The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

The Bourne Ultimatum is the third movie of the Bourne franchise. They can best be described as global thrillers, with hero Jason Bourne as a rogue agent trying to figure out who he is, and how he ended up in the middle of all of this. These movies are loosely based on the popular books of author Robert Ludlum.

I've seen all three movies of the series, and I must say they follow a plenty simple formula. Take Jason Bourne and throw him into exciting far off locations. Add in a pretty female sidekick that he trusts to help him. Cue the bad guys that will stop at nothing to get Bourne (they call him "the asset" in these films). Add in some shots of the said city, with the dramatic theme music, and you too can make a Bourne film.

In The Bourne Ultimatum, Jason (Matt Damon) finally gets some answers. He discovers that he was part of a CIA black op team that was reprogrammed to go after terrorists that would hurt America. Hidden in the movie is a cautionary tale that asks how far America will go to protect itself from those that would bring it down.

What makes The Bourne Ultimatum work is twofold. The first is that the special effects are first rate. The car chase scene through the streets of Manhattan is first rate, and among the best I've seen. Likewise for the scene when the Audi goes off the roof of the parking garage, it was great. The second is the commanding on screen presence of Matt Damon. He can fill the screen like only Hollywood's A-list can, and he does a great job with the film.

While I wasn't the biggest fan of The Bourne Identity, and even less of The Bourne Supremacy, I'd venture to say that The Bourne Ultimatum is the strongest of the lot. Those looking for an action thriller film on a global scale will be pleased with it.

Overall Grade: A-

Reviewed by Jonas