film review: the bourne legacy
The Bourne Legacy (directed by Tony Gilroy), is an expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum’s novels. It follows Aaron Cross (played by Jeremy Renner) – one of the agents of ‘Operation Outcome’ who has been instructed to take a performance-enhancing drug. When a potential risk threatens the secrecy of the operation – the CIA decide to shut it down, killing all the agents and people involved in the tests. Cross’ fate becomes entwined with the guilt-ridden research scientist Dr. Marta Shearing (played by Rachel Wiesz), when he saves her life from assassins. To obtain the special drugs that will keep Cross alive, he and Shearing travel to the Philippines, playing cat and mouse with Retired Col. Eric Byer (Edward Norton) and his team.
The Bourne Legacy is your typical run-of-the-mill action movie, with lots of explosions, fight scenes and your usual ultra-evil plot. It’s lame in parts but fun to watch, previewing a showcase of visually spectacular shots in numerous parts of the world.
The unrealistic reality of the Bourne universe is part of the make-up of the film. It drags you in, taking you away from your own life and into a world of spies, conspiracies and improbable fight scenes. It may not be the best movie in the Bourne franchise, but The Bourne Legacy is exactly what an action movie is supposed to be – fun, entertaining, visually spectacular and absolutely ridiculous in parts.
