Review By: Ethan C. Stevenson
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: Michael McDowell
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Katherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton
Year: 1988
Runtime: 92 minutes
Rating: PG
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Specs
2-Disc Set; BD-25 & CD
1080p VC-1 @ 1.78:1
5.1 Lossless Dolby TrueHD
Packaging and Disc Fundamentals
Warner packages the 20th Anniversary blu-ray of Beetlejuice in a two disc “Elite” style case that contains one single layer BD-25 and a CD. Included is a lenticular slip. The “Beginners Guide to Seeing Ghosts” - essentially a cheap paper book that features quotes from Tim Burton and select information and photos from the film is also stuffed inside the case.
Like all Warner releases, after an FBI warning, the film starts immediately. To access the special features you must enter a pop-up menu. Annoyingly, the disc defaults to 5.1 Dolby Digital and one must cycle through the menu (or use the audio button on your BD remote) to select the lossless TrueHD track.
Video
This 20th Anniversary blu-ray features a very respectable VC-1 encode from Warner. Despite being pushed onto a single layer disc, with lossless audio and 45 minutes of extra features, Bettlejuice has a video bitrate in the healthy low 20s (an average of 21 Mbps). I noticed no over intrusive blocking or other bothersome artifacts and the release looks to be DNR free, retaining a fairly light yet comfortable grain structure. The print is is fine shape with no instances of large tears, bothersome scratches, splotches of dirt or hair popping onto the image. A few of the optical effects do have tiny specks and a few dirty edges but, that’s expected given the nature of the technology and only correctable by a frame-by-frame restoration - something that Bettlejuice doesn’t really need (except for those few scenes).
Opened up slightly from it’s original 1.85:1 to 1.78:1, the transfer features a very strong color palette. Bright exteriors and deep, rich interiors both contain a nice amount of detail. As is expected with catalog titles (especially 80s catalogs) softness creeps in every once in a while, causing an inconsistent, though nowhere near terrible, quality to the picture. The only real negative to Bettlejuice is that, compared to todays CGI spectacles and grandiose productions, the effects are terribly dated in some scenes - particularly when the “sand worm” makes an appearance. 1080p resolution does not do those effects sequences any favors.
On the whole, the blu-ray faithfully presents the film in a way like never before and fans will be pleased. Despite a few issues Bettlejuice offers a very nice high def upgrade.
Audio
These days it seems that Warner simply picks names out of a hat when deciding what does and doesn’t receive the lossless treatment.... happily, Bettlejuice was chosen for the lossless audio upgrade, presented in the Warner usual flavor of 5.1 TrueHD (48kHz/16 bit). Unhappily, this track is not as good as I'd hoped.
Among the improved is dialog reproduction - now very crisp. Surround use, LFE response and overall performance is nice, with little to complain about given the productions origins and the nature of 80s sound design.
The one fault I find with the films soundtrack is that, most notable in the opening titles, composer Danny Elfman’s music has been poorly remixed from it’s 2-channel stereo beginnings into a new 5.1 lossless track. Compared to the PCM track included on the CD sampler, it is a disappointment. The opening title music (and many other pieces of Elfman's score) is genuinely lacking, mostly due to it's poor seperation into the surround channels, creating a muddled and inferior experience. This fault in the score is very unforturnate, as the rest of the TrueHD track is fairly good.
Like the video, the audio receives a nice upgrade. Sure, it’s not perfect but, given the fact that this film is passing it’s 20th birthday, the track is very respectable. Fans of the film and those who keep in mind that this is an 80s production will be pleased, if not impressed with this Blu-rays audio.
Extras
When this disc was announced at the beginning of the year I was thrilled. Being billed as a “20th Anniversary Edition” I figured Beetlejuice would be loaded with extras. Then, when the specs were finally announced, I was somewhat disappointed - we didn’t get a commentary or deleted scenes, no production featurettes nor a documentary... we didn’t even get any EPKs or the usual ‘fluff”. Now, I guess I expected too much. The original DVD had zero extras so there was nothing to port over and unlike that release we do get some extras. I guess I can be thankful that this isn’t a completely barebones release. Although it isn’t much, I thank Warner for giving us something, even if the supplied extras add no insight to behind the scenes production of the film.
 A-Ha (SD, 12 min)
Skeletons in the Closet (SD, 12 min)
Spooky Boo-tique (SD, 12 min)
The Original Trailer for Beetlejuice is also included in mediocre quality high definition. Next, a 5.1 Dolby Digital Music Only Track, selectable in the audio menu, will play the film without any dialog, essentially giving you the films entire soundtrack without having to buy it.
The final extra in this 20th Anniversary blu-ray is a CD Sampler featuring 6 select tracks from the films soundtrack - 5 pieces from the score (composed by Danny Elfman) and Harry Belefonte’s “Banana Boat”.
Final Thoughts
As a film, Bettlejuice is enjoyable and fun. Memorable to most probably because of Keaton’s portrayal of the title character, but, for me, the terrific performances by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, the (very Tim Burton) production design and a memorable script make this a favorite. Newcomers may find the film strange (watch it a few times and it grows on you) but fans will relish this new blu-ray edition. Sure, the extras aren’t too insightful but the upgrade offered by the 1080p video and TrueHD audio make this well worth a purchase.
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Scores
The Film: 7.5/10
Video: 7.5/10
Audio: 7/10
Extras: 5.5/10
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