Review of The Bourne Legacy (2012) by Barney O — 01 Apr 2017

WHAT I LIKED: Many regard this as a real blip on the franchise's radar, but frankly for me 'The Bourne Legacy' is not only as gripping and exciting as its three excellent predecessors; it's actually up there with the best. Yes the more personal and character-driven nature of this installment actually evokes the increased feeling of intimacy you got from 'Identity,' as the pacing's breathing-room and the brand-new character arc (as well as Jeremy Renner's magnetic performance) really capture and engage the human side far more than most make out. This means the tense moments (of which there are many) feel just as significant and nail-biting as ever, and the great action - and explosive finale - are really brought home.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The side of the plot that this character stuff surrounds is certainly less developed and interesting than Paul Greengrass' more sophisticated efforts.

VERDICT: Driven by character and a great performance from Jeremy Renner, 'The Bourne Legacy' is more than a worthy entry to this brilliant series. It's a bloody great film of its own.