1988 Tim Burton original, which is just how it should feel. Not everything worked 36 years ago. And there are rough patches this time as well. But what does work, works like gangbusters.

What a treat to welcome back Michael Keaton in his funniest role ever as Betelgeuse (pronounced Beetlejuice) the motor-mouthed, rotting corpse and trickster demon who makes a hilarious art of being totally disgusting. The first film won an Oscar for makeup but nothing for Keaton, which shows the Academy's disrespect for comic acting. Keaton's Beetlejuice is an all-timer.

Also returning is Winona Ryder in top form as Lydia Deetz, the former goth teenager who's now hosting a reality show about haunted houses and how to unhaunt them. Lydia has her own daughter, Astrid, played wonderfully by Jenna Ortega, the star of Burton's TV hit, "Wednesday." Astrid thinks her mom is bonkers, but not for a second do we doubt their love.

The great Catherine O'Hara is also back as Delia, Lydia's wicked stepmother. But the crux of the plot, cooked up by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, is how Lydia is going to deal with Beetlejuice, who is still angry that the teen Lydia left him at the altar three decades ago. It seems our favorite fiend needs to marry a human to really torture other humans back on Earth.

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MORE: Review: 'Hocus Pocus 2' will put a funny-scary spell on you

Got that? No matter. The fun is all in the interactions that begin when the Deetz family converge on their own haunted house in Winter River, Connecticut, to mourn a death in the family. No spoilers, except to say that this sequel has more emotion than the original ever contemplated.

It also has laughs. Big ones with surprise visual jokes that dazzle and delight. The plot kicks in when Beetlejuice is summoned from the afterlife by someone repeating his name three times.

Suddenly, there he is, the bio-exorcist from the hallways of hell, dealing with his vengeful ex-wife Delores (a knockout Monica Bellucci) as she reassembles her separated body parts with a staple gun while the Bee Gees warble "Tragedy." Burton is back, babe!

Just wait till you see their romance recapped as a badly dubbed black-and-white Italian film. The visual jokes are nonstop. And there's original composter Danny Elfman supplying a score you can bounce to. And be on the lookout for a ghost detective who was once a B-movie hambone actor. It's a role that permits Willem Dafoe to run wild. All the technical credits come up aces, especially the camera wizardry of Haris Zambarloukos, the fabulously eccentric costumes by Colleen Atwood and the drop-in songs that reach maximum hilarity with the cast lip-syncing to Richard Harris's mangling of "MacArthur Park."

MORE: Review: 'See How They Run' is a wicked fun whodunit that goes down easy

Kudos as well to the practical effects that outnumber all the usual digital pyrotechnics. Burton makes everything seem handmade and that's irresistible.

Among my complaints (you knew this was coming) I'd have to include overstuffing the movie with subplots. Lydia has a sleazy, pony-tailed boyfriend, played by Justin Theroux, and Astrid hooks up with a fellow Dostoyevsky fan (Arthur Conti). The most unforgivable sin is reducing Keaton to only 17 minutes on screen, but damn he makes every minute count.

In the end, though, it all comes down to Beetlejuice letting his freak flag fly. That he does. As the man says, "the Juice is loose." Act accordingly.

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‘ Love Story ‘ Review – A Sensible One !

Love Story Movie Review

Akkineni  Naga Chaitanya is all set to test his luck with ‘Love Story’, a romantic entertainer that is directed by Sekhar Kammula. Sai Pallavi is the leading lady and the film is said to have been inspired by a real-life incident that left the Telugu states in shock. The music album is on the top of the music charts and Pawan composed the music, background score. The single ‘Saarangadariya’ is a chartbuster all over. ‘Love Story is produced by Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP and it is having a record release all over. Here is  Review :

Telugu360 Rating 3/5:

Revanth and Mounika, from the village of Armoor (Nizamabad), live in Hyderabad chasing big dreams. Unable to find herself a break in the software industry, Mounika settles for a dance trainer job in Revanth’s Zumba dance academy. Predictably, they fall in love. Revanth, a Dalit Christian, and Mounika, a Patel, now face the age-old hurdles of being from different castes, shattering their dreams of getting married. More problems arise as dark events from the past are revealed. The movie takes us through this journey of star-crossed lovers as they try to eventually achieve their dreams.

Analysis: Sensible Director Sekhar Kammula picked a complex story this time, staying away from his usual appetites. The way he established the caste-based status differences in rural Telangana society is smart. He made some bold moves in this movie with the sensitive subjects while taking utmost care to not cross the lines of decency. Most Telugu movies stereotype certain castes with unpolished looks. None of that with Sekhar Kammula at the helm. The role of the self-confident, charming Revanth is played by Naga Chaitanya with ease. Sekhar’s critics who call out his favoring the female lead characterizations would be happy with Mounika – a well-balanced young woman who knows her mind and her vulnerabilities. Sai Pallavi is very bubbly and is the perfect fit for Mounika. Hero’s mother character played by Easwari Rao is another author-backed role in this film.

Love Story is not your regular run off the mill youthful, cheerful love story. Shades of darkness are introduced by halftime and turns darker as the movie progresses to pre-climax. The first half entertains adequately, some feel-good moments in the second half. The locations are authentic, production values are adequate. Monuika’s back-story is hard-hitting, can be heavy and uncomfortable to some audiences. No matter, it is one of society’s darker issues, the Love Story team deserves appreciation for having the guts to bring this up and weave it into the movie.

On the flip side, a few points seem redundant, and the film  loses momentum in a few places. Love Story scores low from the youth audience’s point of view. If not for Kammula’s presentation skills, this is could have dropped into the overly saturated caste vs love movie.

Performances: Chay did great as Revanth, carries the film on his shoulders. Sai Pallavi excelled as Mounika, a bubbly girl, a dreamer with trauma. She is a great asset to the film. Eeswari Rao, Devayani played mother characters and they did well. Rajiv Kanakala is just okay, Uttej played a crucial small role.

Songs: The already blockbuster audio songs are good on screen as well. Music Director Pawan has done a fabulous job. ‘Evo Evo Kalale’ stands out, ‘Winner Winner Bro’ is nice, ‘Nee Chitram Choosi ’ ‘Saaranga Dariya’ song-dance sequence could have been better. With the trailer such a hit, one would expect more in the full song, no luck there.

• Naga Chaitanya, Sai Pallavi solid performances • Blockbuster songs, good picturization • Sekhar Kammula’s trademark sensible dialogues • Some entertaining moments • Clean film

Negatives: • Slow paced at times • Serious theme is difficult for the commercial audience

‘Love Story’ is entertaining in its first half, has few pleasant moments in the second half. The last 30 minutes get into a dark theme and are heavy on emotions. Youth viewers might find it a bit difficult because of the slow pace, but the good songs go a long way to compensate for this section of the audience. Overall, a good watch for a family audience and for Sekhar Kammula, Chay, and Sai Pallavi fans.

Telugu360 Rating 3/5

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I read Love Story one morning in about fourteen minutes flat, out of simple curiosity. I wanted to discover why five and a half million people had actually bought it. I wasn’t successful. I was so put off by Erich Segal’s writing style, in fact, that I hardly wanted to see the movie at all. Segal’s prose style is so revoltingly coy — sort of a cross between a parody of Hemingway and the instructions on a soup can — that his story is fatally infected.

The fact is, however, that the film of Love Story is infinitely better than the book. I think it has something to do with the quiet taste of Arthur Hiller , its director, who has put in all the things that Segal thought he was being clever to leave out. Things like color, character, personality, detail, and background. The interesting thing is that Hiller has saved the movie without substantially changing anything in the book. Both the screenplay and the novel were written at the same time, I understand, and if you’ve read the book, you’ve essentially read the screenplay. Nothing much is changed except the last meeting between Oliver and his father; Hiller felt the movie should end with the boy alone, and he was right. Otherwise, he’s used Segal’s situations and dialogue throughout.

But the Segal characters, on paper, were so devoid of any personality that they might actually have been transparent. Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal , who play the lovers on film, bring them to life in a way the novel didn’t even attempt. They do it simply by being there, and having personalities.

The story by now is so well-known that there’s no point in summarizing it for you. I would like to consider, however, the implications of “Love Story” as a three-, four-or five-handkerchief movie, a movie that wants viewers to cry at the end. Is this an unworthy purpose? Does the movie become unworthy, as Newsweek thought it did, simply because it has been mechanically contrived to tell us a beautiful, tragic tale? I don’t think so. There’s nothing contemptible about being moved to joy by a musical, to terror by a thriller, to excitement by a Western. Why shouldn’t we get a little misty during a story about young lovers separated by death?

Hiller earns our emotional response because of the way he’s directed the movie. The Segal book was so patently contrived to force those tears, and moved toward that object with such humorless determination, that it must have actually disgusted a lot of readers. The movie is mostly about life, however, and not death. And because Hiller makes the lovers into individuals, of course we’re moved by the film’s conclusion. Why not?

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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The 20 All-Time Best Love Stories in Movies, Ranked

If you buy something using our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

If you're like me, you love cuddling up with a hot mug of tea, a cozy blanket, and a well-made love story that'll melt your heart and make you cry rivers of tears. It's a very normal activity!

But finding a cinematic love story that fits the bill can be tough. There's nothing worse than settling in for a great romance only to realize your heart didn't flutter even once by the time the credits roll.

From the gentlest romances to the most epic declarations of passion, here are our picks for the best love stories in movies!

20. Love Actually (2003)

Directed by Richard Curtis

Starring Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson

Comedy, Drama, Romance (2h 15m)

7.6 on IMDb — 64% on RT

Love Actually is a Christmas-themed classic, one that'll make you cry. In this film, we witness nine intertwined stories between characters and their sentimental lives. All you have to do is pick a favorite!

A must-watch during every year's Christmas holiday season, Love Actually is a bittersweet film that's full of tears—both happy and sad. It's an easy watch with all kinds of endings to the characters' stories.

19. Before Sunrise (1995)

Directed by Richard Linklater

Starring Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert

Drama, Romance (1h 41m)

8.1 on IMDb — 100% on RT

Jesse (played by Ethan Hawke) and Celine (played by Julie Delpy) meet for the first time on a train and their connection is immediate.

So immediate, in fact, that they decide to spend the entire day together, all before moving on with their normal lives.

Before Sunrise is a classic example of the successful indie romance film, and this one even leads into a trilogy. If you like this film, you should definitely follow it up with Before Sunset and Before Midnight .

18. Sabrina (1995)

Directed by Sydney Pollack

Starring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear

Comedy, Drama, Romance (2h 7m)

6.3 on IMDb — 63% on RT

Sabrina Fairchild (played by Julia Ormond) lives with a rich family, but she's not part of it—because she's the chauffeur's daughter.

Even so, she can't help but fall in love with her father's employer's youngest son, David Larrabee (played by Greg Kinnear).

When her feelings are pretty much ignored, she tries to get over him by moving to Paris and pursuing a career in fashion. Eventually, she comes back a new person and meets David again. Will he notice her this time?

17. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Directed by Rob Reiner

Starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher

Comedy, Drama, Romance (1h 35m)

7.7 on IMDb — 91% on RT

When Harry (played by Billy Crystal) and Sally (played by Meg Ryan) met during college, they disliked each other right from the start. Years later, they stumble into each other again... and fall in love? Nope!

Well, what about when they eventually meet again? Third time's a charm, right? Well, maybe. Or maybe not.

That's what's great about When Harry Met Sally . It isn't just a love story—it's a story about friendship, attachment styles, and human psychology. Packed with clever dialogue and great mockumentary-style sequences, it's a classic masterpiece.

16. Bread and Tulips (2000)

Directed by Silvio Soldini

Starring Licia Maglietta, Bruno Ganz, Giuseppe Battiston

Comedy, Romance (1h 54m)

7.3 on IMDb — 71% on RT

Bread and Tulips is an Italian romance film (originally titled Pane e Tulipani ) about second chances.

When Rosalba (played by Licia Maglietta) is left behind at a gas station by her holiday bus, she hitchhikes back home. One of the hitchhikers is going to Venice, though, and she's always wanted to see Venice!

The unhappy housewife Rosalba finds herself in the mysterious city, where she may just make some new friends and even find true love—but her past life won't make it easy for her.

15. French Kiss (1995)

Directed by Lawrence Kasdan

Starring Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline, Timothy Hutton

Comedy, Drama, Romance (1h 51m)

6.6 on IMDb — 48% on RT

In French Kiss , Kate (played by Meg Ryan) flies across the Atlantic Ocean to win back her fiancé who fell in love with a younger French woman during a work trip.

Combined with her fear of flying and distaste for French cuisine, it's all quite the nightmare for her.

But she's on a mission and she won't let anything stop her—at least, until she runs into a charming Frenchman with a secret. At the end of the day, France might reveal itself to be better than she thought.

14. The Holiday (2006)

Directed by Nancy Meyers

Starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law

Comedy, Romance (2h 16m)

6.9 on IMDb — 50% on RT

Christmas-themed and wholesome, The Holiday tells the fateful story of two women who don't even know each other.

Amanda (played by Cameron Diaz) is a successful self-made overachiever living in Los Angeles, whose boyfriend ends up cheating on her. Iris (played by Kate Winslet) is a sensitive journalist who finds out that the man she loves led her on and married another.

Amanda and Iris both desperately need holidays, so they... switch homes? In separate countries? Yes! And, of course, they each end up meeting local guys who bring love with them.

13. The Notebook (2004)

Directed by Nick Cassavetes

Starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner

Drama, Romance (2h 3m)

7.8 on IMDb — 54% on RT

Allie (played by Rachel McAdams) and Noah (played by Ryan Gosling) met when they were just teenagers. Her family wants them apart, however, and they do everything in their power to make it so.

But love always finds a way! They meet again years later and they still remember each other. Will love win this time? The Notebook is another classic romance film that'll make you cry all your tears.

12. The Tiger and the Snow (2005)

Directed by Roberto Benigni

Starring Roberto Benigni, Jean Reno, Nicoletta Braschi

Comedy, Drama, Romance (1h 50m)

7.0 on IMDb — 20% on RT

Attilio (played by Roberto Benigni) is a divorced older man with two teenaged daughters, and he's hopelessly in love with his journalist co-worker Vittoria (played by Nicoletta Braschi).

He's constantly trying to win her over, doing things like following her around (as amicably as that can be) and manufacturing ways for them to talk. In return, she's evasive but full of mixed signals.

One day, Vittoria travels to Iraq to interview a subject, but she ends up wounded by the war in that country. Will he go there? Or will he let her go? The Tiger and the Snow is an odd love story that depicts how desperate we can become when we're afraid of losing a loved one.

11. About Time (2013)

Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy

Comedy, Drama, Fantasy (2h 3m)

7.8 on IMDb — 70% on RT

About Time is the story of Tim Lake (played by Domhnall Gleeson), a young man whose life is flipped on its head on his 21st birthday. Why? Because he learns a secret: the men of the Lake family can time travel!

The film takes us along with Tim in his pursuit of love and happiness. He makes mistakes and use his supernatural ability to fix them. He has a good heart and ultimately makes good choices.

But About Time is far deeper than you might expect from its premise, as this sentimental film explores themes of grief and family.

10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Directed by Stephen Chbosky

Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller

Drama (1h 43m)

7.9 on IMDb — 85% on RT

Charlie (played by Logan Lerman) is socially awkward. One day, to his surprise, two older students—Sam (played by Emma Watson) and Patrick (played by Ezra Miller)—decide to befriend him.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age story that engages with themes of sexuality, identity, and belonging. The film does explore romantic love as well, of course, but it's also about friendship and platonic attachments to people.

9. Uomo d'Acqua Dolce (1997)

Directed by Antonio Albanese

Starring Antonio Albanese, Valeria Milillo, Antonio Petrocelli

Comedy (1h 30m)

6.4 on IMDb — N/A on RT

Uomo d'Acqua Dolce is an Italian comedy film about a man named Antonio, who goes to the store to buy mushrooms for his pregnant wife. While there, he gets hit in the head and loses his memory.

He makes it back home five years later, unaware that time has passed—and he finds out that everything has changed. He's lost his family and he'll do everything he can to get them back.

8. Marriage Story (2019)

Directed by Noah Baumbach

Starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Azhy Robertson

Drama, Romance (2h 17m)

7.9 on IMDb — 95% on RT

Not all romantic films are about newly born love stories. Some of the best romantic movies about love stories coming to an end.

That's the case with Marriage Story , which follows the divorce proceedings of Charlie (played by Adam Driver) and Nicole (played by Scarlett Johansson).

They loved each other a lot at one point in time, but their marriage has broken and they must navigate that while keeping their family intact. It's heartbreaking yet beautifully compassionate.

7. Titanic (1997)

Directed by James Cameron

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane

Drama, Romance (3h 14m)

7.9 on IMDb — 88% on RT

What a classic! Rose (played by Kate Winslet) is a wealthy girl who's pressured to marry a man she despises, while Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is a poor artist with a heart of gold.

The two of them embark on the Titanic's maiden voyage and set out on a transatlantic cruise that'll change their lives forever.

Titanic is a must-watch romance drama film that's eager to explore the depths of this unexpected relationship across social classes. The historic shipwreck is just the backdrop to this drama-laden tale.

6. The English Patient (1996)

Directed by Anthony Minghella

Starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe

Drama, Romance, War (2h 42m)

7.4 on IMDb — 86% on RT

Set toward the end of WW2, The English Patient centers on a young nurse Hana (played by Juliette Binoche) as she tends to the wounds of a badly burned plane crash victim (played by Ralph Fiennes).

Through a series of flashbacks, the man recalls his life, his regrets, and his lost love. It's a poetic rendition of the pilot's story, who narrates his past while Hana overcomes her own grief through his tales.

5. Amour (2012)

Directed by Michael Haneke

Starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert

Drama (2h 7m)

7.9 on IMDb — 93% on RT

Most of us want to grow old with someone by our side, but many of us don't know what all those years will have in store for us.

Amour is a bittersweet French film about a long-lasting couple who have to face down the troubles and difficulties of old age.

Georges (played by Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (played by Emmanuelle Riva) are both in their eighties and have been together forever. One day, Anne suffers a stroke—and their bond is tested in ways unlike ever before.

What is love truly about? Amour shows you plainly on screen, and you won't be able to forget. Beware: this is not an easy watch.

4. Saturn in Opposition (2007)

Directed by Ferzan Özpetek

Starring Stefano Accorsi, Margherita Buy, Pierfrancesco Favino

Drama, Romance (1h 50m)

6.7 on IMDb — N/A on RT

Saturn in Opposition (originally titled Saturno Contro ) is an Italian-Turkish film about a group of friends and their shared stories in the aftermath of one of their member's sudden death.

One couple in particular, Davide (played by Pierfrancesco Favino) and Lorenzo (played by Luca Argentero), have been together for a while and even now share an apartment. However, things take a sharp turn when an irreversible tragedy befalls one of them.

Saturn in Opposition is far from a happy film as it engages with themes of grief, death, and loss. Yet, its take on life is quite optimistic, and by the end you'll be bawling as you call your loved ones.

3. Atonement (2007)

Directed by Joe Wright

Starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Brenda Blethyn

Drama, Mystery, Romance (2h 3m)

7.8 on IMDb — 83% on RT

Unjustly charged with a crime he didn't commit, Robbie (played by James McAvoy) is forced to leave his beloved Cecilia (played by Keira Knightley).

Why was he charged? Because his lover's sister, Briony (played by Saoirse Ronan), saw something she didn't understand—and that misunderstanding turns into a much bigger mess.

Convinced that she's doing something right, Briony changes the futures of both her sister and her sister's lover forever—and must then live with the guilt and remorse that comes from it.

Atonement is a devastating love story that engages with heavy themes. While it's an incredible movie, it's not an easy watch.

2. A Star Is Born (2018)

Directed by Bradley Cooper

Starring Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott

Drama, Music, Romance (2h 16m)

7.6 on IMDb — 90% on RT

In A Star Is Born , Ally (played by Lady Gaga) dreams of being a singer, but her career has never taken off like she hoped it would.

One day, destiny comes knocking on her door when the troubled-but-successful musician Jackson Maine (played by Bradley Cooper) asks her to join him for a concert. It's an opportunity she can't refuse.

A Star Is Born is partly about Ally's singing career, but more importantly about her love story with Jack. It's not a lighthearted movie and should be picked carefully if you are extremely sensitive.

1. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Directed by Ang Lee

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams

Drama, Romance (2h 14m)

7.7 on IMDb — 88% on RT

Brokeback Mountain centers on Ennis (played by Heath Ledger) and Jack (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), who are two ranch workers who spend a season up on Brokeback Mountain only to fall in love.

But open love isn't easy for two men in their position, with Ennis particularly frightful of embracing his homosexuality ever since he was a kid and saw a man tortured and killed for suspected homosexuality.

Brokeback Mountain isn't just a contender for greatest cinematic love story of all time, but it's deservingly remembered as one of the best movies ever made, period.

Tim Burton says Beetlejuice Beetlejuice reminded him why he loves making movies

The visionary director lost his love of filmmaking in 2019, but his new beetlejuice sequel reignited it.

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After he made the 2019 version of Dumbo , Tim Burton thought he was done making movies. The acclaimed director, who's known for hit films like Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas , felt uninspired.

But then he directed Netflix's The Addams Family spinoff, Wednesday , and he remembered how much he loves the character Wednesday Addams. She reminded him of another character he loves: Lydia Deetz, the protagonist of his 1988 film Beetlejuice . He wondered what she was up to.

"What happens to a cool teenager?" he says in an interview with Q guest host Talia Schlanger . "What kind of a screwed up adult do they become? What path does your life take? Will you have kids? What are your relationships?"

This is what Burton came to explore in the film's new sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice , which hits theatres today. Lydia (Winona Ryder) returns to her childhood home as an adult, now with her own teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega). When Astrid discovers the portal to the afterlife and meets Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia and her mother, Delia (Catherine O'Hara), must help Astrid stay in the land of the living.

"The idea of exploring the three generations of these women — mother, daughter, granddaughter — that was the emotional anchor for me," Burton says.

• Q with Tom Power Moira Rose and Delia Deetz walk into a room — Catherine O'Hara shares what she thinks would happen next

The portal between the world of the living and the dying is something that's always interested the director. He grew up in Burbank, Calif., where it was "taboo" to discuss death. But nearby, he watched the Hispanic and Latino community celebrate Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead).

"Their attitudes towards life and death just seemed so much more appealing and fun and interesting," he says. "It shows you that dynamic, that life and death are both to be celebrated."

Before he was a director, Burton thought about death while he worked as an animator for Disney. He would look out his office window and see the hospital where he was born and the cemetery filled with his relatives.

"I was sitting there, depressed at my desk, thinking it's like a weird Bermuda Triangle," he says. "It's like, 'I gotta get out of here.'"

Burton eventually moved on from animating to directing. He made his directorial debut on a Disney short film called Vincent . He worked with Disney on some of his later hits, such as Frankenweenie and The Nightmare Before Christmas .

But now, Burton says he's done with Disney. "It was a very weird journey that I took there at Disney from going from an animator to just designing things into short films.… But I think I realized after Dumbo , that was it. It's time to leave home. It's time to leave the family for good."

Making Beetlejuice Beetlejuice allowed Burton to return to his original film family.

"I was amazed at how emotional I got when I showed up on the set and saw Catherine and Winona and Michael," he says. "I was amazed at how emotional I was making [the film], which is a beautiful thing."

The full interview with Tim Burton is available on  our podcast, Q with Tom Power . Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Tim Burton produced by Vanessa Greco.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sabina Wex is a writer and producer from Toronto.