Film Review: Bourne Ultimatum
Release Date: Aug 17 2007
On general release
Our Rating: 3/5
A (slightly) more intelligent answer to an action film, Bourne Ultimatum delivers on pace right the way through. If you are into films with enough visual intensity to make your nose bleed, then this should not be missed – but don’t expect some huge shocking resolution. ‘Twists’ there may be, but plot depth and explanation is lacking and the full-on shooting style can often leave the less Bourne-acquainted thinking – “what the hell is going on?”…
I was one of such people. If you’ve never seen any of the Bourne trilogy, starting back in 2002 with the Bourne Identity, the plot runs that Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), a trained assassin, is trying to find out exactly who he is. Stripped of former identity and memory of his past, Bourne is a sophisticated human weapon, created by a top secret black ops program.
So, the last couple of films have basically seen Bourne kicking his way back into some sense of self and generally revenging his lost life and murdered lover, whilst evading countless attempts by the CIA and Interpol to bump him off.
Simple as that? Well this time around Bourne is trying to get some peace and keep his head down. But alas, some damned London journo (Paddy Considine) ruins all this for him and speculates that Bourne may still be alive. Bourne becomes a target again, turning the game around by hunting down the ones who took his identity and made him what he is, through London, Moscow, Tangiers (Morocco) and New York.
Hardly complex but not the kind of brain-comfy tripe that so often gets pumped out and packaged as an action film. Also, director Paul Greengrass (who worked on Supremacy) continues his shaky camera-documentary style of filming that, while looking good, makes keeping track of what’s going on in the countless chases and brawls of the film a bit tough.
But the chase scenes are, at times, unbelievably well choreographed. Look out for the section in Tangiers with Bourne going from beat-up scrambler bike to rooftop glass smashing revelry – impressive stuff.
The plot does fall down a bit, with not a huge amount of development in the course of the film. This time around just doesn’t have quite the same depth they’ve kept up in the other Bourne movies. A decent cast, all the same, and Damon definitely knows what he’s doing here. Shame Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes, Hot Fuzz) makes an exit so early…
A worthwhile watch, particularly if you’ve seen the other two, but only expect to be blown away by the pure intensity of the visuals and not the meagre finale of what was a great storyline. See trailer
Chris Lord, MyVillage 02nd August
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