new film Blu-Ray Review: 48 Hrs.

The film that jump-started Buddy Cop movies is now in high def.

Paramount Pictures' "48 Hours" - Paramount Pictures

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Ammon Gilbert,  Feb 18, 2011 Back before the Lethal Weapon series, the Bad Boys movies, or even the Rush Hour franchise entertained audiences worldwide, there was a little movie called 48 Hrs., a film that single-handedly set the bar and coined the phrase "Buddy Cop Movie". Released in 1982, the only other movie like it at the time was In the Heat of the Night, a film that had the buddy but not the funny. By forcing two opposites to work together on a case, the comedy comes from their bickering and their interaction with those around them. 48 Hrs. created the formula that countless of movies have used over the years, and now the film is finally getting the respect it deserves on Blu-ray ... or is it?
Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) is a tough as nails cop on the case of an escaped convict / cop killer who's hiding out in the streets of San Francisco. The only lead he can muster is an old associate of said cop killer, Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy), a con who also just happens to be in jail. Jack gets Reggie a "Get out of jail free card" for 48 hours to help Jack track the killer down and bring him to justice.
There's something about Walter Hill's 48 Hrs. that makes it feel nothing short of an American classic. Nick Nolte shines in his usual shtick has a hardass alcoholic, his flowing mop of hair whisping through every scene. In his first big-screen role, Eddie Murphy will remind you why America fell in love with him as Reggie Hammond: a funny, wise-crackin' fly guy with attitude to boot and a heart of gold. He's so young and so good in this, you'll almost forget about Imagine That.
In terms of an '80s action movie, 48 Hrs. has it all: car chases, ruthless badguys, foul language, violent and graphic shoot-outs, gratuitous nudity, and a shoot first, ask questions attitude that we just don't see in mainstream action movies anymore. And while the film hits all the clichéd marks of the Buddy Cop genre, including the hot-tempered police chief who specializes in yelling, it still manages to feel fresh, especially considering that none of it was a cliché upon its release.
A big question when diving into 48 Hrs. is, does it still hold up today? Yes it does. Chalk it up to solid writing and directing, or simply the chemistry between Nolte and Murphy, but the film is just as entertaining and enjoyable now as it ever was. Sure, the racist overtones and full-fledged bigotry wouldn't fly for today's audience, and there are a number of logical flaws that you won't help but scratch your head about (including the whole set up, borrowing an inmate to help solve a crime), but all is forgiven with Murphy's undeniable charm and Nolte's gruff man's man persona.
What isn't forgivable is the Blu-ray itself. The only special feature is the theatrical trailer, the sound is just decent, but nothing more than your standard DVD quality audio, and while the picture quality is solid, it's not spectacular. In other words, it's better than the DVD, but not by much. The only thing "new" this release has to offer is the updated cover art.
The Blu-ray release of 48 Hrs. is about as classic of a re-issue as they get: a solid, groundbreaking movie that remains, to this day, a favorite among '80s action movie aficionados, watered down to a barebones disc with nothing more to offer than the movie itself and a slightly better picture quality. You'd think a commentary track would be in order or a feature about how the film set the bar for every Buddy Cop movie ever made. Alas, this release is only for diehard fans who will own 48 Hrs. no matter what and for those who don't own it on DVD already. Or, in summation: good movie, bad Blu-ray.
Get out of jail for 48 Hrs., now available on Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment.

source : http://www.film.com/features/story/blu-ray-review-48-hrs/44559407

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