The Bourne Ultimatum...

[flere-imsaho]

...just picked up very good reviews in the New York Times and The Onion's AV Club (the two usual places I go for reviews that usually jibe with my sensibilities).

Some bits:

NYT:

Their sights set far beyond the usual genre coordinates, the three Bourne movies drill into your psyche as well as into your body. They’re unusually smart works of industrial entertainment, with action choreography that’s as well considered as the direction. Doug Liman held the reins on the first movie, with Paul Greengrass taking over for the second and third installments. And while the two men take different approaches to similar material (the more formally bold Mr. Greengrass shatters movie space like glass), each embraces an ethos that’s at odds with the no pain, no gain, no brain mind-set that characterizes too many such flicks. Namely remorse: in these movies, you don’t just feel Bourne’s hurt, you feel the hurt of everyone he kills.

AV Club (The Onion):

For a major Hollywood star, Matt Damon doesn't seem to care much about ingratiating himself to the audience. After getting his "love me, love me, love me" performance out of the way with Good Will Hunting, Damon has become a master of tragic self-effacement, gravitating toward characters whose true selves are masked by an impenetrably stoic veneer. For all his talent for imitation, Damon's Mr. Ripley was a blank slate, waiting for someone else's more vibrant personality to sketch on the empty canvas. Damon's minimalist style is key to why the Bourne movies have become an oasis from other blockbuster action fare; freed from the bells and whistles of computer-generated effects, they've zagged while the rest have zigged, and they've succeeded in bringing the genre back down to earth.

Now, I don't typically "look forward" to movies all that much. The last I did were the LOTR movies, but that was born more out of having been a long-time fan of the books, etc....

But I've found myself looking forward to this movie quite a bit since I caught the first two re-run on consecutive nights on cable a few months ago. I'm not sure what grabs me so much about this series, but part of me thinks it's the same reasons that I liked Casino Royale so much last year.

Anyway, since it so piqued my interest this morning, I thought I'd post and open up some space for folks to share their thoughts.

[Big Fo]

I liked the first two movies, is this coming out today?

[flere-imsaho]

Yep.

[st.cronin]

I liked the first two movies, as well. They give the impression of working really hard, and the actors, writers, etc. don't seem like they're in love with themselves.

[scooter]

I enjoyed the first two movies as well. I think it is because it's a gritty kind of action movie - less polished (but well put together). I think you kind of get into Bourne's head a little too. You can understand that he doesn't remember who he is and he just wants to be left alone. I think most people can relate to that. Is it that he is a human character with "superhuman" abilities?

[Barkeep49]

I had incredibly high expectations, this was the summer movie I was looking forward to the most, and this movie met them. I give it a solid 3.5 stars.

[damnMikeBrown]

I really enjoyed the movies, mostly enjoyed the books. The movies have very, very little to do with the books. Both good works, the main character is named the same, and that is where the stories part ways.

[NoMyths]

Paul Greengrass is an incredibly talented director -- Bloody Sunday and United 93 are both very fine films.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by damnMikeBrown

I really enjoyed the movies, mostly enjoyed the books. The movies have very, very little to do with the books. Both good works, the main character is named the same, and that is where the stories part ways.

Which is why I just cannot get into these movies. I *loved* the books, especially the first two. The complete departure took me by surprise, and killed the movies for me, unfortunately. May give them another try, but the books were so well suited for a movie adaptation, it makes me wonder why they did what they did.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Which is why I just cannot get into these movies. I *loved* the books, especially the first two. The complete departure took me by surprise, and killed the movies for me, unfortunately. May give them another try, but the books were so well suited for a movie adaptation, it makes me wonder why they did what they did.

Judging from the results I'd guess they know exactly what they are doing.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Judging from the results I'd guess they know exactly what they are doing.

Can't argue that.

[Emiliano]

Can't wait for this one, as I absolutely loved the first two.

Obviously, we'll have to wait until November...

[DaddyTorgo]

my friend text-msged me the other day to see if I wanted to go, and now he's not responding, and I absolutely have to see this movie ASAP

[rkmsuf]

Hermione dies.

[nole4sho]

Very good movie.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by damnMikeBrown

I really enjoyed the movies, mostly enjoyed the books. The movies have very, very little to do with the books. Both good works, the main character is named the same, and that is where the stories part ways.

I really wish I had read a post like this about 3 weeks ago. I was in the airport looking for something to read on the flight back from Vegas and saw Book 3 sitting there. Having loved the first 2 movies I picked it up. For about 200 pages, I was ridiculously confused and kept asking myself if I fell asleep at points during the movie, because I had no clue about the story that was being told. Somewhere around Illinois I stopped thinking so hard and just tried enjoying the story...which I did, but it was a lot of work.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Hermione dies.

Why you son of a

[DaddyTorgo]

going to see it early tomorrow. psyched!

[primelord]

I am not much into writing big long reviews of movies. So I will just we saw it tonight and it was good.

[FBPro]

Saw it today and was pleased, very well done again.

[John Galt]

I'm not the biggest action movie fan, but I loved the movie. It was well done and some of the scenes are just shot incredibly well.

[Greyroofoo]

I definitely plan on renting this on HD-DVD

[Chief Rum]

Just saw it. Another good one. Overall, this is a very solid action movie series.

[B & B]

Perhaps the best of the three.

Very limited down time in this one and every though the story is in place, does a good job of going back over the details.

Keeps you on edge and the cinematography was excellent.

[DaddyTorgo]

very good flick

[cthomer5000]

Chase Scene: The Movie

Wasn't my thing... i felt entirely neutral towards it.

[Barkeep49]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Chase Scene: The Movie

Wasn't my thing... i felt entirely neutral towards it.

Spoiler

I agree CT. I thought the scene around NY was poor, especially in comparison to the set pieces in London and Tangiers. Before going to see the third one my brother and I rewatched the first two and I commented how the Russian cab he drove was no police car in terms of durability and performance. I found it funny that he drove a police car in the third one.

[vex]

4 out of 5 stars.