Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 224

Not Afraid · 08-04-2007, 02:02 PM

I got the Almodovar box set yesterday. I see some color in my future - unless we choose to watch Matador.

Stan4dSteph · 08-05-2007, 07:16 AM

Saw The Bourne Ultimatum last night. It's awesome, although I have to admit there were some plot points I wish had been resolved better, especially if this is the last one. I still don't quite understand the relationship hinted at between Nickie and Bourne.

CoasterMatt · 08-05-2007, 09:28 AM

Polyester + NyQuil = WOOHOO!!

innerSpaceman · 08-09-2007, 10:03 AM

Why-oh-why do I listen to critical reaction?

The Bourne Ultimatum was completely MEH.

There was plenty of fun action, and a goodly amount of spyster intrigue.

But Jason Bourne was a weaksauce character this time out. Damon barely spoke a word. He had no one to play off throughout the entire film (cept for a brief interlude with Nicki, who - it turns out - used to be his gal at one time pre-being-Bourne) .. and so he never seems decisive or pro-active. He's just there, and he's always shown to be competent in sneaking around and fighting and chasing. But he's never moving the story along, never making anything happen, and never offered an opportunity to express his character through dialogue.

The stuff in the movie is re-tread city. David Strathairn is nasty, but his character is - in the end - far too easily fooled by Bourne to have risen to the high post he's got at the CIA. Joan Allen plays the same good-guy-at-the-Agency role she delivered in the last outting.

The series has been weak ever since Bourne recovered from amnesia. There's no hook to the tale. He's simply a rogue spy/assassin looking for revenge. Snore.

Last time he was looking to apologize for his first hit job, and he has to remember the details of that assignment. This time he's close to recovering the memory of how he was indoctrinated into the Treadstone program ... and the payoff for that is ho-and-hum.

Spoiler:

.

The pacing was fine, the action was good. But the part of Bourne was simply phoned in, virtually non-existent in a film with his name in the title. And - um - there was no "ultimatum" anywhere to be found.

Babette · 08-09-2007, 08:05 PM

Saw Bourne yesterday. I really enjoyed it. Thought the action was fun and entertaining. Extended chases and fights were amazing.

The story was not as great as the first. When Matt did speak (like only a handful of times or in short phrases) he sounded like he had a cold. Whatever, he was still hot!

The story had holes, but not too many to make me hate it. I wonder:

Spoiler:

DreadPirateRoberts · 08-09-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babette

I wonder:

Spoiler:

I didn't see the movie, but:

Spoiler:

BarTopDancer · 08-10-2007, 10:45 AM

I think I am going to see The Simpsons and The Bourne Ultimatum tonight.

Gemini Cricket · 08-10-2007, 04:53 PM

Daddy Day Camp : 2% on Rottentomatoes.com

innerSpaceman · 08-10-2007, 05:07 PM

Heheheh, I wonder how Rush Hour 3 will fare .... but I'm not going to find out.

I was a big fan of Jackie Chan. Chris Tucker? Not so much.

* * * * *

Here's an example of problems I had with the Bourne sequels. Car chases. Big part of the franchise, right? Always a good car chase in the Bourne films.

But the ones in the sequels with just Jason Bourne in the car are not nearly as good as the one in the original with his new girlfriend along for the joyride.

See, there's no danger for Jason Bourne in a car chase (heck he survives a wreck in Bourne-Three without a scratch that would have killed an entire schoolbus full of kids). But with an unsuspecting girl along, the danger quotient is there. We feel it. She's our surrogate. She's the innocent civilian along for the ride with the uber-trained spy.

The chases with just Bourne alone in the vehicle, while technically superb, were emotionally inferior.

Likewise, the most riveting action in Bourne-Three is when the girl, Nicki, is being hunted by a CIA assassin and Bourne must rescue her. Girl in danger = excitement. Bourne in danger = we don't believe it for a second.

And yeah, the ending of Bourne-Three with him in the water was a nice bookend to the series. But his repeat of the line from the original, "Look what they make us give" came off lame, imo. (It was a ham-handed salute ... plus, um, Matt Damon is no Clive Owens. Sorry, Matt. No.)

Not Afraid · 08-10-2007, 05:10 PM

I'm thinking it's gonna be an Almodovar kind-of night.

08-04-2007, 02:02 PM	#2231
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	I got the Almodovar box set yesterday. I see some color in my future - unless we choose to watch Matador.
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08-05-2007, 07:16 AM	#2232
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Saw The Bourne Ultimatum last night. It's awesome, although I have to admit there were some plot points I wish had been resolved better, especially if this is the last one. I still don't quite understand the relationship hinted at between Nickie and Bourne.
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08-05-2007, 09:28 AM	#2233
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	Polyester + NyQuil = WOOHOO!! __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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08-09-2007, 10:03 AM	#2234
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Why-oh-why do I listen to critical reaction? The Bourne Ultimatum was completely MEH. There was plenty of fun action, and a goodly amount of spyster intrigue. But Jason Bourne was a weaksauce character this time out. Damon barely spoke a word. He had no one to play off throughout the entire film (cept for a brief interlude with Nicki, who - it turns out - used to be his gal at one time pre-being-Bourne) .. and so he never seems decisive or pro-active. He's just there, and he's always shown to be competent in sneaking around and fighting and chasing. But he's never moving the story along, never making anything happen, and never offered an opportunity to express his character through dialogue. The stuff in the movie is re-tread city. David Strathairn is nasty, but his character is - in the end - far too easily fooled by Bourne to have risen to the high post he's got at the CIA. Joan Allen plays the same good-guy-at-the-Agency role she delivered in the last outting. The series has been weak ever since Bourne recovered from amnesia. There's no hook to the tale. He's simply a rogue spy/assassin looking for revenge. Snore. Last time he was looking to apologize for his first hit job, and he has to remember the details of that assignment. This time he's close to recovering the memory of how he was indoctrinated into the Treadstone program ... and the payoff for that is ho-and-hum. Spoiler: Ooooh, big deal ... he volunteered for the job. So frelling what?? . The pacing was fine, the action was good. But the part of Bourne was simply phoned in, virtually non-existent in a film with his name in the title. And - um - there was no "ultimatum" anywhere to be found.
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08-09-2007, 08:05 PM	#2235
Babette Snubbed Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cupcake heaven Posts: 433	Saw Bourne yesterday. I really enjoyed it. Thought the action was fun and entertaining. Extended chases and fights were amazing. The story was not as great as the first. When Matt did speak (like only a handful of times or in short phrases) he sounded like he had a cold. Whatever, he was still hot! The story had holes, but not too many to make me hate it. I wonder: Spoiler: Do you really think top CIA members (or any CIA agents) really have office windows you can see into? Wouldn't they have one-way glass or something to prevent people from peeping and finding their secret hiding spots? Just wondering. The end of Bourne Supremecy flashes forward a few months and has Jason looking into Pamela Landy's office and telling her she looks tired, etc. There was a similar scene in Bourne Ultimatum. This made me think that the first half of Ultimatum was supposed to be those missing months from Supremecy, then it continued on from there. Anyone else feel this? I like how it ended the same way Bourne Identity started with him floating in the water Nice book ends for a trilogy. I LOVE MATT DAMON!!
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08-10-2007, 10:45 AM	#2237
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	I think I am going to see The Simpsons and The Bourne Ultimatum tonight. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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08-10-2007, 04:53 PM	#2238
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Daddy Day Camp : 2% on Rottentomatoes.com
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08-10-2007, 05:07 PM	#2239
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Heheheh, I wonder how Rush Hour 3 will fare .... but I'm not going to find out. I was a big fan of Jackie Chan. Chris Tucker? Not so much. * * * * * Here's an example of problems I had with the Bourne sequels. Car chases. Big part of the franchise, right? Always a good car chase in the Bourne films. But the ones in the sequels with just Jason Bourne in the car are not nearly as good as the one in the original with his new girlfriend along for the joyride. See, there's no danger for Jason Bourne in a car chase (heck he survives a wreck in Bourne-Three without a scratch that would have killed an entire schoolbus full of kids). But with an unsuspecting girl along, the danger quotient is there. We feel it. She's our surrogate. She's the innocent civilian along for the ride with the uber-trained spy. The chases with just Bourne alone in the vehicle, while technically superb, were emotionally inferior. Likewise, the most riveting action in Bourne-Three is when the girl, Nicki, is being hunted by a CIA assassin and Bourne must rescue her. Girl in danger = excitement. Bourne in danger = we don't believe it for a second. And yeah, the ending of Bourne-Three with him in the water was a nice bookend to the series. But his repeat of the line from the original, "Look what they make us give" came off lame, imo. (It was a ham-handed salute ... plus, um, Matt Damon is no Clive Owens. Sorry, Matt. No.)
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08-10-2007, 05:10 PM	#2240
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	I'm thinking it's gonna be an Almodovar kind-of night.
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