Decent film - don't believe the naysayers

Rating: 6/10 (5 August 2014)

You should really just forget the Bourne titles and decide for yourself if you like a film. I read multiple reviews whining that the other film was better. That's unfair because you are comparing Bourne against a non-Bourne character. Of course it's going to be different. Get over it.
Jeremy Renner delivers a decent effort here as Aaron Cross. Apparently he has some souped up power. During the story, there is a connection established between Bourne and Cross, but it's somewhat vague. Are they trying to say that Bourne had souped up powers too? No way, that was never Bourne. Which again tells you, forget about what the great Robert Ludlum wrote. These guys can do what they want with Bourne in film now. Just go with it. They change anything - beginnings/endings/origins. See Iron Man for example.
I thought Rachel Weitz was OK, not terrific, but OK. There's one scene in her home where I thought she delivered terrific acting. The person that under-delivered was Edward Norton as the CIA/govt bad guy. I can never picture him as a bad bad guy, so I really think he was miscast. He can't deliver the bad guy vibe like Ed Harris can, or that other guy who plays the bad guy in the X-men films. Norton does not deliver - he does not exude the cut-your-tongue-out badness that his character theoretically has.
I do think, like many reviewers write, that the story lacks punch, but is over 2 hours long, so something failed here. Not much happens, and then the final chase scene goes on pretty long. It's disappointing that the film has good acting, decent length, but lacks power.
This movie won't blow you away, but does give you hope that there could be a sequel with Bourne. Anything is possible. Enjoy.