5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A chemical spill has caused the occupants of Beverly Hills to be forcibly evacuated. A retiring football player left behind, finds that the toxic gas emulating from the spill is a bogus front for a heist set up by fired police officers out to plunder the city of all its valuables. Finding himself siding with a corrupt cop who was once apart of the plan until he discovered the city's mayor had just been blown away, by one of the chief crooks in charge. Now both on the run with no help in sight...both must do whatever they can to stop these murderous looters.
Starring: Ken Wahl, Matt Frewer, Harley Jane Kozak, Robert Davi, Lee VingAction | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
BDInfo
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
While an anticipated release during the summer of 1988, few expected “Die Hard” to do much business, with industry coverage focused on the size of Bruce Willis’s paycheck, not the masterpiece he was starring in. When “Die Hard” became one of the biggest moneymakers of the year, rival studios wanted their own version of the “Die Hard on a blank” formula, which began to take shape during the 1990s. Sure, we all have fond memories of “Speed” and “Under Siege,” but there are countless forgotten rip-offs, including 1991’s “The Taking of Beverly Hills.” The picture was meant to entertain with rampant violence and make a big screen hero out of star Ken Wahl, and it’s certainly a loud distraction, with plenty of mindlessness orchestrated by director Sidney J. Furie. “The Taking of Beverly Hills” is ultimately too one-note to compete in the subgenre, but it certainly has its heart (or fist) in the right place, with the production trying to generate as much mayhem as possible with the one-man-army premise.
The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't provide a refreshed view of "The Taking of Beverly Hills," but the feature comes to Blu-ray in good shape. Age is apparent, but the viewing experience is acceptable, offering some detail to enjoy, taking in the impressive set construction and decoration, and actors such as Robert Davi have interesting facial particulars to survey. Distances are also clear, helping to sell the Mexico-as-Beverly Hills illusion. Colors are adequate, leading with a colder, nighttime palette that's broken up by orange fireballs and period costuming. Storefront hues also come through as intended. Skintones run a bit hot at times, but mostly remain natural. Delineation has some moments of solidification, but evening activity isn't blocked out. Source is in good shape, with some brief speckling.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is perhaps the best to be expected from the 1991 production, which delivers an engaging, forceful listening event. Dialogue exchanges are clear (ADR is terrible), sustaining through conversations and shouted panic during destruction sequences. Vehicle movement is compelling, with mild separation. Scoring is secured with decent instrumentation, while soundtrack cuts offer slightly more heft. Atmospherics are welcome, delivering a feel for the sleeping city, and sound effects are loud, handling explosions galore and sharp gunfire.
Minor beats about class divide and police obligation are provocative, but not developed in full. "The Taking of Beverly Hills" doesn't make time to explore the reasons why the crime is taking place, it just offers a set-up and a payoff, keeping simple to reach the mass audience. It's an engaging picture with lowered expectations, and in the grand scheme of "Die Hard" rip-offs, it's one of the more pleasingly dumb entries, keeping Wahl on the run, dropping football terms into threats, and making a mess out of the most famously ritzy neighborhoods in the world.
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