★★★
Of the three Bourne movies, this is my least favorite, thought that might not have been the case if I hadn’t watched Supremacy just last night. Unfortunately though, I had, and I found Ultimatum to be a rehash of the same – same story, same techniques, same issues, same lack of empathy for the hero. Ultimatum is capable but covers little new ground.
I will credit Greengrass with introducing some of the political issues that have arisen since 9-11 because the main concern here is with a government agency that is happy to target Americans in the name of national security. That aside, this film is starting to feel a little formulaic: compelling chase scenes; compelling fights; exotic, European urban locations; omnipotent CIA; girl interest; handheld camera; fast editing. There are even parallel scenes like Bourne leaving his arch-assassin rival stuck in a wrecked car and the love interest cutting and dying her hair.
Bourne Ultimatum is a good, fun movie, but this is the second go round with all this stuff. I would've hoped for a little more innovation.
