Jason Bourne, gone but not forgotten. Renner is incredible.

Rating: 8/10 (9 June 2013)

When I heard the new Bourne was going to be without the incredible Matt Damon, I worried that this was another franchise that just replaced it's actors. However, this isn't the case. Bourne is still alive and well, and the 'Bourne Legacy' is reference to him not being the only Treadstone operative. The events of the previous Bourne Film (Ultimatum) are referenced as is Jason Bourne and Jeremy Renner does a stonking job of continuing the action, physicality but humanity of the previous films... with that dangerous edge that we know and love. Renner is brilliant. I hadn't seen him in much before this but his ability to project power in a scene and believably do all the things that he is shown doing, with a grace and speed that surprises. He works well opposite Rachel Weisz, and I loved the evolution of their relationship in a natural and compelling way. Terminator fans will like the almost Michael Biehn/Kyle Reese "come with me if you want to live" bit and Weisz is far more proactive in this similar situation to Chain Reaction, but realistically just as reliant on the resourceful and caring male. Unlike Bond films (Jason Bourne is the American Bond... and prior to Daniel Craig, better) where the female is just an addendum and something to fight/seduce, Renner and Weisz have a symbiotic relationship where her scientific and caring nature combined with the fear of being alone and lost, make for one of the most powerful and tender "love" scenes in an action film...
The action in Legacy is awesome. The fights, the survival, the scenes with the wolf (so realistic - I hope no wolves were harmed in the making of the film!), the parkour (OMG when he walks up the side of the house!), the shooting and the incredible motorbike stunts were breathtaking edge of the seat stuff. Renner is a force to be reckoned with in action films, and if he does a lot of his own work I'd say Tom Cruise has someone nipping at his heels.
A great piece of action cinema. Big, loud, bold and exciting. Great entertainment, good dialogue and writing and interesting characters. There were parts where things were spelled out a little too much, and I'd have liked to see Edward Norton utilised a little more - although what he did was of course great, but then he is acting genius - and perhaps the bike scene went on a bit long... and it ended too abruptly leaving me wanting more!