Synopsis

Jason Bourne is a super-spy who's lost his memory. Over the course of two previous films, Bourne has struggled to recover memories of time spent as a black ops agent for the US government, meanwhile eluding government agents and others who believe that his very existence is a threat. In this third and final installment of the Bourne series, Jason Bourne returns from Europe and Asia to the United States, his memories more or less in tact, to find those who've hunted them and exact his revenge.

Pros:

• An outstanding conclusion to a highly entertaining movie series.


• Great performances from Matt Damon, Joan Allen, the whole cast.


• The fastest, most exciting movie in the trilogy.

Cons:

• If you haven't seen the two previous movies, especially the second one, you're going to be totally lost with this film.

Generally:

4 out of five stars. The Bourne series has been rock solid escapist entertainment, and the conclusion doesn't disappoint.

Extended Review:

Neither Wendy nor I had any interest in The Bourne Identity when it was released in 2002. See one big, dumb action movie and you've seen them all, right? Except that all the critics and friends of ours assured us that The Bourne Identity wasn't just one more big, dumb action movie. Finally, one night with nothing better to do, we caught the movie on cable and we absolutely loved it. We've been kicking ourselves for skipping it's theatrical run ever since.

While the Bourne story is highly convoluted and utterly implausible, it's far from dumb … and as action movies go, The Bourne Identity is a total success. The plot is taught and keeps you guessing, the acting is fine, and the action sequences keep you on the edge of your seat. This really is the kind of movie that makes for memorable summers. We should have seen it on the big screen.

When the sequel, The Bourne Supremacy, was released in 2004, Wendy and got our butts firmly planted in theater seats to take it in. We had high hopes, and they weren't disappointed. The Bourne Supremacy was even better than the first installment. I had some issues with director Paul Greengrass's decision to film the movie mostly with handheld cameras, but I had to acknowledge that he achieved his goal of turning out a movie with an immediate, documentary-like feel. Once I got used to the jerky look and breakneck edits, I thoroughly enjoyed the second film in the series.

Now, with The Bourne Ultimatum finishing the trilogy, I can say with a lot of satisfaction that the Bourne movies are all solid, smart, fun action films that kept me thinking, kept me guessing and entertained me through and through. Each of the three films is better than the previous, and each film builds on the other, changing what you've seen before for the better.

Now, don't see these movies hoping for realism. This isn't political commentary disguised as action, this is action front and center. The story is comic-book in nature, with a hero who's part Batman, part MacGyver, and part Sam Fisher. The plot, involving his lost memories and his constant pursuit by former allies and longtime foes, is really nothing more than a skeleton to hang action scenes on. That said, Matt Damon still manages to turn in some damn good acting in this series. And, you know, I have to admit, Damon really is a good actor. Between his work in this series and films like The Talented Mr. Ripley and Saving Private Ryan, he's turned out a body of work he can be proud of. The fact that the Bourne movies are action movies is no detraction from his work here. Damon is a good actor, and these films provide ample evidence of his skill.

Now, while I was thrilled with The Bourne Ultimatum in terms of a series finale, I should caution new viewers that you really do have to see the first films, at least the second one, to understand this one. A lot of movie series episodes take pains to make sure that each film can be enjoyed as a complete work. This isn't one of them. The Bourne Ultimatum plays less like a complete film and more like the second half of a long feature. Nonetheless, if you've seen The Bourne Supremacy, you'll be thrilled with the way the series wraps up and resolves it's story. The action sequences are bigger and more exciting, the story remains complex and involving without becoming silly, and the principle characters develop in interesting and compelling ways.

The third movie also features a number of twists that totally change the meaning of key scenes in the second film in important and entertaining ways. I'd suggest re-watching the second film before you go see the third one. Or, better yet, if you've never seen the second film, rent it and then go see the final installment in the theater. I'm sure that you, like me, will enjoy the way that the second movie's final scene is totally changed by the new events of the third. Like Bourne himself, these films always have new surprises just under the surface.

The Borne Ultimatum is as good as the two previous movies in the series, and that's really saying a whole lot. If more action movies were this solid, Wendy and I probably wouldn't have a negative predisposition toward "big, dumb action movies."

Trailer

Labels: Movie Reviews, Movies