Opening Day: 16 August 2007

Synopsis:

Matt Damon returns as the trained assassin Jason Bourne for the latest showdown in "The Bourne Ultimatum." In the follow-up to 2002's "The Bourne Identity' and 2004's "The Bourne Supremacy"--the smash hits that have earned over $500 million at the global box office--acclaimed director Paul Greengrass ("United 93," "The Bourne Supremacy") joins returning cast members Julia Stiles and Joan Allen and new additions David Strathairn, Paddy Considine and Edgar Ramirez.

All he wanted was to disappear. Instead, Jason Bourne is now hunted by the people who made him what he is. Having lost his memory and the one person he loved, he is undeterred by the barrage of bullets and a new generation of highly-trained killers. Bourne has only one objective: to go back to the beginning and find out who he was.

Now, in the new chapter of this espionage series, Bourne will hunt down his past in order to find a future. He must travel from Moscow, Paris, Madrid and London to Tangier and New York City as he continues his quest to find the real Jason Bourne--all the while trying to outmaneuver the scores of cops, federal officers and Interpol agents with him in their crosshairs.

Movie Review:

Bourne is an enigma. When Jason Bourne was first introduced in 2002, no one knew who he was. In fact, neither did he. Since The Bourne Identity, audiences worldwide have been captivated by the man himself and have followed his trials and tribulations with The Bourne Supremacy. And now, in 2007, the truth will be revealed in the culmination of the trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum. Unless of course, you have already read the Bourne trilogy of books by Robert Ludlum upon which all three movies are based upon.

The Bourne Ultimatum starts off where the last film left off. The CIA knows all too well that Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is still alive and a growing worry continues to strike the likes of Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) and now, Noah Vasen (David Strathairn). In this outing, Bourne gives it his all and gets even closer to the CIA, without them realizing he is playing them at their own game.

This film is the grittiest and also the rawest Bourne yet. Yes, he is still trying to discover his true identity but Bourne is no more the confused Bourne in The Bourne Identity. He has, for the lack of a better word, matured into a colder, brutal assassin ready to snap at the flick of a finger. His eyes however betray him for they reflect that of a man bruised and battered and a fire mellowing. Bourne is not a man to be messed with and he makes the other spy of the similar sounding name look more at home on the Disney channel.

Watching Matt Damon evolve and revel in his role of Jason Bourne is quite a sight. Who would have thought that he could make Jason Bourne as written in the books, the Jason Bourne, all tough and hard. Afterall, Matt Damon was often seen as a pretty boy when he was still hanging around with the likes of Ben Affleck. However, his choices of late have been the right ones, becoming more of a chameleon by the day. The Bourne Trilogy proves that he can be a bankable action movie star too if he chooses to do so.

Although the film takes us to exotic places like the dusty streets of Tangier, Morocco or the hustle bustle of New York City, it is ultimately the web of deception that will intrigue the audience. Director Paul Greengrass has successfully created a film that embodies the real espionage genre. Greengrass included everything from a car chase to slick rifles but he never forgot the one important thing in any film, soul.

The Bourne Ultimatum is supported by a respectable cast with the likes of Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn and Albert Finney. Julia Stiles reprises her role as Nicki Parsons, former CIA staff now renegade Bourne accomplice. Rounding off the cast are the likes of Paddy Considine, who unfortunately has a premature end and Edgar Ramirez, who joins the likes of Clive Owen and Martin Csokas before him as a sharpshooter sniper.

The Bourne Ultimatum is without doubt the best of the series. Bourne does find out many answers at the end of the film including his real name but Bourne will always remain as Jason Bourne to you and I. The film’s ending is one of the cheekiest in recent times, one that’s apt yet one that provides much hope. Afterall, Robert Ludlum has just released a new book on Bourne.

Movie Rating:

(Bourne is back and Bourne is King of the spy and espionage genre)

Review by Mohamad Shaifulbahri