Jason Bourne
There might have been a time when this franchise may have been more exciting to me, but watching it in 2023 made me feel like there’s much better action out there these days than Jason Bourne.
The first three Bourne movies were based off of a series of novels by Robert Ludlum, and they tell a reasonably compelling story about an ex-assassin on a quest to cure his own amnesia – and beat up a bunch of people on the way. The fourth film was a spin-off that seems like it was intended to move the franchise forward with a new protagonist. But despite its apparent success at the box office, it went nowhere and they moved back to Jason Bourne with the fifth and final film. The first three films in particular leaned very heavily into a style known as “shaky-cam”, where the camera trembles and quakes in the midst of action sequences. One of the advantages of this strategy is that it can make the scene feel more authentic and real – after all, real cameras shake, and it heightens the stress and intensity of the action unfolding in front of you. On the other hand, it makes everything a lot harder to focus on. I think this was what jarred me the most when revisiting these films for the first time in likely a decade. The action is just so blurry that it’s hard to appreciate how great the stunt work is. That, and the fact that this franchise emphasizes mystery and suspense a lot more than similar franchises like Mission Impossible or John Wick. If you’re big into espionage and clue-finding, you’ll love this. But if you’re looking for high-octane thrills, I’ve gotta say that Bourne might not be the way to go.
The Bourne Identity (***)
Not really as spectacular as I remember it, the first Bourne doesn’t have much to make it an above-average action film – except for the fact that Bourne fires a fun that’s upside down like it’s by any means a sensible decision.
The Bourne Supremacy (***)
Bourne’s memories are about as shaky as the cinematography – but there’s more than enough cat-and-mouse action to keep you interested.
The Bourne Ultimatum (***1/2)
Shaky-cam and a lack of emotion continue to hinder these films for me – but a climax with real answers and a real conclusion make this a satisfying finale for those who are Bourne-again.
The Bourne Legacy (**1/2)
The camera work for this franchise became more coherent – but then the plot became utterly incomprehensible. I barely had a clue what was going on until the final few minutes – and now that the movie’s done I’m still not sure why it ended.
Jason Bourne (***)
It feels relevant considering the time since Ultimatum, and an action-packed car chase at the end make this worth the watch for any devoted fans.