Jason Bourne 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

"Jason Bourne" on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray arrives with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer, retaining its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. This edition undergoes review through equipment such as a Samsung UE55KS8000 Ultra HD TV and Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player, aiming to scrutinize its visual fidelity compared to its Blu-ray counterpart. The film, a concoction of various filming methods including Super35, Super16, and digital captures ranging from 2K to 6K resolutions, results in a complex visual texture. Despite this, the 4K digital intermediate – allegedly distinct from a mere upconvert – enhances the detail significantly. This intricacy elevates the viewing experience, especially in scenes with slower camera movements that allow the audience to appreciate subtler details, such as refined grain, sharper computer graphics, and improved skin textures.

Notable is the implementation of High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wider Colour Gamut (WCG), which significantly impact the visual presentation. HDR brings about a brighter image with higher peaks and richer shadows, unveiling details previously obscured in the Blu-ray version, while WCG offers deeper yet more natural colors. Close-ups reveal remarkable detail, showcasing every hair and facial texture with an almost unforgiving clarity. However, it's worth noting the style of "Jason Bourne," particularly its use of 'shaky cam', might not be the best fit for showcasing UHD's strengths. The blend of filming methods and the inherent limitations of 2K Digital Intermediate (DI) for visual effects slightly tempers the potential for a truly outstanding 4K presentation.

The film's color palette, deliberately cool, gains nuance and pop through the HDR enhancement without feeling exaggerated or garish compared to the Blu-ray's vibrancy. Black levels show noticeable improvement, providing scenes set in dimly lit environments with a depth and clarity surpassing its 1080p version. While the 4K UHD presentation offers a healthy upgrade in terms of detail, color saturation, and black levels, it's seen as an incremental rather than revolutionary step up from an already high-quality Blu-ray transfer. Given the mixed filming sources and despite some scenes being less conducive to UHD's visual benefits due to rapid camera movements, the transfer excels in offering a crisper, more detailed viewing experience that fans of the franchise – especially those equipped for 2160p/HDR viewing – will appreciate for its marked improvements.

The audio presentation of "Jason Bourne" on its 4K UHD Blu-ray edition delivers an experientially rich and technically polished DTS:X immersive audio mix, complemented by a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 core. This combination not only ensures a powerful and present delivery of dialogue through the front and center channels but also supports an expansive soundstage that brings the high-octane action sequences to life with roaring engines, bone-crunching crashes, and deep, thunderous explosions. The careful crafting of crowd-based effects results in an engulfing aural experience, placing the listener right in the midst of a riot or convention, with the LFE channel adding just the right level of depth without overwhelming the mix.

Further enriching this immersive soundscape are detailed ambient sounds and discrete effects integrated seamlessly with atmospheric music, enhancing the narrative’s tension and forward momentum. This layered audio presentation excels in creating a 360-degree auditory experience, maintaining precise directionality and a thoroughly balanced overhead component, adding subtlety rather than distraction. Flashback scenes introduce ghostly reverberations, immersing the viewer further into Bourne's turbulent psyche, while bustling urban environments and chaotic action sequences utilize the full potential of every speaker to draw the audience deeper into the unfolding drama.

The richness of the film's auditory palette is matched by nuanced dynamics and clear, lifelike reproduction of the score across all channels, underscored by a well-modulated low end that captures the physicality of the film’s more visceral moments without overextension. Dialogue remains crystal clear against this complex backdrop, ensuring that every exchange — from whispered conspiracies to shouted commands — is easily discernible. In essence, the DTS:X track of "Jason Bourne" crafts an auditory experience as meticulously detailed and viscerally engaging as the visual spectacle it accompanies, rounding out an exceptional home theater experience.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Jason Bourne" sees its wealth of extras relegated to the standard Blu-ray disc, focusing on featurettes that, while not groundbreaking, offer viewers a decent dive into the film's production intricacies and stunt choreography. The highlight is undoubtedly the behind-the-scenes looks at both the hard-hitting combat sequences—"Bare-Knuckle Boxing," "Close Quarters Combat," and "Underground Rumble"—and the film's high-octane chase sequences across Athens and Las Vegas. Despite their somewhat promotional nature, these extras collectively provide a detailed exploration of the physical and technical efforts that underpin the movie's action-packed aesthetic. Additionally, the return of Matt Damon to his iconic role is given substantive attention, exploring his significant physical preparation and reprisal of Bourne's character in depth. Extras are complimented by a digital HD copy, enhancing its value for fans and collectors alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Bringing Back Matt Damon as Bourne: A detailed exploration of Matt Damon's return to his iconic role.
• Bourne to Fight: A three-part series dissecting the film's intense fighting sequences, from choreography to execution.
  • Bare-Knuckle Boxing
  • Close Quarters Combat
  • Underground Rumble
• The Athens Escape: An exclusive look at the creation of one of the movie's thrilling chase sequences.
• Las Vegas Showdown: A two-part featurette detailing the climactic Las Vegas action scenes.
  • Convention Chaos
  • Shutting Down the Strip

The return of Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass to the "Jason Bourne" franchise evoked anticipation and nostalgia, yet this reunion, despite its high-octane action and technical proficiency, struggles to rejuvenate a series that desperately needs innovation. "Jason Bourne" sees its titular character, played with physical prowess but minimal dialogue by Damon, drawn out of seclusion by revelations linked to his past. The plot, involving CIA cyber operations and global surveillance ambitions, aims to modernize the saga but ends up retracing familiar territory. Despite competent execution and a few standout sequences, the movie's reliance on the same cat-and-mouse chase format, employing ubiquitous digital surveillance as its cornerstone threat, reveals a lack of creative vision.

The storyline foregrounds a personal vendetta against Bourne, instrumentalized through a new sinister CIA program aiming for omnipotent global oversight. This plot device is not only derivative but also marked by a glaring disconnect from contemporary technological realities, simplifying complex cyber phenomena into hackneyed tropes. Performances from the supporting cast, including Tommy Lee Jones and Alicia Vikander, do little to inject vitality, coming across as unengaged and formulaic. The movie's strength in action choreography and location selection – notably a climactic Vegas car chase – showcases Greengrass's knack for grounding spectacular sequences in practical effects. Yet, these moments of adrenaline are fleeting reprieves in a narrative landscape that feels all too familiar.

Ultimately, "Jason Bourne" struggles under the weight of its legacy, delivering a technically sound yet creatively stunted continuation of a once-groundbreaking series. The lack of meaningful character development or narrative innovation underscores a franchise stuck in its ways, making one wonder whether this return was driven more by nostalgia than a compelling new chapter to tell. As it stands, "Jason Bourne" excels in moments of thrilling action but falls short in evolving its protagonist's journey in any significant way, echoing sentiments of missed opportunities and a longing for the fresh storytelling that once defined the series.

The release of "Jason Bourne" on 4K UHD Blu-ray has generated considerable interest, primarily for the reunion of the successful Greengrass/Damon tandem. While this installment doesn't break new ground within the franchise, its technical presentation on Ultra HD Blu-ray is commendable. The UK edition arrives ahead of its US counterpart, showcasing impressive 4K visuals and an immersive DTS:X audio track, despite the content itself not being the quintessential demo material for the format. The inclusion of a standard Blu-ray disc with all the extra content is a thoughtful addition for fans. On the flip side, the movie's adherence to tried-and-tested Bourne formula—without significant narrative innovation—leaves it feeling like a 'greatest hits' compilation rather than a fresh chapter.

Critically, "Jason Bourne" struggles to escape the shadow of its predecessors, rehashing familiar themes with a palpable lack of originality that could leave audiences wanting. However, the technical aspects of its release—namely, the 2160p/HDR-enhanced visual transfer and superior audio quality, including a DTS:X immersive mix—offer a substantial improvement over standard Blu-ray editions. These enhancements are especially appreciated by enthusiasts and collectors, underscoring the value of this Ultra HD release. Despite its narrative shortcomings, the action sequences, and global trotting escapades remain engaging, supplemented by new characters that hint at broader horizons for the series.

Conclusively, "Jason Bourne" on 4K UHD Blu-ray stands out more for its technical attributes than its cinematic innovation. While the film may not reach the heights of "The Bourne Identity," it provides enough adrenaline-fueled sequences and character exploration to satisfy long-time followers of the series. The Ultra HD presentation is undeniably impressive, offering visual and auditory enhancements that enhance the viewing experience. Whether for aficionados of high-definition technology or die-hard Bourne series fans, this release is recommended, albeit with tempered expectations regarding the film's originality and narrative depth.