Exciting, but lacked characters and a real conclusion

Rating: 6/10 (5 August 2007)

I really enjoyed the first two films, but this one was pointless.
First, the good news: Joan Allen proved once again she can say more in a single subtle look than many actors can say in an entire performance. You literally could see what she was thinking.
The chases and stunts were sensational. This series always comes up with things you haven't seen before. If all you want are stunning chase scenes, then this movie will be enough for you.
If you want characters, motivation or explanation, then this will feel futile.
Were are the characters? Bourne was--Bourne. We've seen him before, twice, and in those films we learned a little more about him each time.
This movie, should have explained not just what happened (since we basically knew) but WHY. Why did Jason agree to do this (or not). What motivated him? What was his relationship with these people before? Clearly he had his reasons, but we don't learn what they were! You know as much going into this film as you know after. So it turns into a loud, busy, pointless exercise.
And frankly, Bourne is now becoming almost a super-hero in his ability to survive virtually everything.
The endless use of jumpy hand-held, the closeups, the flash cuts all got tedious. Without the constant "Stomp" drumming that passed for a score it might have just seemed like a busy music video.
Casino Royale was brilliant because it made Bond, formerly a machine, into a real person. The Bourne Ultimatum does the exact opposite, changing Bourne from a person into to a machine.