Bourne Ultimatum!

Just got back from seeing it and wow! Great film, no fat on the lean muscle of this flick. Non-stop bang from start to finish, and I really can't find fault with it.... other than the trilogy is (likely) over.
 
We have booked to go at lunchtime on Sunday; odd time to go to see a film but it fits in with babysitting and my husband's work!

Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon were on 5 live on Wednesday afternoon, being interviewed by Simon Mayo. It was hilarious as Simon Mayo is a Spurs fan and Greengrass a "Spurs-hating Palace fan" (so said SM) and it was the day after Spurs got beat by Everton to go bottom of the Prem.

Greengrass said he'd make a 4th film when Tottenham finish in the top 4 of the Premiership, and Matt Damon said he'd do another if Greengrass was on board.

I think we could be waiting sometime. :D

kateab
 
Just watched it and its the best film I have seen in a few years.

having not read the books and I might just now but the film clears everything up about where he's from and that.........

I have read there is only 3 books but could there be a fourth film as he swims down the river alive

gaz
 
I felt this too - all the critics saying how brilliant it was (especially on the Mark Kermode show last week), yet I thought it was nothing special...just 'good'.
 
Yeh, watched the advanced preview yesterday, although was a little late so had to sit near the front. I think this is the best one so far..Bourne is really in control of the situation and as a result the film is different from the first two. Stunts and fight scenes are still good, perhaps slightly more realistic (Theres no jumping from 10 stories on a guy and surviving this time) although the camera was extremely jerky in places. I think they were going for the gritty, realistic feeling again and moving away from the crisp hollywood feeling. Good movie, will see it again sometime.
 
The two films interlacing was very nicely done. As was the quote from film 1 spoken by jason at the end.

I liked it... but it lacked something. It didn't feel as personal. Bourne just seemed too cold in this. There wasn't the attachment for me. And the "assets" were too cold too.

And what on earth was with the camera shaking. If you go see this, don't sit at the front.

And sorry... but the remix was trash.
 
Really loved the film and the best film for me so far this year along with Hairspray.


But does anybody know what the past connection was with Jason and Nicky. She seemed to hint they had a past but then nothing more was said.
 
Am I the only disappointed that Messrs Damon and Greengrass and even Stiles have felt the need to sell their film by rubbishing other action series (and talking a load of utter b****cks when they have been)?.

Take Greengrass this week:

"The Bourne franchise is not about wearing Prada suits and looking at women coming out of the sea with bikinis on. It's about essence and truth, not frippery and surface."

:rolleyes: :confused:

Dear Mr Greengrass,

Please extract your head from your arse. Jason Bourne isnt real either...

(oh, and spare us any more rants about 'imperialism' in Bond films as you did last week in one newspaper interview.Makes you sound like a bad 6th form psuedo-intellectual)
 
Robert Ludlum has collaborated on a 4th Bourne book (not read it yet) so there may be scope for a 4th film.

I really want to see Ultimatum - and yes, I have read all the books and enjoyed them immensly.
 
So what if they're making fun of some silly American films about a British secret agent... Fans of the Bond franchise should feel lucky that the makers of this (over the last 10 years) superior set of films even deign to mention those films.

Still driving a BMW with a remote control is probably more useful than knowing a dozen languages. Probably...
 
Saw it Saturday. Here's my review...

After two previous Bourne outings, Paul Greengrass hardly needed to consult Espionage Thrillers for Dummies before embarking on the latest and possibly final chapter in the hugely successful series. But, it seems that he read it anyway, because whilst Ultimatum is slicker than most films of its type, it plays almost like a checklist of 'must-have' scenes and essentially adRAB nothing new to the genre.

That said, it's ultimately a good film, with Matt Damon completely comfortable in his role as wronged CIA agent Jason Bourne. As with the previous two films, there's a complex plot (though here it's significantly less convoluted than Supremacy) that can really be explained in very simple terms: Bourne runs, the CIA want him dead. Joan Allen is back as Pamela Landy, though this time around she's beginning to question her own loyalties and isn't often on the same page as CIA Deputy Director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn, a strong addition to the cast).

The pace doesn't often let up, and it's not until the credits roll that you realise just how few lines Damon really has to deliver, with Greengrass preferring to focus on his hero's action scenes. As with most fictitious spies and government agents, Bourne is seemingly indestructible, with the pain threshold of Jack Bauer and healing abilities on par with Wolverine, but that's all part of the fun. (In one London-based scene, he even manages to get prompt service at Carphone Warehouse, such is his power.) The movie has everything we've come to expect from Bourne: gunfights, car chases, suspense, and the need for answers.

It's not perfect though. The shaky camerawork - a staple of modern films and a seemingly obligatory requirement in this genre - is in overdrive from the opening scene, and you get the sense that the camera operators have had one espresso too many before each day's shoot. The technique is the film's biggest failing, because rather than adding to the atmosphere it distracts the viewer from what's going on plot-wise; as a result it's often virtually impossible to see exactly what's happening during the action sequences. Worse still are slow-moving scenes of conversation, where the effect is conducive only to headaches and nausea as you try to focus on the head that's bobbing about all over the screen.

As well as the totally over-the-top camerawork, there are one or two plot missteps, mostly involving the CIA - who for the first half of the film have eyes and ears everywhere and seem totally focused and efficient - falling for obvious bait as the story progresses, not to mention their rather lax security around supposed highly guarded buildings.

Storyline flaws are minor though, and it's an enjoyable ride with a satisfying (if sequel-friendly) ending. Just make sure you take some sea-sickness tablets before you watch.
 
You are missing my point.

Which is that BOTH are action film series based on FICTIONAL characters. Greengrass is talking in pompous terms as if he though he still was in United 93 territory.

I like both 'franchises' as do most people and feel sad that the Bourne camp seem to feel the need to slag off other action series and even worse are talking rubbish about it.Damon admitted this week that he actually hasnt seen Casino Royale.Compare this to Daniel Craig who this month praised the Bourne films.

These schoolyard 'pick a franchise', ' we're better than you, nah nah' antics are childish and reflects badly on a an enjoyable film series than certainly does NOT need to slate the opposition.

(And,imo, CR was every bit as good as the first two Bourne films.And as others have pointed out, the supposedly 'more real' Bourne films have had their share of silly over the top stunts too)

Oh and no Bond?.

No Bourne.
 
The Waterloo scenes where shot in October. As i was there watching lol and met Matt. As somebody else said they didnt shut the station. It was just Matt walking around and they shot that.
 
your right - i like both franchises and that they don't need to talk other films down. Although the Bourne films may be more realistic than the Bond films but then again I have no clue about this area so i would really have no idea.
As you say Bourne has had some silly stunts. The car chases are an example - they don't really need to be there and how the cars that are in that much damage can even go is incredible and that Bourne survives some incredible things is just miraculous.
 
First of all this is on;y Greengrass's second attempt at directing Bourne as Doug Liman did the first and i thought he did it better as you can actually see what is going on and there is no shaky camerawork when people are just having conversation.
The one thing i don't like about the films is the way they make Bourne seem indestructible and the way he reacts to pain. It is done so effortlessly in the book but apparently to tricky to do it in the films.
I liked the ending with him remembering David Webb and becoming Bourne but to me the books did it better again. Perhaps that is because the books have the extra storyline and becoming Bourne was easier. The films never said why David volunteered, in the books his wife and children were killed in the far east, he became a ruthless soldier in a secret operation, he executed the real Jason Bourne and then chose to take his alias up when he was asked to go undercover.
 
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