The Bourne Ultimatum (imdb)
While I can’t say that I’ve been a huge fan of the Bourne series, I have definitely found enjoyment in watching Matt Damon evade capture and brutally destroy his opponents with his bare hands. The Bourne flicks do provide a gritty, more serious look at the world of espionage. I like the darkness of Jason Bourne, contrasting with the shimmering glam of James Bond.
Bourne returns in The Bourne Ultimatum as an angry, brooding, highly-skilled rogue agent. He’s out for no bullshit answers to his past, and he keeps searching (and hiding) till he gets the story. As the final installment to the trilogy, things unravel a bit and are then tied up nicely.
All the while, you get to watch Matt Damon run around through Europe evading local law enforcement and assassination as he moves closer toward some answers. While it’s technically impressive to witness chases through very public locations (this is an action movie of the highest caliber), in the end, I find little to care about when it comes to the Bourne movies. Jason has an identity problem, and while I sympathize, I don’t really feel interested in learning his past - the Bourne movies have been pretty forgettable to say the least.
To me Bourne may not be Bond, Bauer, or McClane, but he still can push thrills and make for some spectacular onscreen fights. Paul Greengrass executes The Bourne Ultimatum with an eye for dazzling action pieces, and it’s definitely a fun ride. But a ride I’ll only go on once this summer.
3.5 ridiculously loud car crashes out of 5
August 6th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
I actually really like the Bourne series and find the story quite compelling. If anything, I was a bit upset more wasn’t learned about Bourne and his past. I could have guessed that he was a military guy who volunteered to be part of what was billed as an elite unit designed to protect America which was then twisted by power and greed. What I really wanted to know is, “Who was/is David Webb?” So to that degree, Bourne as it stands is kind of boring, but up until finishing the trilogy, I was enthralled. I still think he’s the most badass of the espionage characters, though the new, dark Bond comes close.
August 7th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I’m not a huge fan of the Bond series but I have liked the Bourne films much more than the Bonds of recent memory and I was really looking forward to this. I hope to get some time to see it at some point this week…
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