There are a few key elements that most Bourne fans have come to expect from the Bourne series. The first point is one that Salem Monthly readers will recall from this month's REEL BUZZ. Director Paul Greengrass ("United 93" and "The Bourne Supremacy") loves the shaky handycam shots. Most shots of conversation are done over the shoulder of the person talking, with a bulbous shadow of their head. While the style does keep you on the edge of your seat, it can also be very distracting during the slow parts of the film. Take your dramamine before heading to the theatre.

Another thing to expect is a sequence in which Bourne sits on a window ledge with a gun scope pointed at someone. He dials them up on his trusty cell phone, which always has a signal and for some reason doesn't support a Bluetooth headset. When the person answers, he throws out a witty line about how good/tired/bad, they look. After the reveal, the victim of Bourne's spying becomes flustered and the theatre audience cackles hysterically. Despite this scene being in the trailer and on several of the film's commercials, no one in the theatre seems to expect it to play out like that.

And finally, Bourne must fight in close quarters. Expect Bourne to get stuck in a hallway or in a corner. But don't worry, he will break a few wrists and a nose or two, and be right out of trouble.

Julia Stiles returns as the potential love interest, Nicky Parsons. Her role turns out to be more of a reminder of Bourne's past love interest, Marie, who the U.S. government killed. The story nails this point home when Nicky dyes her hair black and cuts it short, which is a scene reminiscent of the first movie, when Marie has to change her appearance after helping Bourne.

The action in Ultimatum is very detailed and choreographed. There are a number of car crashes that will make you squirm in your seat. The fight sequences are similar to the previous installments, especially in the sense of the close quarters combat and quick movements. Outside of the action sequences, the dialogue is backed by a music bed, and almost makes you lean in to hear more of the conversation.  

Matt Damon has proven himself worthy of joining the ranks of Tom Cruise, Daniel Craig, and Bruce Willis. Many are comparing Jason Bourne to James Bond and that alone should show the impact of this character on the movie world.  While I wouldn't make a direct comparison to Bond, I would say that Ethan Hunt and his "Mission Impossible" crew are going to have some competition when it comes to modern spy movies. With the Bourne trilogy, the Ocean's trilogy, and "Syriana" under his belt, Damon's shown that he can be believable as a fighter and a gunman. Perhaps long-time pal Ben Affleck should consider calling him before choosing his next movie.

The Bourne Ultimatum is a must-see if you have any interest in the past films. It's big on the action and wraps up the character of Jason Bourne. If you haven't seen the past films, grab the DVDs to gauge whether it's worth your time in the theatre.