a very mixed bag

Rating: 6/10 (8 August 2012)

I had real doubts about the making of a Bourne film without Matt Damon , & worried seriously that the trilogy that I loved so much (miles better than Bond) would be tarnished. Then I saw the cast the trailers & read some early reviews so thought hang on this might not be as bad as I thought. My wife who hasn't seen any of the previous three went with me to a free screening & obviously didn't understand many of the references to Jason Bourne or the links to previous films , but stuck with it anyway. The cast gave it a reasonable go on what was at best an average script that was like a recycled version of the previous films. It was very muddled at the beginning hoping around trying to establish a plot. The action felt rehashed for example the big chase in Manila at the end of the film has been done before & much better as in the Moscow chase in the Bourne supremacy. The same applies for the assassin sent to kill Cross , done better in all the previous films. It is hopefully time to close the Bourne franchise unless Matt can be talked out for one last go. Jeremy Renner & Rachel Weisz gave it their best but this ain't no legacy , & whilst not a bad movie its not in the same league as the previous three.