Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back where he doesn’t belong, this time going “deep, deep, deep undercover” to stop a gang of international munitions smugglers. Also returning are Judge Reinhold and John Ashton as Murphy’s crime-busting sidekicks, ready to unleash blazing gunfire alongside rapid-fire gags.
For thoughts on Beverly Hills Cop II, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Beverly Hills Cop II debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a sumptuous 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that honors the original source while bringing it a fresh new life. This release only comes with a 4K disc, so direct comparisons to any other source are limited. Skin tones look perfect and the clarity of the transfer gives you a great amount of facial detail including beads of perspiration. The lovely natural film grain remains intact as it gives a lot of nuanced texture and detail to the transfer. The transfer remains very crisp throughout with very little in the way of softness or fluctuation. The command over contrast and overall clarity is readily apparent, especially in unique details within the production design. The UHD disc contains very natural, deep colors throughout including the Beverly Hills landscape, the striking hues of certain pieces of clothing and more. White levels are brighter and more stable without veering into blooming. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to maintain a tremendous amount of depth and detail in darker environments. This is a top-tier release for the series and its fans.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents the movie with a forceful DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that is recycled from the previous Blu-Ray. While we often want studios to provide a new Dolby Atmos surround track, this track is by no means a slouch and never fails to get the job done. The directionality of the sound is precise throughout with no confusion in the placement. There are bursts of activity in the low end which get your subwoofer moving including action scenes and certain musical moments. The music remains one of the standout aspects of the production with pleasing fidelity throughout. Dialogue comes through crisp and clean without ever being stepped on by competing sounds. The surround channels get to provide texture to the world with distinct sounds that engage all around. This track lives up to the majesty of the video portion of the disc, ultimately delivering a memorable time all around.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on this disc.
Final Thoughts
Beverly Hills Cop II is one of the stronger sequels of the 1980s, owed in no small part to the expert filmmaking on display from the late Tony Scott. His determined style of filmmaking provides a stable base on which Murphy can riff and solidify the character he originated in the first film as one of his iconic roles. Paramount Home Entertainment has given this one an excellent 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade with an A/V presentation that is simply not to be missed. Unfortunately, the disc lacks any special features, but the Blu-Ray was the same so we cannot say we are surprised. With two of the three movies out on this format, let us hope the third one will be delivered to us in the near future. Recommended
Beverly Hills Cop II is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
