The Bourne Legacy (With Ultraviolet)

For starters I had set myself up to think that this film would not be good as any of the previous Bourne films. However, please don't let that deter you - it is most definitely worth a watch - Jeremy Renner is a worthwhile replacement for Matt Damon. It is relatively fast paced movie with a few twists and turns. The only thing that surprised me is that it was rated just a 12 although maybe that's just me getting too moral in my old age...

The Bourne Legacy serves as a decent continuation and in fact expansion of the universe first shown in the Matt Damon trilogy but with a sense of familiarity in both plotting and action and minus Damon himself it ends up more a decent thriller than a superb one.

With some overlapping of events from The Bourne Ultimatum allowing a few familiar faces other than Damon to tie us into the story the main action soon moves from Alaska round the world as operative Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner - solid but less charismatic than Matt) finds himself hunted by his own Government as part of an attempt to minimise the damage from Jason Bourne's exposure of Operation Treadstone. Linking up with Rachel Weisz's scientist who can help him unlock some of the secrets of his training, Cross begins his own journey.

The underlying familiarity here is that this is very much like 2002's The Bourne Identity made again a decade later with some tweaks to characters and locations. It doesn't really feel new and it doesn't really engage as immediately. The performances and action sequences are above par for the genre and in keeping with the established feel of the prior trilogy but I just didn't warm up to this film the way I did the others. Add in a relatively abrupt ending and I'm still a bit on the fence.

I'm being a bit kinder with 4 stars than maybe I should, and it is a perfectly well made film. It just didn't really excel in any special way for me when I watched it.

Not watched it as its a christmas present but it looks good to watch. Came it good time too.

There is no no Matt Damon, enough said.don't bother watch the other ones again.

Please stick with this film! I admit it may be a bit difficult to get into but once you do WOW! Is it worth it! Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz work brilliant together and if she wasnt married to Daniel Craig........