Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Looking to track down his best friend's killer, fast-talking Detroit Police detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) travels to Beverly Hills to follow-up on some clues. Once there, he's put under the watchful eyes of two local cops (Judge Reinhold and John Ashton), and draws the ire of the local officials with his unorthodox detective skills.

Saturday Night Live showcased Murphy's comedic talent and 48 Hours made him a star, but it was his role in Beverly Hills Cop that turned the talented comedian into a box office sensation. He would later reprise the role of Axel Foley in two follow-up films, but the first of the trilogy is by far the best.

Video Highlights

• AVC/1080p encode on a BD-50 disc
• Occasional edge enhancement
• Adequate sharpness
• Strong blacks with revealing shadows

Audio Highlights

• DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
• Front-heavy presentation
• Occasional discrete effect in the rear speakers
• Decent dynamics considering its age

While this looks a lot better than the DVD, I wouldn't use this as a demo disc for its audio and video. The video encode has some well-preserved grain and nice detail, but there's some occasional edge enhancement.

Bonus Materials

• Audio Commentary
• Beverly Hills Cop: The Phenomenon Begins
• A Glimpse Inside the Casting Process
• The Music of Beverly Hills Cop
• Location Map
• Theatrical Trailer

Murphy was one of my favorite comedians in my formative years, and probably explains why I still drop the occasional F-bomb to emphasize my point. While the script is a little weak with some cheesy action scenes, Murphy carries this film and it holds up surprisingly well 27 years later. Recommended for fans.

Release Date: May 17, 2011
Studio: Paramount

Movie: 8/10
Picture: 7/10
Sound: 6/10

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