A Superb Final To A Thrilling Trilogy

Rating: 9/10 (25 August 2007)

Following not one great movie but two with a sequel of equal quality is extremely difficult to achieve. You only have to think of 99% of the movies with a '3' in the title to realise that, in the majority of cases, by the third instalment most franchises begin to show signs of saturation. Not so here.
With The Bourne Ultimatum we have a fitting conclusion to the series that fully justifies its place in the franchise. It not only provides long-awaited answers to questions asked in the earlier movies, but manages to include action sequences that live up to - and in some cases outdo - those of its predecessors (think back to the sequence in the mini from the first Bourne movie or the scenes in Moscow from the second). There is an urgency here and Bourne is always moving which keeps the audience on its toes. Every scene has momentum and its this thrilling pace which ensures your eyes are constantly glued to the screen.
Matt Damon, as before, is the heart of this movie and his portrayal of a desperate man capable of utilising any item as a weapon (the lengthy fight scene here with a fellow assassin outdoes similar scenes from the first two Bournes) means that you're constantly rooting for him. However, Damon is not solely responsible for the quality of this film. Paul Greengrass - responsible for the last Bourne movie and the stunning United 93 - proves himself yet again as one of the best directors in Hollywood today; choosing his shots carefully and improving on the realistic camera-work of the previous movie.
If you have seen the first two Bourne movies, you will not be disappointed here. In fact, this will be essential viewing for you. For all others, I would say this: I would not recommend viewing this movie without seeing thevprevious instalments. It is designed to be watched as the final part ofva trilogy and, by seeing The Bourne Ultimatum first, you will be doing yourself a great injustice.
My final verdict: Brilliant.