Bourne, the human super-human

Rating: Null/10 (18 August 2004)

I walked out of the Bourne Identity about 2 years ago waiting to see the next one, because I knew that the obvious sequel would have to be made.
So, two years (or there abouts) later, and all my dreams have come true. The Bourne Supremacy is out, and the man with reflexes like a cat on a cocktail of various uppers is back on the screen. So what can I say about the Bourne Supremacy? Well, I'll tell you why I love Identity.
Identity was such a breath of fresh air. A spy film where the hero has flaws. He is super-human, he will win at the end, but you knew, this was going to be painful. The player is fractured and flawed. He suffers, and he doesn't even know why. Haunted by flashes of his past, he tries to piece together what has happened to him.
So how has this film managed to stack up? Well, we are again with the human super-human. I have to point to one of my favourite little details of the film to illustrate this. Bourne jumps from a bridge and hurts his leg, this is about half way through the movie, and this sore knee has to be endured for the remainder. Also, you know this is special in the opening few minutes. Bourne wakes up after a nightmare and complains to his girlfriend of a headache, she is concerned about his temperature. Could anyone imagine Bond, James Bond having to endure a headache? Or Vin xXx Diesel having to nurse a sore knee? I doubt it. So through out the film we are reminded that this super hero is still human, and he can and may still fail, leading to a heightened sense of danger and a far better thrill then the other afore mentioned heroes.
I also have to salute the car chases. For my money, they were on a par, well, perhaps one under, films such as Ronin. Bournes supremacy with roadmaps still brings a smile to my face, and hurtling through ancient cities at 80 MPH is fantastic.
The direction is at times Hitchcockian, letting you imagine the death of all characters, and in fact, no deaths are shown. Indeed, I felt far more emotional involvement with Bourne as he reluctantly has to dispatch a "Baddie" then I have with other screen heroes. Daemon is mesmerising here, his face contorted with effort and venom is still able to show regret and sorrow for what had to happen.
As a fan of twenty four, I love this work. It had all the classic 24 elements, Shaky hand held, massive and bureaucratic government agencies, various twists and turns. I did find the story slightly linear, but this is no problem, there are slight detours that are of interest. I did not, as some have said, find this an unintelligent movie. It is not a movie which feels it has to pamper the most unintelligent wit.
All that said, the film does have some flaws. Hand held does go over board at times, esp. during the fight sequences (in one of the fight sequences, Bourne grabs a magazine and rolls it up, this took me a few seconds to figure out). Also, it is not a movie for the action junkie. There are some fantastic moments of cheek on the part of Bourne, but it is more of a super sleuth movie the xXx or Bond. More of an investigation then a lit match in a petrol can affair.
Still, a fantastic movie, worthy of the book and the previous film.
My rating, 9/10