Blu-ray Movie Reviews

A grizzled veteran cop (Nick Nolte) is determined to hunt down a couple of cop killers and needs the help of a smooth-talking convict (Eddie Murphy) who's behind bars for robbery. Cates (Nolte) pulls a few strings and gets Reggie (Murphy) a 48-hour furlough to help track down the murderers, but will this odd couple be able to tolerate each other long enough to catch the bad guys?

It's hard to believe it's been nearly 30 years since Eddie Murphy launched his feature film career with this classic buddy flick. He and Nolte have great chemistry and returned to the screen eight years later with Murphy at the top of his career after Beverly Hills Cop I and II and Coming to America. Like most films from this era, it can get a tad campy, but it holds up pretty well due to the two stars.

Video Highlights

• AVC/1080p encode on a BD-50 disc
• Occasional heavy grain
• Decent black levels, albeit noisy
• Muted color palette
• Adequate detail

Audio Highlights

• DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
• Decent stereo spread across the front
• Front-heavy presentation
• Intelligible dialog
• Sufficient dynamics

The video quality is on par with other titles from the early 1980s, which isn't saying much. There's ample grain through most of the film and darker scenes can look a little crushed. The audio track is serviceable as well, but don't expect to be blown away.

Bonus Materials br>

• Theatrical trailer

This movie has always been a guilty pleasure for me and I'm happy to see it on Blu-ray. Sadly, the A/V quality doesn't set the world on fire and the supplements, or lack thereof, are a disappointment. If you own the DVD, I'm not sure the upgrade is justified though unless you can find this Blu-ray for a bargain price.

Release Date: February 22, 2011
Studio: Paramount

Movie: 7/10
Picture: 6/10
Sound: 610

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS40 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Integra DTC-80.2 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Belkin PVA-PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics