8. Where Is The Action?
The original Bourne trilogy is distinguished not only for its intelligent plot, but its scintillating action scenes, particularly in Paul Greengrass' latter two contributions to the franchise. Matt Damon also brought an incredible physicality to the role, enhancing the intensity of Greengrass' "shaky cam" direction. The expectation, of course, was that Legacy would follow suit, mixing an intelligent plot with visceral set-pieces, essentially pleasing both camps - those looking for a frenetic thriller, and those after a little food-for-thought.. Legacy, however, is largely bereft of action for its first two acts, and like too many action films, segments and compartmentalises the mayhem into small 30-second-or-so bite-sized chunks throughout. The opening hour is particularly frustrating, as it situates Cross in the wilderness, where he faces off against an unmanned fighter drone, shooting it down with a sniper rifle, but the scene is too sedentary and stoic; there is no sense of thrill to what is going on. While a fight against a wolf is convincingly choreographed, it's over in a heartbeat, and allows Cross to fake his death, keeping him out of the action arena for another long stretch of time. The vast majority of the money shots have been given away in the trailer, particularly the ridiculous scene in which Cross dives down a tiny alleyway and dispatches two guards who are chasing Rachel Weisz's Dr. Shearing. Again, though, this is one brief moment that doesn't get in the thrall of a chase; it is stifled, and just when it begins to feel exciting, it is over. To Gilroy's credit, he does save the best for the last, and the final chase sequence - which sees Cross and Shearing in a motorbike chase with a fellow pill-popping assassin - is quite excellent, but still not enough to compensate for the relatively action-free first two acts