The Bourne Legacy (2012)
Brief review: After the three critically-acclaimed and hugely successful Bourne movies, released in 2002, 2004, and 2007, this year "Michael Clayton" director and Bourne series writer Tony Gilroy brings us another installment in the franchise, that somewhat manages to succeed, despite the lack of its title protagonist - Jason Bourne - which is an achievement in itself. The opening twenty minutes or so are a bit messy and hard-to-follow, but after a disappointing start, luckily, "The Bourne Legacy" turns into a gripping, and edge-of-your-seat intense action thriller, that proves the franchise is not dead, and still has more to offer. The well-delivered cat-n-mouse plot becomes more and more involvingly intricate with each next scene, and while less action-driven than the three previous films, "The Bourne Legacy" is almost as compelling, thanks to its tight pacing, brisk editing, and Gilroy's competent direction. The action 'explodes' a bit late, in the final act, but it's definitely worth the wait - the stunts are impressive, the chases are tense and adrenaline-fueled, and the whole set-up is fantastic. Rising star Jeremy Renner is a worthy substitute for Matt Damon, and even more charismatic and engaging than him. Rachel Weisz is absolutely brilliant as the emotional and intelligent scientist, Dr. Marta Shearing, and both share a genuinely strong on-screen chemistry, which is without a doubt the ultimate driving force of this sequel.
Overall summary: Although generally weaker than its three equally as accomplished predecessors, "The Bourne Legacy" is still a taut, finely-crafted, and constantly gripping entry into the solid franchise, featuring amazing performances by Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz.
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