The Bourne Legacy
Starring: Jeremy Renner. Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton
Director: Tony Gilroy
Rating: 3.5/5
It was back in 2007 when a Bourne film last graced the big screen but fourth time around we have a new actor leading the cast list as well as a new guy in the director's chair.
Now I will be first to hold my hands up and admit that when they announced this project without Matt Damon I was a little skeptical on how it was all going to work - but this is a film that is a great addition to the Bourne franchise.
The Bourne Legacy is not a prequel or a sequel it is in fact a movie that runs alongside Ultimatum and is directly effected by events and decisions that are taken in that movie.
But what was so great to see is that director Tony Gilroy has made the assumption that we have seen those movies and so he doesn't spend an age re-explaining a story that we all already know about.
However what I will say is that the beginning of the movie is a tad slow as Gilroy introduces all of the major players in the film - but stick with it because when the action kicks in it does become a good movie.
Jeremy Renner is incredibly charismatic in the leading role and he has made Aaron Cross a completely different character.
He is a man who knows to his core who he is and understands the decisions that he has made to get him to the where he is.
Renner is one of the strongest aspects of this film as he has delivered a character that is more sympathetic and perhaps vulnerable that those that came before.
He has a great chemistry with Rachel Weisz, who plays Dr. Marta Shearing who is running for her life.
This central relationship and the development of trust is something that really pushes the movie forward - it's great to see Weisz in an action role and she really does rise to the challenge.
I would liked to have seen a little more Ed Norton in the film and I would liked to have seen him do more than just stand in from of monitors and bark orders.
But what is so great about these characters is none of them are black and white as all of them have made moral compromises to do the work that they do - Gilroy has cleverly blurred the lines between hero and villain.
The Bourne Legacy perhaps lacks the slickness and high production values of Ultimatum and at times Gilroy does struggle to with all of the story lines.
But he does manage to keep all of the plates spinning in a movie that you could argue has a little too many moving parts.
However there are some stunning international locations and some great action sequences - the motorbike chase being a particular highlight.
Ok so The Bourne Legacy doesn't quite reach the dizzy height of its predecessor but it a movie that is back with drama and action and is not to be missed.
The Bourne Legacy is out now