Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy [DVD]

Having just purchased this product from Amazon, I would like to share with you the following information...

The Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy (Triple Feature it says on the actual cover) has finally been newly re-released in a standard sized dvd case (Amaray hinged triple-disc case) with new artwork (not as shown by Amazon), and not the old style cumbersome larger sized multi-disc case which I have grown to dislike.

I have uploaded some photos of the item I recieved.

Most people will have seen the films, so this is a list of the Special Features, as Amazon has failed to provide the details as of the date I write this...

DISC 1:
BEVERLY HILLS COP:
Run Time - 101 mins.
Aspect Ratio - 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, Dolby 5.1
- Commentary by Director Martin Brest.
- Exclusive Cast and Crew Interviews.
- Casting Beverly Hills Cop.
- Music of Beverly Hills Cop.
- Location Map.
- Photo Gallery.
- Theatrical Trailer.

DISC 2:
BEVERLY HILLS COP II:
Run Time - 99 mins.
Aspect Ratio - 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, Dolby 5.1
- Original Behind-The-Scenes Featurette.
- Deleted Scenes.
- "Shakedown" Music Featurette.
- Theatrical Trailer.

DISC 3:
BEVERLY HILLS COP III:
Run Time - 96 mins.
Aspect Ratio - 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, Dolby 5.1
- Theatrical Trailer.

The interactive menus are cool (especially on the first film), and the whole trilogy for under a fiver (get it while you can) is a no-brainer... so get on the case with Axel Foley and enjoy a time when Eddie Murphy could do no wrong.

And best of all, with this being a standard sized case, it fits superbly on the shelf with my other DVDs.

There's no other way for me to describe Eddie Murphy than as an absolutely hilarious man. Look back at his works, and the man is just so funny and brilliant; 48 Hrs., Trading Places and Coming to America were renowned box-office smashes, award-winning masterpieces and downright comedic genius.

A significant amount of all this can indeed be attributed to Murphy. The man is just so sharp, quick-witted, charismatic and all-round excellent. The fact that he's been given some of the greatest scripts his performances deserve and demand is a plus. A natural comedian and actor, Eddie can do anything and everything that's expected from him and more.

Further proof of this is unquestionably his role as Detective Axel Foley, the streetwise city cop from Detroit, Michigan, whose highly-questionable methods (including talents for trouble-making and lying) are matched only by his brilliant mind, loyalty and true desire for justice. To me, Beverly Hills Cop (1 & 2) represent Eddie Murphy's finest work. And with the whole trilogy now on DVD for a fiver, you'd be daft to overlook such a bargain.

Right away, I will say that the only weak-link in this set is Beverly Hills Cop 3. Fellow reviewers have said it time and time again, but it remains true that they should have just left the series with the first two-films. The third film follows a tired, repeated formula with some embarrassing comedic elements that makes it feel like the Police Academy sequels. Beverly Hills Cop 3 (despite having a really powerful opening) doesn't feel anywhere near as sharp and as cutting-edge as its predecessors, the script feels lifeless and not even Murphy and the rest of the cast can be bothered. The absence of certain characters (played by Ronnie Cox, John Ashton and Paul Reiser) and only a theatrical trailer for the special feature (unlike the other films which are packed with goodies), says it all about this one.

But the set is STILL worth having for films 1 and 2 alone. Eddie Murphy is truly at the top of his game as Axel Foley, determined to avenge his friends and bring justice to their killers, causing all kinds of carnage along the way. But it's not all just great laughs, there's some superb drama here and there, and the direction of Martin Brest (Beverly Hills Cop) and Tony Scott (Beverly Hills Cop II), plus the producing of Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, make the films must-see entertainment.

Aside from having strong stories, dynamite scripts and wicked soundtracks, the films also have the perfect supporting cast, featuring the likes of Ronnie Cox (Andrew Bogomill), Judge Reinhold (Billy Rosewood), John Ashton (John Taggart), Paul Reiser (Jeffery Friedman) and the incomparable Gilbert Hill as Inspector Todd (who has tremendous chemistry with Murphy's Axel). All have so much brilliant material, character depth and interaction with Eddie, that their performances also contribute so much quality to the films.

Whereas praise for the first Beverly Hills Cop film was pretty much unanimous, reaction for the second movie was surprisingly mixed. I find that strange, as Beverly Hills Cop II is the superior of the two (for me). The first film is a wonderful, absolutely superb intro to the world of Axel Foley and his friends, but the sequel feels much more comfortable, like the producers gained a true know-how of the characters and the setting, allowing them to tell the story that was meant to be told. I find Beverly Hills Cop II has more hilarious sequences, gags and dialogue, developed the characters further and bestowed even more emotional investment in them. And of course, Bob Seger's "Shakedown" is a favourite of mine.

As DavrosDigital has said, the single DVD case is one of the most appealing things about this product. All three discs snap into the standard-size DVD case perfectly, the case will fit better on your shelf, it's nice enough and longer-lasting than a box set and there's plenty of special features to sink your teeth into. Featurettes, cast interviews, trailers, galleries, deleted scenes and commentaries are all a-plenty on the first two discs. The interactive menus score high for presentation, there's useful subtitles and the picture/sound quality are wonderfully crisp thanks to Paramount.

So you're not just getting the films, you're getting a compact package that's full of wonderful extras...all for a fiver! Which makes the Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy all the more good value for money. Again, the third film is by far the weakest (although others may enjoy it), but that's only a small blemish on what is an excellent collection with Eddie Murphy at his best.

I remeber watching Beverly Hills Cop 1 and 2 years ago and I was glad when I came across them in this boxset. They are great films and I enjoyed watching them again. I gave this review four stars because film 3 in my opinion was a disappointment. Same characters but different personalities and the entire film was trying to be funny but wasn't. Just didn't work for me. Still this boxset is worth buying for films 1 & 2.