The Bourne Ultimatum
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (2007)
Starring Matt Damon, Joan Allen, David Straithairn, Julia Stiles, Scott Glenn, Albert Finney, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Chris Cooper and Brian Cox.
Screenplay by Tony Gilroy and Scott Z. Burns and George Nolfi.
Directed by Paul Greengrass.
Distributed by Universal Pictures. 116 minutes. Rated PG-13.
I sort of missed the boat on the Bourne series. I did not see the first film, The Bourne Identity, when it played theaters, but somewhere down the line I did catch it on DVD. I enjoyed it, but wasn’t blown away. The second – The Bourne Supremacy – completely slipped past me. I’ve always meant to see it, but have never gotten around to it.
Therefore, when The Bourne Ultimatum was released to theaters earlier this year and many critics referred to it as one of the best action trilogies ever, I figured I should check into the series one more time. Unfortunately, life gets in the way and I was unable to catch the film in the multiplexes.
So finally, now with the film’s release on DVD, I am able to see what all the fuss was about. And my reaction to the Bourne Ultimatum was much like the one I had to The Bourne Identity years ago. Liked it, but didn’t love it.
Again, the movie has amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) traveling through some of the most scenic cities in the world – searching for clues to his identity while avoiding the near-constant attempts on his life by shadowy rogue elements of the CIA.
The scenery is stunning, the cast is top notch, the action scenes are amazingly paced and photographed, the violence and skullduggery is pretty constant and imaginative.
Yet, somehow I couldn’t totally warm up to it.
The Bourne Ultimatum is by all means a superior action adventure film. I can’t and wouldn’t in any way try to deny that. Sometimes you just go with your gut, though, and while I certainly appreciate and enjoy the film, I’m not as impressed as the rest of the world seems to be.
Jay S. Jacobs
Copyright ©2007 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: December 10, 2007.