You might want to make sure your seated while reading this, but there are still rogue elements at the CIA who want Jason Bourne dead. Yes, he's on the run again, and if the dog days of August leave you wishing for more frantic chases in exotic locales interspersed with frantic nail-bitting at the CIA operations center, then let me recommend "Ultimatum". The movie's makers can be forgiven for borrowing heavily from the last plot, if only on the strength of the central figure, Bourne. He's so fun to watch, it doesn't matter if he's caught on some Sisyphean black ops treadmill. The real key to the franchise's success are the clever tricks Bourne uses to foil the bad guys, and this movie has the requisite number.

For the first time, the Bourne series becomes ever so slightly political. I think my Hollywood political B.S. antenna might be more sensitive than most, but I think I counted half a dozen uses of the word "rendition", and they weren't discussing cover bands. But all that is going to sail over 90% of the theater-going-public's heads.

While the movie works well as a summer escapade, it could have been a deeper experience. The frenetic pace and the meth-addled camera work dilute the impact of the important moral message. Up until now, Bourne has blamed others for his predicament. In this movie, he discovers the real source of his troubles, and the ending could have used more time for him and us to process this.

This is a warmed over rehash, and I liked it. That said, I'm sure the "Ultimatum" is the not the ultimate Bourne picture. The franchise is going to have to start exploring new terrain, lest we all roll our eyes and mutter, "Bourne, again."




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