6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The most dangerous former operative of the CIA is drawn out of hiding to uncover hidden truths about his past.
Starring: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Julia StilesAction | 100% |
Thriller | 35% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS:X
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS Headphone:X
Spanish: DTS-HD HR 7.1
French (Canada): DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
UV digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The much ballyhooed return of Matt Damon as Jason Bourne is an unwieldy, trite, and tiresome movie that places it in a class a notch or two below any of the films in Damon's previous Bourne trilogy. The succinctly, but appropriately, titled Jason Bourne is a victim of a serious lack of imagination. It's all frenzy and no freshness, a movie that's essentially one long chase sequence that once again puts a man on the move against an army of digital surveillance equipment and the people operating it in the field and behind the scenes. Director Paul Greengrass, returning to the franchise for the third time, keeps the film in motion but never takes the audience anywhere it hasn't been before. The entire movie plays out on cruise control, failing to find any spirit or creativity, content to unravel the Jason Bourne mystery a little further but paying no mind to the dizzying sense of repetition that courses through it.
Note: The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.
Jason Bourne was reportedly photographed with a number of film and digital sources at
varying resolutions, resulting in a rather chaotic jumble of specs and, more, a chaotic jumble of visual cues and styles up on the screen. IMDB does list
that the film was finished at 4K, which is presumably the source for this UHD release. Universal's 2160p/HDR-enhanced presentation makes for a
fairly stout upgrade. At its best, the image may not be a total revelation, particularly watching it straight off without directly comparing it to the already
high quality Blu-ray, but various shots and scenes -- particularly those that slow down from the lightning jerks and movements to settle on a character
or detail -- do reveal some sizable improvements for the 4K release. Grain is more refined, a touch more pronounced, too, but naturally filmic and
attractively so. Detailing sees a very healthy boost across the board whether the sharpness of text and graphics on computer screens or in how well
skin textures
are captured and revealed, both of which can be substantial. A-B comparisons show much tighter and tangible skin textures, and those computer
graphics can look nearly smudgy on Blu-ray compared to the sharper presentation the UHD allows. Color saturation is noticeably richer as well. Flesh
tones are fuller, and resultantly a bit warmer. The Blu-ray appears more vibrant, the UHD more subdued but, at the same time, more naturally
occurring, more pleasing to the eye. At a few points one could almost label the BD "garish" in comparison; the HDR color, here, offers a significantly
more nuanced and natural approach. Black levels are good, maybe a shade or two too bright, but never betraying any given scene's integrity. Viewers
who can only watch the film in 1080p aren't losing a life-changing experience, but those capable of viewing the 2160p/HDR version are going to find it
a healthy boost over an already very strong BD.
Jason Bourne's DTS:X soundtrack demonstrates clear and capable command of the material and the listening area. The track feels consistently immersive to the entire 360-degrees, as well as integrating a nicely balanced and never forced or intrusive overhead support structure. Music is full bodied and clear, effortlessly positioned around the listener while maintaining lifelike definition throughout the range, including a healthy and supportive low end. Flashback scenes offer a nice burst of ghostly reverberation and random positioning around the stage. Frenzied din at busy locations, like protests on the streets of Athens, feature prominently and, like the music, take full advantage of every speaker in the configuration to draw the listener into the mayhem. Lighter elements and more serene location-specific environmental details always play with rich clarity that draws the lister in. Action scenes maintain a fine level of detail even through the chaos and aggressive volume and posturing. Stage balance is amazing, and the listener is always directionally aware throughout. Overheads carry some quality supportive details, like helicopter rotors which are smoothly integrated into the greater whole. Dialogue is firmly placed in the center with its only escape during naturally occurring moments of reverberation.
Jason Bourne's UHD disc contains no extras; all content reviewed below is exclusive to the 1080p disc, included in this set. A voucher for a
UV/iTunes digital copy are included with purchase.
Jason Bourne doesn't make an effort to stand apart or tell a unique story. It's very much a standard process sort of movie, appropriately (albeit forcibly) tense and gritty but neither structurally nor thematically novel. At its core, it makes for a logical progression of the story, but even as it explores the character and world a bit more deeply, the movie's superficialities can't carry it. It's completely derivative and nondescript within the genre and is more likely to leave the audience shaking heads and muttering "good grief, not all of this again" rather than standing up and cheering for yet another car chase, shaky cam close-up, or control room frenzy. Universal's UHD release is fairly impressive. The 2160p/HDR-enhanced presentation offers a very good image and a healthy boost in all areas over an already high quality Blu-ray. Audio remains the same, as does the straightforward supplemental content, all of which can be found on the included 1080p Blu-ray disc. Recommended.
2016
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with Collectible Packaging + Photo Book
2016
Bonus Disc
2016
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Unrated
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2-Disc Extended Cut
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