Movie Info
Movie Name: Jason Bourne
Studio: Perfect World Pictures
Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Release Date(s): July 11, 2016 (Premiere)/July 29, 2016 (US)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Yep…generic white guy beating up big thugs for money. Way to keep a low profile, Jason
Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is in hiding. Treadstone might have fallen, but others still want him dead. When Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) hacks into a government file, she discovers something worse than Treadstone, and Jason finds himself drawn back into the mix. With a ruthless killer (Vincent Cassel) hunting him and the director of the CIA Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) trying to stop him, Jason could find unlikely aid in Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) of the CIA who might have plans of her own.
Directed by Paul Greengrass, Jason Bourne is an action-spy thriller. Following The Bourne Legacy in 2012, the film saw the return of Matt Damon to the starring role. The film was met with mixed reviews.
I really like the Bourne series. They provided a jolt to the spy thriller genre which was dominated by James Bond. As a result, James Bond had to up his game and both series got more intense. The Bourne Legacy was a real step back though I didn’t hate it…it just felt like a lead-up for more. When Jason Bourne was released, the promises of The Bourne Legacy were shelved and we were given another Jason Bourne movie that was just “ok”.
“I’m not a super-soldier killer!”
“I don’t care”
The story feels like rehash of other Bourne movies and does little to add more to the story. It involves the discovery that his father had something to do with Bourne’s recruitment, but the basic storyline is that Bourne comes out of hiding (again) to shut down a new branch of special ops and faces off against a shady leader (Jones) and a killer operative (Cassel). It isn’t original and it almost feels like filler instead of a completed story…but the film’s ho-hum reception leaves you wondering if it will have much resolution.
The cast continues to be good. Matt Damon has come a long way from the first film which had you questioning if he could play hardcore action. Julia Stiles becomes the doomed “girlfriend” in this movie though there isn’t a romantic connection between the character…she just comes the next collateral damage from being around Bourne. Alicia Vikander is the question character who is playing her own game. Tommy Lee Jones plays the Tommy Lee Jones role in the film (and he’s really good at it). Vincent Cassel is a good assassin but he doesn’t add enough to the story since his character starts to be fleshed out when the movie turns straight action.
…and you thought traffic was bad on the Strip on a normal day
The movie continues to be impressive on the special effects front. The riot scene in Greece has some tense moments in addition to the motorcycle chase (but other chases in the series were more impressive). The chase on the Las Vegas strip is impressive considering what had to happen to get it to work…having been to Vegas, it is amazing to consider shutting it down at any time of day.
Jason Bourne is a disappointment simply because of what came before. A smart tie-in to The Bourne Legacy or even a complete, tight original story would have been preferable. If Jason Bourne wasn’t a Bourne movie, it probably would be ok, but as a Bourne movie, it is a letdown…maybe Jason Bourne will live to fight again, but I hope there is more thought put into it.
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