A few words about...™ The Bourne Ultimatum -- in HD

Robert Harris · 12-16-2007, 10:42 PM

The Bourne Ultimatum, the third in the series from Universal, with the prior two already available on HD dvd, is one of those films, rather like the Pirates of the Caribbean series, that needs to be viewed in order of release or one is going to lose their way in the narrative.

Properly educated with knowledge of the first two, makes the third a treat, albeit densely cut and photographed via cameras that never seem to be locked down for two frames in a row.

Without doing actual comparisons, I would be willing to place a bet that The Bourne Ultimatum, which is stunning in it's HD form, has more shots per reel than almost any film that has come before.

The Bourne Ultimatum is a treat for fans of Ludlum specifically as well as those who enjoy a good spy thriller in general.

As far as The Bourne Ultimatum is concerned, it must be said that they don't make 'em like they used to.

In this case it happens to be a very good thing.

Universal's The Bourne Ultimatum comes Highly Recommended as both film and disc.

RAH

EricW · 12-17-2007, 12:34 AM

i've never been a fan of hand held, but it's so prolific these days i guess i'm being desensitized to it. it still really, really bothers me when it's used for a scene where 2 people are just sitting down in a room talking to eachother and it's all quiet, no distractions. AND THE CAMERA IS STILL WAVERING. it's like breaking the fourth wall.

anyways, Ultimatum really surprised me. i thought it was a great movie for all the reasons listed in the first post. the divide between Bourne and Bond just keeps getting bigger. the fight scene in Madrid is the best of the series and one of the best fight scenes in any movie in years. the Waterloo train station scene is also an instant classic.

Spoiler:

Sam Davatchi · 12-17-2007, 06:02 AM

Quote:

it still really, really bothers me when it's used for a scene where 2 people are just sitting down in a room talking to eachother and it's all quiet, no distractions. AND THE CAMERA IS STILL WAVERING. it's like breaking the fourth wall.

Indeed. I think they went way overboard with that. I remember it was very distracting on the big screen. However it was less distracting at home.

It’s still possible to go handheld for the dialog scenes and Steven Soderbergh is the master of it.

Douglas Monce · 12-17-2007, 09:06 AM

I have to agree that I like the camera operating style of the first film much better than the last 2. I think Paul Greengrass had his operator go way over board with this.

Having said that it is a credit to the film that it is so good that I'm willing to over look what in another film would have me walk out or turn it off in the first 10 min.

Doug

Sam Posten · 12-17-2007, 10:18 AM

My Bourne review is on hold while I go through Battlestar Galactica but rest assured it is coming (as is, to a lesser degree of urgency, Balls of Fury!)

I didnt even realize that the second Bourne movie was released on HD, I reviewed the original on August 9th and I thought both #2 and #3 were being simultaneously released this week. Gonna have to research that and figure out what went wrong in getting that.

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Douglas Monce · 12-17-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Posten

My Bourne review is on hold while I go through Battlestar Galactica but rest assured it is coming (as is, to a lesser degree of urgency, Balls of Fury!)

I didnt even realize that the second Bourne movie was released on HD, I reviewed the original on August 9th and I thought both #2 and #3 were being simultaneously released this week. Gonna have to research that and figure out what went wrong in getting that.

The Bourne Supremacy was actually out on HD DVD before The Bourne Identity. I believe it was one of the very early Universal HD DVD releases.

Doug

Sam Posten · 12-18-2007, 10:57 AM

Ahhh, that makes sense then. I never saw any of the trilogy before I did the Identity review, and I can't claim to have seen Ultimatum on the shelf any time I've browsed. It must have come out before I became the go to guy for Universal HD reviews here. Will have to pick it up and watch it before I do the Supremacy review I suppose, probably wouldnt do well to skip one =)

Neil Joseph · 12-18-2007, 03:57 PM

All 3 were good. Ultimatum was great all around.

Southpaw · 12-18-2007, 04:27 PM

Absolutely LOVED this movie. Loved the entire Bourne series as a matter of fact.
I guess I am in the minority but I love the handheld camera. To me, it adds a sense of realism and authenticity. It makes me really believe that I am there staring at these people with my own eyes and when the camera moves, that is the way my eyes would move, whether it be a dialog scene or a scene where people are running. If I was running along with them, my eyes would be jumping all around just as the camera does. But that's just me.