Blue Beetle (2023) [Blu-Ray/Digital]

Let’s face it, “Blue Beetle” just never stood a chance. Despite being adapted from a well liked reboot of a classic DC Comics character, any chance of a B tier superhero becoming a hit in the current film climate at Warner was slim. It just wasn’t in the cards, and that’s a shame because I think over time, “Blue Beetle” might just grow to become so much more appreciated and adored by fans.

Young Jaime Reyes suddenly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology called the Scarab. When the Scarab chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he’s bestowed with an incredible suit of armor that’s capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers and abilities, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero Blue Beetle. 

This is one of the very few remaining installments of the Zack Snyder DCEU before it shifts in to James Gunn’s DCU that is quite good. It’s really damn good, in fact, and I hope James Gunn eventually integrates it in some shape or form in his new movie universe. Director Angel Manuel Soto does everything right when it comes to “Blue Beetle.” Not only is the feature adaptation fun, but it’s breezy, exciting, and very easily accessible. Rather than having to do home work, you can simply click in to “Blue Beetle.”

Speaking as someone that only had a vague idea of Jaime Reyes’ iteration of “Blue Beetle,” the movie was very easy to get lost in. It’s heavily supported by some great acting, some excellent special effects, and relatable themes on family, heritage, and embracing our culture. Plus, I’m a sucker for the classic “Hero’s Journey” concept. After the duds that were “Black Adam” and the “Shazam” sequel, “Blue Beetle” was a breath of fresh air; I think there’s a lot more that this movie’s universe able to offer new fans. At the very least, we’ll always have the comics. 

Along with the Digital Code, Warner and DC humor us with three featurettes. I’m just glad we got something, even if they’re not impressive. Blue Beetle Generations is divided into four short and self-explanatory sections, featuring interviews with key cast and crew members, behind-the-scenes footage, camera tests, and other items that explore the film’s development, shooting, visual FX and more. The chapters are named Origins, Production Begins, In Full Flight, and A Hero’s World, all of which amount to almost an hour.

Scarab Vision is a thirteen minutes break down of two separate scenes, the first called “Initiation” details Jamie’s struggles to control his new superpowers, and the second titled “Mastery” focuses on his final showdown. Finally, Blue Beetle’s Nana Knows Best is a fun four minutes tribute to Jaime’s abuela, who is just such a bad ass and rocks the house in this movie.