I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
The Bourne series has a rep for being the thinking man’s action film. I don’t know about that, but they are the best action/thrillers around. They’ve got Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), a complex, paranoid and un-cheerful hero, plus big action on a realistic scale… well not realism exactly, but when cars hit a wall (which they do often) they don’t explode, they just crash. The first Bourne (The Bourne Identity, 2002) was about the freshest action film in an age and the second (The Bourne Supremacy, 2004) – while for my money not as good as the first – was again a ruddy rip snorter.
For the third in a trilogy to be better than its predecessors is a very rare thing, unheard of even. But, in reaching the series’ natural conclusion, that’s what The Bourne Ultimatum is.
Bourne – a fellow that awakes in the first film with amnesia and people trying to kill him – is seen by his former employers, the CIA, as a threat to security. They’re chasing him for through Russia, France, Spain, England and finally America, and in turn Bourne is trying to get to them. The cool thing about him – asides from being exceptionally tough, and wicked smart – is that he’s not out to save the world... he just wants to know his real name (revenge for his dead lady friend counts for something too).
There’s a certain singleness, a simplicity to the film that captures an old school charm. Its sole aim is to create intrigue, and to entertain. This combined with ingeniously thought out and executed set pieces, plus a modest leading man, make for a new benchmark in action thrillers. It’s escapism at its best, and ferociously entertaining. For two hours you won’t think of anything but what’s on that big screen.
Despite being a little wordy in its first half hour, when it gets cranking, boy, it gets cranking. Director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, United 93) perfects what he was going for in the second. It is (thankfully) less frantic camera wise than Supremacy, and the action scenes – due to their complexity, great timing, eye for realism and a touch of understatement – are masterly done.
Matt Damon again proves to be an inspired choice as Bourne. He’s restrained and un-showy. He does so much by appearing to do so little. To sell a character that is trained to kill, very intelligent and has no recollection of who he is - essentially a fucked up spy – is no easy task. Damon does it from the first frame he’s in. He’s supported by great performances from Julia Stiles especially, also Joan Allen and David Strathairn.
As an action film, The Bourne Ultimatum is in a class of its own.
Reviewed by Paul Scantlebury.
It was really really really really great and had me thinking about it for days, most movies I forget about as soon as I watch them
Number 3 in the series is fast paced from the outset. Picking up from where the last movie ends, this latest Bourne offering sends us off into ahead long rush of action. If you like you movies fast an full of action this is the one for you.
Fast, compelling, sit at the edge of your seat viewing. This movie answers all the questions I had after watching the first 2. I loved this movie and recommend it to anyone.
The third Bourne instalment offers little more than its predecessors, which makes me scratch my head over the acclaimed reviews below and across the world. Bourne 3 is undoubtedly a tight, polished thriller which keeps you entertained all the way through, but it offers nothing new in the spy genre, doesn't really engage on a personal level, and is instantly forgettable. The trend this decade is that ordinary movies which have well-crafted action scenes receive more plaudits than they deserve (thinking Kill Bill, Sin City etc) and that trend continues here.
Paul Greengrass has done a great job and has become one of my favourite directors. My only criticism is, I think the shaky camera work is a bit overdone. While it didn't bother me too much it induced some motion sickness in my daughter. I fear it could have this effect on some other people too and really isn't necessary, especially in the non-action scenes. Come to think of it, there aren't many of those! But all-in-all a great action fest! It's a shame it's the last. Or is it?
This is a very good night out, action packed enough to keep the most befuddled of Friday late-show stragglers awake, and well constructed enough to keep the rest of us engaged and entertained to the credits...
The best blockbuster of the summer and the most accomplished thriller since, well, Supremacy. This is the payoff Bourne fans have been waiting for and the standard to which future blockbusters should be held...
1/2 A perfectly serviceable action movie…better than most, in fact. The entire premise is growing creaky, however, leading us to think we might want to leave this particular spy out in the cold a while, before he becomes completely tiresome...
It says something about Paul Greengrass' directing style that he's able to make a movie as fresh and frank as The Bourne Ultimatum from a genre as moldy and bombastic as the spy thriller...
The latest and greatest in this action franchise for grown-ups, The Bourne Ultimatum delivers paranoid suspense and exhilarating, character-driven action that makes Die Hard's antics look downright silly...
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 23rd Aug 2007.
Release date: August 23rd 2007.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
