The Bourne Trilogy (The Bourne Identity / The Bourne Supremacy / The Bourne Ultimatum)

Yeah, I know it's been a while since these came out. It's even been a while since I bought the trilogy on a previous special. But since I intend to see the new Jason Bourne film, I'm here revisiting these. In the interest of space, I'll just comment generally on the whole trilogy.Pros: obviously responsible for bringing back the sense of high stakes for an individual human being who has knowledge that could be dangerous for other human beings... and for the corrupt power brokers who were responsible for his role in the first place. Famously directed and filmed in gritty-realistic "documentary style" by indie leaders Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass, spread across a number of evocative European locations, and featuring some of the most hardcore, brutal-looking fight choreography I've ever seen.Particular standouts, to me:1. Clive Owen's professorial assassin who goes after Bourne with all alacrity... and then his very mournful, very human acknowledgement that he was doing a job, and had become something he regretted, as he dies at the end.2. Bourne "interrogating" Nicky about his "first job" in Berlin, with a gun to her head. The flashbacks, the look of pure disgust with himself as Nicky sobs, Julia Stiles very convincingly portraying a woman who's sure she's seconds from death. Fine, FINE work from Damon and Stiles, IMO the moral center of the second film.3. In all three films, very creative approaches to how Bourne solves problems in action. The fact that he creates chaos and then very calmly and methodically takes advantage of it in smart ways, like ripping an evacuation plan off the embassy wall and following it in the first film, or the very simple purchase of a pre-paid cel phone that he palms into the reporter's pocket in the second film. Less wiz-bang gadgetry, more tradecraft. Love that.4. Chris Cooper in bulldog mode in the first film. I do NOT want this guy angry with me.Cons: If the Bond franchise generally shows England at its jingoistic worst, the Bourne franchise gives us a CIA that is essentially rogue all the way to the top, deliberately, assassinating U.S. citizens, disappearing millions in seed money to PRIVATE (of course!) Russian oil interests who are about to be exposed by Russian POLITICIANS—because, you know, Russian politicians are noted for being honest brokers of truth and justice. Joan Allen's Pamela Landy saying "I didn't sign up for this. What they did to you. This isn't who we are" is eyeroll-worthy. That sort of sentiment—noble though it is—is far too naïve for a deputy director of anything in the CIA. Bourne falling madly in love with Marie, a flighty woman with no visible means of support, no ability to plan for a future, and no recognition of the reality that the hunt for them will never be over until Bourne ends it (by whatever means). Hinting at a previous relationship between Nicky and David Webb (Bourne's real name) solely for the purpose of motivating Nicky's help... then doing nothing more with it (because it would spoil the idolization of the dead Marie). Treating Nicky, who is competent enough to manage logistics for all the Treadstone agents and who risks her life trying to help fight Daesh, as just another girl to disguise and send off. Weirdly sexist, and worse, a near-unforgivable underutilization of Julia Stiles.Gosh, those cons sound harsh. But they sure haven't stopped me from watching this trilogy many, many times. Did I mention Matt Darmon's uncanny ability to look physically ill every time he kills someone? Did I mention the emphasis on tradecraft? Did I mention rooting for Nicky to do more?Highly, highly recommended.

This series is really well done and the Blu-Ray only adds to the quality of the films.(1) The first film is very understated in its action sequences. Only 1 explosion, completely justified, and a chase scene that rivals any in film history. To get an idea of the accuracy just watch the sequence when the police officer on the motorbike flips over the car and smacks his helmet. Every sound is authentic and really adds to the overall product. I will say that the greatest disappointment in the films is the female lead played by German actress Franka Potente. Being of German decent and speaking German quite well I can say that she over acted many scenes and was never really a well-developed character. She just whines throughout the whole movie being surprised by the same issues over and over again and saying scheiße every two seconds.(2) The second film is where it gets a little fuzzy on cinematography, but the story is so sound that you don't mind the seizure inducing camera movements. Again the action is understated and all reactions seem appropriate. The opening scene of Bourne and Marie crossing the bridge being chased by a sniper is still my favorite seen (see above for reference). The new director I think takes the 'sense of action' idea a bit too far, but again the Blu-Ray captures everything in the scenes and the sounds perfectly.(3) The third and final Matt Damon Bourne movie is a nice combination of the first two films. The scenes are well thought out and the plot is quite deep and comes to a solid conclusion as to why and how he became the way he is. You will get a little bit of the blur 'sense of action' junk from the second film but it is much reduced and returns to the actual story.Overall I would HIGHLY recommend this set to anyone who is a fan of spy movies. While Bourne and James Bond are really nothing alike, because of the series success they are constantly compared. If you like big explosions, gadgets, and amazing vehicles and women keep watching the Bond films I certainly do (Skyfall is Amazing!). If you like deeper characters, realism, and amazing hand to hand combat then Bourne is for you. I like them both, but they should be held as exclusive from one another. I think the Blu-Ray, like most films, is really only needed for cinephiles or audiophiles. So if you are a general movie watcher the normal DVD set should be fine.

I have all three of the Bourne DVD's and I am excited about receiving the new Blu Ray Trilogy so I can enjoy all of the extra features and commentaries and actually see the difference in the Video Quality. I ordered the Trilogy on the 13th and received it today the 16th and that was with the Free Super Saver feature. The Trilogy was only $29.99 so that is $10 apiece and I paid more than that for the DVD's. I haven't even had time, yet, to see the blu ray's. I know I will enjoy them since I have a new Samsung Blu Ray 3D player and 42 inch Visio 3d 1080i 240 htz TV, and a new HDMI 7.1 Pioneer amp with Home Theatre Type surround sound speaker system with 200 watt sub woofer---sorry bout that---but I am excited not bragging----well, maybe a little bit. I don't go out much so I save my money to get a quality Movie experience at home. Now, If I could only get them to lower the price on the Star Wars Blu Ray extravaganza. Actually, the DVD's video looks pretty good when they are up-converted. But, still kind of lacking in the sound department.The Bourne Identity---the Blu Ray is definitely better than my DVD version (even with the 1080i up-convert. The Video is clearer, the DTS Sound is Super and the Extras are worth buying the Blu Ray (if for no other reason). I spent hours last night and I only watched the Extras---picture in picture----and stand alone docs.I didn't even get to the Commentaries and I had a whole nights entertainment withonly one disk.More later I Love it, Kelly

Great trilogy of action films (Bourne Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum), especially the last one, with an intelligent script and very good acting, as former CIA assassin Jason Bourne tries to put his life back together, while his former bosses are trying to eliminate him as a threat to stop him disclosing any secrets. Great extras on this Bluray set (same as on the DVD set) - I especially liked the feature on the 'Identity' Bluray about Robert Ludlum, who was the author of the original books. The Bluray picture is only a little better than the DVD but still worth getting. Both the films themselves and the special features have English (and other) subtitles, which is to be applauded.

Bourne is a successful saga and much more interesting than it seems and was received.Forgetting the 4th episode (which is not included here and has a different cast and director) this trilogy relies on Matt Damon's cool performance (he is a cold yet reluctant hero that conveys a sense of constant and hard effort not to fall again and gradually seek for vengeance and truth about himself) and on an excellent screenwriting and direction. The first film is by the former director of independent comedy Swingers, who later turned to mainstream action, and draw a path that will be followed and walk even better by the director of episode 2 and 3, that is Paul Greengrass (United 93, Green Zone, Captain Philips, etc...) who has a superior style and cinematic approach and makes this saga even more realistic, dramatic, grainy and far from mainstream standards. It is the winning attempt to re-vive and refresh the spy genre a little like the did with James Bond, but with even more realism and less glamour, resulting in a dark story with a certain sense of rebellion and solitude towards the Establishment.2 fantastic scenes: the end of episode 2 in Russia and the thrilling scene in the Train Station in episode 3, where Greengrass shows all his talent in building a scene only with a perfect editing where you follow the perception of the characters, losing and regaining orientation and visibility of what is going on, and feeling the situations like you are there.The blu ray edition is excellent

Updating the American paranoia films of the 70s with top drawer action and globe-trotting cat-and-mouse suspense, all encapsulated in crystal clear Blu-ray technology, the Bourne series has to be the complete trilogy of its genre. Owing greatly to pre-Hollywood Hitchcock and American classics such as The Conversation, Three Days of the Condor and Brian De Palma's Mission Impossible, Bourne does them all as we witness the Black Ops assassin's breakneck journey for self-preservation, pursuit of his betrayers and quest for self-discovery and redemption.In Identity the journey we share with Bourne, from isolated amnesiac to multi-lingual fully realised killer, contains action, suspense and guile by the truckload. It has finger-snapping fights and a car chase borrowing from (take your pick) but easily matching The Italian Job, French Connection, Ronin and the best of Bond. But Bourne isn't just about modern action-film gimmickry; here is a character with talent, intelligence, vulnerability and oh so hidden depths. The film has it all: tension, menace, ominous European towns, snowscapes, back-story laden characters and friendly fishermen.Supremacy has arguably the most contrived premise of the trilogy but more than makes up for this with its similar mix to Identity of action, treachery and intrigue. The film is given depth by the multi-faceted support characters and its reprising of the wintry European towns that have pretty much become a character of their own. The claustrophobia from the first film is maintained with much of the action and stealth set in an icy cold Germany and Russia. Here Bourne, again the pursuer and evader, with his memory returning in patches, is even more the man of solemnity, violence and atonement no better exemplified in a truly captivating final 20 minutes.Finally, Ultimatum tells both its own story whilst smartly interweaving all three as it cleverly overlaps with the timeline from Supremacy. Bourne is again both the pursuer and the pursued (never so much as a hat for a disguise!) and if in the last film he sought penitence, in this he's out for retribution. Again the action, fight sequences and tension are stunning as is Bourne's continuing nerve-shredding ability to outwit his surveillance-heavy trackers. And the section in Waterloo Station has to be one of the all time standout sequences of its kind, with its stunning blend of suspense, action and sheer cunning. This third film which nicely book-ends the first with practically the same scene, is so good I'm praying they don't do another.My niggles are few but in the interests of balance I know I'm not the first to point out that its superb action is sometimes a little marred with the excessive camera-judder favoured by director Paul Greengrass. And on a macro level I'd concede that Bourne's ability to consistently outsmart his enemies of seemingly limitless resources, with pretty much just his wits and a mobile phone, is a perhaps a little dubious.For my money Ultimatum just tops Identity but really there's only half a star separating all three. But as good as these films are the final word has to go to Matt Damon who, notwithstanding his heavy-weight supporting cast, gives a masterful performance in under-acting; he is a vulnerable lost soul in a foreign land and he is the deadly weapon in full command of his environment. In the hands of a lesser actor these would still be great films, in the hands of a professional like Damon, they're outstanding.

The Ultimate Bourne Collection Boxset [DVD] [2007 ]The Bourne Identity is a stand alone film, but neither Supremacy nor Ultimatum really are, the three films form a kind of mini-series (mega series?) finally leaving the option open for a sequel.I tried watching all three films at one sitting and they flowed as a seamless whole, a real tribute considering the change of director for the last two, also with the filming of Supremacy on location in Moscow and Ultimatum completing the scene in Berlin.The three films do follow a formula, one big fight sequence, a major car chase sequence, but the only romantic interest is in Identity. This means in Supremacy and Ultimatum there is no partner for Bourne, he just runs and runs and fights and fights, in some ways transferring a great deal of the plot to his pursuers and their motivations.Depending on your point of view it is fortunate the plots are different to the Ludlum novels, to find out I started reading Ultimatum and found it so uninteresting I gave up after a 100 pages.This extremely well directed and acted series is a real achievement and I look forward to Bourne 4. The Ultimate Bourne Collection Boxset [DVD] [2007

Three blockbusters which not only were critically acclaimed but put bums on seats wherever they were shown around the world------ can't go wrong at this price------ around ONE pound as I write!Let the detractors say whatever they want to about prices for products, if you like action that is realistic and not looking like they're performed by stunt men from a James Bond film, complicated thoughtful plots and acting that is believable this dvd steel box set has the lot.Multi language and multi subtitles including English.