The Bourne Legacy

Plot synopsis:
Note: the events in this movie take place at the same time during the events in the previous movie "The Bourne Ultimatum", thus making this movie a spin-off to the Bourne trilogy.Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) is a member of Operation Outcome, one of the Department of Defense's black ops programs, which provides its agents with green pills that enhance physical abilities and blue pills that enhance mental abilities. He is given the moniker of "Number Five" and is deployed to Alaska for a training assignment, where he meets another Outcome operative, Number Three (Oscar Isaac). Their exchange is initially intense, as Number Three questions Cross as to why he is two days ahead of schedule for their rendezvous. Cross explains to him that he had to take a shortcut through a mountain ridge after having lost his chems while pursued by wolves, along with the requisite bloodwork he draws on schedule to send back to Outcome for analysis.Cross' arrival two days early confuses Number Three, as the mountain ridge is generally acknowledged as being extremely difficult trip for agents even when assisted with a program kit, yet Cross has completed the challenge in record time without his kit, a fact that ostensibly irritates Number Three, since it appers that Cross has beat Number Three's unofficial "record". After a further exchange in which Number Three agrees to re-package send some of his bloodwork and label it Cross's, both men call an uneasy, implied truce to their tension. A fast-moving blizzard is on the horizon, and Number Three says Cross can stay an extra day, since he won't be able to get ahead of it, despite his early arrival. While lying in bed that evening, Cross happens to notice a number of carvings done in the woodwork above his head, including one of the name "Jason Bourne".Meanwhile, Jason Bourne is in New York City exposing Operation Blackbriar and the Treadstone Project, leading to CIA Deputy Director Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) and Operation Blackbriar supervisor Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) being investigated by the FBI. Upon learning of this, CIA Director Ezra Kramer (Scott Glenn), also under investigation, calls Eric Byer (Edward Norton), a retired USAF Colonel responsible for overseeing the CIA's clandestine operations, for help.To eliminate evidence of the Blackbriar program, Byer decides to eliminate all Outcome assets. He orders new meds distributed to the agents. He learns that both Numbers Three and Five are at the same location, and dispatches a U-CAV drone aircraft to kill both agents. Cross's enhanced hearing picks up a faint echo in the distance, and Cross asks Number Three to confirm what he's just heard. He cannot, but he and Cross decide to split up and survey the area separately. Cross exits the cabin moments before the U-CAV missile deployed by Byer's people hits the cabin and kills Number Three.Cross travels cross country, trying to hide from the sensors the U-CAV is using to track him. He uses a sniper rifle to shoot the U-CAV down. He realizes that his superiors have ordered his assassination. He removes a tracking device that has been surgically inserted below the skin of his abdomen. He captures a wolf and forces it to swallow the tracking device. Tracking Cross' active signal, Byer orders a second U-CAV to attack and kill Cross. The missile, following the tracking signal carried within the wolf, fires its missile at the wolf, destroying it and the tracking device. Byer mistakenly believes that Cross is dead. He continues to kill the remaining Outcome agents across the globe.The remaining Outcome assets' are given a new medication, a triangular yellow pills that unknown to them kills them within a few hours. Byer captures one of Outcome's foremost scientists, Dr. Donald Foite (Zeljko Ivanek), chemically brainwashes him, and gives him instructions to shoot and kill the other scientists. He brings a weapon into the Outcome research lab and methodically shoots each of the scientists. Only Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz), escapes after Foite commits suicide when security forces enter the lab.Cross travels to Maryland where the lab is located. He locates a car that has been prepped with hidden, spare license plates, a wallet, and other gear essential to creating a new temporary identify. He drives to the vicinity of Shearing's country home.After she returns home, Shearing is preparing to leave for Montreal when she is visited by four initially friendly CIA agents with orders to complete the job Foite failed at. One of the visitors informs her that Foite's home was filled with pictures of her and articles of her clothing, giving the appearance that he was obsessing on her. One of them says she is a psychiatrist. She reminds her of her employment contract and tells her that Foite spared her life, which Shearing finds incredulous. One agent finds Shearing's pistol and she orders them to leave. The psychiatrist tells Shearing that they need to verify that she's not a suicide risk when the two agents seize her, apparently trying to make it look as if she's committed suicide.She is rescued by Cross, who kills all four agents. He convinces her to help him after reminder who he is. Shearing reveals that Cross was genetically modified to retain the benefits of the green pills without need of continuous consumption, a process they call "viraling off". Because he hasn't taken a blue pill in several days, Cross realizes that he will soon lose his mental enhancement. He then coerces Shearing to travel to Manila with him, as the pills are manufactured there, in the hopes of being able to viral off the blue pills in the same manner he did the green.On the way to Manila, Cross reveals to Shearing that he is actually Kenneth J. Kitsom, a former U.S. Army soldier. He tells her that his recruiter raised his IQ by 12 points to make the minimum required. He explains that if he loses the benefit of the medication it will have a big impact on his intelligence. He said that after he was wounded by an IED during the Iraq War that a cover story was created that he had been killed. He was then offered an opportunity to serve his country in the Outcome program.In Washington D.C., Byer continues to hunt for Shearing and discovers that she is being helped by Cross. From security intelligence gathered at major transportation hubs across the country, Byer deduces that Cross and Shearing have departed the US and are travelling to Manila, where the pills are manufactured, ostensibly to help Cross attempt to viral off the blue pills. Byers decides to activate Larx-03 (Louis Ozawa Changchien), am Outcome super soldier, who has completed the viralling off process and has been programmed as a lethal and emotionless killer. Larx-03 is deployed to Manila to kill Cross and Shearing while Cross is still presumably weak during the viraling off process. Byer also learns that Landy is expected to face charges for assisting Bourne, while Vosen is expected to be declared innocent and returned to duty.In Manila, Cross and Shearing arrive at the factory where the pills are produced and Shearing administers the blue-pill viralling off procedure for the blue (intelligence) pill to Cross. Byer contacts the factory's supervisor and orders them to lock Cross and Shearing into the basement, but they escape before Larx arrives. They take shelter in an apartment, where Shearing nurses Cross through his recovery from the viralling off process. Cross experiences flashbacks recalling his recruitment into Outcome under Byer's direction. Delirious, he tells Shearing that he has $40,000 in the lining of his jacket and if anything happens she should take it and leave. Cross tells Shearing she should go home, that she's done enough for him. She holds and comforts him.The next day, Larx-03 informs the local police of Cross' location and follow them to him, hoping they will flush Cross into the open where Larx can kill him. The police arrive while Shearing is buying medicine. She seems them arrive and warns Cross, who has recovered from the viraling off process. He escapes from the police and rescues Shearing. They steal a motorcycle and escape, pursued by Larx. During a chase through the streets and marketplaces of Manila, Cross is wounded and he wounds Larx in turn. Still chased by Larx, Cross is losing strength from his wound. Shearing kicks Larx-03 on his motorcycle and he crashes into a pillar, killing him instantly. Cross starts to pass out. Shearing guides the motorcycle into a controlled slide and they slide to a stop themselves. Cross and Shearing give a boatman a valuable gold watch they'd taken from the factory where the pills are made. He takes them aboard his boat and they depart for places unknown.

Tags: brainwashing, violence, action, murder, flashback

Review:
Much better than it had any right to be thanks in part to its two lead actors (Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz), who work acting miracles with a poor script..
Renner would have done wonders with a compelling character like Jason Bourne, unfortunately that is not found with the character of Aaron Cross.Rachel Weisz is one of the most versatile, gifted and complex actors working today.
It is an expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on a new hero whose stakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films.As someone distilled the plot, 'this film deals with the fall out of the exposure of "Operation Blackbriar" and how an another agency with in the government is trying to cover up their program in order not to be caught up with the coming scandal create by Jason Bourne.
The solid support cast includes the always excellent Edward Norton, Scott Glenn, Stacy Keach, Albert Finney, Oscar Isaac, David Strathairn, and Joan Allen just to keep the balance form the previous Bourne films in place.The speed of the action, the poundingly purposeful musical score and the non-stop fascinating twists and turns make this a top-notch film.
Cross teams up with scientist Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) as they head to the Phillipines to get the chems, while every operative with a finger and a gun is on their trail."The Bourne Legacy" has garnered very mixed reviews; some really like it, some really hate it, some are in-betweeners.
While little could be done to cushion the drop in quality that was bound to come with well, anything, that followed that near-masterpiece of action, Jeremy Renner makes an apt substitute and the thrills, wit and set pieces are all top notch, even if it won't quite have audiences asking, "Jason who?" In the mischievous and highly top secret world of clandestine CIA superspy programs, the program previously known as Treadstone has once again morphed – from Treadstone to Blackbriar and now to Outcome (officially known as Alcom), a bio-weapons division in New York State that operates under the ruse of a pharmaceutical research firm.
It's safe to say, despite strong performances, they feel like a downgrade when recalling the fiery antagonism shared with Vosen and Landy in The Bourne Ultimatum.One thing The Bourne Legacy makes utterly clear is that at the distinguished age of 41, Jeremy Renner has proved himself to be a formidable action hero, both bringing a classic look to Cross but also matching Damon in displays of physicality and athleticism.
Perhaps it was due to my high expectations that I couldn't enjoy this movie as much as I wanted, but I feel like i've seen enough to know what makes a great movie and distinguish between a good and a bad scripts.
The action scenes (The few of them in the film) do not jar well and are boring to say the least.My advice to Universal, if there has to be a sequel, bring back Rachel Weisz and Jeremy Renner (Who both deserve medals for their efforts in making this lazy, self indulgent script work) and get rid of Tony Gilroy, who clearly does not respect anybody other than himself.
I really love theses kind of films where you have the agent running around like he's a fugitive wanted by the government so I was really excited going into this movieWhen I saw Bourne Legacy last month, I have to say a great film.
I like that they intertwined the story within the Ultimatum storyline like you see in the preview as well as playing homage to the original series, but the execution sucked not to mention that the Bourne events had no influence on Cross' character - something that "Legacy" would suggest.
Pointless entry into the Bourne series finds Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz taking over where Matt Damon left off in a sequel that lacks not only a real purpose to exist but lacks a script that can justify the movie as a continuation of the series.
Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz tried their best with the weak material Gilroy provides for them and they almost succeed, giving the audience something to care for but they are fighting an uphill battle against cliché one dimensional characters, dismal screen writing, a running time that needed to be edited down and amateurish direction that does no one any favors.
The rest of the cast barely registers at all and the action is not even on the same level of the other films in the series.If any blame should go around, it should go squarely to Tony Gilroy and his brothers, who seem like they had no idea on what the hell they were doing and in the process, wasted the time of two great actors (Renner and Weisz) who are working beyond what is necessary to give the fans the respect they deserve for staying with the series.
Also, and this part really bothered me, I feel like Tony and Dan Gilroy did things with some of the Bourne characters that were not true to Robert Ludlum's vision, even going so far as to change the initiation program and the amount of information leaked at the end of Ultimatum.
However, the action and the acting of the two lead characters Rachel Weisz and Jeremy Renner make this movie tolerable.
To be honest I always found Matt Damon's acting style a little "dry" for my taste.The rest of the cast are all good with special mention of Rachel Weis as the Dr who becomes entangled in the deadly world of espionage.Also for the first time since Identity you can see what is going on in the action sequences, with the climactic motorbike scenes captivating.Hopefully Renner, Weis and director Gilroy will return for another instalment.
The Bourne story livesbut without actor Matt Damon reprising the title character and director Doug Liman at the helm it makes you wonder about the direction this beloved movie franchise is heading.
Gilroy's latest Bourne installment incorporates the story from his original trilogy as its backbone, and tosses out a wider net by introducing the latest CIA trained assassin agent gone rogue, Alex Cross, played by Jeremy Renner with a perfect sense of gritty power that is expected from our action heroes.
From his Academy Award nominated performances in The Hurt Locker & The Town, to the big budget box office smashes The Avengers & Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Renner has proved with good reason he belongs in the Hollywood A-List Club.The Bourne Legacy is in perfect balance with the spirit of the previous Bourne films.
Unlike some, I do really enjoyed this Renner/Bourne flic!There are few flaws in this movie, and on the whole it is a delightful romp!Rachel Weisz as the heroine, Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross, the main character, and Edward Norton as the opposition, is a powerful mix.Really nice movie for us who love action movies.
Enjoyed every minute of it, from the very first scene, to the last!Amazing action by Rachel, and as good by Jeremy, and the wolves are not bad either!A fresh approach to action movies, drastically different from the previous Bourne flics, but they are too favourites of mine!.
Renner is a good actor and he quickly eclipses all memories of Bourne and makes the role his own.Rachel Weiosz is the female lead and its the first time that the hero in this series has had a female co-star who makes an impression and has a fan base of her own.
Bourne's female leads were either an encumberance to him to be cast aside ( Marie) or a tacked on love interest to provide a trailer moment (Stiles).The action is handled better, not that its better staged - the action in this series has always been first rate- but now that Greengrass has gone its less frenetic in its editing so you can see what is going on.All the cast are convincing and the good news is that a sequel has already been greenlit so we'll see these characters again..
Film: The Bourne Legacy Studio: Relativity Media, The Kennedy /Marshall Company Cast: Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz Rating: PG-13 Running Time:135 minutesIn 2002 Jason Bourne the amnesiac spy/assassin loosely based off of the Robert Ludlem novels made his way to the big screen.
Played magnificently by Matt Damon, The Bourne Identity was a breath of fresh air in the action-thriller genre which had been dominated by movies like "Mission: Impossible" and the James Bond series.
In the following years, two sequels (The Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum) also starring Damon came along, each tolerable in their own right, both feeding off of the previous story but neither as good as the first.Eventually the quality of the of the scripts were of such poor quality that even Matt Damon distanced himself and moved on from the franchise.
Aaron Cross (The Hurt Locker's Jeremy Renner) is the last of these Bourne-like agents who are  dependent on a combination of pills to maintain their amazing physical and mental skills.
I first thought Jeremy Renner(who I doubted would be a good addition to the action genre, and now he kind of makes me take my word back)would be replacing Matt Damon.
I also hoped Stacy Keach would have more screen time but it was apparently cut down due to the films long running time.(a little more than 2 hrs)The duo of Renner and Weisz does not have the same electricity between them but they still act well and the action shots, most of them looks like they were done in one take, are very good.
When I entered Movie hall, I had high expectation from movie and from Tony Gilroy as Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz are new additions to series but as movie went on I started searching for that "Bourne" factor and never found it.Pros: Good acting by both lead.
While Bourne is in my opinion Matt Damon's best role to date, Jeremy Renner gives a decent performance as Aaron Cross, another agent in the program, Cross is different to Bourne in that he is very much still part of the team when it goes sour, and is taken back when he is suddenly being hunted by his own people.
Renner more than holds his own and the character of Cross as well as Ed Nortons turn as the 'Villianous' Head of the program, this film also at times really pushes it's PG-13 rating in terms of action.
The movie turned out well and this is thanks to co-writer and director Tony Gilroy (who worked on all three previous films in the series) and Jeremy Renner, perfectly cast in the lead.
After the events in "Ultimatum," in which Jason Bourne tears up New York City evading his former handlers, Outcome's head (Ed Norton) decides to shut down his program and kill all its members.The movie is much more then what I expected, It is high octane, contains all the state-of-art action and Renner is amazing in his new role.
The movie is a little more dumbed down than the other installments but it's still packed with breathtaking action scenes and moves at a breakneck pace.Renner is Aaron Cross, a former U.S. soldier of below average intelligence who's had his physical and brain powers enhanced through a black ops program called Operation Outcome.
Our 12-year old is now "hooked" and wants to view the previous "Bournes".The two main actors, Jeremy Runner and Rachel Weisz were excellent and shared the kind of chemistry that draws you in the minute they're on screen together.Story line was intriguing and the suspense built well with well-photographed backdrops of Alaska and Manila, Phillippnes.Supporting cast was just okay, with Edward Norton "way too wimpy" for his powerful position.
I wasn't too sure about what to expect from this film since Matt Damon was the true star of the franchise, but I knew Jeremy Renner was a great actor.
With that film's director, Paul Greengrass, interested in pursuing other projects, and star Matt Damon uninterested in returning without Greengrass, Universal has been forced to expand the "Bourne" universe, and the result is "The Bourne Legacy."For those up in arms over the continuing of the franchise without Damon front and center, fast-rising action star Jeremy Renner assumes the new face of of the series without skipping a beat as Aaron Cross, the product of another CIA program offshoot of Treadstone called Outcome.
The film takes place at the same time as "Ultimatum." When Jason Bourne becomes a media story as seen in that film, the CIA senses a public relations nightmare is about to unfold, and Norton's Eric Byer — the man behind most of the agency's black ops programs — has to clean up the mess.Byer finds damning evidence connecting Blackbriar to Outcome, a program involving nine agents who have received physical and mental genetic enhancements and assist in top-secret military reconnaissance.
Ten years on from Jason Bourne's lucrative appearance on the big screen starring Matt Damon, the biological experiment's "legacy" lives on through the pursuit of Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner).
Although there is some coherence between the original franchise and Gilroy's attempt at following on from the Bourne legacy, the movies' action sequences seem to overemphasise the 21st century's love for fast shoes and blazing bullets instead of concentrating on the foundation that was created by the novel Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum.The film's course runs with smooth adequacy with small bullets of action fulfilling Gilroy's extremely tense motive with this outing.
Aaron Cross (played by Jeremy Renner) is a Jason Bourne-like super spy who gets caught up in the middle of the agency's violent and unexpected elimination of his programme.
There is no mystery, no plot twists just a boring story line and two actors who try to make that work.As for the actors I got nothing towards Jeremy Renner's acting but we fall in love with Matt Damon because he looks like this short guy you will see everyday on your way to work who has amazing ability to use whatever there was in his arms reach to his advantage.
The locations on this movie, however, might be the most spectacular yet in the first 4 Bourne films, in particular the Alaskan wilderness.The characters in this film are great and relatable, and the performances, specially from Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz, are amazing.
It might have received some patchy reviews at the time it premiered in the Box Office and Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross might be lacking Matt Damon's Jason Bourne instalment in the series of Bourne trilogy while Bourne scriptwriter Tony Gilroy chooses to carry the can alone, directs in place of Paul Greengrass.
Having got this out of the way The Bourne Legacy was rather enjoyable.Jeremy Rener is a good replacement for Matt Damon and he does the required heroics ,stunts and romancing in fine style.Tony Gilroy once again writes and makes a good directing debut.
that is a perfect example of poor characters, second rate acting, ridiculous plot and dire-plodding pace.Put Jason Bourne to the back of your mind and make room for Aaron Cross before you're to quick to judge.Great Film!!!.
Jeremy Renner, did what he does best, as we can remember him from his most recent movie 'Mission: Impossible' as a more lively and dynamic counterpart for Matt Damon's Jason Bourne.
Kudos as well to Tony Gilroy, for not succumbing to the generic-one way story films these days rely on.'The Bourne Legacy' is not as character driven as the previous trilogy rather, it mainly dedicates itself to the completion and delivery of the whole concept of the Bourne franchise.
I am a huge fan of Bourne series and this movie lives up to its expectations.The action is kick-ass, also shot in Philippines, and has a powerful performance from Renner, Norton and Rachel Weisz.The movie is great, watch it if you like action movies.
It's tough to replace Matt Damon, but Jeremy Renner does a good job, along with a surprisingly fine acting performance by Rachel Weisz.
All in all The Bourne Legacy is a good action movie that is more fun than thoughtful..
Director Tony Gilroy was also responsible for the screenplays of the original Bourne movies so he's been with the film series from the beginning.
Ignore all the negative criticism , ' The Bourne Legacy ' is as good if not better than the Matt Damon variety - the opening scenes are magnificent and the story is intriguing - the action never lets up , taking time to introduce the characters nicely .
Of course, there's a little of the inner conflict Bourne had so much of, but Renner makes sure to keep the angst perfectly in check.Dr Marta Shearing, as played by Rachel Weisz, is a lot more than the token action movie chick.
Aaron Cross escapes, and with Jason Bourne-like skills, he does all he can to get medication for himself and avoid the authorities.I think this film works because the acting is very strong.
you may have easily noticed that Aaron cross(Jeremy renner) has this common factor with Jason Bourne(Matt Damon) "an agent vs an agency" but the story takes different turn here and just to be direct and clear i watched the entire Bourne trilogy and comparing this story with Bourne's story doesn't do any favor for this movie.
Jeremy renner does a very good job also Rachel weisz ,great potentials and they did what it take to make the Bourne legacy a good movie .
the Bourne legacy was a good movie and i liked it ..
Jeremy Renner plays a character much needier, in background, than Matt Damon's Jason Bourne.
Fourth film in the "Bourne" series, initially based upon Robert Ludlam's novels, goes a different route with new characters and a new leading man (Jeremy Renner in place of Matt Damon).
But he's already cementing his role as Aaron Cross, and looks set to take the Bourne movies forward, even if there are rumours of a pairing with Damon for the next film.