Bourne Ultimatum
Released in theater 2007
Runtime: 111 minutes
Seemed like: 95 minutes
aaaaaaaaa out of 10 checkmarks


Wow! A movie in the theater! The big screen, the big speakers, the way the Bourne movies were meant to be seen. Lots of great chase scenes, great action scenes and fantastic music make this a great show to spend money on. Fortunately, we didn't have to spend any money to see this sneak preview (thanks Marcey!) we just had to put up with some local radio personality for 10 minutes.

This is a fun summer movie. If you haven't sen any Bourne movies, this guy is an uber-spy that the CIA is trying to rub out. That's all you need to know. The rest is just rooting for the underdog against the big bad government. Matt Damon gives as much expression as he can to this nearly robotic character. Most of the acting is understated, shall we say. Since there's no humor or intimacy throughout the movie, it's really just a matter of being very tense.

So, if it's not up to the actors, the success of this movies lies with the director and writers. What a fast-paced movie! Paul Greengrass must have stock in Red Bull. This movie never stops. But the writing is the glue that rises above the action and transcends the series of chases and fights into a fun, semi-intelligent, suspenseful thriller.

But I can't give it a perfect score. I wonder if the DP ever heard of a tripod? It's a great device that holds the camera steady. I understand the use of handheld cameras to enhance action and suspense, but give my eyes a break when the action slows down. Finally, Greengrass pushed my suspension of disbelief too far a couple of times. It's great to see Bourne escape from terrible predicaments with only his wits and resourcefulness, but he crawled out of one too many car accidents for my taste. The guy's supposed to be human after all.

Watch this movie. It's fun.

Shooter
DVD Released 2007
Runtime: Approximately 124 minutes
Seems like 150 minutes
aaaa out of 7 stars

Let me preface this review by telling you I never liked the Rambo movies. I always thought the vigilante shoot-em-up movies over-simplified things. Good vs bad, violence solves all problems, and no wrong goes unavenged. I'm sorry, but life can be unfair, and no amount of fighting back can change that.

That being said, Shooter is OK, even if it is a Rambo rip-off. Lots of fun action, good plot twists, and pretty girls. It's a great way to hate the crooks in the government without really having to do anything about them. The soundtrack doesn't detract from the movie, in fact it actually adds suspense in a few key scene. The explosions were great, the chases believable. The acting was fine, if you like stereotypes, but the dialogue was lame and cliche ridden.

Mark Wahlberg portrays the latest uber-human with incredible shooting and survival skills. No real complexity or back story, just a military machine. Danny Glover is a government crook who whispers instead of talks. This is one of his weakest roles I've seen in a long time.

Except for the first plot twist, the movie is predictable. There's the classic thriller scene of the bad guy stalking the underwear clad girl, all alone in her bedroom. There's the classic plea for patriotism. And there's the classic conspiracy. It was a classic movie from a template.

Don't bother watching this if you want to expand your mind. If you just want to escape a little, sit back and watch the explosions!