Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice: 4K UHD Review
While Tim Burton has directed many incredible films over his four decades-long career. One of his most iconic features would be 1988’s Beetlejuice. It’s surprising that such a huge film took so many years to spawn a sequel. This fall, we finally got the long-awaited follow-up to mixed reactions and this week it arrives on 4K UHD.
Set in the present day, Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) is now the host of a supernatural talk-show. Lydia has also been having hallucinations of Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), which has been taking a tole on her mental state. To make things even more difficult, Lydia’s stepmother Delia (Catherine O’Hara) informs her that her father Charles was in a plane crash and then eaten by a shark (which we see via a stop-motion animation sequence).
Lydia, her boyfriend/producer Rory (Justin Theroux), Delia and Lydia’s estranged daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) travel back to Winter River for Charles’ funeral. What none of them expect is for Betelgeuse to return, but the ghost with the most is still obsessed with Lydia and when he learns the news of her father’s passing, he decides to take advantage of the situation.
There is a lot to appreciate about Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, like the return of the principal players. Keaton still has it in him and it is a total delight every moment on screen. The set design is wonderful and of course Burton’s decision to keep much of the effects work, practical was the right decision. So was working with Danny Elfman again for the score. I also liked that the relationship between Lydia and Delia got much stronger.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem with this sequel is the overstuffed story. There is just too much going on with all the characters and they don’t seem to go anywhere interest. Monica Bellucci looks like she fits right into this world as Betelgeuse’s ex-wife, but her quest for revenge is just not that interesting. Astrid meets a young man who she seems to connect with but even that twist feels rushed. There is also Astrid’s re-connection with her deceased father that has absolutely zero emotional weight. Willem Dafoe on the other hand is having a great deal of fun as a dead actor-turned ghost-detective, trying to find Betelgeuse. While the sequel is somewhat disappointing, it was still great to revisit these characters. I am hoping if a third one comes to light, we get a better story.
The 2160p presentation with Dolby Vision looks absolutely incredible. Since this film is a visual spectacle when it comes to not only set and costume design, but there is also a whole lot of highly detailed make-up effects work in the world of the dead. The details on display here are sharp and of course the deep black really make things look spectacular. The Dolby Atmos mix is another winner. Not only does Elfman’s score soar, but the sound-design is top notch and the Atmos track helps bring that to life.
While Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice may not be a personal favorite, the presentation here is sure to please any fan.
Special Features:
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Commentary by director Tim Burton
- The Juice is Loose! The Making of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
- The Ghost with the Most: Beetlejuice Returns
- Meet the Deetz
- Handbook for the Recently Deceased
- Shrinkers, Shrinkers Everywhere!
- An Animated Afterlife: The Stop-Motion Art of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- ‘Til Death Do Us Park
By Marc Ferman