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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (4K UHD) – Movie Review

One can’t help but feel old when concluding that the original Beetlejuice movie dates from 1988. This classic featuring Michael Keaton is probably one of Tim Burton’s most beloved films, and while it certainly was popular, we didn’t expect it ever to get a sequel. That is, until some time ago, it was announced that the second installment was in the works, and after a successful movie theatre release, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD. As the movie is probably one of our favorite feature films from 2024, we were quite eager to see what extras could be found on a physical copy. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice takes place in 2024 where we see Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) hosting a successful paranormal TV show called Ghost House. While it may seem like she is doing well at first, it soon becomes clear that her life is a bit of a mess. She is riddled with anxiety, has an estranged relationship with her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), and is in a relationship with her overbearing and overcontrolling manager. When Lydia gets the news that her father passed away, she decides to head back to Winter River, where she used to live in the ‘original ghost house’ we saw in the first movie. Not only is planning a funeral stressful, but she is also seeing the trickster demon Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) who is trying to get into contact with her again. Beetlejuice, however, is being chased by his vengeful ex in the afterlife, so he’s also trying to use Lydia as an escape line. On top of that, Astrid seems to be dealing with her own demons as she keeps pushing her mother further and further away. Tim Burton nails the flow and pacing perfectly. The story buildup is great, the reunion with the old characters feels natural, almost all new characters are properly introduced, and there’s a proper balance between story exposition and action. It all stays in tune with the original movie, and most gaps are properly filled in, such as why we don’t see Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Jeffrey Jones in this sequel. Even with roughly 36 years in between the movies, it feels as if time stood still thanks to the old-school practical effects and the somewhat old-school feel and humor. We only felt that the new antagonist, Delores (Monica Bellucci), was somewhat underutilized, even though she was a huge part of what the movie was actually about. Acting performances were, unsurprisingly, quite amazing. Winona Ryder resumes her role as Lydia Deetz. The once rebellious teen is now an insecure adult struggling to get through life. The character evolution (or devolution in this case) is interesting to see, and Winona does a formidable job showing us this adult version of Lydia. Catherine O’Hara also reprises her role as the family matriarch, Delia. Her quirky quips and fast remarks could easily be considered one of the movie’s highlights. Of course, Michael Keaton picks up the mantle of Beetlejuice again, and he does so in the same fashion as he did back in the 1988 movie. It’s almost as if he is opening a time capsule, as his antics gave us a proper hint of nostalgia. New faces include Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux; Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, and many others. Tim Burton managed to gather a star cast, and most of these famous actors stepped outside of their comfort zones in order to present viewers with something original. The 4K UHD version of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice comes with an impressive amount of bonus features. While pretty much all of these extras revolve around the creative process that went on behind the scenes, there is simply so much to learn about this production. Not only are you able to see how Beetlejuice got a second lease on life but you’re able to see the crafting of almost all the special effects. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice consists mainly of practical effects, which is very impressive for a modern production such as this. The additional content alone already makes getting a physical copy very much worth it. Conclusion While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice already stood tall on its own, it’s more than worth it to invest in a physical copy. The 4K UHD version comes with a load of special features that will extend viewing pleasure by a lot, and it’s just a nice centerpiece for any physical media collection. We enjoyed the movie from start to finish, and it’s impressive for such a modern film to have so many good-looking practical effects. Acting performances were top-notch, and the story felt like a great continuation of what happened in the 1988 original. It’s rare to say, but Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was worth waiting 36 years for.