The Bourne Ultimatum

DVD, The Bourne Ultimatum (film, 2007)

When I first watched this I wasn't expecting too much from this, just more of the same, but I like it just a little more than Supremacy and just maybe behind Identity, but it's a close call! The stunts, the chases, fights, were slightly better and more visually impressive. It's really good to have Nicki back, and although she seemed to want to get to know Bourne better (and opens up a fascinating backstory between them in a single line!) and he just wanted rid of her, they went well together and she'd have only ended up dead. It's a relief they didn't go down the usual route.

The ending is brilliant where she hears how he's fallen from a building, and then smiles when she hears his body was never found and then it cuts to the floating Bourne who starts swimming. Brilliant, the best ending, and brings the trilogy full circle as it started with Bourne floating in water. It's good to have David Strathairn as a baddie, and I noticed Corey Johnson ('Dr. Who') and Mark Bazely (who was very briefly in it as a guy the journalist speaks to at his office, apparently called Betancourt) - he was Vigo in 'BUGS'. So a pleasant surprise after the miniscule disappointment that Supremacy wasn't 'amazing'.

I didn't realise it was Albert Finney as the Dr until the credits! I would certainly go and see a Bourne film at the cinema. The bit I saw from a trailer or clip once was in this where he leaps across a gap towards a window and that was the short moment that made me think 'ooh, that looks good,' before I knew anything about any of the films. And it, and they, were. Perhaps not quite as good in general as the M:I films and slightly lesser than 'Casino Royale'. On a par with M:I3 I'd say. But I preferred the more 'distant' sounding end song of the first two films, though I can see the thinking in having the upbeat version to suit the ending.

It takes what was good in the second film and improves on it, has the perfect ending and Bourne doesn't make the same mistake twice, by allowing himself to fall for Nicki, and instead sends her away rather than bring death on her as happened to Marie. The attraction of these films is their realism. Bourne doesn't do things that is beyond human capability, so you appreciate the superb moments he's running round his enemies by using simple means in ingenious ways. The tagline 'Remember Everything, Forgive Nothing' was in no way representative of the film, because he doesn't kill for revenge and actually only kills when his life or other's is in danger, and only then when he has to. He doesn't remember everything (Nicky and his past for example) either, so lose the tag!

And there are so many parallels to the previous films, and even references back (same speech 'look at what they make you give', Nicky looks like Marie, cutting hair, meeting in roadside restaurant, and other things). One or two odd bits now I've seen it three times (a minor mistake - Neal Daniels on the screens, Neil on paper, later!), such as Nicky popping up out of nowhere and not sure why! There was something else too, but can't remember. But a thrilling, fast ride that really doesn't have slow periods because due to the music and camera style you always feel like you're moving. When the fourth does come, it will be with trepidation I'll see it, because this ends so well. But the key thing is, I'll still go and see it.

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