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Chicago – The Universal release of “The Bourne Trilogy” was not only one of the best Blu-ray titles of 2009 but it’s still one of the best box sets on the HD market twelve months later. The question is how does Universal continue to make a dime on the Matt Damon juggernaut of a franchise while we wait for the latest drama regarding the potential fourth film. Welcome to the Bourne flipper discs.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

All three films have been re-released in stand-alone packages that include the film on Blu-ray on one side and standard DVD on the other. Watch “The Bourne Identity” in HD in your living room; flip over and watch “The Bourne Supremacy” in standard form in another room. All three titles offer not only a great transition for people who don’t have a Blu-ray player everywhere they like to watch movies but also a nice way...

Ever since Toshiba’s HD DVD (now discontinued) released their two-in-one combo discs back in 2007, it was inevitable that double sided Blu-Ray/DVD discs would eventually be made available. It therefore comes as no surprise that Universal Studios (the only major movie studio that backed HD DVD during the high-definition format war) is now leading the way with duel format Blu-Ray/DVD discs. The first films to be released on these ‘flipper’ discs will be Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne Trilogy, which will be available on January 19 2010.

Although the idea of selling discs with Blu-Ray on one side and DVD on the other will undoubtedly help shift consumers toward switching over to Blu-Ray (whilst slowly discontinuing the production of standard DVDs), I have personally never been a fan of dual sided discs as they are more prone to damage (despite the fact Blu-ray discs themselves do not scratch very easily...

I was just speaking to someone, explaining Blu-ray is definitely here to stay, but DVDs won’t be going anywhere. I said there will probably be a movement toward selling them together. I just never made the connection they could be on the same disc. Universal Studios has changed all of that.

News release from Universal …

In a move that is poised to elevate the Blu-ray™ Hi-Def format and provide consumers with the ultimate in convenience and viewing flexibility, Universal Studios Home Entertainment (Ushe) announced the introduction of groundbreaking dual-format discs containing both Blu-ray™ Hi-Def and DVD versions of some of Hollywood’s most iconic films. An industry first, the new “flipper” discs will launch on January 19, 2010 with the blockbuster superspy thrillers The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, starring Matt Damon, premiering as individually packaged Blu-ray™ discs.

For the first time ever, consumers will have the...

Universal Studios has announced a new type of dual-format disc they’re calling “Flipper” discs and it’ll launch in January with the Bourne movies. The discs will feature Blu-ray and DVD versions on each side of the same disc. According to the studio:

“Universal’s flipper discs are the perfect way for consumers to future-proof their collections while still enjoying their favorite movies on all their existing DVD players,” said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “The flipper disc offers an easy way for viewers to convert to Blu-ray now or at any time in the future, confident in the fact they will be able to experience their home entertainment purchases in the highest quality picture and sound when they do.”

This is one of those products that really should have launched when Blu-ray got released. But everything about the launch of Blu-ray was screwed up, it...

The Bourne Trilogy - Blu-ray Reviewby Peter Dimako, Editor Buy it on Blu-ray - $95.88 vs. $119.98Buy it on DVD - $34.98 vs. $25.77 Magnetic Jason Bourne holds the series of the suspenseful actioners within. Welcome to crystal-clear adrenalin and a must-own for the avid fan. Besides making a great gift for that certain someone, each film comes stacked with features. Keeping with the look of the posters, box design has the crosshairs on Bourne on both the first and second films with Bond-like scenes from the films attached. The third delivery is grey and it makes for a good comparison in the aging of the much-beloved Matt Damon. Features are aplenty with the first and second having the most of the whole deal. True fans would take great pleasure in making a full night of it, we recommend taking the time to explore features after each film before moving to the next,...

Chicago – Your Blu-Ray collection should expand by three movies next week when “The Bourne Trilogy” finally hits the format in a beautiful three-disc box with perfect picture and sound and an amazing collection of special features.

Loaded with hours of special features and with some of the best picture and sound that has yet been produced for the format, “The Bourne Trilogy,” including “The Bourne Identity,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” in one collector’s case, is a very early contender for best box set of the year. It’s a must-have for action fans, movie collectors, and nearly everyone with a Blu-Ray player.

The Bourne Trilogy is released by Universal Home Video on January 27th, 2009.

Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, a highly trained assassin on the run from a shadowy government agency through three movies, each one better than the film that came before.