bournesuprem

Sequels are dangerous. Sequels to books made into movies are even more dangerous. Anyone
recall “The Lost World: Jurassic Park II?” I didn’t think so.

Well, the sequel to the great action flick, “The Bourne Identity,” has passed and not without some
frustrating effects on the series. “The Bourne Supremacy” feels like more of the same, without the
enjoyment and seamless quality of the original film and also without the original director, Doug
Liman.

In an interview about doing a sequel, Matt Damon, who plays Jason Bourne, said he wouldn’t be
interested in a sequel if Liman wasn’t involved. I wish he’d of been more specific and said if he
wasn’t directing. Liman’s producing this one in some capacity, but no-name Paul Greengrass takes
the reins on this one and the result is weak.

Bourne and his love are still in hiding in the tropics when he is framed by the CIA for a botched
mission he was never involved in. Now, they’re after him again and he has to find that happy
assassin place again in his head and finish the job. A special task force, headed up by Joan Allen
of all people, is assigned to track him down while he’s trying to finger the real baddies and avoid
capture at the same time.

Yeah, we’ve seen it all before in “The Fugitive” and “Mission: Impossible.” Damon is DARK in this
film, without any of the amnesiac charm of the original installment. That would be fine, considering
he delivers a good performance, but the fatal flaw of this movie is the director, who has decided
that all of the action scenes must be filmed in an erratic way.

In all seriousness, you cannot see what is going on anytime fisticuffs or car chases start.
Greengrass just starts SHAKING the camera wildly. I guess it’s supposed to be chaotic and
exciting, but it’s more headache inducing than anything else. I walked out of the theatre needing
an aspirin. I’m not joking. Greengrass appears to be one of those directors who substitutes
camera movement and quick cutting for competence and style.

On top of all that, the story isn’t as interesting without the Marie character, formerly played by
Franka Potente. Bourne is simply a ronin of sorts, a loose cannon without an emotional place to
land. This very element makes his character more akin to a Jean-Claude Van Damme character
than a fully realized entity.

Is the story engaging? Yes, to a point, but not nearly as exciting as the original movie. Worth a
watch, if that, but then again, you could miss it too and never bat an eye.