The Bourne Ultimatum

Even audiences new to the Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) spy thriller franchise will respond with compulsory excitement to the elaborately orchestrated chain of exhilarating chase sequences that lead up to a philosophically satisfying whopper of a climax. Paul Greengrass continues his directing duties after "The Bourne Supremacy" (Doug Liman directed "The Bourne Identity," the first movie based on the novel by the late Robert Ludlum) and gets stellar results from returning cameraman Oliver Wood, editor Christopher Rouse and musical composer John Powell. After losing his girlfriend Marie to an assassin in the last movie, former CIA hit man Bourne is hotter than ever to uncover his true identity, which has been mysteriously erased from his brain. International locations like Moscow, Paris, Madrid and London change like a roulette wheel ball as Bourne perpetually turns the tables on teams of kill squads ordered to snuff him out by CIA bigwig Noah Vosen (David Strathairn). Canny dialogue, solid performances, and virtuoso editing and scoring make "The Bourne Ultimatum" a thrill ride you won’t soon forget.

Rated PG-13. 111 mins. (A) (Five Stars)