Movie Review: The Bourne Ultimatum

If you have seen the first two Jason Bourne films (The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy) then you know what to expect from The Bourne Ultimatum. The story begins with a scene where Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) sits in a room with blood on his hands trying to work out what has happened to him. He decides to find out, once and for all, who he really is by tracking back to the place where it all started. The CIA chief in New York City decides that the only response is to get rid of Jason Bourne and the Agency spirals down into very grey moral territory giving the narrative substance. And so begins an incredible game of cat-and-mouse as Bourne tries to avoid death whilst trying to discover his true identity. The Bourne Ultimatum is an absolutely brilliant suspense thriller. It is frenetically paced but is actually quite easy to follow. The action is superbly choreographed - so well, in fact, it seems very real. The cinematography uses a handheld camera style which intensifies the sense of realism experienced by the viewer. Matt Damon is superb, once again, as Jason Bourne and Julia Stiles plays a more important role in this episode as Nicky Parsons. The narrative never lets up and we find ourselves carried along unrelentingly to the final resolution. The tension is beautifully conveyed even when the action on screen is simple. The scenes filmed in Waterloo Station are absolutely brilliant and there is some stunning stunt work. The Bourne Ultimatum is the best yet - if you are a fan, you won’t be disappointed. My Rating: ****1/2 (out of 5) Positive Review ’A great action movie, exhilarating and neatly crafted, the kind of picture that will still look good 20 or 30 years from now.’ - Stephanie Zacharek/Salon.com Negative Review ’The movie is so surreal it’s just not very involving. As an action extravaganza, it’s busy but dull.’ - William Arnold/Seattle Post-Intelligencer Content Advice violence and intense sequences of action AUS: M USA: PG-13