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FILM DETAILS

Certificate 12A

Cast Matt Damon Franka Potente Karl Urban Tomas Arana Brian Cox Julia Stiles.

Directors Paul Greengrass.

Screenwriters Tony Gilroy.

Running Time 0 minutes

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The Bourne Supremacy
Jason Bourne returns in one of the finest big-budget thrillers in years.

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Plot
Since the events of The Bourne Identity, amnesiac former CIA hit man Jason Bourne has been living under the radar and off the map. But, his violent, covert past catches up with him, so, instead of running, he decides to take the fight to them.

Review
Who'd have thought it? While James Bond was undergoing constant reinvention, little Tommy Cruise was gallivanting about on Missions: Impossible, and Vin Diesel was boasting that xXx was da bomb, the spy franchise to beat them all went about its business quietly - rather like its hero.

The Bourne Identity was a welcome surprise, a captivating, twisting thriller with (gasp) an interesting lead character. And we're glad to report that The Bourne Supremacy builds on and exceeds the original, delivering, quite simply, one of the finest big-budget thrillers in years.

Not that you'd ever notice the budget - this is in many ways an anti-blockbuster. There are stunts here, fight scenes and car crashes there (with the final crunching pursuit through and under the streets of Moscow vying for a spot in the cinematic auto-wreck Top Ten), but no glib one-liners, no pat love interests and none of the CG-augmented new laws of physics that Hollywood loves so much.

There's never a sense that director Paul Greengrass and returning screenwriter Tony Gilroy are ticking off boxes; instead, Greengrass, building on both the promise and aesthetic of Bloody Sunday, revitalises standard action licks with Tommy-gun editing and constantly whipping cameras. Fans of 24 will love it.

Storywise, we're not in corkscrewing, M:I territory here. In fact, the plot runs out of steam well before the end, allowing Greengrass to explore - and inflict - the emotional trauma suffered by Bourne. And so we end as we began, not with a bang, but with a quiet moment of vulnerable, and genuinely touching, reflection for an already exposed hero.

It's a risky strategy for an "action" movie, but happily it works thanks to Matt Damon's astute, underplayed performance, through which he totally eschews movie star vanity (and that toothy grin) to stand close-cropped head and shoulders above a strong cast. Damon's Bourne is cold yet not emotionless, lethal yet not invincible - a very human hero, racked by emotional and physical pain. It's a brave performance and, by the end, there will be few who won't want to see Bourne on the run again soon.

Verdict
Exciting, emotionally layered and brimming with invention. The brains behind Bond should take note, for the Bourne series has proved itself the smartest spy franchise around.


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Your Reviews

Average user rating for The Bourne Supremacy

RE: Saw it, Loved it, Bought it

he first one was okay but the second one was just pure rubbish and had nothing to do with the books because they screwed that up at the end of the first one with the killing of chris cooper's character. ... More

Posted by anakin solo at 14:10, 01 June 2006 | Report This Post

Saw it, Loved it, Bought it

A mate o mine saw it b4 me and said it wasn't as good as Bourne Identity so I thought 'why bother then'. Eventually watched it during a dull evening shift and I was mesmerised. Just pure braw by the way. Wanted to give it 5 stars, but just lacked a fifth dimension - still one of the best franchises out there. ... More

Posted by Ryan_D_Bell at 20:02, 30 May 2006 | Report This Post

Bourne To Run

How refreshing it is to watch a sequel to a great film turn out to be just as good if not better than the first. A fantastic spy film continuing on from where the first left off with Bourne chilling with his love-interest (Potente). After this first shock the viewer can assume that almost anything can happen in the next couple of hours. Intelligent, thrilling and charming, you'd want to hold Robert Ludlum at gun-point just so more of this franchise can be made. The sight of Bourne useing a toast... More

Posted by holly martins at 00:16, 29 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: RE:

I really like the Bourne movies and this is my favourite I think Matt Damon is brilliant in it. Can't wait for the third movie! ... More

Posted by buffy at 21:24, 27 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: RE:

Good fun, but i found the second one a bit predictable. ... More

Posted by obi arin kenobi at 18:15, 27 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: RE:

Certainly not as good as the original but a strong sequel (despite the occasional moment of annoying camera work)! ... More

Posted by BobaJango at 23:54, 25 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE:

Thought it was amazing! On some levels...not as good as the first but hey... that car chase is just.... WOW!!! ... More

Posted by ~Angel~ at 16:19, 25 May 2006 | Report This Post

Good but i like the first one and i can not see the fighting it was shoot to close to the people unlike the first one ... More

Posted by butcj001 at 14:29, 23 May 2006 | Report This Post

Good but i like the first one and i can not see the fighting it was shoot to close to the people unlike the first one ... More

Posted by butcj001 at 14:28, 23 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: The Bourne Supremacy

I really liked both movies. I usually don't like Matt Damon very much (and couldn't picture him in this type of role) but I thought he was great. They did a good job of translating the books to the screen. ... More

Posted by westwood2000 at 12:08, 21 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: The Bourne Supremacy

I don't i] know why but when The Bourne Identity came about I was never too bothered about it. Then I saw both 'Identity' and 'Supremacy' on sale in a local vid shop and took the plunge and bought them, and now I frickin adore them. Clever, exciting, beautifully shot and composed. Matt Damon is also in his mode, especially in Supremacy. ... More

Posted by Monkey Wrench at 20:57, 17 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: The Bourne Supremacy

I liked the way the films showed that he was not invulnerable.  He was tough but there was a sense of danger to the Bourne character in that he did take a beating. ... More

Posted by sanchia at 20:21, 17 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: The Bourne Supremacy

I like them both, I own both of them. To begin with I like the idea behind the film and secondly I love that they go to different locations, especially some we haven't seen at all or not for a long time. The movies are great show and although I am a huge fan of the Bond series, I have to agree they were rather lame these days. Great entertainment. ... More

Posted by Lorelai at 20:06, 17 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: The Bourne Supremacy

I hated the first film but Greengrass really got hold of the tension in this one. ... More

Posted by doctorolorinbats1975 at 18:30, 17 May 2006 | Report This Post

bourne AGAIN

masterful film and a brilliant sequel now just awaiting the third installment to make this a worhty part of a trilogy! ... More

Posted by alexisreaver2132 at 13:12, 17 May 2006 | Report This Post

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