Jason Bourne is back and so is Mr. Matt Damon in the title role. This time he’s well aware of who he is and he is determined to expose the government’s secrets, As the intelligence agencies from Interpol to the CIA are in pursuit, Director Greengrass delivers a movie that is both intelligent and intense. Which sadly is what seems to be lacking in recent movies. Adding depth to the story and instead of investing his money on CGI, there are ACTUAL stunt scenes! Can I say, it’s so refreshing to see plain old school action and its pretty damn flawless. In an age where action films rely so heavily on CGI, it is enlightening to see real stunts and real car chases instead of the usual 3D CGI malarkey that we’ve just been saturated with this year so far. As I watched the ‘REAL THING’ actually happen though, I did have a giggle as “wow, this budget must have been pretty damn big” and worth every penny.
I will not go into details about this year’s film since I don’t want to spoil your fun. But basically the question of this film is from CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) “Why would he come back now?”
“He” is of course Jason Bourne, super spy, and Damon comes back to the franchise for at least the chance to do all one more time, As for Bourne, he’s always catching up with himself, be it his faulty memory or finding his father. Jason Bourne is certainly home to many of the thriller genre’s paradoxes, including illogical good luck in gun fights and car chases and the usual surprises, including a quick reprise of Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles), and about characters you thought you knew.
The final fight between good and evil, while it might be a bit de rigueur, is good. And you know me when it’s a good villain, I tend to half-way be rooting for them..Here it’s Asset because yes, Vincent Cassel plays him so menacingly well. A bit of Alicia Vikander’s character Heather Lee was just too easily sewed up at the beginning of the film for me, but she gravited well into the role and is pivotal to the ending, which I loved. All in all, it’s an entertaining enough film to satisfy the action fan in us all.
Grade: B-
@pegsatthemovies
Review Screening: Monday, July 25, 2016 ~ Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Release Date: Nationwide – Friday, July 29, 2016
This seems to be of lesser quality compared to the first three Bourne films, my hype has actually died down for it. Will still watch, however. Great review!
Great post 🙂 Did you know that Vincent Cassel also played that bad gangster in Eastern Promises? Speaking of adaptations of Robert Ludlum novels, did you know that (at least based on my knowledge) that one of the earliest film adaptations of his work was 1983’s The Osterman Weekend directed by Sam Peckinpah (his final film) and starring Rutger Hauer in the lead? Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
Yes and yes.. I’ve been a Vincent Cassel fan for years.
The plot developments aren’t memorable this time around. We’re just going through the motions. However I didn’t hate this movie. It’s too competent to be egregious. The effort fuses high production values with well choreographed action. I’ll give it that.
The non-CGI stunts were really good for me.. It was like a breath of old-school fresh air!! ahahhaha