The Bourne Ultimatum 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Bourne Ultimatum 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Note: Scores for movie quality, 1080p video, and supplements match those of the review from the original Blu-ray release, penned by a different author. Updated scores pertaining to new content for this release are reflected for the new 2160p transfer and DTS:X sound.

Universal has released 'The Bourne Ultimatum' and the other previous 'Bourne' films to 4K UHD Blu-ray in conjunction with new movie's release. How does the franchise's third outing fare on the fancy new format? Read on...

The Bourne Ultimatum 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Like The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum was reportedly finished at 2K, making this, presumably, an upscale 4K image. The presentation represents a good, not substantial, upgrade over the Blu-ray, which of the original Bourne trilogy was the best looking of the bunch. The image is attractively film-like, retaining a light grain structure that helps accentuate a well-rounded package of detailing along the basics, like skin and clothing. Both offer an uptick -- sometimes light, often fairly substantial -- in raw definition over the Blu-ray, finding more depth in pores, for example, where the Blu-ray is a little too smooth. The UHD isn't ultra-sharp, but the filmed image is inherently a hair soft, anyway. The HDR color scheme doesn't radically alter the look of the movie to the same extent seen in Supremacy. Instead, it's more refined, a little darker and more balanced. Skin tones are a little less pasty and colors in general appear more nuanced with the range difference in contrast much smaller. Black levels are fine and skin tones, as noted, appear more naturally balanced. No serious source or encode flaws are immediately apparent. Unlike the other original trilogy Bourne films -- the first a bonafide disaster and the second a healthy uptick while drastically changing the look, tone, and texture of the movie -- this is more a simple refinement. It may not approach the top tier the UHD format has to offer, but it appears to be the most fundamentally faithful and refined of the trio.

The Bourne Ultimatum 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Bourne Ultimatum's DTS:X soundtrack is, again like Supremacy's, incredibly aggressive in a take-no-poisoners, engage-all-speakers sort of way. It's booming and very widely dispersed, making impressive use of the entire stage, and then some, it seems, in its regular bombardment of music and effects. Even with the heavy saturation, aggressive volume at reference levels, and relentless push through every speaker, clarity is always maintained in both the heaviest music and softest atmospherics. Music is the big draw here, presenting with a full stage saturation that never takes a moment off and gets out of the gate with heavy surround support and deep bass, taking up the whole stage and engaging the top layer, too, for a bubble of Bourne audio goodness. Gunfire is very potent, with shots pounding out with mammoth presence and authority. Impacts hit hard and rounds seem to zip all over the listening area; chapter 12 is a near reference moment for gunfire thump, bullet zoom through the stage, and rear channel impacts. Atmospherics are nicely immersive. The stage effortlessly transforms into various locales throughout the movie, including busy airports where general din and overhead components in the way of public address announcements saturate the listening area and include a noticeable top-end presence. Dialogue is clear and detailed with front-center placement and easy prioritization even through the movie's most chaotic moments.

The Bourne Ultimatum 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The only extra included on the UHD disc is a carryover audio commentary track with Director Paul Greengrass. All other bonus features (and the commentary, again) are included on the 1080p Blu-ray disc bundled with this release. For a review of that content, please click here. For convenience, below is a bulleted list of what's included. An iTunes/UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Deleted Scenes
• Be Bourne Spy Training
• Man on the Move: Jason Bourne
• Rooftop Pursuit
• Planning the Punches
• Driving School
• New York Chase
• Audio Commentary

The Bourne Ultimatum 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Bourne Ultimatum's UHD release is the best of the original trilogy, finding that balance between an upgrade in resolution and an enhancement of the color scheme. Audio is insanely aggressive and very fun. No new supplements are included, but all of the legacy extras from the first BD release are included. Recommended.