The Bourne Ultimatum

MPAA Rating: for violence and intense sequences of action

Reviewed by: Taran Gingery
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating:

Offensive

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Moviemaking Quality:

Primary Audience:

Adults, Teens

Genre:

Thriller, Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Sequel

Length:

1 hr. 51 min.

Year of Release:

2007

USA Release:

August 3, 2007 (wide)

Relevant Issues

Spies in the Bible

How does viewing violence in movies affect the family? Answer

Prequels to this movie: The Bourne Identity (2002) and The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

“This summer Jason Bourne comes home”

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Young people

Positive - This movie was fast and furious from the very beginning. I did see the first two and this one lived up to both of them in action, suspense, mystery and intrigue. It is a heart-pounding, breath-taking, soul-stirring experience from Scene 1. The response that I heard from the Holy Spirit at the end of this movie was “This is how evil works. It starts out making you think that what you’re doing is good and that it must have a higher purpose than you can determine, but in the end it makes you come face to face with the fact that the failure was in you all the time.” I hope every Christian viewer that sees this movie comes away remembering that “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Many, many people were severely hurt or killed as the result of the choices of this one man. We can only surmise what caused “Jason Bourne” to decide to join this unit; something was missing, wounded or gravely hurt in him that would make killing come so easily.

The one redeeming aspect of this film was the fact that when Jason Bourne’s own life began to be in jeopardy, he started questioning why he was a target, what he had done to make that happen, who he was really, and where that knowledge would take him. There is tremendous violence in this movie, and it is NOT a movie for anyone under 17. Many Christians should heed the fact that the theme of this movie is mainly “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The people who were the leaders in this movie suffered from a corruption of their morals and principles, and only one had the presence of mind to question whether what was being done might be wrong. I pray to God that there will always be at least one person in even the most evil enterprise who will question the 'truth' behind what is being done.

I did enjoy this movie, because I got into the action, mystery and intrique, but in my spirit I grieved the murder, mayhem and the decision of so many to flout all the laws and rules that govern us, and that there was only a vague interest in finding some level of truth in all this, but no knowledge of God is ever sought. I gave this movie a 4.5 for script, lighting, directing, acting, effects and stunts. From any Christian viewpoint this film gets a definitive 1, for at least questioning the ethics of what was being done.
My Ratings: Offensive / 4.5
—Lisa Gross, age 48

Positive - WOW !! If you like your movies quiet and peaceful and slow, this is NOT the movie for you!!! If you like action flicks with CONSTANT action, then you will love this film. This is the best of the Bournes. It is slick, fast, full of action, and well done. It almost borders on frenetic. Beware, the Lord’s Name is profaned several times. Crude swear words are also used, --- sh__, etc. etc. No sex, no nudity, no industrial-strength 'F' words. This is definitely NOT a chick flick.
My Ratings: Average / 5
—Maggie, age 60

Positive - Personally, I found nothing objectionable with this film. The violence used shows that violence does not pay off in the end. The swearing is better than what you hear on most TV shows. There is no nudity and the one sex scene is a flashback from the first movie which shows two people kissing with their clothes on. I think this is a great movie and not objectionable for anyone over 13 years old, if watched with an adult that can explain that the violence is not to be glorified.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Derek Armstrong, age 32

Positive - Fans of the Bourne series will not be disappointed. This movie essentially takes off where the previous one left off as Bourne suddenly is getting flashbacks of his origin and a secret section of the government that was not necessarily operating legitimately. Overall, I enjoyed this film. Production-wise, this film takes place in various locations around the world as Bourne tries to find the head of the organization that trained him to be an assassin. Pam Landy is back and she originally was called in to help track Bourne down again, but because of her suspicions, she sees that she may need to be more supportive of him. Noah Vosen is technically the 'bad guy' of this film as we see him gradually change from trying to catch Bourne, to trying to kill him, to trying to kill him and anyone associated with him (AKA: Nicky from the second film who, once again is helping Bourne).

The style of the movie is exactly in pace with the previous two (i.e. - No CGI effects, modernized pop-culture lingo or references, etc.). Even the car chase scenes were actual and were not computer rendered. A lot of fast-paced hand-to-hand action with no blood shed. No senseless violence or killings (though, some people did die in the film, it wasn’t often). There were some swear words scattered throughout the film (including the shock phrase, 'Jesus Christ'), but it was not frequent at all. No nudity or sexual references at all, which impressed me greatly.

The thing I like most about the Bourne series is Bourne himself. He’s basically a man who sees the horrible things he’s done, realizes that this was wrong and walked away from it. I’m continuously impressed at how many times you’ll see him raise a gun towards a person (only as a defense for himself), and eventually lower it because he truly doesn’t want to kill anymore, or he realizes that the other guy can no longer pose a threat (as opposed to other movies where the character would just shoot). He showed responsibility in taking actions and pointed out how unnecessary it is to be violent all of the time.

From a Christian standpoint, although Bourne did walk away from being an assassin, it doesn’t cover his past mistakes. He would need Jesus; not only to have his past sins forgiven, but to also provide a standard of living that would ensure him a better life. From what I could tell, the movie did not have anything strongly morally degrading. Because of some of the verbiage I mentioned above and the serious style of the movie, I don’t advise this film for younger viewers.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Howard, age 30

Positive - This is a fantastic thriller that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The action and story were extremely fast-paced, and yet I never lost the thread of thought; I always understood what was going on and why. All the acting was terrific. It is the best of the Bourne trilogy, and is definitely a satisfying conclusion to the story of Jason Bourne. There is lots of killing, so this movie is not for the squeamish. But as a spy thriller, this is way up there with the best. It is sophisticated, and the central figure finds his humanity amidst all the violence. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My Ratings: Offensive / 5
—Halyna, age 61

Positive - Every time I go to see a movie I read reviews on Christian Spotlight before attending a movie. This movie was exceptional. It truly is the hit of the summer!!! As someone who has read the 'Bourne' trilogy and viewed the previous movies many times I was not disappointed in 'Bourne Ultimatum'. The movie does a good job explaining how David Webb became Jason Bourne. What is left out is why he chose to become Jason Bourne. I recommend reading the books if you would like more background on the 'Why'. The chase scenes were exceptional. The fight scenes were so intense that both my brother and myself wanted to stand up and clap after each one because they were done so well. Jason Bourne is a true hero. As viewers we feel his pain and empathize with his mission. This is a must see… you won’t be disappointed.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Greg Reecy, age 33

Positive - My husband and I went to the midnight showing of this espionage thriller. The movie was excellently put together. I cannot recall any curse words. It was not bloody and the fight scenes were intriguing. As stated in the description, Jason Bourne is a former CIA hit man trying to piece his life together. In this installment of the Bourne series we see him evolve from a hit man into a man of strong morale character. He makes it a habit to leave as few dead bodies in his wake as possible—choosing instead to render his opponents unconscious; whom in turn are using deadly force in their attempts to stop him from uncovering the truth. The biggest positive about this movie (besides the AWESOME fight scenes) is the fact that we see Jason Bourne value life as a precious gift from God.
My Ratings: Good / 5
—Tara, age 35

Positive - This movie brings closure to the series, fast paced and fun! All of the action you would expect from a Bourne film, minus the language nudity and drug use! good movie in my book
My Ratings: Average / 3.5
—Seth, age 36

Positive - This was an amazing movie! Incredible acting by Matt Damon (like usual), and the supporting actors were great also! This was my favorite of the 'Bournes.' The only warning I would give for this film is SOME language. There were too many misuses of Christ’s name—that was very unnecessary. Overall though, great film. A MUST SEE!!!
My Ratings: Average / 5
—Amanda, age 22

Positive - Best of the Bourne series. The time flew and the plot made sense. The film stands alone but seeing the previous two helps the viewer fill out the back story. There are many biblical themes one can pull from the movie to discuss. Two of the most prominent are forgiveness and seeking a second chance in life. Jason Bourne is desperately seeking to understand who he is and reconcile his past actions with who he wants to be. He is sorry for all of his assassinations and in one scene he says he “seeS their faces” and is sorry for what he has done. The trouble is while he seeking to understand who he is and what he has done, the CIA is trying to kill him because they still perceive him as a threat. Thus the violence—he no longer kills offensively, but only in a defensive mode—when someone is trying to kill him. Thus his dilemma. Jason is trying to make peace with his past. He is looking for a second chance. Who more than Jesus Christ can help us with that. Through His work on the cross, he provides perfect personal forgiveness and lays our past aside, giving us the preeminent second chance possible. It may be rough and tumble getting to that point with a relationship with Jesus, but peace is available. Ultimately, it comes down to a choice. Just as Jason learns he made a choice that sent him down a killer’s road, we too must make a choice about Jesus—and live with the consequences of that choice.

Christians can also appreciate Pamela Landy, a CIA insider, who offers Jason assistance when she sees her own agency engaging in tactics that she cannot endorse. Believers must do the same when we see injustices. Edmund Burke said it well when he said “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Have your Dramamine ready as there are many frenetic shots during fights scenes and the car chase. Foul language is there but does not dominate as it could have. God’s name is taken in vain. Violent action sequences so I suggest older teens who can understand violence in context of the situation.
My Ratings: Offensive / 4.5
—Jeff Mc, age 47

Positive - Absolutely amazing! This series has been fantastic, and this latest instalment doesn’t disappoint. It was intense action that kept you on the edge of your seat, a great story line, great soundtrack, and very clean! Although I wouldn’t bring anyone under 12, because of the violence. This film is well worth seeing in theatres.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Sarah, age 18

Positive - I looked forward to this movie with great anticipation, and I was not disappointed. As a fan of spy thrillers, I rate the Bourne series with the best, and 'Ultimatum' at the top of the Bourne series. As far as objectionable material, there were minor curse words. There was no sex or nudity (the only scene was one unoffensive kissing scene--Bourne's flashback--which in Identity did lead to more explicit material). Violence is rather extreme, but Bourne uses violence as a means of defense or furtherance of his mission. It is not used simply to be used, and neither is it used with any light after effects. Matt Damon brought up this point when he, in an interview, contrasted the conscience-stricken Jason Bourne with James Bond, who is often seen smiling or drinking happily after killing. Jason Bourne finds no enjoyment in doing what he does. Now that he is trying to find answers, his torture over the inconsistency between what he did (and sometimes has to do) and what he really wants to be inside makes for fantastic viewing.

The complexity of the character of Jason Bourne is for me the best part of the series. He did volunteer to be part of the assassin’s program, but taking any action to escape it was forcefully denied him. Bourne was violently forced into submission through methods many criticize as inhumane even for Gitmo detainees. Withstanding all of this treatment, Bourne’s psyche was altered to contain a degree of numbness to his actions. Confronting amnesia ironically brought back pieces of his old self which served as a glass through which to view the assassinations he had committed as Bourne. In this new light, Jason Bourne became a conflicted person. And without all of his memory, he became both a hunter for his identity as well as a person hunted by his 'creators'. The secrets he held, and the risk he posed (in the minds of the CIA) were considered too dangerous, and the CIA determined to 'bring Bourne in' - or to eliminate him.

It is also interesting how the CIA looked at Bourne’s actions as Bourne searched for his identity (actions all legitimately committed), and still the CIA misunderstood him. Without a doubt, some officials had preconcieved ideas about what Bourne would do. But it also poses an interesting dilemma: Your perspective, your interpretations--no matter how hard you try to view things differently--may not be the true story. Bourne was a dangerous assassin, but in his search for solace, he was a torn man trying to find the truth and do the right. Fortunately for him, Pamela Landy had the bravery to stand firm in her instinct that Jason Bourne was not the bad person her superiors suspected.

As a Christian, I enjoy movies in which characters who have done wrong now search for repentance, reasons why they did wrong. It is disheartening to see movie personalities who look outside of their bad habits, but end up returning to them or excusing them. Jason Bourne, however, did not do this. The climax scene close to the end, the scene in which Bourne meets the program director who forced him to become Jason Bourne, is a powerful few minutes. Jason meets the man who in worldly thinking, he has every right to kill. Even for a Christian, to be in Bourne’s situation and meet someone like this, it would be very hard to not pull the trigger. All your training and ability is telling you it would be easy, that this man deserves to die for all the evil he has incited people to commit (remember, Bourne was only the first of many assassins). Even for the sakes of others who suffer what you do, surely it would be good to kill this man. Bourne, as many of us would have done, comes right to the brink of shooting his nemesis.

…From a production perspective, this movie was amazingly well-done. The tension does not let up for a second, and the very first second of the movie sets the pace at a racing speed--literally. I had heard negative reviews of the hand-held camera method. I am a huge fan of the TV show 24, which, like the Bourne series, never lets up on action, thrillers, and tension. 24 utilizes the same camera method, and I think it works fabulously for the Bourne movies (or any movie of this genre) becuase it allows close-up access to the characters, the action, and the events of the movie. It successfully creates tension--especially on a huge theater screen--that places you right there with it. An acquaintance who saw this movie told me he kept shaking himself off to 'get out the glass fragments' from the car chase scene. Fabulous work by the directors.

As tight as this movie is in terms of plot, and as quickly as the plot turns, this movie was relatively easy to follow. The only difficulty came in keeping up and paying attention to detail in order to catch the turns--a job I didn’t mind doing at all when it came to a movie this great. Acting was phenominal all around, and I enjoyed that Claire Danes was given a larger role. Her interaction with Bourne was great, and I enjoyed the second-to-last scene in which she smiles in the cafe upon hearing that no body could be found in the river.

A former CIA Directorate of Operations officer (clandestine service employee) was interviewed for the first Bourne movie (for special features) and he commented on how realistic the Bourne Identity was. This movie, in particular Jason Bourne’s interactions with the Guardian reporter Simon, were very well-directed, and seemed very real to life. The scenes in the London terminal in which Bourne moves Simon through and away from the CIA surveillance teams stands as one of my favorites of all time in the Bourne series.

A couple of my favorite lines:
Bourne: 'Because if you were in your office, we’d be holding this conversation face to face.'
Bourne: 'No, I’m not going to kill you. You don’t deserve the star they’d give you on the wall at Langley.'
Also--as a Missouri citizen watching this movie in a Missouri theater, this movie got a few laughs at one point when the camera panned to show Pamela Landy’s profile on Jason Bourne, and it had Bourne’s birthplace as Nixa, Missouri. Fabulous job all around! The best movie of the summer!
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Carina, age 21

Positive - This movie typifies what smart entertainment really is. It’s not cool CGI or impressive explosions. It’s not sex or gore. Bourne doesn’t need CGI to look tough, I only counted one explosion, he finds no time for a liaison, and there is no gore. The only warning I have is for those offended by violence. There is blood and one particularly disturbing scene where Bourne strangles a man to death with his bare hands. Some would say Bourne puts too many lives in danger to meet his ends. I can’t argue with that. He is an assassin; Putting lives in danger is what he does. We can nitpick him for his dangerous behavior once he’s out of therapy for what his 'creator' did to him. That’s right. Someone has made Bourne what he is and Bourne isn’t too happy about it. He means to hunt down this evil man and find out 'why'. 'Ultimatum' glorifies humans making moral decisions, even when it will cost them their lives. Several characters, including Bourne, make the 'right' choice and pay a high price for it. This is probably the smartest, most thrilling movie I’ve seen this year. Make that two years. Okay, okay, since the Supremacy.
My Ratings: Offensive / 4.5
—Willow, age 18

Positive - I came fresh to this not having watched the previous Bourne films, but maybe it’s a good thing at my age! The thrills and spills never stop as director Paul Greengrass creates a documentary-style white knuckle ride through two hours of intrigue and mayhem. Matt Damon is superb as the amnesiac assassin in search for his lost identity, with strong performances from Joan Allen, Julia Stiles and David Straithairn.

The plot is absolutely preposterous, both in the way it shows the CIA working and in Damon’s seemingly indestrictable antihero - more like Superman that flesh and blood. I mean, who else can jump off walls, run about three miles, jump through a window, and then have the energy to take out a top assassin after a long fight? But Greengrass' direction is so thrilling that one willingly suspends disbelief. It is shot with shakey camera style, so sit near the back rather than at the front of the cinema, else you may get travel sick!

One caveat I would have is that Bourne is so invincible, there is little real identification possible with the character. The other is that the film is very violent, so parents with children be warned! I do wonder just how much of this violence tranlates on to the streets of our cities when young people, having watched their heroes on screen, try and act it out for real.
My Ratings: Average / 4.5
—Ken Edwards, age 59

Positive - This movie was so awesome. I’m a fan of all the Bourne movies. Seeing as how it’s PG-13, I wouldn’t advise young children to view it because of the violence. But it is such an intense, on the edge of your seat movie. Good acting, and a well laid out story line.
My Ratings: Good / 4.5
—Britney J., age 18

Positive - …the action in this movie was sensational, but nothing, I mean nothing, can beat the car chase scene in the first movie. The acting was very good and plot even better. As a christian, I respect movies that don’t have obscene sexual scenes and scripts filled with every curse word known to man and more. And for the most part that’s what this film displayed. It wasn’t absolutely clean, but it helps when you don’t have to close your eyes or plug your ears as much. If you’re a fan of the Bourne movies, this is a must see. …the film was average, but I wouldn’t bring kids under 16, maybe 15.
My Ratings: Average / 4
—Gene Cooks, age 32

Positive - Nothing really too offensive; a little creepier than the prequels, a little bit of gore, filmmaking really terrible though. Unfortunately this …is true of the Bourne movies: You've seen one you've seen them all.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 2.5
—Maggie, age 21

Positive - The Bourne Ultimatum is one of the best movies of its time. It is action-packed through the entire film, with shooting, punching, and explosions, thus making it awesome. Language isn't very harsh unlike in the other Bourne films each with one F-word, this movie has none. Sex is nonexistent, there are flashbacks of kissing as said in the review, which don't find to be to offensive. Drugs and alcohol are a non-issue, I am almost certain there is none. Violence, as I stated before, permeates this movie however of the four bad things, sex, drugs, violence, and language, I consider violence to be the least. Overall, this movie is amazing the fight scenes and car chases are shot perfectly and the action is non-stop. Definitely one of the best action movies I have seen and I reccomend it to everyone.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
—Sean, age 20

Neutral - Bourne Ultimatum picks up almost to the point of where the second movie left off. Jason Bourne is on the run once again. In fact, most of the movie is spent on him running. The bad guys are supposed to be good guys, the US government. Yet, the tired plot point of a megalomaniac official versus the one who 'didn’t sign up for this,' is used; however, it works. The technology used to not only trace a person, but to keep track of him is fascinating, if not scary. All Bourne movies have an incredible fight scene and an over the top car chase scene. The tight camera shots made me wince, as I seemed to experience the crunch and impact of the cars smashing each other. In between the action is Jason trying to remember. Who is he? And there is the why of who he is. Jason ultimately gets his answers, and we wait for a fourth installment. Can Matt Damon’s body hold up to this punishing role?

It is difficult, the case in most movies lately out, to realize the good guy I’m rooting for lies, steals, kills, and damages lives. It makes for good conversation afterwards with my teenager about what is admirable in the protagonist. 'Good will become evil, and evil good' is something I reflect upon as I see movies gray the area of who and what comprises a 'good guy.' The PG13 rating is commendable. There is a limited profanity, and the action is not gratuitous. What was objectionable was the barrage of R-rated previews. Can’t we keep them at the rating we are watching? Why subject under 17 year olds to a movie preview they won’t be allowed to see?
My Ratings: Average / 5
—Pam Webb, age 50+

Neutral - For all I could tell, CGI was not employed in this film. If it was used, well, it was used sparingly and seamlessly. This is always a plus—in any movie. My only qualm with this flick is using God’s name as swear words. Seriously. Of all the epithets they could have included, and believe me, they certainly did NOT choose any OTHER, they opted for profaning our heavenly Father. Read Russell Sterger’s comment in the negative section. It’s amusing and he expresses my sentiments exactly, just very eloquently. Now, I tend to go with the “suspension of disbelief” approach to movieviewing. As such, the idiosyncrasies common to the Bourne franchise don’t bother me as much, but I do take note of them. This latest installment to the series is still a solid action flick that’s lightyears beyond most in the genre, and for that, I did enjoy Ultimatum.
My Ratings: Average / 4
—Jacob Keenum, age 21

Negative - Bourne is a man in crisis. He can’t remember his past. He is uncertain about his future. He needs to know the truth. He also has magic powers that would put Spiderman and Superman to shame. He leaps through the air, crashes through windows, drives off 10 story buildings, piles cars up like metal burritos, defies gravity and then miraculously walks away with only a limp. The holes in logic of this film defy description. We have a 'Covert Op' of the CIA that apparently has the capability to control every camera, hear every cell phone, read every floor plan of every building ever made anywhere on the planet at any time. And yet, Jason Bourne can walk right into their headquarters, steal top secret documents and then dematerialize like Frodo with a clocking device, without anyone even looking up from their laptops. Who’s monitoring these cameras in London, by the way? Trained monkeys? They don’t notice that their being moved at will?

Oh, did I mention that Bourne can travel at the speed of light? He can apparently move from country to country like most of us move from the refrigerator to the kitchen table. Not that he would ever need either one, because apparently he doesn’t need to eat or drink. Anything. Ever.

Some have tried to suggest that Bourne has a moral conscience that forbids him from doing harm to anyone. 'He’s had enough of that.' Really? He may feel bad about killing a fellow assassin but he has no qualms about driving a police car into oncoming traffic at 100 miles an hour. There are people in those cars. People with children, and babies in car seats, and grandmothers, and defenseless animals. The film is so worried about Bourne uncovering a plot by the 'evil CIA' to kill 7 or 8 innocent 'US Citizens' that it forgets to notice that Jason is using a police car like a missile in rush hour traffic, putting hundreds of lives at risk. Not to mention thousands of dollars in increased insurance rates. He wants to fit injustice, he can start there.

This movie has no moral sensibility what so ever. It’s too absurd to even consider the notion. It is simple one more blurry, handy-cam attempt by Hollywood to promote their 'everything-on-the-right-is-wrong', agenda. My guess is that Bourne’s next movie will have him out there combating global climate change. We’ll just call it 'Global Bourne-ing' and be done with it.
My Ratings: Offensive / 3
—Russell Sterger, age 50

Negative - To be honest, I have been very dissapointed with all the positive reviews that this film has garnered. The movie is very mediocre compared to its predecessors and leaves much to be desired. The plot is weak and throws characters in and out of Bourne’s crosshairs with very little development. The entire movie is set at such a frantic pace that eventually it doesn’t even feel like action anymore, but rather becomes a blur of car crashes and explosions. The first two movies incorporated clever plots and good character development, but this closer to the trilogy lacks in both areas. This film, unlike the other parts of the trilogy, I would hesitate to watch again. From a moral standpoint, the movie is fairly mild with limited profanity and non-graphic violence.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 3
—Abraham, age 22

Positive - This film was amazing in nearly every way, shape, and form. I found that the whole cast gave excellent performances (Especially Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, and David Strathairn) I found that this installment had the same elements as the first, but on steroids. There was more action, almost as much intrigue, some twists (in my opinion), and a GREAT ending. From a Christian perspective, the characters used a handful of cuss words, and the Lord’s name was used inappropriately. Also, there were flashbacks to a scene in the first movie when Bourne and Marie were kissing while not fully clothed. These did not hinder my viewing experience too much and I am planning on seeing it again in the VERY near future. Yes, it was THAT good.
My Ratings: Offensive / 5
—Joe, age 15

Positive - This is truly one of the best movies of the year! The acting is terrific, the film quality is mind-blowing and the morality is refreshingly wholesome. There are only two cautions: the first is the language - there are quite a few instances of God’s name being taken in vain. The second caution is the very violent previews (all of them are pretty brutal except the trailer for “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” which was WONDERFUL!). But all in all, “The Bourne Ultimatum” is a great movie - it really ties up the whole story of Jason Bourne. Definitely stay till the end - and watch carefully! You may be surprised!
My Ratings: Good / 5
—Trisha, age 16

Positive - This was an outstanding film… well, I suppose I should say it was for a particular crowd. If you are a Bourne fan then this is another to add to the collection. The actors were most of the same ones, but as always a great cast. I personally love these kinds of movies because it is one of the few that I have a hard time predicting what will happen next in the film, it kept me on the edge of my toes throughout the whole movie. Morally the film was good other than a few swear word and heavy action. Sure it may offend some with its 'government has gone corrupt atmosphere' but I mean come on it’s just a movie. I love to make movies and I always love it when Directors of Photography take 'risky shots' for the movie business anyway. Such occurred in this film, the camera would shake when it got close to someone talking. It gave you the feeling that you were their and rather than view it with your eyes you got out your camcorder and tried to capture what they were saying. It was very neat. Overall I gave this film a 4 out of 5 because few films in my book deserve a 5. It didn’t step over any biblical boundaries in my book other than, as I said, a few swear word and strong violence. It is worth the trip to the theater!
My Ratings: Good / 4
—Brent, age 17

Positive - This was the best movie of the year and one of the best action movies ever. There’s nothing offensive but occasional mild language and some violence
My Ratings: Excellent! / 5
—Nate, age 14

Positive - I really enjoyed this movie. I think anyone who enjoyed the first two will like it also. Very fast paced with great action, it kept me engaged the whole time. Some people have complained of the shaky camera work, but it didn’t bother me and my friends. The plot took a lot of twists and turns, but I found it rather easy to follow. It is also VERY important to view the Bourne Identity and the Bourne Supremacy before you see this one. Regarding offensive material, I thought the language was mild compared to most PG-13 movies. The action is very intense. Lots of shooting, fighting, and other violent material, but it was what was to be expected from a movie like this. It wasn’t anything worse than in the first two movies. I agree with the rating that it is not for kids under 13. All in all, I loved this movie. It brought everything together with a great plot, awesome acting and, of course, tons of action.
My Ratings: Average / 5
—Josh, age 16

Positive - After seeing this movie, I am officially a Matt Damon fan! This movie was absolutely incredible mainly because it was a different sort of movie. Instead of fight scenes every other minute, this movie really only contained 3 fight scenes, but the way they built up those scenes so that it would be great was absolutely amazing. Another thing I loved was the wittiness of Jason Bourne. Several times in the theater we all started clapping after Bourne had, once again, outwitted his opponent. The only objectionable material in the whole movie is the cussing. There are a couple of instances where they say s*** and some scenes where they take the Lord’s name in vain, but other than that it was nice to see an action film with no nudity or sex. I give this movie a 10 all the way!
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Kurt, age 16

Positive - This was an AMAZING movie—by far best of summer. …a GREAT ending.
My Ratings: Average / 5
— Nate Doederlein, age 13

Positive - I thought this movie was amazing. If you’re a Bourne fan like I am, you won’t be disappointed in this 3rd installment. It’s suspenseful and has you guessing and trying to figure out everything along with Jason. Not to mention, it has an AWESOME car chase scene. Mystery. Car chases. Explosions. Government corruption. Secret messages. Can a movie get any better?

As for objectionable content, the movie it somewhat violent. They’re really good at not being graphic, they leave some things to the imagination. It’s no more violent than you would see on any crime show on TV. There are a few bad words, but not as many as the other movies had. And, even then, they’re not heavy-duty words. I think there’s one or two S-words, and that’s about as intense as the language gets. I think this movie is great. I’m totally in love with the Bourne movies, and I will be adding this one to my DVD collection.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Krystal C., age 17

Positive - There is only one way to start off this review: BEST MOVIE YET THIS YEAR! I was literally on the edge of my seat for half the movie. The action was amazingly choreagraphed and the acting was top-notch. extroardinary methods of filming, it makes you feel like you’re running right beside him. I enjoyed it even more than 'live free or die hard' which was also an amazing action flick. this is the summer for exciting, enjoyable blockbusters.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Joshua sullivan, age 13

Positive - Even if you haven’t seen the previous movies (as I have) you wil enjoy this movie. It is a little confusing at the beginning, but, as I said, it doesn’t matter, as they show clips from the first movie. There is plenty of action in this movie! As well as some bloodieness. But no sex/nudity and very little cussing, nothing to be a Christian should be offended by. Everybody in the theater I was in enjoyed greatly, espeically when they mentioned Kentucky (where I’m from). If you haven’t seen it, go see Bourne Ultimatum, it is definitely worth the money!!
My Ratings: Excellent! / 4.5
—Elizabeth Smith, age 16

Positive - I’ve waited all summer and avoided all other movies to see this one. The Bourne Ultimatum is slightly the best of the trilogy. It follows the other two movies in providing great action, mystery, a good script, and all around smart entertainment (only it does this in a slightly better fashion). As usual, this installment of the Bourne trilogy doesn’t follow the plumb line of the average action movie. It has much less objectionable content, the violence is not senseless, and Bourne doesn’t feel the urge to go around killing everyone in sight because he can or because he feels like it (he actually has a conscience). Also, unlike most action movies, the story doesn’t feel like it’s just sort of pinned on as an afterthought. It is actually complex and real. That’s basically how I’d sum up the movie, but to help you out with the discernment choice, I’ll give you more detail.

While most action films will be headed for either straight mediocrity in your opinion or for the trash bin based strictly on the moral quality, the Bourne Ultimatum is not like that. However, the moral rating of the Bourne Ultimatum comes more from its lack of immoral content than its showcasing of good moral content (although there is a little of this). Sexual content is practically non-existent except for the extremely mild flashback of Bourne kissing his girlfriend (and no they’re not in the shower like the reviewer said). As I’ve said before, I don’t consider violence to be offensive as long as it has a proper context and is not senseless. Nevertheless, for those of you interested in its appropriateness, I’ll lay it down for you. This third installment does have a little more action and violence than the last two Bourne films, but it still isn’t that bloody and it still isn’t gratuitous. There are multiple times where we see Bourne badly beating up someone comi ng after him, but he only knocks them out (with one exception). There is a rather chaotic car chase (and crash) late in the movie that leaves at least one man with a big bloody gash on his head, but we see no one else hurt. One man is shot in the head and we see the blood (though it’s still not as bad as usual) another is shot in the head (with no blood) in a flashback, and another dies in an explosion (but we don’t even see anything happen to him, we just know he’s dead). Language is in much less quantity than your average action film, but sadly it isn’t completely absent. The movie has a few mild profanities, three or four misuses of God’s name in profanity, and between 5-10 misuses of Jesus' name.

However, there is some positive moral content. Bourne only kills when he needs to (except in a flashback). The one person he kills in the regular timeline of the movie was trying to kill him and an ally. Everyone else he confronts, he simply knocks out. He even had a chance to kill someone who was trying to kill him, but he had mercy on him when the man was helpless. We learn later that even though Bourne thinks that he was made to become a part of the Treadstone and Blackbriar projects (and consequently kill all those people), we see that he made his own choice to do so (another tip of the hat to free choice). Even though Bourne is an assassin, he shows he has a conscience and that he feels remorse for all those he killed. The two allies of Bourne also show a quality of great self-sacrifice in helping him.

As far as moviemaking quality is concerned, there isn’t too much to say that I’ve already said. The actors (whether returning or new to the series) all do a good job (with Matt Damon doing the best as usual). The great chess game that we see all through the movie between Bourne and the CIA is very interesting as always. Of course, Bourne is always one move ahead of the opponent. In fact, the movie isn’t so much about all the fighting, but about the big chess game.

Jason Bourne has proven himself to be better than James Bond (and most other action stars), both in terms of fighting skill and in terms of morality. If you either like or don’t mind action films, I think the Bourne Ultimatum and the other Bourne movies are a good choice (even if you don’t like action films, I would suggest the Bourne movies because they are a cut or two above the normal action movie). If the you feel that you can’t get past the few content concerns (exclusively in the language department), then I suggest you don’t go see this or the other two movies.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4.5
—Ross, age 17

Positive - “Bourne Ultimatum” is by far one of the best action/adventure movies ever to hit the big screen. Not to mention the fact that it has a gripping plot and amazing acting. A great end to a good trilogy, but cleaner than the other ones. No F-Word, which was typical in the other 2. No sex, unless you count a very brief flashback which has already been commented on. The language was minimal, mainly consisting of D**n and H**l. There were no GD’s and far as I remember, and only a few uses of the Lords name in vain. The violence is pretty much the same as any other PG-13 movie, but it does not spend much time focusing on killing. 'He drove off the roof!'
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Steve, age 14

Positive - Best movie I’ve seen so far. Bourne beats Bond for sure. (keep in mind that I’m a very big Bond fan) The action was great, never a dull moment. The filming was out of this world, the angles, everything! Acting was awesome, A LOT of stunt work. There wasn’t that much language in it, which is surprising for movies today that normally use the f-word all the time, even for PG-13. No sexual scenes except for a brief shot of Bourne kissing his girlfriend in the shower from the previous movies, but no nudity was shown. Anyway, great movie, from 1-5 stars, I give it a 6.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Chris, age 13

Positive - I absolutely loved the first two, but the third was definitely the best. The action sequences were awesome. I was bothered by the shaky camera work, but you get used to it. The plot had good depth, and had no loose ends. There was some profanity, most of which was the Lord's name in vain, which bothers me, but much cleaner than most other films of this genre. Overall, I love all three of the films, GO JASON BOURNE!
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4.5
—Joel Dugard, age 15

Positive - I pretty much agree with all the positive reviews. This was the only entirely undisappointing sequel of the summer. I have to admit that it was too much like “The Bourne Supremacy.” I really liked it though. I am confused about why so many people criticized the camera work in this film and that in “The Bourne Supremacy.” It was entirely and obviously intentional. It was an artistic choice. To those who made rude and pointless comments like 'it was like a two year old jumping up and down with a camcorder' that is just rude. It was a smart and realistic and edgy choice by the director which I found extremely effective. The camera work puts the viewer in the movie with a handheld documentary feel. It’s like the Office, it’s a smart choice. It made me feel like I was in a fight scene, or car wreck, or chase scene. I think Paul Greengrass took the idea a little over the top in the scene where the British guy was interviewing the source, but it was not an accident. I mean the cameraguy had to jump up and down to get that shot. For people who called it amateur, try remembering “Saving Private Ryan”'s famous scene on the beaches.…
My Ratings: Average / 4.5
—William, age 16

Positive - I think this is perhaps the best film of the summer next to “Transformers,” although it rates higher morally. The language in the movie is very mild, in fact, I heard worse language from the audience exiting the theater. The violence is completely in context. This, however, inhibits it from younger viewers as it is quite intense. The most intense point being the strangulation of a man. However, I find the violence dealt out by the hero, Bourne, is completely logical. It is “kill or be killed.” Several points came in the movie where he “has the drop on” his assailants and they can do nothing about it. I cringe as I expect him to fire upon the now-harmless victims, but he doesn’t. No sexual content is featured in this film.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 5
—John Berk, age 14

Positive - Although I haven't even seen Bourne Identity and only Bourne Supremacy on TV, I still can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Some may be frightened away from the trilogy based on how Jason Bourne is a killing machine. At the end of Ultimatum, however, Bourne finally realizes his terrible mistakes and stops listening to his programmed, killing instincts. He even decides not to kill the man who was in charge of changing him from the patriot David Webb to the killer Jason Bourne. Another thing that people might think about the Bourne trilogy is that it makes the CIA look bad. However, at the end of the Bourne Ultimatum, Pamela Landy, a true CIA agent, states that, 'This is not us.' after she finds out about the whole conspiracy of Tidewater.
The only offensive material found in this film is the violence and language. Unfortunately, there is more violence then seen in the previous movie, Bourne Supremacy. The most disturbing of which is a scene where Bourne and a CIA hitman are fighting it out by exchanging karate moves (for a little too long). Even in the martial arts used in the R rated Equilibrium isn't as bad. The language is also something that parents might worry about. I heard the Lord's name taken in vain several times. There was very little language apart from what I just mentioned. There were a few cuss words, but nothing to be truly significant. There was also no sex or nudity at all. Bourne does have a flashback of him and his former girlfriend kissing in the shower. All though this scene was inappropriate, it was obvious that both persons were clothed. Thank goodness that it was not the alternative (which it very well could have been).
Everything from acting, to special effects, to stunts was tremendously done. If you enjoyed the other two Bourne movies, or you just have a longing to see a highly intense thriller with the best of action scenes, with little offensive material, I would recommend the Bourne Ultimatum. The Bourne Ultimatum wrapped up the trilogy brilliantly.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4.5
—Joseph Hughey, age 14