Very good, leaves you wanting more

Rating: 7/10 (13 August 2012)

As we glean from the title, "Bourne Legacy" is about discovering what the highly trained CIA agents can do to sort of live up to Jason Bourne (i.e. Matt Damon).
While I don't think Jeremy Renner quite achieves Damon's level (part of it is we don't really understand Renner's motive to fight back against the CIA other than the fact that they tried to kill him and he needs pills), Renner does strike an imposing figure from the very beginning as you watch him go through his training program. He seems to at least be up to the task and we should get a better understanding of what he can do in subsequent film(s).
Because make no mistake, writer/director Tony Gilroy appears to be planning at least one more film after seeing the ending to 'Legacy'. It ends so abruptly that when the score came up signaling the end, I had to check the time because I had no idea the 125 minute run time was up.
People will complain about the incomplete story (the film felt as if it could continue for another 60 minutes easy) but if you look at it in the context of there being more films, there should be no problem with it.
Where this movie delivers is in its initial storyline and the intelligent writing throughout the script. The premise of genomic enhancement feels very real considering our time. The way the film incorporates that and the new CIA programs like Outcome and Larx, to me, is gripping. One of the biggest appeals to me of this series has been learning about the assassins and in this film you feel as if they are getting better and stronger even if you don't really see whether they truly are. The film does an outstanding job for the first 60 minutes of tying in what was happening as the third film came to a close and in the days immediately following.
Where the film lacks is a clear understanding of what Cross's motives are. We understand him trying to evade the CIA after they try to eliminate him but do his motives end with his cycling off medication and going into hiding? Is there something more that Cross wishes to achieve? All of these agents enter the program they are in because they want to help their country, even Jason Bourne had this motive, so perhaps something will occur to awaken that desire once again.
Renner is good, Rachel Weisz is outstanding (very refreshing to have a good actress alongside the leading assassin) and Edward Norton does a solid job as Col. Eric Beyer leading the clean-up team at the CIA.
You see potential for more from Cross and it's intriguing to me to see what developments Gilroy will have in store for us. I hope we haven't seen the last of Jason Bourne (and Damon) in action, though. It'd be nice to see a Cross/Bourne partnership to accomplish some task whether it's aiding the CIA or helping to expose the poor leadership once and for all, etc.