Lingua Franka

Rating: 7/10 (5 August 2016)

As sequels go this is one of the least objectionable albeit it is more or less the same plot as the original by which I mean that Bourne is still struggling to discover who he is, still battling the CIA, and still outwitting them. For reasons to which I am not privy Franka Potente is deep-sixed after about three/four reels and only speculation is open to us - did she foresee a long franchise and decide to quit rather than play a one-trick pony? did she upset an executive and had to go? Chances are we'll never know but I for one miss her. As usual Matt Damon has some fine support by the likes of Brian Cox, Joan Allen, Julia Stiles etc and, of course, we know by now that there is more mileage left in the franchise with both The Bourne Ultimatum and Jason Bourne both completed and released to say nothing of a fifth title sans Matt Damon. Certainly worth two hours of anyone's time.