The Bourne Ultimatum

[Guest •]

Well, I just got back and The Bourne Ultimatum as a whole was better than Live Free or Die Hard, Transformers, Harry Potter, Fantastic Four, and even Spider-Man 3!

 

I haven't seen Ocean's 13 though so I can't comment on that.

This was my biggest board-related laugh in some time.

 

Heck, as of right now it's quite possibly the best trilogy of all time, since all three films have been around the same quality.

Oh, Jesus.

[Downhome 0]

Care to mention other trilogies that were around the same high quality for the entire series? Most people even admit that Return of the Jedi was a major step back in terms of quality for that series. Obviously there's the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it needs mentioned and most would more than likely pick that one, but personally I enjoyed the Bourne films more than the LotR films. While, in my opinion, The Godfather 1 & 2 are way better than any of the Bourne films, it's universally accepted that part 3, while still a great film, took a dive in terms of quality that The Godfather series was known for. Most trilogies aren't as even as the Bourne series, they just aren't.

 

Anyway, it was a nice surprise for me to see Paddy Considine in The Bourne Ultimatum. I see in him what I saw in Clive Owen before he really broke out.

 

EDIT:

 

Forgot all about Sergio Leone's "Dollars" trilogy, so that's way up there as well. Also there is Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy, which also deserves a mention.

[foleyfanforever88 0]

Well, I just got back and The Bourne Ultimatum as a whole was better than Live Free or Die Hard, Transformers, Harry Potter, Fantastic Four, and even Spider-Man 3!

 

I haven't seen Ocean's 13 though so I can't comment on that.

This was my biggest board-related laugh in some time.

 

Heck, as of right now it's quite possibly the best trilogy of all time, since all three films have been around the same quality.

Oh, Jesus.

 

What a great post. Don't give your thoughts on the movie (which it doesn't seem like you've seen) or anything, just laugh at our opinions. Thanks for that.

[cd213 0]

I'm gonna be seeing this film tomorrow and I can't wait. I just saw the first one on the way to Vegas 2 weeks ago and am going to watch the second one tonight to get ready for the third. It looks really good.

 

Care to mention other trilogies that were around the same high quality for the entire series? Most people even admit that Return of the Jedi was a major step back in terms of quality for that series. Obviously there's the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it needs mentioned and most would more than likely pick that one, but personally I enjoyed the Bourne films more than the LotR films. While, in my opinion, The Godfather 1 & 2 are way better than any of the Bourne films, it's universally accepted that part 3, while still a great film, took a dive in terms of quality that The Godfather series was known for. Most trilogies aren't as even as the Bourne series, they just aren't.

 

Anyway, it was a nice surprise for me to see Paddy Considine in The Bourne Ultimatum. I see in him what I saw in Clive Owen before he really broke out.

 

EDIT:

 

Forgot all about Sergio Leone's "Dollars" trilogy, so that's way up there as well. Also there is Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy, which also deserves a mention.

 

I can understand exactly what you are saying. I will have a better opinion on this series as a whole tomorrow, but I might add in the Back to the Future trilogy into that list. The third one isn't the best movie in the world but it was up there in terms of being a fun watch.

 

I would also add the Terminator series to that as well.

[Guest •]

The Godfather 1 & 2 are way better than any of the Bourne films,

YA THINK?

 

We're talking about one of the biggest achievements in American cinema here, and comparing it with some dopey Matt Damon movies. Even Star Wars, while I'm hardly an avid fan, is such a cultural cornerstone that it has to be up there too, irrespective of the admittedly low quality as film in and of itself. I'm no film buff, believe me, but even I know that there is no fucking way that any of these Bourne movies are in the same stratosphere as the Godfather trilogy, questionable as the third installment may have been.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

The huge lettering packs a punch. Use it more.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Plus the Bourne series are not marked by roman numerals. It can't be a IIIlogy without roman numerals.

[Guest •]

So that's why I don't post in this folder often.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

As much as you said, you didn't really say anything beyond "it's not as good as godfather and star wars, they were really popular". However, you cannot deny the insight in regards to the effect roman numerals have on a film and it's progeny.

[Guest •]

I didn't think it was something that needed to be explained. I thought it was just generally understood and agreed upon. I was wrong. You are right, though, the Roman numerals just make things feel important. Rocky Balboa, my foot.

 

Godfather pts. I and II weren't just popular, though, they also won Best Picture. How often does a sequel win Best Picture?

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Return of The King did it.

[Guest Vitamin X]

downhome is officially the very personification of hyperbole. jesus fucking christ. I love the Bourne trilogy as much as the next guy, but to call it the greatest trilogy of all time is deserving of ridicule.

 

As much as you said, you didn't really say anything beyond "it's not as good as godfather and star wars, they were really popular".

I don't believe he said anything about the Godfather or Star Wars being better because of their popularity, he made the simple and rather obvious point that they're miles ahead of the Bourne trilogy, no matter how questionable the third installment of the Godfather or the Star Wars trilogy may have been.

 

And this is coming from someone here who loves the Bourne movies. I'm about to go see the third one tonight, but no matter how great a film I'm sure it'll be, it's a TAD much to rocket it into the skies and compare it to films that are and will be remembered as all time classics, not to mention embedded into the consciousness of American popular culture.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I didn't think it was something that needed to be explained. I thought it was just generally understood and agreed upon. I was wrong. You are right, though, the Roman numerals just make things feel important. Rocky Balboa, my foot.

 

Godfather pts. I and II weren't just popular, though, they also won Best Picture. How often does a sequel win Best Picture?

 

I have to assume they hid the roman numerals in the title with the V being in part of the Y and the I being in part of the B.

[Guest •]

That would've been a fairly clever graphic, like the hidden 11 in the Big Ten logo, or the arrow in FedEx.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Just so it's out there, the LOTR, Godfather, Indiana Jones and Star Wars trilogies smoke the Bourne movies.

[Downhome 0]

My God, I'm sorry that some of you find it so hard to understand what I'm saying. I didn't, not once, say that the Bourne series is the best trilogy of all time. The only thing that even comes close to that from what I said is when I said it's possible it's the best trilogy, because of the consistent quality. Am I wrong in saying that the Bourne series is one of the most consistent trilogies of all time? I even said:

 

So even if it isn't technically the best trilogy ever, it's certainly arguably the most consistent in terms of overall quality.

 

I'm not comparing Borne to the fucking Godfather series, not like you think. I'm simply saying that it's a consistent series, that's all. The Godfather series may be better as a whole, but not even that series is consistent, just like the Star Wars series isn't consistent. I'm not talking about overall quality of the films, not comparing series to series. I'm talking about taking each series on it's on, and looking at the consistency between each film in the series.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

What of the Naked Gun trilogy, HUH?

[NoCalMike 0]

One thing that makes the Bourne Trilogy good is that each one is better then the previous installment.

 

For action movies though I would still say Die Hard Trilogy > Bourne Trilogy........

 

...I haven't seen Live Free or Die Hard yet.....but judging from the first three I still give the edge to Die Hard.

 

Of course Die Hard is more straight up ass-kicking action. Maybe the Bourne movies are better to be compared to Hunt for Red October/Patriot Games/Clear & Present Danger...?

 

P.S. oh and I wish people would get off Return of the Jedi's back. It has it's flaws but it is hardly the "subpar" finale that people make it out to be. We can over analyze it as much as we want as adults, but it is a kids movie for christ's sake and kids love it.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I didn't, not once, say that the Bourne series is the best trilogy of all time.

 

Heck, as of right now it's quite possibly the best trilogy of all time

 

I know you're trying to refute that in the next sentence, but don't deny you said that, or at least admit you were overstating things a bit much.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

My main gripe with the series is it isn't a mystery to the viewer, it's only a mystery to Bourne. Yes, we aren't aware of the specifics, but I don't think the reveals came as much of a surprise to any one. So it's really just a matter of watching this character find out what we already know. And they sorta played it up like we weren't supposed to know. The reveal on the CIA director being involved, not as shocking as I think they wanted it to be. Maybe it's just the films being a victim of its genre, but I felt a lot of the suspense was taken away by the fact that Bournes quest was more of a formality than a necessity with the series.

[Downhome 0]

I didn't, not once, say that the Bourne series is the best trilogy of all time.

 

Heck, as of right now it's quite possibly the best trilogy of all time

 

I know you're trying to refute that in the next sentence, but don't deny you said that, or at least admit you were overstating things a bit much.

 

I'll admit that I might not have explained just what I was trying to say the best way possible, but I tried to make it clear with the last part of that sentence, and everything else I said from that point on. Surely most of you can agree that the Bourne trilogy is not only of high quality, but also very, very consistent in that quality.

 

[Guest Vitamin X]

Alright, so I just came back from this film. My thoughts after I address these two points..

My main gripe with the series is it isn't a mystery to the viewer, it's only a mystery to Bourne. Yes, we aren't aware of the specifics, but I don't think the reveals came as much of a surprise to any one. So it's really just a matter of watching this character find out what we already know. And they sorta played it up like we weren't supposed to know. The reveal on the CIA director being involved, not as shocking as I think they wanted it to be. Maybe it's just the films being a victim of its genre, but I felt a lot of the suspense was taken away by the fact that Bournes quest was more of a formality than a necessity with the series.

I agree wholeheartedly. I think, in a sense, that made me feel a bit frustrated in that the filmmakers made it feel like they dumbed down the movie a bit more than necessary. Kind of insulting to the audience's intelligence.

 

I didn't, not once, say that the Bourne series is the best trilogy of all time.

 

Heck, as of right now it's quite possibly the best trilogy of all time

 

I know you're trying to refute that in the next sentence, but don't deny you said that, or at least admit you were overstating things a bit much.

 

I'll admit that I might not have explained just what I was trying to say the best way possible, but I tried to make it clear with the last part of that sentence, and everything else I said from that point on. Surely most of you can agree that the Bourne trilogy is not only of high quality, but also very, very consistent in that quality.

Consistent, probably. High quality? This is where I think it's questionable.

 

After seeing the movie tonight, I felt that The Bourne Ultimatum was very similar to the first two- really fun movies that'll keep you on the edge of your seat for a couple hours, but not entirely memorable. The biggest problem I have with the trilogy is the cinematography. WAY too much shaky cam. The suspense built up in the lead up to the action scenes is enough to make the fight exciting, and the choreography of the fights (especially the one against the one whose name I believe was Desh?) is enough to bring the action goods. I know it's the "style" of the series, but this problem damn near made me dizzy to the point of throwing up in Supremacy, especially in the tunnel, and the same thing occured with Ultimatum. Some of the lines written in the script were abysmally cliche'd, and unintentionally hilarious. Deus ex machina abound in the film as well! Way too many nagging inconsistencies and overly convenient plot points.

 

With the negative stuff out of the way, again, I'll reiterate- it's a fun movie, and one of the better sequels around. I'm of the opinion that the first movie, with the way it ended and everything, was much more satisfying than either of the sequels, with Bourne finding a new, happy life on the run with a woman he fell in love with who changed her life and ran with him. I understand in the context of the novels it probably wasn't likely it was going to end on that, but I think the plot really started to get old in this movie. Grade-wise, I'd give the entire trilogy as a whole somewhere around a B or so, as it has been one of the more entertaining serial action films of the past decade or so, but it doesn't compare to the action heyday of the late 70's-early 90's.

[KingPK 0]

I saw it today and agree with most of VX's points. I actually had to shake my head clear at a few points because of all the shaking. The chase in Morocco was pretty badass as was the scene with Bourne and the reporter ducking surveillance. It kind of bogs down towards the end, though.

[cd213 0]

Saw the film last night and must say that it was the best of the three. I really liked the movie. It was all action from the start. The thing that I really like was

the whole first half of the movie was the last 5 minutes of the second film

. That was very interesting.

 

The fight scenes was great and the chase scenes were so fun. I really didn't mind the shaky cam all that much.

 

One thing that bothered me however was

the reporter was a dumb fuck. He didn't listen to Borne at all and I felt he deserved to die.

[theintensifier 0]

Saw it last night, and loved it. Easily the best of the three so far.

Agreed.

 

Bourne is like Wolverine. A bad ass man who doesn't know about his past and kicks all kinds of ass. And like Wolverine, eventually finds out about his past and still kicks alot of ass.

 

I'm wondering

what Nicki was refering to when she said "you really don't remember anything?" I was thinking they were former lovers, or related. The fight scene in the bathroom was phenominal to say the least.

 

I'm hoping they'll make a fourth film. There's no way the American Government would stop chasing someone they were trying to destroy off a

we may have killed him since we did shoot him and he fell ten stories into the river, BUT, we were unable to find the body of a super soldier