More Car Smashes & Body Brawls at the Price of Story and Character

Rating: 5/10 (4 September 2007)

The original Star Wars movie of 1977 was a huge breakthrough in visual effects. Simultaneously George Lucas, director and producer, clarified that the visual effects in Star Wars were there to help tell and enhance the story, not the other way around. In other words, the visual effects were there to support the story and were not an end in of itself. And that movies about visual effects with little or no story were badly conceived projects. Unfortunately, a lot of the action movies in recent years appear to be about pure action, as if the story is secondary and only there to support long action sequences.
In the third installment of the Bourne trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum, the story, characters, motivations, even plot, take don't just take a back seat to endless action sequences. They appear to have been placed in the trunk with only a few moments where the lid was opened a crack to allow the audience to take a peak. If someone were to ask me what this movie is about, I would have to say it's about lots of chases, fist fights, and occasional explosions and gunfire. And about CIA executives that want to kill Bourne and so hire the hit men. Does that really make the story?
More than a few moments were quite unbelievable. When the CIA decide that Bourne is truly a threat and smarter than the rest of them, they hire one guy to take him out. God, these CIA executives just can't quite get him! And when Bourne enters another European city, it seems like he had lived there many years as he navigates the streets like a native. At one point, the assassin has Bourne in his sites! But does he take him out? There was only one moment in the film that had a little bit of a surprise to it, but upon reflection, that didn't even make sense.
For those who have not read the books, The Bourne Ultimatum movie has little to do with the original novel by Robert Ludlum. The original novel contains much more intrigue and plot interest, including a plot to destroy a KGB training facility. It is very unfortunate that audiences are willing to pluck down their hard-earned money and continue to convince movie producers that flash is far more important than substance. Just make a script full of action sequences, forget about story, and it'll make millions.
Even Matt Damon seemed bored at moments with the whole project. At one point, his character stops talking for a long time. He probably made more money on these studio-backed projects than his more interesting independent projects, but he probably needs the studio contract fee to help back his more artistic endeavors.
Overall, a wasted two hours. Yeah, it might have grossed 70 mill in its opening weekend at the box office, but who will be talking about it 20 years from now? This recent studio offering of the Bourne trilogy has been a huge disappointment, and the earlier TV-movie, The Bourne Identity, with Richard Chamberlain, now appears like a far better movie. If you haven't seen the original late 1980's movie, which is available on DVD, check it out. As for the movie in question, I just hope Matt Damon gets out of this alive.