Solid, but not as good as the original.

Rating: 7/10 (23 July 2004)

**Minor Spoilers Ahead!**
"The Bourne Supremacy "picks up about two years after the original ended. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) and his girl Marie (Franka Potente) now reside in India, attempting to hide from the world of espionage. Of course that world finds them, yanking Bourne back into action, where he encounters a web of murder and money that forces him to confront semi-suppressed memories of his past missions.
"Identity" worked marvelously in part because it placed the audience firmly in the proverbial shoes of first Bourne, then also Marie, allowing everyone to learn simultaneously. In lieu of the aforementioned method, "Supremacy" relies more on emotional connection. With bookend sequences that generate sympathy, the movie emphasizes Bourne's humanity more than its predecessor, which permits more connection with the characters, although not necessarily more involvement in the story. The smaller role of the aforementioned technique renders "Supremacy" a more traditional action movie, and a vengance flick to be precise. As he unravels the truth and seeks revenge on those who took from him, Bourne is both hunter and hunted, confronting semi-suppressed memories of past missions along the way.

All pertinent characters who were alive at the conclusion of Identity return here, played by the same actors. Damon is again quite good, adding a sense of weariness to Bourne, while continuing to carry him properly for one with such training. Potente is not as alluring as a blonde, but still glows as the beauty and sole friend for whom Bourne fights. The primary new face is Joan Allen as a task force chief who investigates Bourne's involvement in a homicide robbery. With her sharp features and all-business attitude, she steps confidently and capably into a part that often clashes with Brian Cox's fatigued but industrious government official. Julia Stiles returns in a similarly minor role, and Karl Urban (Eomer in "LOTR") rounds out the familiar faces as a cold-hearted and stone-faced Russian assassin. The parts add up to an again effective ensemble cast that is unfortunately under-utilized.
In place of the compelling acting of "Identity" is a relative over-reliance on action. Director Paul Greengrass replaces Doug Liman at the helm, and perhaps since this is his first major motion picture, "Supremacy" is a little too shaky, both figuratively and literally. Greengrass doesn't possess as sure a hand as Liman (who produced the sequel), as evidenced by the movie's lesser emanation of confidence. The first film, headed by the interaction of Damon and Potente, drove forward steadily throughout. With their shared screen time limited, this movie slows occasionally, despite an expanded set of action scenes. The preponderance of such sequences, which should provide meaningful contrast to the valuable intimate moments, instead add to the cliches, producing a more traditional picture that doesn't flounder, but doesn't excel either.
Additionally, the cinematography of the returning Oliver Wood and the editing of Richard Pearson & Christopher Rouse are slightly off-kilter, proving that less is more and that Aristotle's Golden Mean still reigns. The trio again uses what was so enjoyable in Identity, moving and handheld shots and nervous editing that simulate Bourne's mental state. But they overuse the techniques, apparently not knowing that how much is as important as what. The jumpiness is so prevalent that the hand-to-hand combat sequences in particular are occasionally hard to follow, and that in turn disrupts the flow enough to be distracting.
Bottom Line: Despite (or perhaps because of) a more complicated story, the final product is a movie not as crisp or character-driven as the original. Thanks to a very good cast, "The Bourne Supremacy" is still worth a viewing, meriting 7 of 10.