My review of the Bourne films

 

My review of the Bourne films 

Intro: Is anyone else tired of characters who have amnesia?

The Bourne Identity: This movie is centered on a man name Jason Bourne who has no idea of who he is or where he came from. His search for answers becomes dangerous when assassins are after him. So, he has to avoid them long enough to figure things out. 

This movie will give 007 and Mission Impossible a run for their money! What makes this film different than those two franchises is that this is a character study of someone rediscovering himself. Despite feeling like you've seen this before, the story is told in a way where you feel like you're in the main character's shoes. Also, him trying to put two and two together is not that simple. Plus, we don't know what kind of person Jason was before his amnesia, which makes him more mysterious. With that said, this movie did a good job of making us ask, should we feel sorry for him? Not only that we have the mystery of why an organization is after him? By going in this direction, the movie manages to cut the fat from the book it's based on. The action scenes in this movie feel more realistic. 

Jason Bourne may be a stoic character, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a wolf in sheep's clothing by default. When he realizes that he can do things that most people can't, he's confused and scared. What bugs me about him is how is getting shot in the back gives you amnesia?  

There isn't much to say about Marie beyond her being a supporting character for Bourne. The only thing we know about her is that she's terrible with money, which is a far cry from her novel counterpart. 

The problems I have with this movie are plot holes, editing, and the climax feels tacked on. Also, why is Julia Stiles in this movie if her role feels like a cameo? Overall, this is a good addition to the spy genre. I would recommend this if 007 or Mission Impossible is too far-fetched for you. 

Rating = Worth Seeing    

Intro: He warned you. 

The Bourne Supremacy: This movie takes place two years after the first movie. Jason and Marie are living peacefully. That's interpreted when someone tries to kill them. Jason thinks Treadstone (the organization that Jason was a part of.) is behind it, so Jason has to stop them once and for all. 

For a movie that has supremacy in the title, it's not superior to the first film. I'm not just saying that because this movie is not as action-packed as the first film. It's because the story is kind of contrived. Plus, the movie is not subtle about the reveal in this movie. If the authorities were after him because he has knowledge that they want, but he doesn't remember that would have been something. The movie could have done a better job at adapting some elements from the novel, considering what this movie tried to do. The last thirty minutes could have been cut out of the movie. The CIA looks stupid in this movie by jumping to conclusions. Shaky Cam is annoying because you don't get a clear shot of an action scene. This movie could have been about even if you can't remember your past, that doesn't mean you can run or hide from it, but the writers drop the ball on that. 

Jason Bourne is out for blood in this movie. We get an idea of what kind of assassin he was like when he was with Treadstone. My issue with him is that the creators tried to give him an arc of coming to terms with the fact that he was an assassin and the collateral damage that comes with it. Once again, the writers didn't do it right. 

Marie continues to be a supporting character by helping Jason with his memories and encouraging him not to seek revenge. 

Pamela Landy is the CIA officer who's after Jason. She's not ruthless about it despite being pressured to do that.  

I like that the movie continues the story from the last film, and the story is a bit complex. Watching Jason outsmart the CIA is funny. Set up a plot point for the next film. In closing, this may be a weak sequel, but it's a worthy entry into this franchise.     

 Rating = Average 

Intro: The people who worked on this movie must really love the song Extreme Ways considering that it's played at the end credits of all three movies.  

The Bourne Ultimatum: This movie takes place a year after the last film, and Jason is trying to figure out how he ended up in Treadstone from the beginning. He got a lead when he learned that Treadstone is being reviled as Blackbriar. The CIA is trying to keep Blackbriar a secret, so they put a target on Jason's back. Now Jason has to avoid them long enough to get the answers he seeks.

This is the best one out of the three! The movie improves on almost everything the last two films did. There is one fight scene that stands out in the movie; you'll know what I'm talking about when you see it. The way Jason keeps outsmarting the CIA, I feel like I'm watching a spoof of the CIA. With that said, it doesn't make them less scary as far as how far they are willing to go to protect the country or themselves. This movie redeemed Pamela Landy from the last film. She serves as the conscience of the CIA. The movie hints that Jason and Nicky could have history. You can argue that this is an anti-war film and a social commentary on our government. 

One of my gripes with this movie is that the reveal is underwhelming because there is a 50/50 chance that it would be one or the other. Blackbriar was mentioned in the first movie, so why wait until now to bring it back up? There are times where you have to suspend your disbelief with the action scenes. Jason making the CIA look bad is not a good look for them. I hope they are not this incompetent in real life. A minor complaint I have with the movie is the title. I mean, it doesn't make sense. This is the same issues I have with the last films. This could have been fixed if the movie had a different ending. 

Overall, this is the best movie I've seen in 2007, which isn't saying much. I would recommend this if you like action movies. 

Rating = Worth Seeing 

Intro: This is another example of Hollywood not knowing when to leave something alone. 

The Bourne Legacy: This movie takes place at the same time as the third movie, and an organization called Outcome is trying to cover its tracks by wiping out everything and everyone involved with it. One of the agents, name Aaron Cross, manages to escape, but Outcome has something he wants, so he goes after them. 

This is a pointless spin-off! This movie is similar to the first film and not in the best way. The movie focuses on Aaron Cross's dilemma, but he's overshadowed by Jason Bourne. This movie
brings him up every chance it gets. What Aaron is trying to achieve is not interesting enough to carry this movie. He's after Outcome because they have pills that can enhance your physical and mental abilities. To the people who wrote this movie, what made you think we would be invested in a character who is a junkie, I mean, who is insecure without these pills? This movie also suffers from plot holes, lackluster action, and the first hour being boring for the most part. The main leads could have been interesting if the writers had focused on certain aspects of them. 

In closing, this movie is harmless despite the fact that it's a waste of time and money.          

Rating = Rental