Trading Places Blu-ray Movie 
Remastered | Paramount Presents #12 / Blu-ray + Digital CopyParamount Pictures | 1983 | 116 min | Rated R | Dec 01, 2020
Movie rating
|
| 7.7 | / 10 |
Blu-ray rating
| Users |  | 4.0 |
| Reviewer | | 4.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Overview click to collapse contents
Trading Places (1983)
The rich and greedy Duke Brothers wager a bet over whether born loser Valentine could become as successful as the priggish Winthorpe if circumstances were reversed. The Dukes have the money to make this happen, but when Valentine and Winthorpe catch on they arrange for a rich and riotous payback!
Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm ElliottDirector: John Landis
| Holiday | Uncertain |
| Comedy | Uncertain |
| Dark humor | Uncertain |
Specifications click to expand contents
Video
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audio
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Music: Dolby Digital 2.0
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 (224 kbps)
German: Dolby Digital 2.0 (224 kbps)
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles
English, English SDH, French, German, Japanese
Discs
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Packaging
Slipcover in original pressing
Playback
Region free
Review click to expand contents
Rating summary
| Movie | | 4.0 |
| Video |  | 5.0 |
| Audio |  | 4.5 |
| Extras |  | 2.5 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Trading Places Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 3, 2020Paramount has remastered and re-released the classic Eddie Murphy/Dan Aykroyd Comedy 'Trading Places' as part of the studio's 'Paramount Presents' line of Blu-ray discs. The film first debuted on Blu-ray way back in 2007, right at the beginning of the format's lifespan. The film was subsequently released several more times, once in a two-pack with 'Coming to America,' again in 2013 under the Warner Brothers label, a second time that same year in a three-pack with two other Eddie Murphy films (Norbit and 48 Hrs.), and more recently repackaged with a new slipcover and digital code in 2018. This new release includes fresh (and fantastic) video and, for the first time, a lossless soundtrack. A couple of new extras are included, too.
Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) is a market wizard working for the ultra-rich Duke brothers, Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) and Mortimer (Don Ameche), whose lifelong ambition is not to make more money but rather debate their dueling sociological philosophies. In order to settle a long-held dispute, they decide to take advantage of an unruly and unwanted guest, a homeless scam artist named Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy). The Duke brothers make a wager that Valentine can come in and run their multimillion dollar company just as well as golden boy Winthorpe. Soon, the stuffy, haughty, egocentric, and high classed Winthorpe finds himself out on the street while Valentine has suddenly moved from the outhouse to the penthouse. Can Winthorpe survive in his new environment, and can Valentine thrive given the opportunity to prove that a man is more than the sum of his circumstances?
For a few brief thoughts on the film, please see the Blu-ray.com review of the original 2007 Blu-ray here.
Trading Places Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Trading Places has been remastered for this "Paramount Presents" Blu-ray and the results are rather dramatic. The picture is, in short, significantly sharper, clearer, and more richly colorful compared to the antiquated transfer that might have passed muster 13 years ago but looks very poor by today's standards. This is a lively, filmic, healthy, and endlessly enjoyable 1080p transfer. The film has been granted new life, looking fresh from theaters and just about as flawless as conceivable for the 1080p format. The picture presents with impeccably pure grain, a light, natural covering that gives the picture that highly desirable and natural film-like appearance. Details are as sharp as the source allows. Whether finely appointed interiors in the Duke Brothers offices, gritty city exteriors, prison cells, or automobiles, location details never cease to delight. Faces are clear, too, revealing film-fine details with intimate clarity and effortless efficiency. Colors are excellent, too, producing bright, lively tones in every location with natural contrast and true depth. Skin tones are natural, black levels are deep, and every scene is a joy for color accuracy and stability. The image is free of all but the most inconsequential speckles. There are no encode issues to report. Fans are in for a treat; the picture is as delightful as any could have hoped it would be.
Trading Places Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The new 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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Trading Places contains two new supplements alongside all of the carryover content (minus the "Trivia Pop Ups"). The new extras are marked
as such, and reviewed. Please click here for coverage of the returning extras. This release is the
12th in the "Paramount Presents" line and includes the slipcover with fold-open poster artwork, in this case not really different from the outside print.
A digital copy code is included with purchase.
- NEW! Filmmaker Focus: John Landis on Trading Places (1080p, 8:46): Landis reminisces about the film, remembering the original rough draft script, casting and performances, making key scenes, and more.
- NEW! Theatrical Trailer (480i, 4x3, 2:50).
- 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 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Paramount has surged towards the top of the Blu-ray heap of late with top-tier releases that capture the filmic essence of some of its catalogue favorites. Gorgeous transfers have become the norm and Trading Places is no exception. it's practically flawless, as is the new lossless audio track. The studio has even thrown in a new retrospective featurette with the director. Highly recommended.
