Why So Blu?

Jason Bourne Lays All His Cards Down On The Table (Movie Review)

Jason Bourne needs no trailer to sell it.  Let’s be honest of that fact.  When Bourne Identity dropped in 2002 it rejuvenated the stale international spy franchises out there.  Just look at the style of what came next in the Bond series, Casino Royale, as living proof.  Suddenly Bourne-like movies infected our screens everywhere from the mainstream Mission Impossible franchise to even television series like 24.  Yes, technically 24 came out first, but surely you can see the influence of the Bourne films.  What I want to know is what’s up with these “character name” movie titles?  Stallone resurrected two dead franchises like that.  Now I guess it’s Greengrass’ turn, eh?

Let’s forget about the 2012 entry, Legacy, which focuses on the fallout in the intelligence community in Bourne Ultimatum.  It didn’t feature Matt Damon in the titular role so I could care less about that one.  I do not even own it on Blu-ray.  Instead, let’s fast forward to now.  Matt Damon is back on board.  Why?  It’s because of director Paul Greengrass.  Matt Damon would not come back unless Paul did and like the Eagles, hell freezes over in 2016.  Greengrass not only directs, but shares writing duties with editor Christopher Rouse on Jason Bourne.

If you count the Bourne Legacy, this entry marks the fifth in the franchise.  Damon also serves as a producer here.  Other stars include Julia Stiles, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel and Tommy Lee Jones.  Jason Bourne picks up several years after Jason’s disappearance at the end of The Bourne Ultimatum.  He resurfaces trying to find “all” the answers to his past he doesn’t already have from the first three films.  Meanwhile, the U.S. government has a new military “training” program akin to Treadstone.  They want to keep it under wraps.  So they utilize their various international assets to hunt Bourne down before he can expose it all.  If any of this already sounds vaguely familiar, please stop me.  Ha!

There’s a beauty in all of this.  Yes, Jason Bourne is a tried and proven formula, but the simplicity of it all rocks in its execution throughout here.  This is the best Bourne ever and let me tell you why after I catch you up to speed first on what transpires.  Jason Bourne resurfaces.  We all know that.  However, it’s the why now that every needs to concern themselves with.  Our friend Julia Stiles digs up some information that she thinks Bourne needs to know.  You see, their friendship is on a “need to know” basis.  Anyway, this rocks the intelligent community because Julia’s character didn’t exactly get her hands on this info legally.  Oh no!  Big brother catches her hacking them.

Furthermore, all it takes is for Jason Bourne to adjust to the gravity of the situation and snap!  He comes out of hiding in full blown Terminator T-1000 mode.  He will not stop until he gets what he wants and takes down the government corruption.  You have to admire a man with that kind of dedication.  In true Bourne style, this is still a globetrotting affair from London to Berlin and Washington to Vegas.  Jason Bourne takes you for a wild and crazy thrill ride.  Think about the vehicular mayhem of Mad Max: Fury Road style at times here too.  The stakes are high and the exhilaration factor is one-hundred percent all there.  Did you notice I did not drop any spoilers back there?  I’m so kind!

Let’s talk about why I love this one so much.  First of all, there’s the high octane action.  The fight scenes are brutal and visceral and the car chases are downright exhilarating.  I have not felt that much tension in action sequences since last year’s Mad Max: Fury Road.  When you compare any action sequence to Miller’s film you have a winner on your hands.  Second, it was cliche, but smart and witty at the same times.  Bourne recruits the use of gadgets that actually serve a purpose to the story.  Their placement within the story was both crowd pleasing and righteous, albeit a bit too convenient at times. The performances themselves were nothing short of satisfying, but last but certainly not least has to be the choice of locations.

The Bourne movies have always inspired people to travel abroad due to their international locations that us American audiences find curious.  Jason Bourne is no exception to that rule.  I personally still don’t want to travel to a lot of parts of the world Bourne find himself in.  They appear way too violent for my personal liking.  However, when you bring Bourne stateside to one of my favorite places in the world, Sin City, you have my full, undivided attention.  You can say he “lays all his cards down on the table” and is all in as Jason takes down corruption among the Vegas gamblers.  I found myself relishing every minute of the Las Vegas culture, vibe and scenery onscreen.  Why not just shoot a whole Bourne film there next time?  We can call it the Bourne Roller.  That has a nice ring to it, does it not?

Oh did I let the cat out of the bag when I said why not shoot a whole other film there?  Well, let’s just say Jason Bourne leaves things a tad open ended.  Don’t get me wrong, there’s a definitive ending here.  Let’s just say they leave it open to possibilities.  That’s not a bad thing.  I had many reservations going into Jason Bourne that it was going to be more or less the same thing as the first three.  Being proven wrong, I now find myself  drooling to view this one in glorious 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.  You picking up what I’m dropping here?  I’m trying to tell you subliminally to go see Jason Bourne this weekend.  Trust me, there’s more than just the same old here.  If Greengrass wants to do another, there’s a new chapter ripe for picking in the franchise.  What say you, Paul?

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Jason Bourne Opens Nationwide July 29th

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