Jason Bourne Discovers Himself : Matt Damon in the Bourne Ultimatum
Written: Aug 03 '07 (Updated Aug 04 '07)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Bang For The Buck |
 |
|
|
Pros: Jason Bourne is Back!
Cons: Not as original or fresh as the first.
The Bottom Line: It was a decent action thriller, but like many threequels, it doesn't really measure up to the original. I'd still go see it though.
|
|
|
| shopaholic_man's Full Review: The Bourne Ultimatum |
My son Nick and I both enjoy high octane thrillers, and even screen writer Judd Apatow recognizes that Jason Bourne could kick some serious butt. (for those of you who aren't film geeks, a clip from The Bourne Identity appeared in The 40 Year Old Virgin).
The first film based on the Robert Ludlow novel sits in my film library, and I have watched it more than a few times since I saw it on the big screen. Although I didn't like the second, The Bourne Supremacy as much, it was still action packed and exciting.(and yeah, it is in my film library too, it was on sale)
What could be left to do in a third Jason Bourne movie?
The Story (with spoilers about the previous 2 films)
First, I will tell you this movie does need to be watched in order. If you have not seen (or read) The Bourne Identity or The Bourne Supremacy this film won't make much sense, understanding the events of the first two films. If you haven't seen them, you should stop reading this review now and go see them.
The Bourne Ultimatum picks up where Supremacy left off. Jason Bourne has lost his girlfriend, and still doesn't know his real identity. He knows that among the folks in Langley, VA, someone knows who he is and how he got to be the way he is. Jason still has his considerable skills intact, and he uses them to find out who he is. The film starts off with Jason Bourne evading some local police in Russia. Back in Langley at C.I.A. headquarters Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) wants Bourne brought back home, and if that cannot be done, Vosen wants Bourne eliminated. Certain CIA secrets should remain secret for the good of those who keep them. Bourne is a liability, at least in Vosen's eyes.
In this threequel, Bourne is beginning to have flash backs of his early days at the C.I.A. He remembers some faces and early training, and he wants to learn more. Bourne uses his resources and his skills to track down the people who can provide him answers. The C.I.A. tries to track down Bourne and silence him ... one way or another.
The rest of this film plot requires Top Secret Clearance Level 3. You are unuathorized!
Is there ACTION?
Oh, yes, there is lots of action. One great scene showcased Bourne chasing an "asset" chasing a target through buildings and over rooftops in Tangiers Morocco. Another exciting scene played out in Waterloo Station. That scene really excited me because I recognized it, and told Nick that I had been there. It is a huge crowded train station in London with lots of shops inside. No one shot at me when I visited London, however. Sometimes the action is hard to follow, no slow motion shots are used, everything is shot in real time. The bottom line though is Bourne kicks butt throughout the film.
Was It CLEVER?
Jason Bourne is not just a killing machine, he is very smart and clever, and I enjoyed how many scenes in this film played off Bourne's cleverness instead of his fighting skills. To make his getaway from one predicament, he calls the local police emergency line and says There are white men arguing and shooting! I think they are from USA Moments later, Bourne is slipping out the backdoor as CIA operatives are stopped from giving chase by the local police. I think I liked Bourne's cleverness as much as his fighting skills.
But is it as good as the first?
I enjoyed this film and so did my son. However, the bottom line is that although it was good, it was not as good as the original. The first time we see Jason Bourne unleash some serious fighting skills we are impressed. By the third film, such displays are expected and no longer impressive. Jason was quite clever in the first couple films as well, so by the third film, although I did think a couple tricks were funny, we already knew Jason was smart. Even scenes shown on the trailers where Jason sees the CIA members in their office but they don't see him have already been done in the first couple Bourne films. The only new surprise, the idea of Jason finding out who he really is and how he came to be that way doesn't have any impressive payout. His name could be anything, and Jason's true identity was anticlimactic. He was not Darth Vader's son, or the Boy who Lived, or James Bond. Well, I'll leave you to find out who he really is, but don't expect to leave the theater in shock.
Direction / Cinematography
Director Paul Greengrass comes back for a second time to the Bourne series. Although I find Greengrass's direction to be able and competent, I still found Doug Liman's direction of The Bourne Identity to be the tautest and most riveting of the three films. Greengrass keeps the action intense and the mind games exciting, but not quite as exciting as Liman. The Bourne Identity remains as one of my favorite action films, while The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum remain as sequels.
I enjoyed the way the action was presented here though, action scenes make you feel like you are in them. There is no art house slow motion here, the action is quick, dirty and real time. I also enjoyed the use of real locations like Moscow, Madrid, Tangiers, and London. It added a sense of realism to the film without going over the top like a Bond film.
Acting
I honestly can't say a lot about the acting in this film, by now, we all know that Matt Damon plays a great Jason Bourne. He seems like the real deal, unlike some incarnations of that other spy or the comic book like Nathan Hunt played by Tom Cruise. Julia Stiles returns as Nicky Parsons, and Joan Allen does a very believable job as a government agent Pamela Langley. I did miss Chris Cooper in this film, he always adds an element of realism to whatever role he tackles. That being said, I found that David Straitharn did a very believable job as a government bad guy.
Summary
Although Nick and I both enjoyed this film, it is ultimately just another threequel in a summer of threequels. We both gave it three stars. Good, but not great.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.