Thursday, July 29, 2010

Bourne Ultimatum

The Bourne Ultimatum is the final movie in the Bourne trilogy.

They decided to stay with Paul Greengrass, who decided to stick with the same cinematic style of the second movie. Rapid cuts, fast action, mostly handheld sequences. Not for the faint of heart or weak of inner ear.

Another F.

Bourne Supremacy

The Bourne Supremacy really sort of defines the Shakycam genre.

Sequel to the Bourne Identity, it got a new director in Paul Greengrass, who really went for the jugular in realistic fight and chase sequences. This meant a lot of rapid cuts, hand held shots, action entering and exiting the sides of the frame. Very frenetic, very violent, very nauseating for those who are susceptible.

Even non-action scenes were often hand held, going for the gritty documentary style of realism. Immersive for some, but not for those who have to spend the movie with their head in their hands.

This is our first F. Unwatchable for sensitive people, either close your eyes for a good chunk of the movie, or grab the Gravol.

Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity is another action/spy movie. Not quite as bad from a shakiness perspective as others in the series, it garners a B on the watchability scale. Some quick paced fight scenes and high speed chases keep it from being an A, though for the genre it's pretty decent.

Salt

Angelina Jolie and Liev Schrieber star in Salt , an action/spy movie. Unsurprisingly for the genre, there were many hand-held shot scenes, including chases and fight scenes with quick motion and rapid cuts.

The inter-action scenes were mainly smoothly shot, and didn't present much of an issue.

Call it a D on a scale where A is perfectly smooth, and F is unwatchable.