The Bourne Trilogy (Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum/Universal Blu-ray Box Set)
Picture:
B/B/B+ Sound: B+/B+/A- Extras: C+/B-/C+ Films: C+/B-/C+
The Jason
Bourne films are finally on Blu-ray and as a box set, though the box has the
discs in separate Blu-ray cases. Here is
our coverage of the trilogy in separate editions in the now-defunct HD-DVD
format as follows:
Identity (2002)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5745/The+Bourne+Identity+(HD-DVD)
Supremacy (2004)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3831/The+Bourne+Supremacy+(HD-DVD)
Ultimatum (2007)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6353/The+Bourne+Ultimatum+(HD-DVD
These new
Blu-ray versions have all the same extras as the HD-DVDs did and added BD Live
functions they lacked. The 1080p 2.35 X
1 digital High Definition image on all the discs are also the same exact
transfers as those previous Hi Def releases, which is a little disappointing
for the early films as those should have been upgraded like the sound has
been. That will disappoint some fans and
is not good for those expecting a home run from this box, but where the box is
an improvement is in the sound.
While the
first two films were on HD-DVD in underwhelming Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 mixes
and the third was in much better Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Universal is making all
three available in their mandatory DTS HD Master Audio (MA) lossless 5.1
standard high-quality sound and improvements apply in all three cases. Ultimatum
has the best sound design, with the studio going all out to back it and while
the TrueHD was impressive, the DTS MA is slightly better, smoother and more
naturalistic. That is not enough to give
it a higher sound grade, but it is fractionally better enough to make note of
it.
Identity and Supremacy also have good sound mixes and you can finally hear how well
at home with the noticeable jump from DD+ to DTS MA, with richer, fuller
dialogue, music, warmer soundfield and sound effects that offer more
presence. Though I have reason to
comment on the shaky camerawork being overdone, the sound design is in line
with what Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass have offered in their other films and
that is pretty good.
As noted
in our previous DVD reissue box coverage, a fourth film is now on the way with
a writer that I am not ecstatic about, but this is just pre-production, so
we’ll see where this goes. Until then,
here is the best way to see the films outside of an upscale theatrical
booking. The case can be opened simply
by lifting the Damon cut out on the left hand side gently to open the box out
from left to right. Turns out the Damon
image is a magnet, though whether this is telling us he has a “magnetic”
personality or not is a mystery this franchise will likely skip.
- Nicholas Sheffo
