The Bourne Ultimatum (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing The Bourne Ultimatum
, the 3rd, and possibly final, installment of the Jason Bourne movies. This time we see Bourne attempt to find out how he became Jason Bourne.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: Great action thriller. This completely fits with the other two in this series.
What did you think?
Scott: When the first movie came out, I remember thinking, 'Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, action hero?' I can say that after those first two, he proved he was an action hero. After this, he proved he is one of the best of them.
This movie was a lot of fun, action, excitement, and entertainment.
Mike: Damon is an excellent actor and completely believable as an action hero.
Scott: The guy can kick butt.
Mike: I am thoroughly impressed with Damon with everything he does. I'm just sorry the rumors aren't true and he will not be playing young Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek movie.
Scott: In this movie, his adversary is Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), a high level governmental agency head in charge of removing 'threats' to the U.S.
He knows he has a tough cookie in Bourne, but continually underestimates him.
Mike: Like in the other films, Bourne is a one man wrecking crew. He is clever, resourceful and tough. He is like an American James Bond.
Scott: Minus all of the futuristic gadgets.
Mike: Julia Stiles and Joan Allen return. I think maybe only the two of them, because everybody else is dead.
Scott: It's hard to tell if any of the agency support staff are the same or not because they all look alike in every movie. The old 'blue suit' mold.
Allen is once again Pamela Landy, she is brought in to help them get Bourne, since she did such a good job of it last time.
Mike: Allen is impressive in most everything she does.
Scott: Stiles returns as Nicky Parsons, but I'm really not sure why. The only interesting thing she brought to the story wasn't taken anywhere. It was just brought up and dropped. Of course, it could have been thrown in to be used as her motivation for acting the way she does, but it annoyed me.
Mike: Besides Damon, Stiles may be the only other one that is in all three of the movies. It's nice to see her here, but she doesn't have much to say. Like you I wanted some more detail from her.
There are a number of very good actors in new roles. Scott Glenn, Albert Finney and the afore mentioned Strathairn.
Scott: I thought the caliber of actors in this to be the best of the three movies.
Mike: It's interesting that we also see Brian Cox, Chris Cooper and Franka Potente in flashbacks.
The filmmakers do try to fill in the viewers who haven't seen the other two in the series.
Scott: What I have liked about all of the Bourne movies is they are actually filmed on location, around the world. Or at least the far away shots are. It gives the movie that feel of a big budget without all of the big explosions. That combined with the music, gives it a European feel.
Mike: I was thrilled to see that they showed Paris without having the cliché shot of the Eiffel Tower.
Right, not a lot of explosions, but the fights and car chases are very impressive. I actually had my mouth open during the car chase/crash scenes.
Scott: The car chases in the previous movies were good and the chase here holds true to form. It's not as long, but it's just as good.
Mike: They did a couple things I hadn't seen before.
My one complaint is that, like in The Bourne Supremacy, all the fights and chases were hand held. This makes it seem like you are part of the action, but it makes it hard to tell what is going on. It might even make some people dizzy watching it on the big screen.
Scott: It's not just the fight scene. It's all over the place in the beginning of the movie and it goes away, or I got used to it, not sure which.
Mike: I think that the whole movie may actually be filmed hand held, but is most noticeable during the action.
In some of the close up dialogue scenes it actually adds to the scene.
Scott: There are times when it is good. In the beginning of the movie though, it's hard to take. The end of the movie is so darn exciting that you just don't care anymore.
Mike: This movie has kind of a slow build, but when it gets to the last act this movie you have to hold on tight.
Scott: Director Paul Greengrass, who also did The Bourne Supremacy is back. He loves the handheld, and it has improved since the last Bourne movie.
Mike: I was impressed by Greengrass when he did the last Bourne film and he didn't disappoint me this time, either.
I also want to give a nod to John Powell, who has scored the music for all three films. It really enhances the action in the films.
Scott: So what do you rate this?
Mike: I rate this a 4 overall and a 3.5 for action thriller. I think that the original The Bourne Identity may still be my favorite.
And you?
Scott: I give this a 4 overall and a 4 for action thriller. This is the best action movie of the summer.
Mike: No one should have to issue an ultimatum to get you to see this Bourne movie.
