Movie Review: Jason Bourne

Non-stop action and some great cinematography almost make up for the lack of characterization and minuscule plot advancement. I have to mention, I’ve seen the other four “Bourne” film, but don’t remember a lot about them. So, many of the references to past films mostly fly over my head, so things like “Blackbriar” and “The Program” probably mean nothing to somebody who hasn’t watched any of the previous movies. There is a bit of a slow start, but once the action kicks in, it doesn’t let up very often. The story isn’t too particularly involved and just builds slightly on facts learned from the other films while adding a few new wrinkles. After all the death and carnage that occurs, Jason Bourne’s story really only moves forward just a little. All the performances are fine, but there’s just a lack of depth to all the supporting characters. There seems to be little explanation for their motivations, and when there is, it’s spelled out for us and not shown through the acting.
*** out of *****

Movie Review: Star Trek Beyond

An entertaining, but redundant, third chapter in the new Star Trek film series. While that plot wasn’t bad, it just feels like something they’ve done to death. Kirk and crew must stop a madman bent on mass destruction…which has been the basic plot of all three new “Star Trek” films. It just feels like I’ve seen this all before. It took till the final action sequence for me to get emotionally invested in the story. On the plus side, likable characters make things fun to watch. And everybody gets a chance to shine. The two new cast members do fine in their roles while acting in tons of makeup. But, villain’s flimsy motivations prevent him from being anything memorable. Overall, there are no real surprises. There are nods to the Star Trek canon from before the reboot that are appreciated, particularly one at the end of the movie. The majority of effects look great, and there are some really cool visuals.
**1/2 out of *****