STUDIO: Warner Brothers
RELEASE DATE: October 7, 2008
STARRING: Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, and Winona Ryder
WRITTEN BY: Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren
DIRECTED BY: Tim Burton
FEATURES: Soundtrack CD Sampler
3 Hilarious Episodes from the Animated Beetlejuice TV Series
Theatrical Trailer

I'd like to propose a regulatory committee on what constitutes a Deluxe Edition. And those studios and releases that purport to be "Ultimate", "Special", or "Deluxe" and then fall incredibly short would be brought before a tribunal and punished in some form. Maybe they'd have to re-label their discs or let the public know or issue an apology. Don't get me wrong. I love Beetlejuice. I would go as far as to say that I'm an early Tim Burton apologist. The glee he brought to his early films from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure through half of Sleepy Hollow is infectious. I'm not nearly as big a fan of his work in the last decade, but I can watch Edward Scissorhands, both of his Batman movies, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks, and, of course, Beetlejuice repeatedly. So, I'm ecstastic just to have this underrated comedy on my shelf, especially in high definition, but "Deluxe"? Come on. When a title has so few special features that it goes straight into the movie itself without a menu screen, you know there's nothing deluxe about it. Pick up Beetlejuice if, like me, you're a huge Burton fan, but don't say we didn't warn you.

Now, as hard as it is for this aging soul to come to terms with, there's probably a whole generation out there completely unfamiliar with this dark comedy. Burton had shown glimpses of his creativity in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (I always say that "Large Marge" doesn't happen quite the same way with anyone but Tim watching the dailies), but Beetlejuice is where he was really allowed to run wild. Geena Davis and a shockingly young-looking Alec Baldwin play a couple who pass away in a tragic accident and are forced to watch as trendy scum overtakes the house that they are now haunting. What's a couple of ghosts to do? Hire a "bio-exorcist". Enter Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a demented, inspired creation that is almost a mix of vaudeville and horror at the same time. Keaton rocks the over-the-top part and the entire ensemble shines in what is basically a satire of movies like Poltergeist and The Exorcist that were so popular two decades ago. The twenty years since Beetlejuice was released have been kind to the film. It holds up well.

Of course, it holds up even better in 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.85:1 widescreen. Warner Brothers was at the top of the video transfer game in standard definition and they're arguably there again with Blu-Ray. I was hoping that Beetlejuice would pop a little more. Some of the blacks and blues aren't as distinct as they could be, but the film certainly doesn't look 20 years old. Well, unless you count the fact that Alec Baldwin looks practically like a teenager. What's annoying about the Blu-Ray release of the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Beetlejuice is this - a 6-song CD sampler, an hour of the TV series, and a trailer. That's it? There's not even a featurette they could have scraped up or an interview from when the movie came about? NO ONE was willing to do a commentary track? It's just unacceptable. Maybe they'll get their act in gear for the 25th Anniversary Edition. If the committee hasn't sanctioned them by then.