Universal brings back Combo 'flipper' discs: Blu-ray/DVD Special Editions of the JASON BOURNE TRILOGY 3-film action series

—> See Links to our Blu-ray Reviews:

THE BOURNE IDENTITY BD/DVD Flipper Combo
—> Blu-ray Review by Dean Winkelspecht »

THE BOURNE SUPREMACY BD/DVD Flipper Combo
—> Blu-ray Review by Dean Winkelspecht »

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM BD/DVD Flipper Combo
(Review coming soon)

Note: All three titles include $10 FREE movie cash to see Matt Damon's upcoming film, Green Zone, in theaters March 12, 2010. (Offer expires April 18)

Editor's Note: as recently discussed on the DVDTOWN.com Message Board (read the posts), the HD/SD* Combo 'flipper' disc that was first presented in the HD DVD/DVD format will now transition over to Blu-ray in a new BD/DVD format (now available - released Jan 19) with individual combo releases of the Jason Bourne Trilogy action films (SRP $29.98).

*HD/SD = High-Def Side 1 / Standard-Def Side 2

Note: the following news is courtesy of our friends at HOME MEDIA MAGAZINE »

Universal Bows Two-Sided Blu-ray, DVD Disc

In an industry first, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will start issuing double-sided discs with the Blu-ray Disc of a movie on one side and the standard DVD version on the other.

Universal is premiering the "flipper" disc with the Jan. 19 release of The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, for $29.98 each. That date also marks the first time the three films have been available on Blu-ray individually.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment president Craig Kornblau said the flipper disc should help ease the consumer transition from DVD to Blu-ray Disc. At the same time, it should instill consumer confidence in the high-definition format by allowing consumers to buy titles now and convert to Blu-ray down the line.

"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," Kornblau said. "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."

The move also can be seen as an acknowledgement that even consumers who have bought a Blu-ray Disc player, most likely to go with the home theater setup in their family or living room, still use DVD players in their bedrooms and their cars. As a result, even consumers who have Blu-ray Disc players still sometimes buy the DVD version of a movie because they can play it anywhere.

The challenge of portability for Blu-ray was put front and center by Mike Vitelli, EVP of Best Buy's customer operating groups, during November's Blu-Con 2.0 conference. Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for The NPD Group, said Universal's flipper disc will be attractive to consumers with a Blu-ray player in the living room but a DVD player elsewhere.

Other studios are addressing the same issue through combo packs that include DVD and Blu-ray on separate discs.

Crupnick also noted that the retail price — not Universal's $29.98 SRP — will have to compete with what's offered for standard Blu-ray, "so that consumers see a value in the packaging.

"I don't think there's a willingness to pay a premium, especially for catalog," he said.

Universal said it is evaluating opportunities for using the flipper disc for both catalog and new-release titles. The studio previously had employed the flipper disc concept with HD DVD, the failed rival high-def format the studio once championed.

BOURNE Bonuses
Universal is packing both sides of the discs with exclusive content. All three will feature U-Control, the studio's signature Blu-ray navigation feature accessible while the film runs, allowing for picture-in-picture; a "Bourne Card Battle Strategy Game"; dossiers; location analyses; and Blackbriar and Treadstone files. All three films will include the BD Live-enabled My Scenes Sharing feature.

For The Bourne Identity, four featurettes explore the birth of the character by novelist and Jason Bourne creator Robert Ludlum. Both the DVD and Blu-ray sides will include deleted and extended scenes, alternate opening and ending scenes, a Ludlum profile, a screenwriter interview, interviews with the cast, a music video, commentary and other featurettes. The Bourne Supremacy will have a commentary, deleted scenes and a total of 11 featurettes. The Bourne Ultimatum will include a Blu-ray exclusive "Be Bourne Spy Training" challenge, and both sides will offer deleted scenes, a commentary and five featurettes.

By Chris Tribbey (Dec 1, 2009)
-Home Media Magazine
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(bonus article below)

Costco: 'Tis the Season for Blu-ray Disc

Entering the winter holidays, Costco Wholesale Corp. is putting the spotlight on Blu-ray Disc hardware and movies.

The Issaquah, Wash.-based big box retailer with 555 membership warehouse stores nationwide has expanded in-store availability of Blu-ray movies from 100 titles to 150 titles through the holidays — with prices starting at $9.99 each.

"Blu-ray Disc movies are now the focus of our department," said Costco warehouse DVD/Blu-ray buyer Claudia Augello in the December issue of Costco Connection, distributed monthly to the company's 53 million cardholders.

Indeed, the publication devoted significant attention to the high-definition format, including outlining what Blu-ray is, why it is better than DVD, and how consumers can bring the experience into their homes.

Education about the format, besides the ongoing recession, continues to be a major challenge to greater consumer adoption of Blu-ray, with many shoppers unaware that BD players will play their standard DVDs, according to recent surveys.

"Going from DVD to Blu-ray is like slipping on a pair of prescription glasses for the first time," said Costco high-tech expert Marc Saltzman in an article titled "My Blu Heaven."

A sidebar focuses on the availability of Blu-ray players at Costco, including mentioning that consumers also can play BD movies on a Sony PlayStation 3.

Beginning Dec. 18, Costco is cutting $15 from select already reduced Blu-ray boxed sets from HBO Home Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, including James Bond Vol. 1-3, Die Hard Collection and cable series John Adams, Band of Brothers, True Blood: Season One and The Sopranos: Season One.

The retailer is also taking $10 off assorted Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Blu-ray boxed sets, including Spider-Man Trilogy, Underworld Trilogy, Resident Evil Trilogy, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon/Curse of the Golden Flower/House of Flying Daggers.

Finally, Costco is offering free in-home "Concierge Services" technical support for any consumer electronics purchase, including Blu-ray players and home theater systems.

By Erik Gruenwedel (Dec 3, 2009)
-Home Media Magazine