Search - Trading Places (Special Collector's Edition) [HD DVD] on HD DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 12/27/2018...

ALERT - You are ordering an HD-DVD item. This format can be played only in HD-DVD players (the discs will NOT play in regular DVD or Blu-Ray players). If you do NOT have an HD-DVD player, you should not order this item.

BareBones DVD with MISSING SCENE!

Brian | CA USA | 01/13/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As others have mentioned this DVD is a "bare bones" one with no extra features. For those used to seeing it on TV, though, seeing the original R rated version will let you in on how much was edited for TV.The shocking part is that this DVD is MISSING a scene always shown on television. When Winthorp (Akroyd) walks into the Duke & Duke offices, everyone tells him good morning, greeting him by name, and he barely manages a response. That's in there. Then later, when Valentine (Murphy) walks into the Duke & Duke offices, everyone ALSO greets him by name, and he enthusiastically greets them in return, (before getting into the elevator). In the DVD, THIS SCENE IS MISSING!So, this isn't just a bare bones DVD, in one instance you actually end up getting LESS than you normally see on TV! I'm baffled by this...But, obviously, this is a classic comedy, worth owning. Too bad they don't offer a beefier DVD."

Another predicted Paramount rip-off

Anton Karidian | Toronto | 06/05/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"A few years ago I wrote a review of the original release of Trading Places...warning buyers that the release was substandard with scenes omitted....and that Paramount releasing at full price was a money grab until they re-re-re release it as a "special edition"....well...tada!!!! I was right. They have released it again...this time complete with some deleted scenes thrown in. If you've waited THIS long...I suggest you don't buy it right away...I guarantee the price will drop like a rock and will be in the bargain bin for 5.99 ot 6.99. after all this movie is over twenty years old!

Still disappointing with this release is that it is that it is NOT anamorphic. This game playing by Paramount really IS tiresome."

One of Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd's Best

Lonnie E. Holder | Columbus, Indiana, United States | 10/26/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Unfortunately we can't rate the movie and the DVD realization separately in the number of stars we give. So we have to do it in the rating.DVD realization: Too darn expensive for what you get compared to the VHS version. Wait until the price goes down, or buy the VHS version and wait for the DVD to come down in price. The price versus benefit of the DVD over the VHS gets -1 star...yes, negative stars.The Movie: All right, maybe not five stars, but as a comedy this movie is absolutely wonderful. I like comedies that make you think, and this one does. Filled with irony from the beginning to end, the humor substantially comes from irony. The movie makes fun of people in high places who, according to this movie, do not think like you and I and clearly have nothing better to do with their time than to manipulate people.The Story: Dan Aykroyd is an executive in a New York investment firm. Clearly intelligent and well-bred, he lives a life style that most of us don't even dream about. Butler, very expensive home and suits, this guy is living a very high life. Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche are two brothers who own the investment firm. One day they see Eddie Murphy in front of skyscraper that houses their offices. After discussing the opportunities that people get in life, Ralph Bellamy bets Don Ameche that given the right circumstances that Eddie Murphy could have been Dan Aykroyd. What follows actually makes you feel sympathetic for Dan Aykroyd, even though he is clearly a snob.Dan Aykroyd is set up and arrested, fired from his job, and kicked out of his house, He is completely cut off from the life he knows. Eddie Murphy is put into Dan Aykroyd's job and house. Poor Dan really hits a low until Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays a prostitute, takes pity on him and takes him in.Fortunately for Dan, Eddie Murphy overhears Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche discussing the bet they made in the executive potty, and also using words that are less than flattering. Eddie realizes that he and Dan have been set up, and goes seeking Dan since Eddie does not plan on being manipulated by these two.From this point on, the movie gets really good. Dan, Eddie, Jamie, and Denholm Elliott, Eddie's butler, decide to get revenge on Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche. Only minimal details from here on out in case you haven't seen the movie yet. The revenge plot is well set up and executed, all leading to a really uplifting scene in the commodities portion of the New York Stock Exchange.The movie is generally predictable, but it is the how of the predictability that I was unable to foresee. People who are in the commodities business will probably scoff at some of the details, but for those of us who are ignorant of commodities, that part is funny and upbeat.This early Eddie Murphy movie is well-done. Eddie generally stays away from the four-letter words he seems to use so much in some of his newer movies. Dan Aykroyd plays a character that at first you revile, and then want to like. I'll let you discover how Dan's character evolves.This movie has a fair amount of intelligent humor. It relies very little on slapstick. It is one of my favorite comedies that I never seem to get tired of watching."