Locations/Showings
Featuring Mainstream &
Art House Choices

Forum
Scary Movie 3 was neither scary nor a movie. Discuss this & more.

Reviews
Glorifications & Executions of the latest Movies, DVDs, and television shows.

Flashback Flicks
Krull and other "Lost" Classics get their day in the sun.

Crapmasterpieces
So darn crappy they're hilariously brilliant.

TV Highlights
Boob Tube Playtime!

Calendar
A movie/tv related calendar. Covers openings, DVD release dates, conventions etc.

The Bourne Supremacy
Matt Damon is Bourne Again. Ba-dump-dump.

Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Brian Cox
Director: Paul Greengrass
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy; based on the novel by Robert Ludlum

Reviewed by Dawn Capp

The Bourne Supremacy has all the right stuff for a Hollywood spy movie. It's got stupid CIA agents who are more naive than pre-schoolers, a resourceful ex-spy with a mysterious past who is on the run from the government, and, of course, conspiracies galore.

As far as cliché spy movies go, The Bourne Supremacy isn't bad. It's not necessarily good, either, but it does have its good points. The soundtrack is cutting edge, Matt Damon memorized his lines, and, surprisingly, there's even a high-speed car chase.

There are, however, a few glimpses of intelligent writing to redeem the movie. Jason Bourne, as the main character, has a very real dark side, which won't be news to those who have seen the first film. Also, the action in the movie is well-choreographed, with a few surprises for even seasoned movie-goers.

Although it's not necessary to have seen the first movie, The Bourne Identity, to follow along with this sequel, a familiarity with the predecessor will help the viewer understand a few subtleties that would otherwise likely escape notice. The Bourne Supremacy borrows many of the characters from the original movie and keeps much of the same style, but yields a darker, edgier viewing experience.

Even natural-born critics will find things to enjoy in this movie and will no doubt squeal in glee at the chance to rip apart much of the writing, especially during the first few minutes when the audience discovers that, besides being an amnesiac super spy who can slip in and out of highly guarded government facilities, Jason Bourne can also seemingly breathe underwater. While departure from reality are par for action movies, and even forgivable in most Bond movies, Bourne has neither the strength of character nor flare of the aforementioned spy legend to pull such antics off. At times, the movie wants to mimic Clancy-esqe reality covert ops storylines, but then it unexplainably switches gears to leave the viewer baffled by implausibility and ineptness.

The few noteworthy aspects of The Bourne Supremacy include performances by the supporting casts. Julia Stiles gives a respectable performance as terrified CIA agent, and Karl Urban, who viewers might recognize from the nauseatingly horrible The Chronicles of Riddick, has just the right touch of chilling coldness to make a convincing Russian Secret Service agent.

Compared to other offerings at the box office this summer, The Bourne Supremacy is worth the price of a matinee ticket, but otherwise save your money and rent it when it comes out on DVD.

Rating:

(2 1/2 out of 4 stars)

Want to discuss this, and other topics, with fellow fans?
Post your thoughts in the SJ Fanboy Forum now!