The Bourne Supremacy

Paul Greengrass delivers a spy thriller full of modern technology, fast cuts, and perfect handheld camera work. The plot is also very fast-paced, dynamic, and above all completely unpredictable. Matt Damon is a great action hero mainly because he doesn't look like a super secret agent at first glance, so you can relate to him much better. (11/02/2005)

The simplest guide to return in royal style. Healthily combined hierarchy of opponents, even cooler approach and a flood of captivating and formally tousled action that has become the benchmark for every other action movie that borrowed a handheld camera. For the story, the biggest plus is definitely the cold-blooded duo Urban - Roden as a contrast to my favorite Pamela Landy. The fact that my heart rate immediately increases only when Jason appears on the street never ceases to amaze me. (23/05/2005)

Greengrass understood it better than Liman. The only thing his authentic Bourne loses is the choreography of one brawl, but otherwise, that which in the previous film looked like treading between a dynamic and rough thriller and a clean spy film ala M:I is replaced by Paul's typical elegance and a documentary maelstrom of images. The result is Bourne, who, in addition to his identity, finds above all integrity, the missing charisma appears where Bourne-man and Bourne-soldier become one body and one personality. Damon seems to have fully inhabited the character, meaning that Bourne is a tough guy with human features, without these things contradicting each other. Magnificent car chases, suspense even during peaceful scenes, a much more civil concept and, of course, the 24-carat final Moscow chase. I would only complain about the magnificent gesture of humanity in the finale, which is a bit exaggerated, and sometimes the predictability and the holes in the logic. But otherwise Jason Bourne is starting to win me over. (14/02/2008)

The perfect prototype of an action movie. Excellently thought-out action from beginning to end, with a wise lesson to be learned at the end. Perfect camerawork, amazing directing, Powell’s brilliant music, an excellent story... what more can I say? I hope Ultimatum will be at least as good, if not better. (31/05/2006)

Although I found Bloody Sunday absolutely gripping, knowing his style I couldn’t imagine how Greengrass intended to approach this commercial spy thriller. He approached Bourne in his very own way and the result is a realistic glimpse of the tricky life led by a former elite agent. From the first seconds, the pace of this picture is incredible and the way he steady increases the tension is completely exceptional. Add to this the solid plot involving nothing big, “just" a personal vendetta, and in the end the vendetta isn’t really so important. Splendid camerawork and Powell’s soundtrack suck you whole into the story. The acting is splendid too, even from the taciturn Matt Damon. As a whole this is a hugely quality picture, with added flavor in the form of nice little details that you appreciate fully only when watching it again (the poster about the demonstration and subsequent use of this information, the jump that went wrong and the limping and the fact that apart from the flashback and two shots in the tunnel, Jason doesn’t use a gun, and many more). Unforgettable, gripping, and nicely innovative (trans)genre picture. Bourne has set the bar so high for Ethan and Bond that it is almost unbeatable in its genre... ♫ OST score: 5/5 (07/10/2004)