Another decent film that needs to have a shorter run time

Rating: 6/10 (14 August 2012)

As is often the case these days there's a decent ninety minute film hidden in here somewhere. Unfortunately it's often buried under a pile of unnecessary filler and exposition gone mad. The parts of the film that could be jettisoned to make it better, tighter and more pacey are mostly in the first hour of the film and you have to wait to the later part of the film for the exciting parts. Edward Norton is completely wasted in the long rambling prologue and I really struggle to understand why the premise of the film was so difficult to set up. The programme's gone wrong and the best way to clean house is to kill everyone involved; the Bourne-alikes all have to take drugs to enhance and maintain their power but a boffin, played by Rachel Weisz, will find a solution for our new hero. Why does it take the best part of an hour to set that up and why does Weisz have to play silly screaming scientist woman before Jeremy Renner turns her into a warrior overnight?
Anyway, the parkour sequence is good, though not as good as in previous excursions. The motorcycle chase through Manilla is excellent. Jeremy Renner is a much more convincing action man than ever Matt Damon was and has the capability to really lift this franchise out of the ordinary with the right script and director. In fact Renner would make an excellent Bond if ever Daniel Craig decides to hang up his guns.