Reviews of The Bourne Ultimatum

Bourne To Run

Posted : 1 month, 4 weeks ago on 11 September 2009 02:04 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

The spy theme was never really one of my favorite genres. Therefore I avoided the first Bourne flick when it came out in theatres. However, when I did catch it on TV, I was surprised & impressed by it's ability to both keep me intrigued & "thrilled". I rented the second, which I liked even better & it resulted in me making the effort of seeing the third in theatres. After the Ultimatum, the Bourne Trilogy became for me one those extremely rare trilogies where each successive movie actually was consistantly better than the one that preceded it. I can't get away from looking at this movie as part of it's collective whole, with the Ultimatum acting as an intelligent bad-ass ending to an intelligent bad-ass series.



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Bourne again. This time it's personal.

Posted : 7 months, 3 weeks ago on 18 March 2009 09:15 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

''Do you even know why you're supposed to kill me? Look at us. Look at what they make you give.''

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 sets up a meeting with Ross 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

From the word go its non-stop action, one of the best action films of modern times in existence. The clever aspects about the third installment is that it's wonderfully directed and executed by Paul Greengrass, it outdoes its predecessors in terms of pace and edgy cinematography, plus the facts that this scenario, this modern story of a Government secret experiment training program, could be real, individuals tapping into our phones, or being targeted and eliminated at any point, any number of cameras or face recognition techniques to clamp us down or capture us become frighteningly realistic.

Bourne Ultimatum features some of the best chases ever committed to celluloid. The chases in this are truly mesmerizing and the sound/beats, accompanying music, plus shakey camera work adds to the tension and teeth grinding element of the heightened mood.
Julia Stiles smile at the end priceless, her reminiscent familiarity to a lost love of Jason's, David Strathairn foreboding, excellent, and relentless in his pursuit of Bourne, and of course main star himself, Matt Damon whom is perfectly on form yet again, Identity and Supremacy being relative warm ups compared to this peak of a paralleled pursuit for the truth. Even the inclusion of Veteran actor Albert Finney another fine addition.

''Issue a standing kill order on Jason Bourne, effective immediately.''

Human, emotion,empathy, compassion, the question and unwavering answer of the mirrored, rising hero in touch with his humanity or a robot programmed follow-order cold assassin. The latter being a lonely road. No links, friends or family. End of the day do the right thing.

The Bourne Ultimatum is another addition to the series based on a novel by Robert Ludlum. It's positive message and detailed fast paced scenes will have you captivated in its almost two hour running time. Once again, Matt Damon is back again and seems more at ease than he was in the other two movies still wondering how or who put him in the predicament that he's in now. This time Bourne is in London and a reporter (Paddy Considine) informs him of an organization called Blackbrier, a more menacing organization than Treadstone that's run by an evil CIA agent, who wants Bourne dead. Also in pursuit of Bourne is a girl named Pam Lundy (Joan Allen) who has faith, that Bourne is not a threat that the CIA assumes he is. And the city-hopping is off in full swing up to his final destination in New York where he fights off his ex-handlers.

Though not a thinking-movie like the slower paced The Bourne Supremacy, this movie depends more on action and non-stop chases, for all action fans. And anyone who gets in Bourne's face, will likely get pummeled. Bourne has Blackbeier's henchman after him who seem to expose similar traits as him. But Bourne is more well-versed than them, so that gives him still the upper edge. Very tense scenes on the rooftops of Tangiers to the traffic-laden streets of the Big Apple, the chase reign supreme.

As a conclusion The Bourne Ultimatum obliterates James Bond into a trash can and pummels the living daylights out of it, while remaining the action film of the decade!
The end symbolizing Bourne beginning again like it started, water being a rebirth of sorts, and Greengrass leaving the possibility of carrying on the Bourne Legacy. If another installment is this action packed and this deep into the psyche of an Agent rebelling against his old immorally correct masters, then definitely I would love to see Bourne return to the big screen, a modern albeit troubled hero of unrivaled dizzying heights.

''I remember. I remember everything. I'm no longer Jason Bourne.''

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The Bourne Ultimatum review

Posted : 1 year, 9 months ago on 28 January 2008 11:55 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

I don't have anything really bad to say about this movie, not really, it was action packed right from the word go and I think Matt Damon was made for this role, there was only one problem. The camera work. In this day and age you'd think people would understand the benefits of holding a camera steady! It was ridiculous. They can't seriously think it's making it more realistic. More like it's causing severe bouts of motion sickness. I found it very hard to concentrate on what was going on at times and other times I had to concentrate extra hard just so I could keep track especially in fight scenes. People really need to learn how to use a camera. Other then that it was a good movie which I really enjoyed.

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Sensacional

Posted : 2 years, 1 month ago on 17 September 2007 09:23 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

Jason Bourne é meu agente secreto favorito, o filme não dá tempo pra respirar, com medo de perder alguma cena.
Na luta que ocorre dele com o executor, você quase se sente apanhando e batendo junto com eles ....

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The Bourne Ultimatum review

Posted : 2 years, 1 month ago on 14 September 2007 03:32 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

This was a thoroughly entertaining film that kept the consistency from the previous two Bourne films. There's something about this franchise that seems sleeker, cooler and more realistic than it really ought to be. All the (surviving) characters from previous films are back and the detestable Brian Cox is played by a worm-like replacement who is equally repugnant.

I see a lot of people have problems with the shaky camera work. While I agree that use of the technique is indefensible - it doesn't add atmosphere or anything to the proceedings - I also don't think it ruined the film by any means. I only really noticed it when characters were still and extreme close up shots were moving around as if the camera operator was drunk.

You can usually guarantee a couple of things from a Bourne film. A decent car chase and an intense 'black on black' fight with Bourne and another special agent. This film has both. In all, it doesn't disappoint at all. For me the story ended in a nice place, I hope there are no more Bourne films! Even though I love the franchise.

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Best of the Series

Posted : 2 years, 1 month ago on 14 September 2007 03:14 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

OMG... it was BRILLIANT.. Im almost speechless. This is without a doubt my favourite of the Bourne Series [sofar]. Seriously, It was worth the wait from 2004 when the Bourne Surpremacy was out.... It cant get much better than this.

I really liked the style of directing, though to most people it might seem annoying, thats how the bourne movies are and thats how i love them..

OH, and if your going to see this (I highly recommend you do) please do yourself a favour and WATCH THE OTHERS first! I can just imagine seeing this without watching the others first and it would make hardly any sense at all!!

And i would love to see it again. Just after watching it im sure if i saw it again i would discover more things that didnt make as much sense at the time. But trust me people, if you just watch the movie everything will come into place.

Oh and the ending was just awesome. It was a great was to finish off the movie, and leaves space for another bourne movie if it were to happen. Even if Matt Damon wont do another movie, im sure Bourne could keep going, like.. a new 'James Bond' or something!!

T his movie well deserved the five stars.. if you havent seen the bourne movies you really should!! You have no idea what your missing out on..

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just like matrix

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 23 August 2007 02:28 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

just like matrix, this series is going down after the first movie.
I quite liked the second though, but this last one just bored me off.
I wasn't shocked by his discoveries or the actions of his superiors anymore.
Hope Mr. Bourne can rest in peace now.
I guess I will watch the Identity again this weekend to forget about the ultimatum.

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Ultimatum

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 22 August 2007 06:40 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

Great followup, but after seeing Live Free Die Hard first, I have to admit, it wasn't the better of the two summer action blockbusters. Can't wait for the next installment!

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Borne to be good.

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 13 August 2007 10:57 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

This movie was a fantastic addition to the trilogy. At first, I thought that the movie was too much about the CIA, and that kinda turned me away, but then it gained momentum and started in on Bourne at his best: kicking butt and taking names.

But there is a DEFINATE flaw in this movie, as expressed by Vix, is that the shaky camera. I've see worse, in Spiderman 3, but it was still TERRIBLE! Many of the fight scenes were actually dulled down because of it! For example, when he's fighting that one dude in Madrid. They are throwing some KILLER moves, and the dude totally does a side twist, but I could barely even tell because of the camera. I had to deduct it in logic, actually. "Ah, he was trapped, and there was a whirring sound, thus he must have done some type of flip." Another prime example would be in the car chase, and they attempt to film the rear view mirror. I couldn't make out what was behind him to save my life. It couldn't been anything from a cow to Agent Smith for all I know. Terrible. It was also extremely evident when it changed from shaky back to still. Like after the car chase and Bourne walks over to the "asset" sitting in the car. One minute it's shaky so hard, you are about to vomit, the next, it's completely still. Gahg.

Overall, it was still a tremendous movie. AMAZING plot, acting, action scenes (other than camera), and everything. If you are thinking of buying this movie, I would, especially with the other two.

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The Bourne trilogy ends on a high note..

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 13 August 2007 04:24 (A review of The Bourne Ultimatum)

...but you'll probably need motion sickness pills to watch this on the big screen.

Picking up where The Bourne Supremacy left off, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is still trying to come to terms with his past. As his search for the truth continues to put him at odds with the CIA, senior officials (including David Strathairn) spare no effort to try and kill him.

Fast paced and tense, The Bourne Ultimatum never lets up. It's a whirlwind of action that just sweeps you along for the ride. Matt Damon is brilliant in this - he embodies Bourne's calculating, emotionally wounded nature perfectly. You really see his desire for a different life. Joan Allen too is great as the only top CIA official willing to give Bourne a chance. The only wasted character here is Julia Stiles. She reprises her role as Nicki, a tech from the Treadstone Project, but really this role could have been given to anyone else.

The Bourne Ultimatum is an intelligent, high caliber action movie.
So why just 6/10?

Well as with The Bourne Supremacy, Paul Greengrass' insistence on overusing the shaky cam detracts from the action on screen. Instead of putting me in the action, at times I had to look away because of the sick feeling from trying to follow (unsuccessfully) what was happening on screen. The Bourne Ultimatum ought to get an 8 1/2 out of 10 but I'm deducting 2 1/2 points for the stupid shaky cam.

Even with the improvement in camera movement over The Bourne Supremacy, if your stomach can't handle it, I suggest you wait for The Bourne Ultimatum to come out on DVD so you can enjoy it on a smaller screen.

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