Unlocking the potential
The best way to describe the Bourne Trilogy is just saying that it’s one long story about revenge. Each movie brings our famous character, Jason Bourne (played by Matt Damon), to a crossroads where he can choose to be alone or choose to free himself. Revenge is the motivator in each film and the reason why Bourne continues to live. His character is cold, concise and calculating. Bourne doesn’t have any rivals, he simply knows what he needs to do to survive. With each day he lives he gets closer to finding out the truth behind his life, his almost-death and the government agency that is behind his creation.
The Bourne Identity
The first film gives us a partial origin of Bourne, one where we discover his inhuman and human side. It also introduces us to a side of his character that shows compassion, which we will see grow as the series continues. What’s interesting about this film is how Damon grows from innocent/unsheltered to hardcore assassin by the end of the film. The transformation is amazing and done smoothly, which is tough considering the complication of the character. Add to this first film the fact that they threw in a potential love interest and it makes the situation even better. He not only has to survive, but he must ensure the survival of his future girlfriend, Marie, which brings about another variable to his already complicated equation of life.
So, in a sense, you can say this first movie is about self-discovery.
The Bourne Supremacy
What’s interesting about the second film is that you literally get to discover how much (expletive) Jason Bourne is up to his neck in. His girlfriend, and love of two years, Marie is knocked off at the beginning. He is having dreams about past jobs that he did for Treadstone. Unlike the first film, the movie is less about him and more about his creators and the people he has affected. That last statement is more true as Marie is affected by his life and his mystery job. Of course, getting shot is about as affected as you can be. Anyway, the purpose of the second film is for Bourne to find out what exactly the purpose of the organization he worked for and who headed it up.
You can say that it’s discovery of purpose.
The Bourne Ultimatum
Most trilogy sets generally conclude in a very disappointing, tiring way. The Star Wars prequels are a fantastic anti-climatic conclusion to a very dull series. The third film in the Bourne Trilogy is fantastic. Not only does it end on a fantastic, climatic note, it gives you hope for a fourth film. The character is at the pinnacle of his strength, both mentally and physically. He might be broken in the beginning, but he soon finds himself as dangerous as ever. Hunted by the government, and anxious to conclude the mystery of his conception into the business of being an ‘asset’. It wraps everything up and it does it with style and finesse.
This is definitely the conclusion that you would expect from a strong character, with a strong bit of motivation.
Quite simply put, this is one of the best stories I have had the pleasure of viewing in the last 15-20 years. I had no idea why I was avoiding seeing this set of films for so long. It could have been because Matt Damon just didn’t seem like a big ‘badass’ or it could have been because my friend Jeremy recommended the film (I love ya, Jeremy!), whatever the case may be, I’m so sorry for avoiding these. Matt Damon brings a terrifying, hardcore character to life and keeps him on the same level over three films. That’s quite tough to do. He plays a solid ‘badass’, one who is forgiving to the innocent and brutal to the deserving. He forms the character from the ashes of his life and breathes new life into him, that equals out to be non-stop action over nearly 300 minutes of film.
The big question at the end of all of this is, “Should there be a fourth film?” I would love for them to give this a shot, even if it doesn’t work out completely (as there isn’t a fourth book) because Damon’s character is so powerful that you would miss him if they ended it at three.
Hell, it’s been one day and I already want to re-watch all of these again.
Bourne for Blu-ray
There is no question that the HD picture of the Bourne Trilogy, helped by the gorgeous locations of a rough European landscape, enhanced the picture and depth that the Bourne Trilogy brought home on Blu-ray. Add that to the fact that action films really enhance the experience on their own (thanks to the action) and you’ll be perfectly satisfied with this Trilogy. As for the most important part of the equation with the Blu-ray experience, the audio is fantastic. I’m not sure that the word ‘fantastic’ really describes the experience, but if you’re lucky enough to have an HD receiver with 7.1 surround capabilities, you’ll be in heaven.
As for features, you get a boat load of them. Universal seems to be progressing the most with BD-Live and you’ll find plenty of BD-Live content here. You will also find good documentaries that are long and short on each disc. A set of features, which are in HD, that are entertaining as sin (and not too long in minutes) is on the last disc. The features take you on a tour of the locations that each shoot for the third film hit. You get some funny moments, and you also get some insight on why they chose the locales that they did. Pretty stuff that’s interesting. Here’s a full list of what you’re getting, separated by disc:
The Bourne Identity
Exclusive U-Control
o Picture in Picture
o Bourne Reminders
o Bourne Card Battle Strategy Game
o Treadstone Files
o My Scenes Sharing
o Bourne card battle strategy game.
Additional extras:
o My Scenes
o The Ludlum Identity
o The Ludlum Supremacy
o The Ludlum Ultimatum
o Alternate Opening and Ending
o Deleted and Extended Scenes
o The Birth of the Bourne Identity
o The Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum
o Access Granted
o From Identity to Supremacy – Jason & Marie
o The Bourne Diagnosis
o Cloak and Dagger
o Inside a Fight Sequence
o Moby “Extreme Ways” Music Video
o Feature Commentary with Director Doug Liman
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The Bourne Supremacy
Exclusive U-Control
o Picture in Picture
o Bourne Reminders
o Bourne Card Battle Strategy Game
o Supremacy Dossie
BD-Live
o My Scenes Sharing
o Bourne card battle strategy game.
Additional extras:
o My Scenes
o Explosive Deleted Scenes
o Matching Identities: Casting
o Keeping It Real
o Blowing Things Up
o On the Move with Jason Bourne
o Bourne to Be Wild: Fight Training
o Crash Cam: Racing Through the Streets of Moscow
o The Go-Mobile Revs Up the Action
o Anatomy of a Scene: The Explosive Bridge Chase Scene
o Scoring with John Powell
o The Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum
o The Bourne Diagnosis Part Two
o Feature Commentary with Paul Greengrass
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The Bourne Ultimatum
Exclusive U-Control
o Picture in Picture
o Bourne Reminders
o Bourne Card Battle Strategy Game
o Blackbriar Files
BD-Live
o My Scenes Sharing
o Bourne card battle strategy game.
· Additional extras
o My Scenes
o Be Bourne Spy Training
o Man on the Move: Jason Bourne
o Rooftop Pursuit
o Planning the Punches
o Driving School.
o New York Chase
o Feature Commentary with Director Paul Greengrass
o Deleted Scenes
To date, Universal Studios produces the best Blu-ray in the most unique fashion. Steven McGehee and myself have been thoroughly impressed with the amount of time and thought that has been given to each Blu-ray we have reviewed from that studio. From the features, to the menu, to the overall transfer of film to HD, Universal does it the best, right now.
They don’t disappoint when it comes to the Bourne Trilogy on Blu-ray.