Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
WSR Detailed DVD Review
Trading Places
Genre: Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 67 (Dec 2002) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, Kristin Holby, Paul Gleason & Jamie Lee Curtis

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3
DD Sound Rating: 3.5
DTS Sound Rating: NA
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 4.5
Internet Links
http://www.paramount.com/homevideo

Special Features
There are no supplements. (Paramount continues to note in the Special Features box on the back jacket "special features not rated" even when there aren't any special features!)


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 01551
(MPAA Rating): R
(Rating Reason):

(Retail Price): $24.99
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 116
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 1983
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 09/24/02
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): John Landis
(Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
(Story): Subscribe Now!
(Music): Subscribe Now!
(Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
(Production Designer): Subscribe Now!
(Visual Effects): Subscribe Now!
(Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
(Editor): Subscribe Now!
(Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
(Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
(Executive Producers): Subscribe Now!
(Co-Producers): Subscribe Now!
(Producers): Subscribe Now!
(Academy Awards): Subscribe Now!

  DVD Picture Information

(Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
(Measured DVD Anamorphic Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
(Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

  DVD Sound Information

(DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
(Theatrical Sound): Subscribe Now!
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
(DTS Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
(Additional Languages): Subscribe Now!
(Subtitles): Subscribe Now!
(WSR Superb Sound Qualities): Subscribe Now!

  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
"Trading Places" features two "Saturday Night Live" alumni, Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. Murphy is the streetwise hustler Billy Ray Valentine and Aykroyd is Louis Winthorp II, a wealthy investment executive at Duke Brothers, a Wall Street firm. The stingy rich and wealthy Duke Brothers (Amache and Bellamy) wager a bet over whether born loser Valentine could become as successful as the priggish Winthorpe if circumstances were reversed. But when Valentine and Winthorpe catch on, they arrange for quite a payback surprise. This movie is a lot of fun, with great comic performances by Murphy and Aykroyd. (Gary Reber)

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78:1 DVD exhibits images that are generally sharp and detailed, though contrast seems a bit low. Sometimes the picture has a soft, blurry appearance. Colors are rich and nicely balanced, with accurate fleshtones and deep blacks. Against the snow-filled backgrounds, edge enhancement is really noticeable. Pixelization can give the picture a

Soundtrack:
The characteristics of this Dolby Digital 5.1-channel remastered soundtrack are most readily apparent with the music, which nicely permeates the soundstage. Fidelity is noticeably dated, especially with the dialogue and music, but should not be objectionable. Other than the music, there's a nice sense of subtle spatiality, generated by atmospheric effects. Voices sound comfortable and reasonably intelligible. Another welcome aspect of this new soundtrack is a noticeable low-end foundation to the music. This is a nice repurposing effort, offering a satisfying sense of dimension. (Perry Sun)