The Bourne Legacy

I thoroughly enjoyed the original three Jason Bourne movies, so when this one came out I was a little bit apprehensive – remakes and multiple sequels often do not live up to the original. However, this film was a pleasant surprise. Jeremy Renner made a great substitute for Matt Damon. The writers struggled at the beginning of the movie to make all of the parts fit together so that the sequel would make some sense – most of that I felt was unnecessary and bogus. At least they didn't devote too much time to connect the dots – mostly just short flashbacks or quick references in various conversations. The director and producers focused on the action – rightly so! This is what makes the Bourne movies worth watching. And from the very beginning, the action was realistic and "cool"... The format and the premise were exactly the same – super agent gone rogue, CIA and National Security agencies out of control. The new agents were stronger and smarter than the original Jason Bourne, genetically altered by drugs. I kept thinking of "Alice in Wonderland" – one pill makes you stronger, and one pill makes you smarter. One pill kills you – and the others do nothing at all. The obligatory chase scene through the streets of a busy city, this time Manila, Philippines, was super fun to watch! The ending, of course, sets us up for many more movies to come. If you enjoyed the original Jason Bourne movies, you will probably enjoy this one too! It's worth a rental.