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July 2004

By Wilson Morales

The Bourne Supremacy

Distributor: Universal Pictures
Director: Paul Greenglass
Producers: Patrick Crowley, Frank Marshall, & Paul Sandberg
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy, based on the novel by Robert Ludlum
Cinematographer: Oliver Wood
Composer: John Powell
Cast: Matt Damon, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, Franka Potente, Julia Stiles, & Karl Urban

   

   

It's good see characters come back in a sequel and take us on another joy ride. This is what The Bourne Supremacy does and then some. It's a fast action thriller that can live on its own without having to see the first one. With less dialogue and more physical skills needed, Matt Damon has elevated the spy genre to new heights as he move into a category that only James Bond currently resides in. Buckle your seat belts because the film will leave you dizzy and electrified, but entertained.

When we last saw Matt Damon's Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity, Jason had quickly gotten rid of anyone who was tailing him and trying to kill him. With the exception of, Nicky (Stiles), most of the key principals searching for him didn't live to see another day, whether it was by the hands of Bourne or their own men. Jason had vanished into the outskirts of another country and settled up with his girlfriend Marie (Potente), yet troubled by the fact that he can't remember a thing from his past. As The Bourne Supremacy begins Bourne is still having nightmares of things he had done, but can't place a who, what, and when to his dreams. With Marie by his side, he lives a normal life. Meanwhile, back in Germany, CIA Operative Pamela Landy (Allen) is about to close a case when the it goes array due to two murders and Bourne's fingerprints are placed at the scene of the crime. Wanting answers, Lundy has to consult with Ward Abbot (Cox), the guy in charge of Treadstone, the dismantled operation in which Bourne was a part of. The new mission is once again to find Bourne and bring him to justice, while Bourne has to figure out why he's being sought again.

What this film offers is a fun ride with a quick stop for some water. Each fight and chase scene excels as the film progresses. The car scene is certainly the best of them as it doesn't involve the use of CGI and displays a sense of realism to it. There isn't much to character development here as it was in the first film. All of the backgrounds are clearly spelled out with plot, which is basically a hide and seek film, with a explanation to it. Damon does a admirable job in carry this film through facial expressions and less dialogue. He's able to do more with his looks than Slvestor Stallone did with his "Rambo" films of long ago. Allen is always on point when she plays strong characters and she doesn't disappoint here. Unlike the Ludlum book, which was written for a different time period, screenwriter Gilroy has just made the film simplistic for a new audience to follow. It may seem repetitive of the first film but the location sequences serve as secondary characters that go unnoticed. From India to Germany to Russian, each place adds to the plot. Compelling and riveting, The Bourne Supremacy is one of the finest sequels to come out this summer.