Packed with action and redefining the spy genre, the Bourne films are collected for Blu-ray and look great. The set is worth picking up if you don’t already own them on DVD or want a complete collection of the first three films (a fourth one is in the works).
Based on the character created by Robert Ludlum and staring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, the three films (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum) follow a spy/assassin who loses his memory and begins a quest to discover who he is and get revenge on the government division Treadstone and its leader Conklin (Chris Cooper).
The company and Conklin are responsible for taking Bourne’s life away, and he would like it back. All three films are action packed, full of great stunts, and keep you hooked on the fast-paced plot.
The Bourne Identity was directed by Doug Liman (Jumper) and adapted for screen by Tony Gilroy and W. Blake Herron.
The film kicks things off by introducing us to Jason Bourne - found floating in the ocean with bullets in his back and no memory. A clue sets him on a journey to discovering who he is while trying to avoid being killed by the government that trained him to kill without a second thought.
On the run from the government, Bourne with his love interest Marie (Franka Potente) is forced to confront Conklin and stop the agents chasing him.
For The Bourne Supremacy, Paul Greengrass takes over directing duties and Tony Gilroy returns to adapt the story for screen. The film features a more gritty visual style and cranks up the action.
The plot finds Jason Bourne and Marie in hiding and trying to get on with their lives. Bourne is trying to discover more about his past, but is content to stay away from Treadstone and the government.
Unfortunately, he finds himself caught up in another conspiracy and once again on the run. A new foe, Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) is after him following a botch sting operation that left agents dead and Bourne being blamed.
Racing to clear his name, Bourne holds no punches as he cuts his way through the conspiracy and finds that Treadstone’s dirt ran deeper than just Conklin. He also discovers more truth about his past, and starts to put the pieces of his life back together.
Paul Greengrass returns to direct The Bourne Ultimatum with Tony Gilroy writing the adaptation with Scott Z. Burns and George Nolfi.
The film starts just where the second story left off and sees Bourne return to the U.S. to put the final pieces of his past together. He goes home to find where he lost his life and to stop running. He also comes up against a new enemy in Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) - who makes Conklin look like a boy scout.
He also discovers a friend in Landy, a past love, and kicks the crap out of pretty much anyone who gets in his way. Greengrass takes everything that worked in the second film and cranks it up. The film moves at a rocket pace (which makes it somewhat hard to follow at first), and never really slows down until the credits roll.
The success of the Bourne films really helped reinvent the spy genre (many say the new Bond movies just copy the Bourne formula), and the box office success has caused a fourth adventure to be in the works with a 2010 release date set. The series also really helped launch Matt Damon as a huge box office star.
The first film is probably the best in the series, but the second outing helped define the look and feel of the franchise. The movies are a smart take on the spy/government assassin plot with Bourne relying on his training, his mind, and his ability to survive to get through the film alive. Bourne doesn’t have any high-tech gadgets to get him out of a tough jam, and has to just fight his way forward.
Damon does an excellent job in all three films and seems at home in the character. He knows how to handle Bourne, and keeps the character grounded in reality. By the third film, Bourne does start to seem a bit like a Superman, but Greengrass and company never go too overboard.
The films look incredible on Blu-ray and the collection features a few new additions to make it worth the upgrade. Each film comes loaded with features found on the DVD release, but also include BD Live and U-Control.
The BD Live gives you the chance to provide your own movie commentary, chat with other fans of the films, and has a combat strategy game. The U-Control features a look at the Bourne character, Picture in Picture interviews with cast plus behind the scenes look at the films, and a character dossier on the films.
The Bourne Trilogy is worth upgrading if you already own the DVDs and worth picking up if you don’t have the films yet. With a fourth film in the works you can’t really call the franchise a trilogy, but this collection will get you ready if Bourne hits the big screen in 2010.
The Bourne Trilogy [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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