Trading Places 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Trading Places 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has released the fan-favorite 1983 Comedy 'Trading Places,' directed by John Landis and starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video. The disc includes the same Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack as found on the 2020 'Paramount Presents' Blu-ray. That disc is also included here and contains all of the extras from that issue, including the (then) new John Landis retrospective. No new extras are included on the UHD disc.

Trading Places 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from the 'Paramount Presents' 1080p Blu-ray disc.

As excellent as the 2020 "Paramount Presents" Blu-ray release of Trading Places was -- and still is -- this new 2023 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD Presentation is much better. The image is essentially perfect: filmic in every way with a wonderfully satisfying grain field that is more pronounced than the Blu-ray but very filmic in its look and allowing the image to hold true to a perfectly film-like appearance from start to finish. Clarity is excellent, bolstering textures across the board over the Blu-ray and adding a fairly significant sense of overall sharpness to the image, boosting the clarity and tangible and tactile qualities and characteristics of faces, lush appointments in high end offices, and various elements out on city streets, not to mention the various quality of clothing in the film, from high dollar suits to torn and tattered street garb. It couldn't look better or fresher than if it just released to theaters last week.

The Dolby Vision color grading further bolsters the image's credentials as superior to the Blu-ray. Overall color depth is enhanced while adding critical tonal nuance adjustments to bring added warmth to woods, impact to urban grays, and punch and vividness to clothes. Look at a shot at the 10:12 mark. This offers a wonderful point for comparison with the Blu-ray. Notice the richer, deeper wood color tones and the superior atmosphere. Notice the more vibrant and full green lamp shade. Look at the impact the necktie makes compared to the Blu-ray. Notice how the skin adjusts from orange to neutral. Look at the black levels on the Apple newspaper add for the improved depth and on the back of the chair, and around it, for improvements to shadow depth and detail; and notice the crisper whites on the front of the paper. This new grading has done wonders to fine-tune the experience.

I could not be more impressed with how Trading Places looks on the UHD format. Add in the absence of print wear and encode stumbles and this is a top-end presentation from Paramount.

Trading Places 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack is lively and lifelike. Dialogue certainly drives the majority and presents with solid clarity, grounded center placement, and quality prioritization. Beyond that is a bevy of additional audio cues that each offer well defined detail and immersion. City ambience is perhaps the most effective in select shots. It's realistically implemented for both detail and environmental description, easily placing the listener within each exterior. Driving rain in chapter 14 fills the stage with intense detail, and the sound effect juxtaposes with the warm ambient music inside a restaurant. Music on the whole is energetic and wide, presenting with clear, accurate notes with prominent front end positioning and some gentle surround wrap. The subwoofer chimes in with a light but critical bottom end support. There's nothing here to disappoint.

Trading Places 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Trading Places carries over all of the content (minus the "Trivia Pop Ups") from its previous Blu-ray releases. Please click here and here for coverage of the returning extras. No extras are included on the UHD disc. A digital copy code is included with purchase, as is a non-embossed slipcover.

• Filmmaker Focus: John Landis on Trading Places
• Theatrical Trailer
• Insider Trading: The Making of Trading Places
• Trading Stories
• Deleted Scene: With optional Executive Producer George Folsey, Jr. commentary.
• Dressing the Part
• The Trade in Trading Places
• Industry Promotional Piece

Trading Places 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Paramount has delivered a wonderful UHD for Trading Places that captures the filmic essence of this fan-favorite catalogue title. It's practically flawless, and the lossless audio track is excellent, too. Several great extras are included. Highly recommended.