A tense, exciting and absorbing action-thriller!

Rating: 9/10 (26 May 2008)

"The Bourne Ultimatum" (2007)
The 3rd part of the Bourne trilogy is certainly the best film of this trilogy. Though lacking a little in storytelling, the technique of this film is especially impressive, especially film editing. There's a lot of hand held camera usage and precise film editing on display here, that adds a lot of excitement and tension to the film. Unfortunately, two sequences actually duplicate from the 2nd Bourne Film, including the ending scene of the 2nd Bourne film. This is a disappointment and shows a lack of initiative and creativity.
When Bourne finds a surviving scrap of paper from a burned out briefcase that just happens to contain useful information to him (an address), well, this strains plausibility a little. What's immediately noticeable about this film is it's technique. The 2nd Bourne film, by the same director, was, in bits and pieces, a trial run for this film. Overall, director Paul Verhoven has crafted and excellent action film here.
The story begins where we left off in the 2nd film, with Jason Bourne on the run in Russia. The 2nd film came to a closure with Jason Bourne's escape. His escape sequence in Russia continues here to open this film. Jason Bourne, on the run in Russia at the end of the 2nd Bourne film, came to a safe escape, but yet we continue it here to open the 3rd film. This is my first minor criticism of this film. The 2nd and my biggest criticism is recreating, essentially duplicating the ending scene of the 2nd film near the beginning of the climax of this 3rd film. The police car chase scene near the end of this film, duplicates the same ending as the action set piece sequence of the 2nd film.
On it's own, this film is genuinely exciting and absorbing entertainment. Only with the 2nd film in memory, the minor flaws of this film become evident.
Winner of 3 Academy Awards for Best Film Editing, Sound and Sound Editing.