Today’s quick review: The Bourne Ultimatum. Six weeks after ex-assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) was forced out of hiding, he continues his search for answers about the CIA program that trained him. His search takes him to London, where a journalist (Paddy Considine) has been digging into Operation Blackbriar. But their meeting catches the attention of Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), who sets out to protect the CIA’s secrets by any means necessary.
The Bourne Ultimatum is an action thriller and the third film in the Bourne series. The Bourne Ultimatum digs even further into the past of amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne, this time going all the way back to his original training. The film continues the series’ tradition of winding plotlines, hidden secrets, and tense fights and chases. The Bourne Ultimatum is another strong entry into the action thriller genre and a worthy conclusion to the trilogy.
The Bourne Ultimatum has its work cut out for it tying up the plot threads from the previous two films. The film digs deeper into the internal politics of the CIA, including the true extent of the program that produced Bourne and the conflict over how to best deal with him. The Bourne Ultimatum does a skillful job of raising the stakes for the series, referencing the events of prior films, and pushing the story towards a satisfying conclusion.
Aside from these slight changes in focus, The Bourne Ultimatum relies on the same tried-and-true techniques that made the previous two films successful. Jason Bourne is an unusually resourceful protagonist. The action sequences are as much about quick thinking as they are brute force, making their outcomes unpredictable and keeping the audience glued to the screen. The plot is similarly engaging, with sharp twists and interesting revelations.
The Bourne Ultimatum is well worth a watch for anyone who enjoyed the previous two films in the series. The Bourne Ultimatum fits comfortably with its predecessors as among the best the action thriller genre has to offer. Not only does it make for a satisfying watch on its own merits, but it achieves the difficult feat of wrapping up Bourne’s story in a way that’s worth the build-up. Fans of the serious side of the action genre won’t want to miss it.
8.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for strong action, an impressive plot, and a worthy send-off for its lead character.