Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.

For in-depth thoughts on Blue Beetle, please see my colleague Brandon Lewis’ review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Blue Beetle offers a dazzling visual presentation, but there is not an accompanying Blu-Ray included so the level of upgrade is unknown. Where this format really shows its strength is in the use of Dolby Vision/HDR to bolster colors to incredible heights when it comes to vibrancy. There are so many elements taking full advantage of the nuance in the hues including the Blue Beetle suit, the foliage, certain lighting effects, and much more. Highlights in the film are impeccably defined with whites pure and balanced and no instances of blooming to be found. Elements in the film taking place in shadows are clear and crisply delineated. Black levels stay deep and inky with favorable detail throughout the presentation. Skin tones appear natural and balanced throughout the ensemble

This adventure strikes a good balance between practical effects and digital enhancement to fully realize this world, and these elements are blended seamlessly into the frame. Any potential digital anomalies such as compression artifacts or banding are never an issue with this 4K UHD disc. There is some really varied production design featured in the film depending on the setting which you can really appreciate even more with this transfer. There are a multitude of locations on deck here with each environment providing rich detail that is a pleasure to explore. This 4K UHD presentation really delivers on all fronts including strong showings in stability, clarity, and color. Warner Bros. has treated this one with respect.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a dynamite Dolby Atmos audio mix that represents every small element to its fullest extent. Dialogue comes through clearly, and it is never overshadowed by any competing sounds. The height channels are called upon as substantively as you want from a blockbuster film with characters flying overhead. All of the sounds are emanating from the precise direction, and there are absolutely no technical issues with the track.

There is pretty constant activity in the surround channels, but there are never any moments when anything sounds muddled. It is clear what each sound is trying to accomplish, and it does so admirably. This is a momentous track that provides all manner of destructive sound effects and a lively soundtrack to fill the room. There is an onslaught of activity in the low end that engulfs the room in a way you will not soon forget. This track delivers everything you could want. There are optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles provided.

Special Features

Blue Beetle Generations: A four-part making-of featurette is provided here that explores the history of the character, the creation of this film, the dawn of a new superhero, designing the costume, the family unit at the center of the narrative, the filming locations, the training that went into getting ready for the film, construction of sets, the themes of the picture, the score, and much more that is very welcome.

- Origins (7:28)

- Production Begins (16:12)

- In Full Flight (9:03)

- A Hero’s World (13:24)

Scarab Vision: A series hosted by star Xolo Maridueña that explores some of the most exciting moments of the film and how the scarab factors into them.

- Episode 1: Initiation (6:35)

- Episode 2: Mastery (6:50)

Blue Beetle’s Nana Knows Best: A nearly five-minute piece that takes a look at the standout character in the film, the performance from Adriana Barraza, the fun had during production, and more.

Final Thoughts

Blue Beetle is a film that was not given the warm embrace that it deserves as it follows a series of disappointments and finds itself caught between a previous regime and a new vision. This is a real shame since it stands as one of the strongest offerings DC has delivered in quite some time. The film does not attempt to reinvent the wheel when it comes to origin stories, but it finds itself in top form within the conventions of the genre. The focus on family is where the film truly shines, allowing the action to have a bit more emotional weight. The film does stumble when it comes to its somewhat unconvincing romance and forgettable antagonist, but the other elements are so strong that you can mostly overlook this. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring an excellent A/V presentation and a decent selection of special features. While this may have been a disappointment at the box office, we hope to have more adventures with this character. Recommended

Blue Beetle will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD on October 31, 2023. The film is currently available on Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.