If You've Seen One "Jason Bourne" Film, You Really Have Seen Them All

Jason Bourne (2016)  

Rated PG-13

Starring Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassell, Julia Stiles,

Directed by Paul Greengrass

The Story:

Jason Bourne (Damon) is back again, and he's going to kill the people that turned him into a deadly assassin with a past he cannot remember.

Wait, stop me if you've seen this before...

Yes, the 4th Damon entry into the Bourne franchise arrives in 2016, the year of long dormant sequels to franchises we all assumed were dead and buried.

And yes, Greengrass and Damon reunite to bring the troubled past of Jason Bourne once again to viewers everywhere.

As usual, I'm really indifferent to these films.

I've seen them all, and ironically, the most coherent and best of the bunch is the one that had Jeremy Renner as the star.

So there.

: )

Otherwise, they are literally a forgettable mashup of spy thriller cat and mouse.

Stylish, but utterly forgettable.

Much like Bourne's past.

At least Julia Stiles finally found a way to get out of this franchise...

Ooops.

Spoiler.

;)

Final Grade: C

Has Nobody Ever Watched 'The Terminator' ?? "Ex Machina"

Ex Machina (2015)

Rated R

Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac

Written and Directed by Alex Garland

The Story:


Caleb (Gleeson) is a winner in his company's ultimate giveaway: a weeklong stay with the reclusive CEO of their company (Isaac). When he arrives, he learns that he's actually there to test whether or not the Artificial Intelligence of Ava (Vikander) could legitimately pass as human. It will be a week that changes everyone, forever.

Well, this was certainly something.

It's a small, character focused driven drama that grabs science fiction by the hand and takes you along for the ride.

The plot is essentially man creates life. And then, oops.

:)

If we're being honest.

It's a quiet, suspenseful, gradual build to the final act, and you can almost tell exactly what is going to happen along the way.

Yet the interaction between the great trio of actors keeps you riveted to the film until the very end.

Which come on people, giving machines artificial intelligence is a bad idea! It never ends well!!

:)

Ex Machina is currently streaming on Amazon Prime as of this writing.

Final Grade: B-

Spies Like Us..."The Man From U.N.C.L.E."

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Christian Berkel, Hugh Grant

Directed by Guy Ritchie

The Story:

The two best spies in the world, Napoleon Solo (Cavill) from America and Illya Kuryakin (Hammer) of Russia must work together at the height of the Cold War to stop a German scientist (Berkel) from making nuclear weapons for some very bad people. They enlist the aid of his daughter, Gaby (Vikander) to help them. But can these two adversaries put aside their differences long enough to save the world?

Aside from the name and concept, I've never watched a single minute of the television show that this is based on, so I cannot compare and contrast how well/how poorly it stands next to its predecessor.

I can say the following with little worry though:

1) It looks great. It captures the feel of a world of the late 50s/early 60s very well with the sets and costumes.

2) This movie is the best I've seen from both Cavill or Hammer in ages. So that's a big plus, considering how much I disliked the Man of Steel and Lone Ranger reboots.

The downside?

The movie felt a little long and a little boring.

Not quite 2 hours, but it felt every minute of it, and maybe a few more for good measure.

Bursts of greatness bogged down by stretches of boredom is not what I want from a spy movie.

Ever.

So much potential, and I'm up for a sequel if they are game and can tighten things up a bit.

Final Grade: C