Blu-Ray Review: Jason Bourne Films Continue to Deliver With Combo Releases

CHICAGO – The Universal release of “The Bourne Trilogy” was not only one of the best Blu-ray titles of 2009 but it’s still one of the best box sets on the HD market twelve months later. The question is how does Universal continue to make a dime on the Matt Damon juggernaut of a franchise while we wait for the latest drama regarding the potential fourth film. Welcome to the Bourne flipper discs.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

All three films have been re-released in stand-alone packages that include the film on Blu-ray on one side and standard DVD on the other. Watch “The Bourne Identity” in HD in your living room; flip over and watch “The Bourne Supremacy” in standard form in another room. All three titles offer not only a great transition for people who don’t have a Blu-ray player everywhere they like to watch movies but also a nice way to show off the technical improvement between standard and HD with the same movie. Have that relative unconvinced that Blu-ray looks and sounds better? Show them “The Bourne Ultimatum,” which still has one of the best HD audio tracks that I’ve ever heard. All three films are the kind that you should use to show off your audio system.

The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum were released on Blu-ray/DVD Combo on January 26th, 2010.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

The “Bourne Flipper” discs are the same as they were in the Blu-ray trilogy set - loaded with hours of special features and with some of the best picture and sound that has yet been produced for the format. If you own the “Bourne Trilogy” box set, there’s no logical reason to upgrade unless you’ve desperately been wanting to watch your favorite action films on your non-Blu-ray-enabled computer. But if you don’t own the films, they are must-haves for action fans, movie collectors, and nearly everyone with a Blu-Ray player.

Since these releases are identical to the ones included in the “Bourne Trilogy” box set merely with a DVD version of the film on the other side of the disc and a BD-Live “Bourne Card Strategy Challenge” combat strategy game, I’m going to crib from my original review:

“Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, a highly trained assassin on the run from a shadowy government agency through three movies, each one better than the film that came before. The first film by Doug Liman is good but the ones that follow by Paul Greengrass are two of the best action movies of the last decade. If the Blu-Ray releases were average, they would be must-owns for every action fan just based on the caliber of the films themselves. The fact that these are some of the most impressive Blu-Ray releases yet makes them a must-own for everyone.

The three-disc set is loaded with hours of bonus materials including deleted scenes, interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentaries and all-new interactive content that takes advantage of Universal’s awesome U-Control feature, which allows extra content through Picture-in-Picture and interactive dossiers. Through BD-Live, fans will be able to download even more bonus content, share scenes with friends and play an exclusive strategy game that involves hand-to-hand combat simulation.

The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum were released on Blu-ray/DVD Combo on January 26th, 2010.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Each film is presented in gorgeous HD with English DTS-H Master Audio 5.1 tracks that really amplify the Bourne experience. Bourne movies should be watched with perfect video and booming audio and “The Bourne Trilogy” really delivers. These are some of the best video and audio transfers yet produced on the next-gen format.

As for special features, it’s overwhelming. The real draw is the way this franchise makes perfect use of Universal’s U-Control system. While you watch the movie, you can immerse yourself in dossiers, behind-the-scenes information, and details about the spy gadgets used in the film.

Bonus features on “The Bourne Identity” include the aforementioned U-Control features, My Scenes, BD-Live and…

The Ludlum Identity: An extraordinary portrait of the best-selling author through archival interviews with friends, colleagues, family members and Ludlum himself.

The Ludlum Supremacy: Who is Jason Bourne? A revealing look at how Bourne was born.

The Ludlum Ultimatum: A fascinating examination of the Bourne character and his enduring audience appeal

Alternate Opening and Ending: With an introduction by producer Frank Marshall, screenwriter Tony Gilroy and actor Brian Cox

Deleted and Extended Scenes

The Birth of the Bourne Identity

The Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum: A fascinating new look at the late Robert Ludlum, the bestselling novelist who created the “Bourne” trilogy.

Access Granted: An exclusive interview with screenwriter Tony Gilroy on the challenges of adapting Ludlum’s 500-page book for the screen.

From Identity to Supremacy – Jason & Marie: This feature includes exclusive interviews with Matt Damon and Franka Potente which explore the making of The Bourne Identity - and build a bridge to the spectacular sequel, The Bourne Supremacy.

The Bourne Diagnosis: Insights into the causes and effects of Jason Bourne’s struggle with amnesia from a UCLA psychologist.

Cloak and Dagger: In this feature, CIA liaison officer Chase Brandon delivers a detailed, real-world analysis of the making of a super-spy.

Inside a Fight Sequence: Join Matt Damon on the set as he and the film’s Stunt Choreographer map out the explosive action-packed U.S. Embassy fight sequence.

Moby “ Extreme Ways ” Music Video

Feature Commentary with Director Doug Liman

The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum were released on Blu-ray/DVD Combo on January 26th, 2010.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

“The Bourne Supremacy” features include U-Control, My Scenes, BD-Live and…

Explosive Deleted Scenes

Matching Identities: Casting – See what it took to land a key role in this major action hit.

Keeping It Real – A look at the edgy and kinetic visual style the filmmakers brought to Supremacy.

Blowing Things Up – Virtual isn’t always better. See how some of the film’s most awesome pyrotechnical sequences were created—without digital effects.

On the Move with Jason Bourne – Travel the globe to visit the film’s exotic locations from India to Berlin to Moscow .

Bourne to Be Wild: Fight Training – Matt Damon didn’t become a lethal weapon overnight. Witness the action as the star and the movie’s fight trainer perfect the film’s thrilling hand-to-hand combat scenes!

Crash Cam: Racing Through the Streets of Moscow – Experience how stunt coordinators meticulously planned and executed the movie’s stunning, high-speed chase sequence

The Go-Mobile Revs Up the Action – Feel the rush of being in the driver’s seat with this revolutionary new vehicle used to capture Matt Damon’s high-speed exploits in the film’s jaw-dropping car chase sequences!

Anatomy of a Scene: The Explosive Bridge Chase Scene – Step onto the set and experience the tension and intense preparation as the filmmaking team plans and shoots one of the movie’s most demanding, dangerous and thrilling action scenes.

Scoring with John Powell: A special look at creating the pulse-pound score for the movie.

The Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum: A fascinating new look at the late Robert Ludlum, the bestselling novelist who created the “Bourne” trilogy.

The Bourne Diagnosis Part Two: Insights into the causes and effects of Jason Bourne’s struggle with amnesia from a UCLA psychologist.

Feature Commentary with Paul Greengrass

“The Bourne Ultimatum” features include U-Control, My Scenes, BD-Live and…

Be Bourne Spy Training – Viewers test their skills to see if they’ve got what it takes to be a covert operative.

Man on the Move: Jason Bourne – From Berlin to Tangier, see how the film’s exotic locations influenced the filmmaking process.

Rooftop Pursuit – Discover how state-of-the-art technology was used to film the incredible Tangier rooftop chase scene!

Planning the Punches – Matt Damon reveals his complex and rigorous fight training.

Driving School – Join Matt Damon behind the wheel as he trains for the New York car chase scene.

New York Chase – An insider’s view on how the film’s heart-stopping chase sequences were filmed.

Feature Commentary with Director Paul Greengrass

Deleted Scenes”

‘The Bourne Identity’ is released by Universal Home Video and stars Matt Damon, Clive Owen, Julia Stiles, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, and Chris Cooper. It was written by Tony Gilroy and W. Blake Herron and directed by Doug Liman. It was released on Blu-ray + DVD combo disc on January 19th, 2010.

‘The Bourne Supremacy’ is released by Universal Home Video and stars Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, Karl Urban, Gabriel Mann, Michelle Monaghan, and Joan Allen. It was written by Tony Gilroy and directed by Paul Greengrass. It was released on Blu-ray + DVD combo disc on January 19th, 2010.

‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ is released by Universal Home Video and stars Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney, and Joan Allen. It was written by Tony Gilroy and Scott Z. Burns and George Nolfi and directed by Paul Greengrass. It was released on Blu-ray + DVD combo disc on January 19th, 2010.

[18]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [19] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [18]