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- Feb 8, 1999
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- Robert Harris
Presuming there aren't more Bourne films in the pipeline, Universal has released boxed sets of the entire 5-fillm Bourne series, and the results are very pleasing.
One of the interesting things in doing an overview of a set of this type, is the ability to see and hear the changing technologies.
The general facts:
All were shot on film, in various formats, but generally 35/3. Some also had digital capture.
Let's work backwards...
Jason Bourne (2016)
This was a 4k DI, and as previously reviewed, the resultant 4k Blu-ray is gorgeous, and a real treat to view.
Although the original mix, was (among other formats) Dolby Atmos, the disc was released at DTS:X.
The Bourne Legacy (2012)
Shot S35, with some HD footage. Completed as a 2k DI.
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Shot S35, and finished as a 2k DI. Original audio was DTS.
A beautiful uprez from the 2k files to 4k, that with the addition of HDR, allows a high quality presentation, with rich deep blacks. Audio is DTS:X.
The Bourne Supremecy (2004)
Shot S35, and finished as a 2k DI. Original audio was DTS.
Another quality effort from Universal, that matches the overall look of Ultimatum.
The Bourne Identity (2002)
This is where it gets interesting, and I'll be doing a bit of guessing here, based upon the way that other projects have been handled in the past, by others.
Identity was the only film to be completed on film, meaning pre-DI. I'm presuming that the film was cut and conformed as negative.
Much TV, and various features, were not cut neg. I believe a good example was Seinfeld, which going to home video, was cut and conformed after the fact.
So a studio is putting together boxed sets (Blu-ray and 4k). They have at their disposal, the original cut camera negative, presumably a timed IP, and the original HD master used for earlier releases.
Do they go the Columbia route, and do a new 4k image harvest from the camera negative, and create new asset protection, along the way?
This would mean taking the film back into post, and re-doing the color. Not an inexpensive proposition.
Remember. This is a film that one would believe that anyone that wants it already has it, and probably on Blu-ray.
Do you go back to an IP, do a new image harvest, which would not allow full 4k resolution, and move on from there?
Or do you use the HD master, which in this case is a less than stellar, but still viable proposition, in order to fill out a five film boxed set?
I'm betting that the third possibility is what we're seeing here, as, unlike the other films, it simply isn't film-like. Grain is not evident. Resolution should be better.
It's not what it could be, but it will do for government work.
My take, is that in order to do it right for 4k, the first option is the one to take, but it's a very expensive option.
Now let's look at the numbers at street price.
The most recent release, Jason Bourne is priced at $26 for the 4k. The other three Damon titles are also $26, while the Renner is $20.
That's $124 for the set of five, purchased separately.
The Ultimate Bourne Collection on Blu-ray is $45.
The Ultimate Bourne Collection in 4k is a Best Buy exclusive, and runs $100, which brings the average cost per film, down to $20.
An incredible deal for the first release of a 4k boxed set.
At that price, should be care if the first film isn't up to 4k standards?
We should, but it's not a deal breaker.
Here's where it should be leaving potential buyers.
If you already have the first four films on Blu-ray, best to grab the latest in 4k. Your player should do a nice job of up-rezzing the image of the first four to 4k, albeit without HDR.
If you don't have any of the films, and either are not set up for height channels, but either have 4k, or are considering upgrading, it might be best to pick up the Blu-ray set and add in an extra copy of the latest at a total cost of $71. That's appreciably less expensive than the Best Buy alternative.
Here's the buyers' quandary. If you are set up for height channels, and have the earlier films, you'll be double dipping Bourne 1-4 just to get the DTS:X mix, and HDR (presuming you also have 4k that supports HDR)
On the other hand, if one either has, or will be upgrading to both 4k and height channels, Universal's boxed set is a neatly packaged affair, with another set of extras on a separate DVD. Then there's the possibility that the Best Buy exclusive will either go on sale in the near future, or will not be permanently exclusive.
Possibly too many alternatives.
Image -
The Bourne Identity - 3
The Bourne Legacy - 4.25
The Bourne Ultimatum - 4.25
The Bourne Supremacy - 4.25
Jason Bourne - 5
Audio - 5 (DTS:X)
Worth the double-dip - 3
Pass / Fail - Pass
Recommended
RAH
One of the interesting things in doing an overview of a set of this type, is the ability to see and hear the changing technologies.
The general facts:
All were shot on film, in various formats, but generally 35/3. Some also had digital capture.
Let's work backwards...
Jason Bourne (2016)
This was a 4k DI, and as previously reviewed, the resultant 4k Blu-ray is gorgeous, and a real treat to view.
Although the original mix, was (among other formats) Dolby Atmos, the disc was released at DTS:X.
The Bourne Legacy (2012)
Shot S35, with some HD footage. Completed as a 2k DI.
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Shot S35, and finished as a 2k DI. Original audio was DTS.
A beautiful uprez from the 2k files to 4k, that with the addition of HDR, allows a high quality presentation, with rich deep blacks. Audio is DTS:X.
The Bourne Supremecy (2004)
Shot S35, and finished as a 2k DI. Original audio was DTS.
Another quality effort from Universal, that matches the overall look of Ultimatum.
The Bourne Identity (2002)
This is where it gets interesting, and I'll be doing a bit of guessing here, based upon the way that other projects have been handled in the past, by others.
Identity was the only film to be completed on film, meaning pre-DI. I'm presuming that the film was cut and conformed as negative.
Much TV, and various features, were not cut neg. I believe a good example was Seinfeld, which going to home video, was cut and conformed after the fact.
So a studio is putting together boxed sets (Blu-ray and 4k). They have at their disposal, the original cut camera negative, presumably a timed IP, and the original HD master used for earlier releases.
Do they go the Columbia route, and do a new 4k image harvest from the camera negative, and create new asset protection, along the way?
This would mean taking the film back into post, and re-doing the color. Not an inexpensive proposition.
Remember. This is a film that one would believe that anyone that wants it already has it, and probably on Blu-ray.
Do you go back to an IP, do a new image harvest, which would not allow full 4k resolution, and move on from there?
Or do you use the HD master, which in this case is a less than stellar, but still viable proposition, in order to fill out a five film boxed set?
I'm betting that the third possibility is what we're seeing here, as, unlike the other films, it simply isn't film-like. Grain is not evident. Resolution should be better.
It's not what it could be, but it will do for government work.
My take, is that in order to do it right for 4k, the first option is the one to take, but it's a very expensive option.
Now let's look at the numbers at street price.
The most recent release, Jason Bourne is priced at $26 for the 4k. The other three Damon titles are also $26, while the Renner is $20.
That's $124 for the set of five, purchased separately.
The Ultimate Bourne Collection on Blu-ray is $45.
The Ultimate Bourne Collection in 4k is a Best Buy exclusive, and runs $100, which brings the average cost per film, down to $20.
An incredible deal for the first release of a 4k boxed set.
At that price, should be care if the first film isn't up to 4k standards?
We should, but it's not a deal breaker.
Here's where it should be leaving potential buyers.
If you already have the first four films on Blu-ray, best to grab the latest in 4k. Your player should do a nice job of up-rezzing the image of the first four to 4k, albeit without HDR.
If you don't have any of the films, and either are not set up for height channels, but either have 4k, or are considering upgrading, it might be best to pick up the Blu-ray set and add in an extra copy of the latest at a total cost of $71. That's appreciably less expensive than the Best Buy alternative.
Here's the buyers' quandary. If you are set up for height channels, and have the earlier films, you'll be double dipping Bourne 1-4 just to get the DTS:X mix, and HDR (presuming you also have 4k that supports HDR)
On the other hand, if one either has, or will be upgrading to both 4k and height channels, Universal's boxed set is a neatly packaged affair, with another set of extras on a separate DVD. Then there's the possibility that the Best Buy exclusive will either go on sale in the near future, or will not be permanently exclusive.
Possibly too many alternatives.
Image -
The Bourne Identity - 3
The Bourne Legacy - 4.25
The Bourne Ultimatum - 4.25
The Bourne Supremacy - 4.25
Jason Bourne - 5
Audio - 5 (DTS:X)
Worth the double-dip - 3
Pass / Fail - Pass
Recommended
RAH
