The Bourne Ultimatum

Monday, August 06, 2007

4 GOOMBAS


Imagine living your life on the run, unable to remember what your real name is, and having the only person you ever loved (as far as you can remember . . .) shot dead because of your relationship with her? It must suck to be Jason Bourne.

Matt Damon radiates a kind of Mark Wahlberg, badass feel in the third chapter of the Bourne cash cow screen fest. Bourne is back and ready to take down whatever and whoever gets in his way of finding out whom and why he is. Still haunted by the death of his girlfriend and garbled memories of "the beginning", Bourne begins his hunt for specific members of the CIA. Aided by some characters from the previous films, Bourne begins to untangle some lost memories, and he finally draws some answers.

Visually, The Bourne Ultimatum is pretty difficult to watch. Unlike old school action flicks, this movie is filmed entirely on multiple hand-held cameras. The frame is always moving, even on typical over-the-shoulder shots, and there are quick, but slight zooms, much like one would see in a documentary or even home movies. Using this technique creates a sensation of realism, partially due to the fact that we've learned to associate these camera movements with "reality" TV, like breaking news and unplanned documentary footage, so although it provides style, it has its practical downsides. I also have some frustration with Julia Stile's character. She added nothing to the plot in The Bourne Supremacy, and left an inconclusive plot hole in this most recent. Not to mention how annoying it was to see her give herself the same hair cut as Bourne's dead girlfriend. Gross.

Aside from those two Jenn-defined flaws, I thought this movie was kick-ass. The fight scenes were nearly like something out of The Matrix, the chase scenes would do The French Connection proud, and when Bourne talks that journalist through the busy train station, all I can say is that Bourne has some mad skill. He's may not be as smooth as Bond, but masculine brawn and innate smarts sets him apart. His love for Marie also brings humanity to his character, and shows that he does have weaknesses.

Jason Bourne, the character, may not be as memorable as some other action hero icons, but he has qualities that impress. The Bourne Ultimatum is a great third installment to series, just make sure you have great eyesight or eye drops when you go see it.

Movie Review by Jenn Bollish at 3:29 PM  
1 comments

We going to see this tonight!! Will let ya know how it was...
You workin on a 'dog movie' review yet???

8:13 AM  

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