by Karyn L. Beach

The Bourne Ultimatum is the third and final (at least for Matt Damon) in the Bourne series. In my opinion, it’s the best of the three. If you like action, you will have to love The Bourne Ultimatum. It starts with a bang and keeps going and going and going until the credits roll at the end. I had to sit in my seat and catch my breath when it was over.

Jason Bourne is still a renegade undercover CIA agent in search of his true identity; but as the film opens during a chase in Moscow, we see that he’s starting to remember more and more about who he is and, more importantly, how he got where he is. Meanwhile, a British reporter (Paddy Considine) has gotten a hold of the Jason Bourne tale and with the help of an informant has exposed Treadstone (the operation behind Bourne) in a series of articles. He has information (and a source) that Bourne needs. But the CIA wants him to. You see, Treadstone has morphed into a larger more comprehensive black ops program called Blackbriar and the reporter knows all about that too.

The Bourne Ultimatum spans Europe (London, Madrid, Moscow, Italy), Northern Africa (Morocco) and finally the good old U.S. of A (New York) as Bourne races towards a confrontation with the man who ‘made him’ who he is. Along the way Bourne has his share of car chases, bike chases, fist fights and rooftop run-ins. Helping him is Treadstone operative Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles).

Back at CIA headquarters, a power play is underway between Pam Landy (Joan Allen) who actually wants to help Bourne and Noah Vosen (David Straithairn) who wants him killed on site to protect all of Blackbrier’s dirty little secrets.

The Bourne Ultimatum grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let up. Without the love story (remember operatives killed his girlfriend in The Bourne Supremacy), the story is focused and tight. Don’t expect the comic relief of the Die Hard series or the superhero antics of Spider-man or Fantastic Four. This is gritty, fast-paced, action. Bourne is some serious business.

Paul Greengrass (nominated for best director last year for the sober United 93) keeps the pace frantic and the action heart-pounding. Sure no one could possibly survive everything that Bourne goes through (it is a Hollywood film) but Greengrass manages to keep it all somewhat believable not to mention wildly entertaining.

Definitely the action movie of the summer, make that the year.