THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
movie review by David Blackwell

111 minutes, PG-13
Universal/ Ludlum Entertainment
directed by paul Greengrass
starring Matt Damon, Joan Allen, Julia Stiles, Scott Glenn, David Stratharin, Albert Finney, and Paddy Considine

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM pickes up right after the climax of THE BOURNE SUPREMACY. The final secene in THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (between Pam Landy and Jason Bourne) is seen in a different light after you watch the third in the Bourne film series based on the novels by Robert Ludlum. The third installment uses some of the same elements in the second film only to use them a little bit differently. What you get is an adrenaline rush like the sequel.

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) tracks down a reporter from the Gaurdian in hopes of finding the start of Trendstone. The reporter has learned of a project codenamed Blackbriar. Soon enough, the CIA wants to terminate Bourne again. Pam Landy (Joan Allen) wants Bourne brought in alive. She doesn't approve of the methods being used in effort to keep Blackbriar quiet. Distrust is the name of the game as Landy and bourne both fight their own battles. Bourne wants to know who he is and remember his whole past.

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM goes all over the world from London to Madrid to Tangiers to New York City. Flashbacks to the first two films are also included. If they never do another bourne film, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM brings enough closure to the series. Given the $69 million plus it pulled in the first three days, another sequel is a very tempting for Universal. The acting, the script, and the action are top notch. Albert Finney is excellent in his small role and Julia Stiles plays her character very understated.

The action is fast cutting due to director Paul Greengrass' style. It works in favor of this sequel after first being a little disoriented by it in THE BOURNE SUPREMACY. The music uses many of the same cues with a few variations that amp up this ride to summer movie ride. It is an intelligent action movie. I wouldn't blame Universal if they wanted to continue the Bourne series to have their own cash cow like MGM's James Bond series.

related DVD Review:
THE BOURNE SUPREMACY-
http://enterline2.tripod.com/bourne_supremacy_dvd.html

this review is (c)8-6-2007 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com