What is it with spies and the initials JB? James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Bauer, John Baines… Okay that last one is a Bond parody character I’ve played on Zaombie Astronauts Frequency of Fear so doesn’t really count, but the rest do. There’s a guy in my work who’s name is John Bettley, JB. So does that mean he used to be a spy? My manager is a much more likely candidate. He went to a fancy school, admits to having a military background (claims he was a Warrant Officer, but a spy WOULD say that), lost his job in the army because the cold war ended and speaks with a poshish English accent.
His name is John Chapman. So not a spy then because a spy with the initials JC would just be ridiculous.
Today’s movie is the third and last (except for the fact they hope to make Bourne 4: The New Class which WOULD be the last honest, just like that’s my last cigarette and after last night I’m NEVER drinking again) in the Bourne series of movies. In the first our amnesiac hero searched around for his car keys and wondered who that guy in the mirror was. In the second he couldn’t remember where he parked. Let’s see what the thirds about.
But seriously, over the last two films Jason Bourne has been trying to piece together who the hell he actually is. With some of his memories coming back he tries to find his way back to the source and solve the mystery.
And I don’t really want to say much more than that as I don’t want to ruin the whole damned story. Thankfully I don’t have to as I still have something to say. I watched the first two movies years ago back to back, so my memory on them (bar the fact they were really good) is hazy. Fitting that. However some stuff did come back to me, also fitting, and I can say that this is a fitting conclusion and rounds things out nicely.
One thing that has always annoyed me about the Bond films is that he’s the worst damned spy in the world. EVERYONE knows his name and he blows EVERYTHING up so everyone knows something is going on. When they rebooted the franchise with Casino Royale it was supposed to be a return to more spy like ways (Bond did start off as more of a spy, which is why Connery rules all and Brosnan did not bad to start with). It wasn’t. It’s still all KABOOM, KABLAM, Bond, James Bond world famous spy. Load of shite.
This however has actually spy type behaviour. Bourne improvises with what he has at hand to get out of sticky spots. There’s an evade and capture quick walking sequence in this film that’s tense as hell and last for a good, what 10 or 15 minutes? The CIA don’t press magic buttons to find things out, it takes a bit of time. People care about trying to avoid each other and out wit each other. Good spy stuff!
Sure there is some kabooming. And there’s a big assed car chase or two as well. So I’m not saying it doesn’t stretch plausibility a little because it does take some artistic license. But that’s fine, this is a movie and that’s to be expected when it’s somewhat action orientated. The camera does go a bit overboard with the shaky at times too, but it is only at times. Often the hand held work does help give some realism to the film, though it makes a breakfast conversation a bit ridiculous.
The performances are all great, the script was well thought out and plotted, the action was well done (if slightly over edited) and when people fight they actually close up fight instead of some kind of wire fest that would kill most people before it was finished no matter how well trained they are. I can heartily recommend this trilogy for anyone with a brain, and if you don’t have one there’s pretty explosions for you.
And I know I was a bit hard on Bond there. I’m not a big fan though I have enjoyed….oh lets say half to be fair. I wasn’t hugely impressed with Casino Royale and have yet to see “A Smidgen of Comparison” but probably will at some point. Do wish he was a spy though….
Oh and for people who have seen the whole thing or read the same Empire interview with Kieffer Sutherland that I did which spoiled the ending of this movie (it was so good I forgot about that until we were almost at the scene in question) highlight below for a bad joke:
If they make a 4th one it’ll be a buddy cop movie teaming him up with David Mitchell. Cause his names Webb. Mitchell and Webb. Told you it was bad.
Next up: The Mist
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