The Bourne Ultimatum Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
Bourne is once again brought out of hiding, this time inadvertently by London-based reporter Simon Ross who is trying to unveil Operation BlackBriar—an upgrade to Project Treadstone—in a series of newspaper columns. Bourne (Damon) sets up a meeting with Ross (Considine) and realizes instantly they're being scanned. Information from the reporter stirs a new set of memories, and Bourne must finally, ultimately, uncover his dark past whilst dodging The Company's best efforts in trying to eradicate him.
| Matt Damon | Jason Bourne |
| Paddy Considine | Sam Ross |
| Edgar Ramirez | Paz |
| Scott Adkins | |
| Joey Ansah | Assassin |
| Daniel Bruhl | John St. Jacques |
| Chris Cooper | Alexander Conklin |
| Brian Cox | Ward Abbott |
| Dan Fredenburgh | Jimmy |
| Tom Gallop | Tom Cronin |
| Corey Johnson | |
| Trevor St. John | CRI Operative |
| David Strathairn | Noah Vosen |
| Joan Allen | Pamela Landy |
| Julia Stiles | Nicky |
| Paul Greengrass |
8.20 out of 10 (137487 votes)
Visitor Reviews
OMG! That's Very Terrific
posted on 30 Aug 2009This movie is very good. One of the best movie I've ever watch. I never see such an action movie as good as this one. Most of action movie was only filled with gunshot, romance, etc. But this movie has a very good story line. It was really beyond my expectation. I really enjoy this movie and highly recommend you all to start watching from The Bourne Identity to follow the storyline.I am really glad on watching this movie from the beginning. The director, scriptwriter, and Matt Damon really outperformed in this movie.If you a fan of spy-intelligent movie, this trilogy is a must-watch. And specifically to this final sequel, The Bourne Ultimatum perfectly close the case of Bourne.Even watching this movie makes me forget of doing something else, because this movie is totally awesome and enjoyable. I am also looking forward to read the novel which must be a very good novel too.
Amazing conclusion to the Bourne trilogy
posted on 28 Aug 2009This movie was an amazing conclusion to the Bourne series.Matt Damon delivers a powerful performance in the final movie of the Bourne saga. This movie has everything that one could ask for in a spy movie: Guns, martial arts, car chases, assassinations, conspiracy, cover-ups, and a great ending. If you liked the first two, you MUST see this movie.For those who read the book by Ludlum; The story of the movie has diverged completely from that of the books. Even if you have read the books, this movie still delivers Bourne style action and though-provoking twists.
More Car Smashes & Body Brawls at the Price of Story and Character
posted on 28 Aug 2009The original Star Wars movie of 1977 was a huge breakthrough in visual effects. Simultaneously George Lucas, director and producer, clarified that the visual effects in Star Wars were there to help tell and enhance the story, not the other way around. In other words, the visual effects were there to support the story and were not an end in of itself. And that movies about visual effects with little or no story were badly conceived projects. Unfortunately, a lot of the action movies in recent years appear to be about pure action, as if the story is secondary and only there to support long action sequences.In the third installment of the Bourne trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum, the story, characters, motivations, even plot, take don't just take a back seat to endless action sequences. They appear to have been placed in the trunk with only a few moments where the lid was opened a crack to allow the audience to take a peak. If someone were to ask me what this movie is about, I would have to say it's about lots of chases, fist fights, and occasional explosions and gunfire. And about CIA executives that want to kill Bourne and so hire the hit men. Does that really make the story? More than a few moments were quite unbelievable. When the CIA decide that Bourne is truly a threat and smarter than the rest of them, they hire one guy to take him out. God, these CIA executives just can't quite get him! And when Bourne enters another European city, it seems like he had lived there many years as he navigates the streets like a native. At one point, the assassin has Bourne in his sites! But does he take him out? There was only one moment in the film that had a little bit of a surprise to it, but upon reflection, that didn't even make sense.For those who have not read the books, The Bourne Ultimatum movie has little to do with the original novel by Robert Ludlum. The original novel contains much more intrigue and plot interest, including a plot to destroy a KGB training facility. It is very unfortunate that audiences are willing to pluck down their hard-earned money and continue to convince movie producers that flash is far more important than substance. Just make a script full of action sequences, forget about story, and it'll make millions.Even Matt Damon seemed bored at moments with the whole project. At one point, his character stops talking for a long time. He probably made more money on these studio-backed projects than his more interesting independent projects, but he probably needs the studio contract fee to help back his more artistic endeavors.Overall, a wasted two hours. Yeah, it might have grossed 70 mill in its opening weekend at the box office, but who will be talking about it 20 years from now? This recent studio offering of the Bourne trilogy has been a huge disappointment, and the earlier TV-movie, The Bourne Identity, with Richard Chamberlain, now appears like a far better movie. If you haven't seen the original late 1980's movie, which is available on DVD, check it out. As for the movie in question, I just hope Matt Damon gets out of this alive.
Imagery was nauseating
posted on 26 Aug 2009As the continuation of the series, this was an interesting end to the trilogy. But watching it was almost impossible in many instances. The constant camera movement (do we really stand and wobble from side to side as we watch people?), the interminable over-close ups (do we really want to see the pores, pimples and moles of the actors?), and the nearly blurred cuts made the viewing range from nauseating to simply unwatchable. Those annoying techniques were so over-done that I had to close my eyes for many scenes just to be able to concentrate on the plot. My adult children had to do the same things. I looked around the audience and found similar reactions. The misuse of both cinematography and editing was so egregious that they completely displaced the plot with those extremely bad techniques. Director and editor and cinematographer note: IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LAME TECHNIQUES, ITS ABOUT THE STORY! This is possibly the worst of all the attempts at misusing these techniques. Sometimes breaking the rules of cinematography and editing heightens the telling of the story. In this case it is the story, and a horrible one at that. As one of my instructors once said, if you become aware of the cinematography, the story becomes secondary. And it should never be so. Too bad. I really like the first two and hope if they do a fourth, there will be more sane filming and editing. By the way, if I want to take a roller coaster ride, I'll go to one of the parks that offer them. In a theater I want to WATCH a movie. Not get nauseated by it.
Superior spy thriller and a great close to an excellent trilogy
posted on 24 Aug 2009The Bourne trilogy is certain to be considered one of the best ever, especially when compared with the uneven Pirates, Matrix and Spiderman outings. In terms of consistency, Bourne has come up with the goods for all three films, with Ultimatum being a fitting, breathless and stylish conclusion.Unlike the previous two films however, Ultimatum plunges headlong into the action before the title card even appears. Picking up from where the last film, Supremacy, left off, we follow Bourne as his escapes Moscow and continues to pursue his past. As more detailed flashbacks start to emerge, Bourne gets closer than ever to finding out his origins as an assassin. His first stop is a British reporter who has been getting leaked information on Bourne and various black ops.The pace of the film is relentless and aside from a scene where Bourne visits his dead girlfriend's brother, there is barely a moment to catch a breath. This is because, once again, the CIA are determined to find Bourne and terminate him at all costs. This time, his journey takes him across four continents with a whole bunch of hit men after him. The action sequences are, once again, fantastic and include a number of brutal punch-ups and a couple of awesome chase sequences.The story itself is very satisfying, with revelatory moments packing the punch they need. This is helped largely by the late appearance of Albert Finney as Bourne's "creator". Matt Damon fits back into the role like a pair of old slippers and there's not one weak link in the chain, with regards to the other actors and the script.In fact, Ultimatum plays like a greatest hits of the first two Bourne films - not just in terms of action. The score brings together all the music from Identity and Supremacy, while key scenes and lines are recreated. Incidentally, there's also a brilliant moment where the last scene from Supremacy is used (the conversation between Landy and Bourne), which shows that this is a trilogy that rewards those paying attention as well as those in search of a slam-bang chase thriller.
well, might have been good, i don't know
posted on 24 Aug 2009At first, when the film started after the usual ads (always the more exciting part of these films), I thought I had by mistake gone for rebate tickets and got stuck in one of those places where they dish you with versions of the film that were filmed on the screen by some person hiding in the back of some dingy cinema. And I thought, well, to make matters worse, this guy obviously had a couple of beers before starting and might even have been swigging them during the film itself seeing how the camera jolted violently quite frequently, 'bout, say, once every two seconds or so. I also thought, this guy is going pretty heavy about it. Never mind about the guy now though, so, as I was saying, when I finally realised this was the state I was reduced to seeing this film in, although I had paid €9 entry fee, I nearly cried. Luckily, I didn't, because this would have proved unnecessary, since my eyes were watering in any case after five minutes from the shaky-cam camera. However, determined as I was on managing this task worthy of Hercules, I managed to stay the full two hours in the room. Don't even remember the plot. By the way, was there any?
Weakest of the three films
posted on 22 Aug 2009True fans of the Bourne movies will be very disappointed in this film. The fight scenes which are so enjoyable from the first two films are not even viewable due to the "shaking camera" technique. All you see is quick movement and a blur leaving the viewer feeling cheated. Also, Matt Damon is noticeably heavier and with a deeper voice which is distracting to the viewer. I think the fight scenes were shot closer up with the shaking camera technique to compensate for his heavier appearance and possible lack of agility. The first hour and twenty minutes of this film is honestly boring and barely keeps the viewer's interest. Also, Jason Bourne is so robotic. The existential dilemma of who he is and his search for humanity is just phoned in to the office in this third picture. His character is at his best in The Bourne Identity. The Bourne Supremacy is almost as good as the first. However, with each subsequent film his character becomes less human and more robotic. I don't think he smiled one time in the entire film. I think everyone is so excited that there is a third movie and is caught up in the Bourne Mania. However, I think history will judge me correct in my opinion that this is the weakest of the three movies. The first picture will always be the best one.
I've never seen such an impressive action movie in my LIFE
posted on 22 Aug 2009Having not seen the previous two in the trilogy of Bourne movies, I was a little reluctant to watch The Bourne Ultimatum.However it was a very thrilling experience and I didn't have the problem of not understanding what was happening due to not seeing the first two films. Each part of the story was easy to understand and I fell in love with The Bourne Ultimatum before it had reached the interval! I don't think I have ever watched such an exquisitely made, and gripping film, especially an action film. Since I usually shy away from action and thriller type movies, this was such great news to me. Ultimatum is one of the most enthralling films, it grabs your attention from the first second till the last minute before the credits roll.Matt Damon was simply fantastic as his role as Jason Bourne. I've heard a lot about his great performances in the Bourne 1+2, and now, this fabulous actor has one more to add to his list. I look forward to seeing more of his movies in the future.The stunts were handled with style - each one was done brilliantly and I was just shocked by the impressiveness of this movie. Well done.
Ultimate Bourne From Start To Finish
posted on 20 Aug 2009This is arguably the best of the three Bourne movies, and I could not agree more. This movie is so awesome that I might just have to spoil it. There are awesome car chases and a lot of other action. Plus it's great seeing Matt Damon and Julia Stiles together. Their characters should fall in love seriously. And Joan Allen looks great for her age! The acting is great, and so is the dialogue. I won't give away the details, but we FINALLY learn who "Jason Bourne" really is, and all about his past.There was just one thing about the movie I didn't like. Julia Stiles' new hair! If you ask me, she looked really disturbed with that new hair, even if it was meant to be a disguise.Other than that, this is definitely one of the best movies ever made. I won't spoil the ending, but you won't believe what happens!
Remember Everything. Forgive Nothing.
posted on 20 Aug 2009Here's a tip: don't eat before you enter the cinema. This is one stomach-turning film.I say that not as a criticism of its quality. Quite the opposite in fact; this film represents the new elite of Hollywood: brainy AND ballsy, edgy without preachy, fun without betraying the characters' cores.The camera-work is what will kill the stomach. It moves with such velocity sometimes that I found myself squinting to make out what's going on. A marvelous tool to bring reality to what would otherwise be a difficult-to-believe plot line. It makes you feel not like you're some static viewer, but someone whose been thrown into the pit of this chaotic tale and you're constantly chasing the characters as they blast and bark their way through scenes.Which brings me to the acting: effortlessly perfect. Damon is a brilliant actor in my mind. Most main stars would be all-too-tempted to be showy and just begging to throw soundbites here and there. (I'm looking at you, Cruise.) Matt has the modesty, temperance and understanding not only to hold back with dignity, but be damn-near silent throughout most of the film. This in turn allows him to play the real character: an unstoppable weapon of destruction hell-bent on wreaking justice on those that took away his life and his love. Words are seldom used on his part because they are seldom necessary. When he does speak, it's mostly terse commands or direct inquiries, with a gun in his hand. A comment on government style these days, perhaps? Joan Allen is another excellent performer. She really pulls off the role with style. She makes her work seem effortless in all the films she's done that I've seen, but especially in this film she shines as an actress fully-capable of immersing herself in the character. By the end of this film you can fully relate to how she's changed from chasing Bourne to...well, you'll see.Julia Stiles is not my favourite actress in the world, but maybe that's only because I'm not a major fan of her films. they always seemed to be in the teenybopper area, which ain't my cuppa tea. This film shows her to be a very mature, and restrained actress. Again it must take discipline to be able to hold back, remain cold, on a big Hollywood film. She does it admirably. Whilst still not being the best at emoting---or perhaps that's the point of her character?---she does however give us another viewpoint on the plot line, another angle on Bourne, and that's more than can be said for most actors out there.Director Paul Greengrass is a gift from God as far as I'm concerned. He seems incapable of any ego-ish actions. Most directors when standing on the pedestal of cash handed to them by their thankful and greedy producers, tend to display all the restraint of a five year old with ADHD. This their chance to shine and they frequently blow up instead. Greengrass takes the world by the unmentionables and shoves it in our face, shows us the ugly as well as the beautiful, takes the grit of real-life espionage and rubs it in our eyes til we're war-hardened and tired. And that's exactly the point. It's no secret he and his fellow castmembers harbour reservations when it comes to the USA foreign policy. This film is a direct FU to those people, but done in an intellectual and entertaining way.These, to me, are the essential attributes of an excellent film.The upside: bombs, guns, chases and riveting dialogue.The downside: stomach-quaking camera-work, you have to see the previous two to really get emotionally involved.The sum-up: see it, and think on what the world we live in really is all about.
A Sober-minded, Super-charged, but Serious Spy Saga
posted on 20 Aug 2009If "The Bourne Supremacy" gripped you with its spiraling melodramatic mixture of suspense and tension, then its white-knuckled sequel "The Bourne Ultimatum" (**** out of ****) will have you hanging by your fingertips during most of its harrowing115 minutes. Reportedly, this installment represents the final cinematic outing for novelist Robert Ludlum's death- proof, ex-CIA assassin Jason Bourne in his one-man war against the Central Intelligence Agency and his never-ending quest to regain his true identity. In many ways, "The Bourne Ultimatum" recalls a number of post-Watergate spy thrillers that appeared in the 1970s, such as "Three Days of the Condor" with Robert Redford, "Scorpio" with Burt Lancaster, and "The Killer Elite" with James Caan.Three things you should know about "The Bourne Ultimatum" before you see it. First, if you have to excuse yourself from the movie, you'll miss loads of important information in an elaborately orchestrated plot that gathers momentum with each scene up to its hair-raising car chase finale. The noisy car crash is probably the most outlandish thing in this nimble, no-nonsense espionage epic that deplores the above and beyond the Constitution freedoms that the CIA seeks to curtail. Second, director Paul Greengrass doesn't let things lag for long in this hyper-kinetic, adrenalin-laced thriller that glob-trots around Europe and the U.S. This movie piles on tons of information and doesn't give you any time to sort it out. Usually, the hero stays a step ahead of you. Third, if you skipped either "The Bourne Identity" and/or "The Bourne Supremacy," the spy-vs.-spy skulduggery taking place inside the CIA will knit your eyebrows into knots because you haven't been adequately briefed. For example, the tape-recorded confession in the first 20 minutes of "The Bourne Ultimatum" happened near the end of the second "Bourne" movie. The character, slippery, shifty-eyed CIA superior Ward Abbott (Brian Cox of "The Glimmer Man"), has committed suicide. On the other hand, the neat thing about watching "The Bourne Supremacy" again (if you can make the time) is that "The Bourne Ultimatum" literally resumes the action in mid-stride with an injured Matt Damon limping away from a dead hit-man. At the end of "The Bourne Supremacy," Bourne took time out to visit the daughter of a Russian couple that the CIA had ordered him to kill when he was an assassin. Apologizing for their deaths, he explained that the wife—her mother-- walked in unexpectedly on them and Bourne had to ice her, too. In "The Bourne Ultimatum," our amnesiac hero visits the brother of his girlfriend from the first "Bourne," Marie Kreutz (Franka Potente of "Anatomy"), and he apologizes to him about his role in her death. No sooner has Bourne said and done this than he finds out that an English journalist, Simon Ross (Paddy Considine of "Hot Fuzz"), who may have information about his origins. At this point, "The Bourne Ultimatum" turns into the Will Smith thriller "Enemy of the State" with its dazzling array of intelligence gathering devices. CIA surveillance technology hones in on the same London newspaperman when the unsuspecting reporter utters the word "Blackbriar" during a cell phone conversation. Blackbriar serves as the code name for the organization that has replaced the murderous 'Treadstone' outfit from the "Bourne Identity" that trained Bourne as an elite assassin. The chief villain in "The Bourne Ultimatum," black- ops CIA chief Noah Vosen (David W. Straitharn of "Dolores Claiborne"), vows to track down Ross and he is prepared to liquidate him without a qualm if it is the only way to maintain secrecy. When he learns that Bourne has contacted Ross, Vosen labels Bourne a threat to the CIA and gives his government gunsels orders to shoot the ex-assassin on sight. Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles of "Mono Lisa Smile"), a CIA analyst from the first "Bourne," literally stumbles in on Bourne after he has searched the office of her London-based CIA superior, Neal Daniels (Colin Stinson of "The Jacket") who funneled secret information to Ross about Bourne. Briefly, Nicky joins Bourne on the run, but she doesn't behave like the usual, blithering female Girl Friday who can only scream, sprain her ankle, or shed her wardrobe for sex. Neither director Greengrass nor his three scenarists keep Nicky on hand for long before they banish her from the action. Another "Bourne Supremacy" alum, top CIA supervisor Pam Landy (Joan Allan of "Face/Off") returns, but Vosen confines her to the sidelines as an adviser about Bourne's method of operation. Predictably, Pam doesn't act like a team player. She wants to invite Bourne back into the CIA with open arms, while Vosen prefers to shoot first and hold an séance afterward for any questions. Watching "The Bourne Ultimatum" is like watching a PG-13 car accident. Paul Greengrass, who helmed "The Bourne Supremacy," keeps the action as genuine as possible as he did in the previous "Bourne," and he provides us with a front-row seat for all of the mayhem. Jason Bourne is a MacGyver style hero who has to rely on his wits to get him out of his predicaments. He is not allowed to conjure up a handy gadget at the right moment like James Bond might. The thuggish hand-to-hand combat scenes in "The Bourne Ultimatum" are collisions of flesh & bone, and Greengrass stages them with hand-held cameras so that you will feel the intensity of each body blow, even though you'll never see any contact. In another scene, our hero plunges through several large windowpanes and the sounds of broken glass will make you grimace more than anything that you see. People are shooting people everywhere in "The Bourne Ultimatum," but Greengrass presents the violence in a narrative fashion. The shoot-outs, the fisticuffs, and the automobile chase propel the plot forward without halting it in a pageantry of digital special effects. Altogether, "The Bourne Ultimatum" is sober-minded, often realistic, but humorless adventure thriller that keeps our resilient hero dodging bullets while negotiating a challenging obstacle course of hazards.
Just non-stop action is not enough
posted on 20 Aug 2009I liked the first Bourne movie when I saw it for the first time and remembered it as a well made "nonstop thrill ride". When I saw it for the second time, it was not much more than just an average action movie.Unfortunately, this was also the case with part 2 and 3, which I also saw recently and for the first time. There was no real story, because most of it was already told in part 1. The action and car chase scenes where quite good, but sometimes a bit _too_ fast paced and therefore a bit annoying, they might have been better without the "shaky camera" all through part 2 and 3. However, just the same scene over and over again - someone tries to kill him, and then a chase scene, is not enough for a good action/thriller movie. This is no real trilogy, as most of the story is in part 1, and the rest is just a collection of some action sequences.I really don't understand the high rating compared to part 2, as it was basically the same. Some say that this is the "new Bond", and the latest "Casino Royale" was also a bit disappointing compared to other Bonds, but I really have seen better secret agent movies.
the adrenalin ultimatum
posted on 18 Aug 2009a real piece of adrenalin, the bourne ultimatum is a worthy end of an extremely well adapted trilogy from robert ludlum's books. don't hesitate, just try them all six (movies and books!), you won't be disappointed. without spoiling the fun for those who haven't seen this movie yet, you may know that this is without any doubt 2007's best action movie! and that's quiet an accomplishment for a movie in the sequel-formula: from start till end this movie takes you by the throat, due to it's compelling story and it's hectic montage. it's a roller-coaster without a weak moment. am i too lyric? maybe! find out yourselves.
Almost certainly the best action film of 2007
posted on 18 Aug 2009The Bourne Ultimatum is the third and final film of the Bourne trilogy. It builds on the themes of identity and national conspiracy, while also presenting some of the most stylish and intense action sequences ever recorded. This time around, Jason Bourne discovers a source that is connected with his past. He takes the final steps toward discovering his identity while simultaneously avoiding CIA capture. He travels through Moscow, Paris, London, Madrid, Tangier, and finally New York City before completing his journey.The action sequences are simply incredible. Rather than focusing on stationary punches or gun fights, they always involve 1. Bourne being chased or 2. Bourne chasing someone. Often, the sequences alternate between the CIA surveillance room and the actual area of action. As a result, its a chaotic but well defined hunt.The most noticeable feature of the film is the shaky camera. The camera trembles for literally the entire time, even during discussion scenes. While its not distracting, its hard to tell if it gives any benefit. It certainly adds to the style, so I won't argue too much.The plot has a few well placed twists to keep things interesting. The acting is realistic, although the character motives are not always believable. The dialog almost completely consists of technical discussion or orders, with few moments in between to get a real look at Bourne's tortured life. The pacing is excellent, switching between intense action and methodic planning, always slowly building up to the finale. The ending of the movie is simply perfect, both in length and clarity.A sacrifice occurs between realism and style. Any sensible person knows that driving a car off a parking ramp, jumping between buildings, or navigating this accurately through death zones is suicide. It surely isn't realistic, but its awesome; that is what matters. Above all else, the Bourne Ultimatum is an action film, and in that it succeeds.
The camera work was a total DISASTER!!!
posted on 16 Aug 2009Either there was a constant stream of earthquakes during the shooting of the film, or the cameraman was an epileptic (or 90 yrs old).Just horrible.Snapshots and flickering light - no story, no connection. Like a bad bad, and I mean, BAD undergrad experimental video for a class.It was probably shot with a camera phone, too.The last Bond film was a PG rated action movie too, but what a world of difference! You don't need a trembling camera to convey you the drama of a chase, or the tension of a killing. It takes good acting and good screenplay, which this Bourne film was totally without.Utterly disappointing...
Whoosh! Bang! Crash! Wallop!
posted on 14 Aug 2009What's become a spy-film franchise big enough to be compared to the Bond series (there's a link on the Orange homepage asking 'who's better: Bourne or Bond'?) is now onto its third film. For those who, like me, found 'The Bourne Supremacy' an inferior film to 'The Bourne Identity' (mangled and meandering plot; the lack of surprise and sense of mystery that the first film had; Paul Greengrass' frantic direction, suited to gritty documentaries like 'Bloody Sunday', but maybe not to a Hollywood action film), the good news is that 'Ultimatum' is a better film, though still not as good as the first. Greengrass' zingy, constantly-moving camera-work, deployed to add a 'gritty' edge to the fight scenes in 'Supremacy', is again present, though here it seems to be used often as not to cover up improbabilities such as Bourne jumping, superhero-style, improbably long distances from roof to roof. Damon remains tight-lipped and pretty much expressionless throughout, playing the role of assassin to perfection but skimping on the softer, vulnerable side that would allow us some emotional engagement with him which is rather lacking in the film (something brought out more in his relationship with Franka Potente's character in the first film and the beginning of the second). It's pretty much action all the way - one long adrenaline trip, frequently driven by John Powell's insistent repeated theme in the orchestral score. To accommodate this, the plot is stripped down and simple (basically: Bourne goes after baddies; Bourne fights baddies; Bourne goes after more baddies in search of who he really/originally was, and how he became the assassin Jason Bourne). There are numerous set-pieces: dodging a shooter in Waterloo station; scooter and roof-top chase in Tangier (the most extended, and perhaps the best, of all of them); and finally, climactic action in New York. Also, you got appearances by good, respected actors: David Strathairn, the mellifluous voice intact from 'Good Night and Good Luck', but the role very different; Scott Glenn; Joan Allen; Julia Stiles (thankfully not turning into the love interest here, though playing a fairly major role); and, to trump them all, Albert Finney, who really doesn't have that much to do but provides a suitably serious cameo. In the end, you may wonder whether it adds up to more than the sum of parts - the answer is probably no, but it's an entertaining enough summer blockbuster and it'll keep you suitably occupied for a couple of hours in the cinema.
The DP should be Shot!!!
posted on 14 Aug 2009I like the other two movies, I liked the Story, I like the Acting, but all that steady cam crap wasn't very steady, and did the whole movie have to be a chase scene? It was a little long and they tried to make it seem shorter by keeping the pace. I like the fighting styles, but it's to hard to watch the way they shot it. If that's the way action movies are going to be done now, I'm giving them up. A few witty lines and a lot of blurred movement and you walk out with a head ache and confusion. I don't call that entertainment I call that annoying. I can get that for free. I wouldn't have minded some steady cam work, some chase scene work, and then some story line work. They whole thing was done like a student film. "Hey Guys I learned this new technique let's shoot the whole film that way."
How to pick the best Bourne Movie
posted on 12 Aug 2009After the first Bourne Movie came out, I was massively impressed. I went off and read the books - by Robert Ludlum. I was then a little surprised by The Bourn Supremacy, which deviated greatly from the books. Personally, I always feel that not enough characters of depth are "casulties" of war. The Bourne Supremacy definitely satisfied my expectations, and I thought it impossible to make another film of the same story into such a block buster, especially when it had to compete with the ingenuity of its predecessors.The Bourne Ultimatum, is a: fast paced, clearly distinct, precise, excellently shot, spectacularly directed, acted superbly (made extremely hard kept up with the changing scenes/ countries), AND clever thriller.Top Top Top Notch Thriller.
Good movie, awful camera work
posted on 12 Aug 2009This should have been a very good movie. It had a good story line and great action, what was the problem? The film seems to have been filmed by drunken monkeys. The camera work reminds me of the Blair Witch Project; the screen is constantly shaking even on still scenes. When you have the misfortune to watch what should have been a great action scene, you can see nothing due to the viewing angle wildly waving around what you so fervently wish you could have seen. I actually had to look away from the screen on numerous occasions, I eventually settled on staring at my finger so I could at least see the movie in the background without my eyes hurting from vainly attempting to track the wobbling Bourne. Don't bother watching this unless they release a new version with camera work that at least doesn't give seizures to those who do not have epilepsy.
The best action-thriller franchise since the 60's and 70's
posted on 30 Aug 2009It is fairly simple to put a finger on just what makes this movie in particular and the Bourne trilogy as a whole such superior action films. Just compare The Bourne Ultimatum to another summer action-vigilante extravaganza, Live Free or Die Hard. While the filmmakers clearly had a blast making the latter film, it must be taken with a grain of salt and requires quite a lot of suspension of disbelief. And indeed, most of the stunts, action scenes, concepts and characters in that film are so incredibly unbelievable they are borderline parody. But the Bourne movies have this relentless knack of keeping it real – real-world settings, great attention to detail and protocol, on-set action and car chases, and just an overall realistic and totally believable feel to them. Indeed, it is this ultra-realistic, totally believable aspect and tone that makes me appreciate the Bourne series far more than other spy franchises such as Mission: Impossible, Jack Ryan, and, dare I say it – James Bond.But that's not all that makes the Bourne films unique and sets them apart from most of the other movies in its genre. In most action-adventure films, the sides are very clear and present: The main character is the hero and operates solely for the side of good, while the villains are also clearly outlined. But in the Bourne films, these relations are far less black-and-white. Jason Bourne himself is clearly the protagonist, but obviously doesn't operate for the "greater good". He's on a personal crusade, seeking revenge and information, and on the way, breaks all sorts of laws and rules and kills whoever stands in his path. On the other hand, all the various CIA operatives working to catch him, it could be said, are just doing their job. We don't have any super villain masterminds; we just have a bunch of men and women doing their job trying to catch someone who clearly is dangerous and a threat. It is these ambivalent and conflicting motives of the films' characters that make them such a treat to watch.Specifically on Ultimatum, Paul Greengrass and all the technical crew do a stellar job of creating the Bourne world and relaying the realism and believability of the story. Greengrass again utilizes his hyper-realistic documentary style of film-making that featured in all his previous films, most recently United 93. It's disorienting and confusing, but the style serves the film's purposes perfectly. It is also absolutely wonderful to see an action-thriller movie that prominently features on-set, practical stunts and effects, as opposed to using lots of CGI to tweak up the action and to make things easier. And what action sequences this film has! From the first scene Bourne grabs you, and we the audience literally run through the movie right along with him. It's just fascinating to see how Bourne's mind works; how he thinks on the spot, always sees the broader picture, and of course does his fair share of close hand-to-hand combat – those scenes in particular are breathtakingly well choreographed. It is also worth mentioning the insane chase sequences, both on foot and in vehicle, and I'm particularly glad that the film's advertising didn't give too much away of the film's grand finale car chase, which is one of the most thrilling and outstanding action sequences I've seen lately.One can't review this film without mentioning the cast. In all of its installments the Bourne series was blessed with some fantastic supporting character talent – in the first film we had Chris Cooper and Brian Cox both deliver outstanding work. The Bourne Supremacy added the unexpected but more-than-welcome casting of Joan Allen, one of the most underrated actresses working today. And in this film, we are introduced to characters played by David Strathairn and Albert Finney, with Strathairn in particular delivering absolutely stellar work. But the true star and the one who ties it all together is, of course, Matt Damon. Damon is an actor I have grown to appreciate more and more in recent years, and especially in light of last year's release of The Departed, I am very surprised that Damon only has one acting Oscar nomination. His work on the Bourne films is far subtler as his character does a lot more running and fighting than he does talking. But Damon succeeds in doing what most A-list actors fail to do: He disappears into the character. During most of the film, I forgot that I was watching Matt Damon because I was so engrossed in the action and into his character. This level of disappearance is one that actors such as Tom Cruise are simply unable to do. And for that, I commemorate Damon all the more. Julia Stiles, on the other hand, doesn't deliver a bad performance per se, but one would think that a more established or talented actress would be able to do much more with the character than she does. Still, she's not a burden nor a distraction like Katie Holmes in Batman Begins, so her casting is more than forgivable.Director Greengrass, his crew, Damon and the rest of the cast do an absolutely magnificent job on this film: The story is delivered outstandingly, the action is directed to perfection, and just the whole overall tone and energy of the film is pitch-perfect. Also worth mentioning is composer John Powell, whose percussion-based score more than enhances the pace and adrenaline of the film. In the end, everything comes together to create a brilliant, well-executed and just pitch-perfect action-thriller spy film, and the success and quality of this third installment in the Bourne series undoubtedly seals the trilogy's fate as one of the strongest, unfailing film trilogies in recent years, and probably the best action-thriller movies since the 60's and 70's films like The French Connection or Bullitt.