BRING BOURNE HOME ON BLU-RAYTM HI-DEF FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

THE BOURNE COLLECTION

EXPERIENCE THE BLOCKBUSTER TRILOGY IN PERFECT PICTURE AND PUREST DIGITAL SOUND ON JANUARY 27, 2009 FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Universal City, Calif.,— For the first time ever on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum are available together in perfect picture and purest digital sound in this special edition high-definition collection on January 27, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  Starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne - a highly-trained assassin on the run from a shadowy government agency - the Bourne movies offer non-stop action, edge-of-your-seat suspense and spectacular chase sequences brimming with international espionage conspiracies. Featuring collectible packaging and exclusive never-before-seen bonus content, The Bourne Collection is the ultimate, must-own Blu-ray™ collection for every movie fan! 

The exhilarating three-disc set is loaded with hours of bonus materials including deleted scenes, interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentaries and all-new interactive content exclusive to Blu-ray™ Hi-Def.  Universal’s Exclusive U-Control takes viewers beyond the movie with Picture-in-Picture and a series of interactive dossiers, loaded with classified information about Jason Bourne’s mysterious past and the people who pursue him.  Through Universal’s BD-Live Center fans can download even more bonus content, share their favorite scenes with buddies, and engage in a Blu-ray™ exclusive strategy game that pits users against each other in hand-to-hand combat simulation.

The Bourne Identity, directed by Doug Liman (Mr. and Mrs. Smith), launched one of the highest domestic grossing action adventure movie franchises in history. The film’s extraordinary cast included Oscar® winners Matt Damon and Chris Cooper, Oscar® nominee Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles and Franka Potente. Oscar-nominated director Paul Greengrass upped the ante with The Bourne Supremacy and continued the unstoppable momentum with The Bourne Ultimatum, adding Oscar® nominees Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Albert Finney to the powerhouse acting ensemble. Preorder close is December 16, 2008. The three-disc Blu-ray Hi-Def collection is priced at $119.98 S.R.P.

CONTENT OVERVIEW & SYNOPSES:

THE BOURNE IDENTITY

FILM SYNOPSIS:

After being pulled from the sea with two bullets in his back, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) awakens on a fishing boat with no memory of his involvement in a top-secret, black ops arm of the CIA called Treadstone. The only clue to his identity is the number of a Swiss bank account in which he discovers an array of passports and weapons, as well as a fortune in cash. As he struggles to regain his memory, his former employers dub him a rogue agent and target him for termination. When an equally deadly assassin codenamed “Professor” (Clive Owen) is sent to dispose of him, Bourne rediscovers his extraordinary survival skills, including hand-to-hand combat, martial arts and multiple languages, and begins to understand who he really is. As he struggles to unlock the secret of his own identity, Bourne has to deal with his past in order to ensure his own future.

BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

§Exclusive U-Control: Universal’s exclusive signature feature U-Control allows viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of the remote without ever leaving the movie. While you watch the movie, immerse yourself in the character dossiers and location analyses, and explore the technology behind the spy gadgets through visuals and 3D animations.
oPicture in Picture
oBourne Reminders
oBourne Card Battle Strategy Game
oTreadstone Files: Includes interactive Character Dossiers, Agent Status info, and GPS features.
·BD-Live: Blu-ray and Playstation3 players with an Internet connection can access exclusive interactive applications that allow viewers to communicate with friends and family while watching the film:
oMy Scenes Sharing: Share your favorite clips with friends through BD Live Internet discussions.
oBourne card battle strategy game.
·Additional extras:
oMy Scenes:
oThe Ludlum Identity: An extraordinary portrait of the best-selling author through archival interviews with friends, colleagues, family members and Ludlum himself.
oThe Ludlum Supremacy:  Who is Jason Bourne? A revealing look at how Bourne was born.
oThe Ludlum Ultimatum:   A fascinating examination of the Bourne character and his enduring audience appeal
oAlternate Opening and Ending:  With an introduction by producer Frank Marshall, screenwriter Tony Gilroy and actor Brian Cox
oDeleted and Extended Scenes
oThe Birth of the Bourne Identity
oThe Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum: A fascinating new look at the late Robert Ludlum, the bestselling novelist who created the “Bourne” trilogy.
oAccess Granted: An exclusive interview with screenwriter Tony Gilroy on the challenges of adapting Ludlum’s 500-page book for the screen.
oFrom Identity to Supremacy – Jason & Marie: This feature includes exclusive interviews with Matt Damon and Franka Potente which explore the making of The Bourne Identity - and build a bridge to the spectacular sequel, The Bourne Supremacy.
oThe Bourne Diagnosis: Insights into the causes and effects of Jason Bourne’s struggle with amnesia from a UCLA psychologist.
oCloak and Dagger:  In this feature, CIA liaison officer Chase Brandon delivers a detailed, real-world analysis of the making of a super-spy.
oInside a Fight Sequence: Join Matt Damon on the set as he and the film’s Stunt Choreographer map out the explosive action-packed U.S. Embassy fight sequence.
oMoby “Extreme Ways” Music Video
oFeature Commentary with Director Doug Liman

THE BOURNE SUPREMACY

FILM SYNOPSIS:

When his lover is murdered and he is framed for the assassination of a fellow agent, Jason Bourne finds himself on the run again. But as he closes in on his girlfriend’s killers, he realizes his former handlers are back on his trail. After his fingerprints are found at the scene of a murder in Berlin, an ambitious CIA operative (Joan Allen) becomes determined to stop him once and for all. Haunted by debilitating fragmented memories as he navigates the labyrinth of international espionage, Bourne (Matt Damon) must outwit, outmaneuver and outmuscle some of the most powerful forces in the world just to survive.

BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

§Exclusive U-Control: Universal’s exclusive signature feature U-Control allows viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of the remote without ever leaving the movie. While you watch the movie, immerse yourself in the character dossiers and location analyses, and explore the technology behind the spy gadgets through visuals and 3D animations.
oPicture in Picture
oBourne Reminders
oBourne Card Battle Strategy Game
oSupremacy Dossier
·BD-Live: Blu-ray and Playstation3 players with an Internet connection can access exclusive interactive applications that allow viewers to communicate with friends and family while watching the film:
oMy Scenes Sharing: Share your favorite clips with friends through BD Live Internet discussions.
oBourne card battle strategy game.
·Additional extras:
oMy Scenes
oExplosive Deleted Scenes
oMatching Identities: Casting – See what it took to land a key role in this major action hit.
oKeeping It Real – A look at the edgy and kinetic visual style the filmmakers brought to Supremacy.
oBlowing Things Up – Virtual isn’t always better. See how some of the film’s most awesome pyrotechnical sequences were created—without digital effects.
oOn the Move with Jason Bourne – Travel the globe to visit the film’s exotic locations from India to Berlin to Moscow.
oBourne to Be Wild: Fight Training – Matt Damon didn’t become a lethal weapon overnight. Witness the action as the star and the movie’s fight trainer perfect the film’s thrilling hand-to-hand combat scenes!
oCrash Cam: Racing Through the Streets of Moscow – Experience how stunt coordinators meticulously planned and executed the movie’s stunning, high-speed chase sequence
oThe Go-Mobile Revs Up the Action – Feel the rush of being in the driver’s seat with this revolutionary new vehicle used to capture Matt Damon’s high-speed exploits in the film’s jaw-dropping car chase sequences!
oAnatomy of a Scene: The Explosive Bridge Chase Scene – Step onto the set and experience the tension and intense preparation as the filmmaking team plans and shoots one of the movie’s most demanding, dangerous and thrilling action scenes.
oScoring with John Powell:  A special look at creating the pulse-pound score for the movie.
oThe Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum: A fascinating new look at the late Robert Ludlum, the bestselling novelist who created the “Bourne” trilogy.
oThe Bourne Diagnosis Part Two: Insights into the causes and effects of Jason Bourne’s struggle with amnesia from a UCLA psychologist.
oFeature Commentary with Paul Greengrass
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

FILM SYNOPSIS:

All he wanted was to disappear. Instead, Jason Bourne (Damon) is now hunted by the people who made him what he is. Having lost his memory and the one person he loved, Bourne has only one objective: to go back to the beginning and find out who he was. Now, Bourne will hunt down his past in order to find a future. He must travel from Moscow, Paris and London to Tangier and New York City as he continues his quest to uncover the truth behind his mysterious past—all the while trying to outwit a new generation of highly-trained assassins as well as the relentless CIA operatives who will stop at nothing to prevent him from learning his true identity.

BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

§Exclusive U-Control: Universal’s exclusive signature feature U-Control allows viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of the remote without ever leaving the movie. While you watch the movie, immerse yourself in the character dossiers and location analyses, and explore the technology behind the spy gadgets through visuals and 3D animations.
oPicture in Picture
oBourne Reminders
oBourne Card Battle Strategy Game
oBlackbriar Files: While you watch the movie, immerse yourself in the character dossiers and location analyses, and explore the technology behind the spy gadgets through visuals and 3D animations.
·BD-Live: Blu-ray and Playstation3 players with an Internet connection can access exclusive interactive applications that allow viewers to communicate with friends and family while watching the film:
oMy Scenes Sharing: Share your favorite clips with friends through BD Live Internet discussions.
oBourne card battle strategy game.
·Additional extras:
oMy Scenes:
oBe Bourne Spy Training – Viewers test their skills to see if they’ve got what it takes to be a covert operative.
oMan on the Move: Jason Bourne – From Berlin to Tangier, see how the film’s exotic locations influenced the filmmaking process.
oRooftop Pursuit – Discover how state-of-the-art technology was used to film the incredible Tangier rooftop chase scene!
oPlanning the Punches – Matt Damon reveals his complex and rigorous fight training.
oDriving School – Join Matt Damon behind the wheel as he trains for the New York car chase scene.
oNew York Chase – An insider’s view on how the film’s heart-stopping chase sequences were filmed.
oFeature Commentary with Director Paul Greengrass
oDeleted Scenes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Street Date:  January 27, 2009
Pre-Order Close: December 16, 2008
Copyright:  2009 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $119.98 SRP
Selection Number:  61106536
Running Time:
·The Bourne Identity: 119:00 minutes
·The Bourne Supremacy: 108:20 minutes
·The Bourne Ultimatum: 115:09 minutes
Layers:  BD-50
Aspect Ratio:
·The Bourne Identity: 2.35:1
·The Bourne Supremacy: 2.35:1
·The Bourne Ultimatum: 2.40:1
Rating: PG-13
Technical Info:  English DTS-H Master Audio 5.1, French and Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

From the producers of the Saw franchise and director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, Saw III and Saw IV), based on a screenplay by Darren Smith & Terrance Zdunich from their original stage play, comes the new cult classic Repo! The Genetic Opera.  A futuristic tale of horror that modernizes the “rock opera” genre with original music and rich, dark production design, the film features an eclectic cast that includes Anthony Stewart Head, Sarah Brightman, Alexa Vega, Bill Moseley and Paris Hilton.  The blend of Moulin Rouge style with The Rocky Horror Picture Show theatrics results in a unique viewing experience that comes to life on DVD and Blu-ray.  At the core of this entire project, however, is the music, which is born of many influences.  This rock opera boasts an entirely original soundtrack that blends equal parts Goth and punk rock to form an eerie and powerful musical narrative.  The DVD contains in-depth special features that include cast and crew audio commentaries and featurettes while the Blu-ray Disc includes those features plus video sing-a-longs, additional featurettes, deleted scenes and a bonus audio commentary with Paris Hilton and director Darren Lynn Bousman. 

Repo! The Genetic Opera was an Official Selection of the Fantasy Film Festival, Toronto After Dark Film Festival, Sitges Film Festival, Atlantic Film Festival, Edmonton Film Festival and Austin Fantastic Film Festival and was hailed by horror fans and critics nationwide.    The film was declared “a spirited, absorbing, astounding, thought provoking futuristic fulsome fable” (Horror.com), “fresh, unique and exciting…remarkable” (Bloody-disgusting.com),  “an instant cult classic” (Fearnet) and “absolutely mind-blowing on a visionary level” (Horror-Movies.ca). 

In the not-so-distant future, a worldwide epidemic of organ failures devastates the planet.  Out of the tragedy, a savior emerges: GeneCo, a biotech company that offers organ transplants…for a price.  Those who miss their payments are scheduled for repossession and hunted by the villainous Repo Men.  In a world where surgery addicts are hooked on painkilling drugs and murder is sanctioned by law, a sheltered young girl searches for the cure to her own rare disease as well as information about her family’s mysterious history.  After being sucked into the haunting world of GeneCo, she is unable to turn back, as all of her questions will be answered at the wildly anticipated spectacular event: The Genetic Opera. 

*DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
·Audio commentary with director Darren Lynn Bousman and actors Bill Moseley, Alexa Vega and Ogre
·Audio commentary with director Darren Lynn Bousman, co-creators Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich and music producer Joseph Bishara
·“From Stage to Screen” featurette
·”Legal Assassin – A Repo Man on the Edge” featurette
·Theatrical trailer
*Special features subject to change

*BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
·Audio commentary with director Darren Lynn Bousman and actors Bill Moseley, Alexa Vega and Ogre
·Audio commentary with director Darren Lynn Bousman, co-creators Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich and music producer Joseph Bishara
·Select scene audio commentary with Paris Hilton and director Darren Lynn Bousman
·Deleted scenes with audio commentary with Paris Hilton and director Darren Lynn Bousman
·Video Sing-a-longs
·“From Stage to Screen” featurette
·Webisode featurettes
o“Legal Assassin – A Repo Man on the Edge” featurette
o“Zydrate Anatomy – Amber Sweet: Addicted to the Knife” featurette
o“Chase the Morning – Blind Mag: The Voice of GeneCo” featurette
·Theatrical trailer
*Special features subject to change
CAST                                                               

Alexa Vega (Spy Kids Movie Trilogy, The Deep End of the Ocean, Twister, Sleepover)
Anthony Stewart Head (TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” BBC’s “Little Britain,” Scoop)
Sarah Brightman (Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera, World Renowned Opera Singer)
Paris Hilton (House of Wax, The Hottie & The Nottie, Raising Helen, Wonderland)
Ogre (Skinny Puppy: Ain’t Dead Yet?, The Doom Generation)
Terrance Zdunich (Feature Film Debut)
with Bill Moseley (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devils Rejects, Rob Zombie’s Halloween)
and Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas, The Cooler, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, TV’s “Law & Order”)

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2008
Title Copyright: © 2008 Lions Gate Films Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R for strong bloody violence and gore, language, some drug and sexual content       
Genre: Goth Rock Musical
Closed Captioned: English Closed Captioned
Subtitles: DVD:  English and Spanish; Blu-ray: English SDH
DVD Format: Widescreen
Blu-ray Disc Format: 1080P High Definition Widescreen
Feature Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Audio Status: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray Disc Audio Status:  7.1 DTS HD Master Audio

I’m truly saddened to report the death of one my heros, Ron Asheton. He was found dead this morning. The cause of death is believed to have been a heart attack. I have seen him play with the reunited Stooges many times as they were one of my favorite bands. If you didn’t see them live, you don’t know what you were missing.  I would recommend that everyone pick up a copy of The Stooges’ Funhouse (if you don’t have it already) and listen to in tribute.

More on Ron Asheton:

 http://www.nme.com/news/the-stooges/41900 

“FANTASTIC. ONE OF THE BEST SPORTS MOVIES I’VE SEEN” –LARRY KING

INSPIRED BY THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO WIN THE HEISMAN TROPHY COMES THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY

THE EXPRESS

JANUARY 20, 2009
OWN IT ON DVD AND BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF
FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

OVERVIEW: 
Witness the journey of how one determined player and his dedicated coach changed the game of football forever.  Starring Dennis Quaid and based on the inspirational true story of an American hero who beat the odds to become the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, The Express will have you cheering over and over again. 

The Express will also be available On Demand starting January 20, 2009. NBCU’s VOD and PPV offerings are available through major cable providers, as well as direct broadcast satellite (DBS), telco providers and online platforms. Offerings are also available in HD in select markets. For more details about NBC Universal’s VOD and PPV offerings, visit www.universalvod.net.

BONUS FEATURES: 

DELETED SCENES WITH OPTIONAL COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR GARY FLEDER
MAKING OF THE EXPRESS: Director Gary Fleder, 2nd Unit Director Alan Graf, Production Designer Nelson Coates Cinematographer Kramer Morganthau along with cast Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown and Charles Dutton discuss how they created the look of this film set in 1959. 
MAKING HISTORY: THE STORY OF ERNIE DAVIS:  Director Gary Fleder, actors Rob Brown, Charles Dutton, and football hall of fame legend Jim Brown discuss the impact of Ernie Davis’s life on and off the field during the civil rights movement in the late 1950’s.
INSIDE THE PLAYBOOK: SHOOTING THE FOOTBALL GAMES:  Through graphics and audio commentary, Director Gary Fleder and 2nd Unit Director Alan Graf will break down three plays from the film from a variety of different angles that they shot to show the progression from start to finished film.
FROM HOLLYWOOD TO SYRACUSE: THE LEGACY OF ERNIE DAVIS
FEATURE COMMENTARY With Director Gary Fleder

BONUS FEATURES (EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY™): 

BD-LIVE FEATURES: Access the BD-Live Center through your internet-connected player for even more great content and features!
MY SCENES SHARING: Bookmark your favorite scenes then share with your friends.
DOWNLOAD CENTER: Access additional content, the latest trailers, and so much more!
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1959 SYRACUSE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Utilizing rare archival footage and through interviews with players, coaches and fans, discover how Ernie Davis and his team won Syracuse University their only football national championship in 1959.

SYNOPSIS: The Express follows the inspirational life of college football hero Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.  Following his draft by the NFL, tragedy struck the star athlete and he was never able to take the professional field.  But his tale would forever change the face of professional sports.  Raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country, Davis overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to become an unstoppable running back for the Syracuse Orangemen.  Under the guidance of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid)—a hard-nosed surrogate father with an obsession for winning a national championship—Davis would develop from an impressive high-school athlete into a legend.  While everyone agreed Ernie Davis was a miracle player, few thought this quiet young man would become an icon for the burgeoning civil rights movement dividing America in the early 1960s.  Refusing to play by the unspoken racist rules of the day, Davis broke through one barrier after another to alter the way fans looked at men of his color. Though leukemia struck the player a terrible blow in the prime of his life, his spirit soared when most would crumble.  Forcing his bull-headed coach to re-examine a life lived in color-based privilege, Davis would join the ranks of black pioneers who inspired a movement that smashed barriers on and off the playing field.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Street Date:  January 20, 2008
Copyright:  2008 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61103050
Price: $29.98 SRP
Running time:  2 Hours 10 Minutes
Layers:  Dual layer
Aspect Ratio:  Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating:  PG for thematic content, violence and language involving racism, and brief sensuality.
Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound:  Dolby Digital 5.1
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY™:
Selection Number: 61106128
Price:  $39.98 SRP
Running Time: 2 Hours 10 Minutes
Layers:  BD-50
Aspect Ratio:  Widescreen 2.40:1
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: DTS HD Master Audio 5.1, DTS Surround 5.1

CAST AND FILMMAKERS
Cast: Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Omar Benson Miller, Nelsan Ellis, Charles S. Dutton
Directed By: Gary Felder
Written By: Charles Leavitt
Based on the “Book”: Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express by: Robert Gallagher
Produced By: John Davis
Executive Producers: Derek Dauchy, Arne L. Schmidt, Ryan Kavanaugh
Director of Photography: Kramer Morgenthau, ASC
Production Designer: Nelson Coates
Edited By: William Steinkamp, ACE and Padraic McKinley
Casting By: Deborah Aquila, CSA, Tricia Wood, CSA, Jennifer Smith, CSA
Music by: Mark Isham
Music Supervisors: Peter Afterman and Margaret Yen