"The Bourne Legacy" Film Review
The Bourne Legacy opens a new book on the Bourne series, expanding the universe to include other branches of government with projects of their own. The project in this film revolves around agents that have been given "chems" or meds that enhance their physical and mental states. Once they reach the pinnacle of their training, they are "viraled off" the meds and any change the meds caused will be permanent. Aaron Cross, however, has been in the training field and lost his chems. He reaches out to the program doctor and she informs him that he should have been viraled off already. But because of the trouble Bourne has caused with the CIA, the government is determined to shut down and hide all evidence of any secret project. Now, Aaron and the doctor must go on the run to find the cure Aaron needs.
The story was good but it could have used some perfecting. It takes a few views to fully grasp everything that's happening. Sure, they say Aaron and several other agents are on meds for enhancement but did you catch the line in the beginning that stated Jason Bourne was non-med? This means that Bourne was the inspiration for this program. His sharp inteligence and quick moves were something that the government wanted to duplicate. If Aaron is indeed the last survivor, then that means we need to see Bourne and Aaron join forces at some point.
The action was incredible. I learned that much of the motorcycle chase was NOT simulated or staged, but rather a life or death situation for both Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz. Once you realize the fear on Rachel's face was not incredible acting but was, in fact, pure real fear, a new respect is born for stuntwork and what some actors actually go through for their roles.
In conclusion, I have to say that I was satisfied with the film and in many ways I was even impressed. The writers did indeed try to keep the intelligence and mystery that the previous films had. I commend their work and I look forward to seeing Renner's Aaron Cross resurface in the future.
© 2016 Nathan Jasper