Frustrated, Adam and Barbara go against the advice of their after-life social worker's advice and call upon the services of Beetlejuice (Micheal Keaton), a "bio-exorcist" who claims that he can get rid of the living. Once summoned, however, Beetlejuice's services prove to be more than Adam and Barbara bargained for.
I know Tim Burton has gained notoriety for projects like Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas, but for my money Beetlejuice one of his best, and most creative, works. One of my problems with Burton's other films is that sometimes they go a little too far outside "normal." The creative spark is there, but there's a lack of grounding. This isn't the case with Beetlejuice. Although it has a number of fantastical events, it still has a strong, grounded narrative. Even if you never find yourself in the same situation as Adam and Barbara, the character's plight is still relatable. Rather than being patient, they go for the "quick fix" and end up in an even worse position than before.
Another of Beetlejuice's numerous strengths is that, compared to other Burton films, it is a slightly tamer film. Burton doesn't have quite the budget in this film, so he has to fall back on his actors and the story. Alec Balwdin and Geena Davis work as the nice, wholesome couple; neither overdoes their role, but at the same time there's a certain sarcastic quality to them. The same can be said about Jeffery Jones and Catherine O'Hara, who play couple's polar opposites, Charles and Delia. Jones is a real estate developer who, were the circumstances different, would probably get along with Adam and Barbara; he likes the "quaintness" of the home and even fights to keep some of it intact. Meanwhile, Delia is a complete snob whose artistic sensibilities match Burton's.
In terms of picture and sound quality, Beetlejuice looks and sounds great. I tend to like inky colors and dark blacks, so I was really happy with how things looked. Although the picture quality does tend to get a little too "red" in some areas (which is by design) and there are a few blurred shots, the Blu-ray transfer is great. Dialogue is incredibly clear and Danny Elfman's original score really stands out. There's even a music-only version of the film, which is great for aspiring musicians or filmmakers interested in seeing how music and visuals go hand-in-hand.
A sampler CD with some of Elfman's score is included. The CD also includes Harry Belefonte's "The Banana Boat Song" for anyone who might want to recreate one of the movie's signature scenes.
Even though Beetlejuice is a more "trimmed back" Burton film, he really lets loose. The idea of ghosts trying to exorcise the living from their home is a fun concept and the netherworld universe that Burton has created is just as entertaining. Every ghost you see has their own unique look but, unlike the Cantina in Star Wars, the collection of ghouls makes you wish there was a way to pause the film and get each ghost's personal story. This curiosity is sort of built upon with the included "Beginner's Guide to Seeing Ghosts," a paper pamphlet that shows pictures of some of the film's ghosts and gives tips on how to spot your own. I only wish this could have been included as a bigger feature on the Blu-ray rather than its current form.
Three episodes of the Beetlejuice: The Animated Series is included on the Blu-ray release and further develop Burton's world. Although there are few direct references to the movie (Adam and Barbara have been, if you pardon the pun, completely exorcised from the show), there's still enough consistency to make it interesting.
Beetlejuice: 20th Anniversary Edition is a good buy, at least if you don't already own the DVD release. The visual and sound upgrades are nice, but the lack of significant extras makes it hard to really recommend a re-purchase.
