The Bourne Ultimatum

This is one of those movies that is so jam packed full of action even the camera man is getting the jitters. A common complaint for the older movies was how shaky the camera was, but I had never noticed until this movie. It adds a certain panic to movie that really intensifies everything going on.

I went into this expecting more of the same, but was happily surprised to find a good, solid, and thought out conclusion to the trilogy. I walked out if less questions than I came in with, and that was certainly a pleasant surprise.

He can now. Let me first say this is the first movie I've seen in theaters in MONTHS!! With two kids I couldn't have made a better decision for the precious few hours I had out with my wife. This movie is one of the best of the summer with an awesome story, great acting, and non-stop suspense. Paul Greengrass knows how and when to grab your attention and understands that the soundtrack is a subtle, critical feature of an exceptional film. His avoidance of music while Bourne kicks the crap out of another asset just heightens the suspense and draws you into the film.

The only misstep on the part of the studio producing this film? It isn't open in enough theaters or playing frequently enough to meet demand. Buy tickets and go early to avoid the lines.

Not much dialogue to get in the way, just a few pauses for you to catch your breath. Overall, a very entertaining action movie.

One of the things that made me love the Bourne movies when they first came out was how smart they were. Unlike other series that were little more than fight scenes and car chases, the Bourne movies had panache - revealing dozens of little glimpses of just how complicated being an international super-assassin would be. Rarely did they leave you saying, "no way" and rarely did Bourne have to make up for being in a deep hole through sheer action bravado -- the hallmark of the Die Hard films. Another aspect of the first Bourne movie that I loved was how human Jason Bourne was - his lost identity and serendipitous attraction to his then-co-star Franka Potente made him approachable and likeable.

This latest installment is fantastic on many levels -- I agree with Jeff's review, and I'll just leave it at that. But now, I end up shaking my head at the silly extremity. Two key scenes -- the cop car chase in NY and the through-the-buildings run/jump chase in Tangiers would be all-but impossible in real life; the odds of successfully pulling off either would be vanishingly small. Isn't the whole point of being a super-assassin that you make sure the odds are in your favor?
My favorite part of these moves are the "smart" moments - two notably that stand out here are the prepaid-phone in the pocket maneuver that Bourne pulls off, and the scooter-misdirection bomb that Desh executes in Tangiers. If this movie had twice as many moments like that, and half as many slam-bang disbelief sequences, I would have liked it better. Summary: Still the class of the genre. Go see it, and get there early -- we ended up stuck in the 3rd row, and that's too close not to be dazzled by the fast-moving camera work.

PS to risumonki9 -- agreed on the lack of dialog! How many times can Julia Stiles carry her half of the conversation with just a look? Not as many as she tried to pull off.

Or is it?

I think Paul Greengrass is the best director working today. (He also directed the previous Bourne movie, as well as "Bloody Sunday" and the even more devastating "United 93". He has a bravura film style: hyperkinetic, close-up and sometimes terrifying in its ability to suck you into the action.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" is possibly the best action movie I've ever seen. It's perhaps a bit short on story, but what there is, is pretty much perfect. Matt Damon as Jason Bourne is grimmer and more determined than ever, and the way he finally finds out who is responsible for setting him on his abortive course as an assassin is brilliant, savage and relentless.

The supporting cast is uniformly excellent as well, especially the film's heavy, played by David Strathairn, who is nearly as merciless as Bourne himself. Joan Allen and Julia Stiles are terrific as well.

The action set pieces are completely riveting. It's hard to imagine how Greengrass didn't manage to kill three or four of his cameramen with the crazy stunts he makes them pull; one of them even follows Bourne over a rooftop, across and narrow alley, and through a closed French window. The fights are visceral and terrifying in their intensity.

Go see "The Bourne Ultimatum". But make SURE you see the other two movies first. Otherwise you might get a bit lost in the back story.

It might not be the ultimate Bourne movie. The ending leaves a nice opening for a sequel. And if Greengrass takes the helm, I'll go see it. I'd go see a Paul Greengrass movie if it were about a man sitting alone on a stage reading the telephone book aloud. He's that good.

As action movies are suppose to be, this movie was packed with action from the get-go.

That being said, there was very little conversation throughout the entire movie. Scenes between Bourne and Julia Stile's character consisted of head nods, a look, or a simple catch phrase. Wow. This is one of the few movies where you don't have to think OR listen at all.

Simply sit back, and watch Jason Bourne ride a motorcycle, jump from house to house and beat someone up with a text book in Tangier - then end up in New York to play a few code games, trick the CIA, and find out the truth about his past. Oh, he also hopped around Russia and Spain.

I have to applaud the movie for well choreographed fight and chase scenes involving cars, motorcycles, running on foot, snipers, and cell phones (sorry, no helicopters).

And in the end, Jason Bourne's mystery is finally solved, or is it just the beginning?