Coyote Cinema: Bourne Legacy

[cyrano]

Up front, solid movie but the weakest of the Bournes. I didn't feel Renner had the charisma of Damon here, and we didn't get as much of the *flash* the earlier movies were good for--the tight, whipsmart combat choreography, and the almost MacGyveresque improvisations that said "this guy is preternaturally smart and quick thinking". There was less action, but there was still the tense moving of chess pieces as the rogue agent worked to stay ahead of the Agency. I loved the way the third movie was woven into this one, and I loved the way Bourne was a phantom throughout without making an appearance. I loved how Rachael Weisz was believably a civilian who still was not reduced to screaming and being saved--a hallmark of these movies. I wish I'd had the chance to rewatch the other movies first, like we did with 'Ultimatum', because I think it would have enriched the experience. The last forty-five minutes or so are a chase scene that's probably about twice as long as it needs to be, but it did put a new twist on the rooftop escape that's in every movie.
Good performances from quite a few of the cast. Suffers from high expectations of a Bourne film. 3.5 wags.

Comments

[tersa.livejournal.com]

I had to avoid reading your post until I'd watched it myself yesterday, but I agree with about 95% of what you wrote, other than the assessment of Renner's charisma. I don't think he was quite as good as the super agent as Damon was as Bourne, but he had a chemistry with Weisz that I felt made up for it.

I thought of you a lot while watching it, especially the day we re-watched 1 & 2 leading up to 3 and, like you, I came out of it wishing I'd had a chance to re-watch the original trilogy in order to refresh my memory of those events. I had so many tantalizing half-memories of the various cameos (Allen, Straitharn, Glenn) but couldn't remember any details.

I was once again struck by how much I love these movies for expecting the audience to keep up and not hitting them over the head with the obvious stick, and how the bad guys aren't stupid. I loved the juxtaposition of Aaron and Marta flying to Manila with the methodical way the war room tracked them down.

But like a bunch of the other comments mentioned, I intensely disliked the last fourth or so of the movie, basically from the introduction of Beta onwards. By the time the chase scene hit the motorcycle, it was getting too long, there was one moment there (when Marta nearly fell off the bike and Aaron hauled her back up) which completely broke my suspension of disbelief and I didn't feel like I got any resolution.

I mentioned to E-- at the end that, looking back, all the plot was was Aaron trying to break free of the Agency's control, and in hindsight, it reminded me of how I felt coming out of Jim Butcher's Furies of Calderon book: technically there was a plot with a beginning, middle, and end, but it felt incredibly flimsy and more like they were writing the first book (or movie) in a series and doing worldbuilding rather than a strong, standalone story.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, I remember that motorcycle moment and thinking "uh. no." Because if you force me to think about physics in a movie, then it's bad for everybody.

I missed Franka Potente, but I always like Rachel Weisz. As far as charisma, though, I meant over all. Renner seemed quietly capable and competent but when Damon was onscreen it was *everybody look at the screen now because at any moment I'm going to do something badass*.

[tersa.livejournal.com]

As far as charisma, though, I meant over all. Renner seemed quietly capable and competent but when Damon was onscreen it was *everybody look at the screen now because at any moment I'm going to do something badass*.

That's true. Renner was...perfectly servicable as an action hero, but didn't have that spark.