Here is the video we showed to introduce the message.

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.1418621&w=425&h=350&fv=clip_id%3D1400746%26server%3Dwww.vimeo.com%26autoplay%3D0%26fullscreen%3D1%26md5%3D%26show_portrait%3D0%26show_title%3D0%26show_byline%3D0%26context%3D%26context_id%3D]

1. Don't mess with Zohan

Ok this is a comedy with Adam Sandler, he plays an Israeli assassin, who get's tired of the work and goes to to America to be a hair dresser. Mariah Carey makes a guest appearance in the movie.

Ok the movie is funny in ways, because the character is in some ways out of the 70's with his hair styles and sexual promiscuity.

Part of the movie shows this big corporation hiring these people that look like the minute men, (that militia group) they are hired to start rivalry between the Jewish and Palestinian community, then have the one blame the other for the mischief that happens, but in the end it all works out ok. The message of the movie is one of those can't we just get along this is America.  Least that's how I interpreted it. Cause when he goes to America he ends up working in this hair shop for this Palestinian girl that he start to like, after he finishes doing half the older women in town ofcourse, cause that's suppose to be romantic and funny.

Eg. As part of the movie he literally satisfies the customers in more ways than one. Now most of the hair salon customers are over 60 so it's suppose to be funny. There are lot's of sassy over 60 out there, so don't get me wrong, I am just saying that's how the movie portrays it.

Now as funny as this movie was, not so much, but good for a laugh none the less, I kept thinking that the other message in the movie, really should have been "don't mess with Zohan." In the real world who knows what he was picking up with those adventures. I mean in the real world there is a real STD problem with the geriatric generation. High on that list HIV, HPV, Herpes. Viagra what have you done?

http://www.local6.com/news/9283707/detail.html
http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/070805/13senior.htm

I thought it was particularly cute in the movie when they find the preparation H, and the mother of the guy Zohan is staying with and sleeping with says she uses it for her genital warts.

http://www.healthandage.com/public/article/3215/Seniors-Are-Having-Unprotected-Sex.html

I kept thinking nice girl in movie, why you mess with Zohan. The title speaks for itself. No seriously if you take the movie for the comedic value it's meant to give it's good, but if you put any real spin on it, there are two messages in the movie, and for me the title says it best.

2. Sex in the city

Ok I have seen one episode of this show. I really thought it was about woman having sex in the city. Then some girl told me it's actually about trying to find true love. Ok.
Then some guy at work said see the movie, it's really nice. Ok. So I saw the movie.

It's good. It's actually funny, and you don't have to have watched the show to get the movie. I won't ruin too much of this, but someone tries to get married, someone cheats, and ofcourse people have sex.

The guy who cheats was funny, he was like, it was just the one time.  It was funny, but I had sympathy for them both.
In the movie he had been without sex for 6 months, cause of the busy ice queen. I felt sorry for him. On the other hand, I felt bad for her when she was like, I changed for you, you broke us. Don't get me wrong, I don't think 6 days, 6 months, or six years is a good reason for cheating, but if something isn't working, talk about it first, before stepping out.

As it was her friends shared different views on this, some thought once was forgivable, she did not. I do think people can slip up, but in general if you love someone truly, then why step out?

http://www.cheatingways.com/why-do-we-cheat/the-anatomy-of-an-affair/

Contrast this to the love letters that the Kerry character reads a little earlier in the movie. They are from a book of great loves, Napoleon to Josephine etc. I think there are people that can find each other in this world, and truly care about each other from start to finish, and truly leave everyone else out. I think that's still the concept that I still have.

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2002/02/08/mitchell/

So the movie leaves the question can love last. Sure it can, I mean the Kerri character breaks up with the Mr big character and they get back together, apparently they were dating for 10 years before trying to get married. So I guess it also depends on your concept of marriage and relationships.

All together this movie was worth seeing.
3. Wanted

This was the next movie that I saw. I think Angelina Jolie is just great in this action packed movie. Now the movie is very Matrix, like, with a bit of terminator thrown in. I really liked it.

This was the second assassin movie for the weekend. I really don't want to give too much away here with this one.

Needless to say there was one part of the movie where she saves him, and it's that, come with me if you want to live feel. Also right at the beginning, this character does this almost Matrix like assassin move and it's like wow.

At one part of the movie I started to question the motivation of the characters and if they were telling the truth. I remember when the Gang Stalking thing started and I just came online, I was being told so many things and being directed at who to hate, and who not to hate. I am glad that I did not get sucked into that, because unintentionally, I could have been online placing blame on one group of people, and missing parts of the bigger picture. I thought of this when I was seeing the movie, now let's just say, you always have to find your own truth, you can't always trust everyone, not everyone will do the wrong thing when the truth comes out, and some characters just amaze you.

Needless to say, I still really think the Angelina Jolie character was the best and most amazing. I don't know if this movie needs a part two, but much like the Matrix it shows you some truth about how the real world works, with seeing things, almost synchronicity, but more so. It also has a message at the end.

Unlike 10 years ago when Matrix came out and I totally didn't connect with that movie at all, till years later, this movie I connected with more so from the beginning, because my awareness higher than it was before. If you are unaware, a lot of these movies just pass you by. I am sure some things passed me by on first viewing, but I hope to see it again. I also like the code in the movie that the first assassin breaks, it's also very Matrix like when you hear them say that. It's a neat movie.

I recommend this one out of all the ones that I saw.
4. Jumper
This is an old one, not in theaters, but new on video.
This kid has powers where he can teleport. Kind of how some people can astral travel in their sleep. Why not just call it astral teleportation?

Anyways, it's an ok flick about how those without powers always have to fear and destroy that which they don't understand, or fear. Kind of like X-men, but not as cool or anything.

The part that did catch my eye in this movie was that the bad guys were using electricity to control the jumping, there was a line about let's see how far you can jump with a thousand blots of electricity going through your brain, or something like that. I guess that would disrupt the neural synapse, also make it hard to concentrate on where you want to jump to.

It just reminded me of how people use electromagnetic harassment on targets of Gang Stalking to disrupt their lives, and my consistent question of, what else is behind it. Why do they have to keep us in an electronic cage, what else might be behind it, that we are not aware of, or even suspecting?

Anyways, the movie is cute. Worth renting. The only thing I can think of however is much like the X-men if you really did have such abilities, you would in no way shape or form use them with such frequency, not if you wanted to stay alive.

I always think if people have special abilities or talents they might want to keep their mouths shut, least they end up in government labs. I mean the government is investing large amounts of money into psi phenomenon for a reason. ESP, telekinesis, mind readers, remote viewers, and a whack of other talents we know nothing about. If you are not working for them, then can they really afford to have you running around scott free?

Think about this, sappers above you, mind readers below you, a target would really have their work cut out for them then. Just a thought.

Still the movie is cute, plus it's a two night rental.
5. Bourne Identity
Believe it or not, this movie really was great. Yes I realise it came out like a billion years ago, but I missed seeing it ok. So I finally saw it, I wanted to catch up on the series, but felt wrong about seeing three before 2, before 1 etc.

This movie is great and I really like the character. I think the trilogy is great, and I am glad to hear that a part 4 is in the works.

This was assassin movie number 3 for me. What can I say about this one, action packed, delivers from start to finish, and apparently even assassins get bored of the blood and guts, sure the pay is nice, the multiple identities are a bonus, but at the end of the day we all just want a little peace.

Oh also forgot, see Iron Man, that movie kicked ass, and I forgot to include it in the reviews.

Now, let's picture a much different world.  A world where The Bourne Identity was merely a well crafted, one-off action film. It almost happened.  Summer 2002:  There was a much bigger action franchise being tracked, one that involved resurrecting a dormant action hero by the name of Jack Ryan.  Remember?  Much like speculators are driving the cost of crude oil sky high right now; the head honchos at Paramount had a similar agenda in 2002.  The commodity wasn't oil though.  No, it was something much more dangerous...Affleck. 

Right now this probably seems like a ludicrous notion:  Build a tentpole action franchise around Ben Affleck.  But, that was the plan.  The outcome was The Sum of All Fears.  Seems like a no brainer:

1. Affleck
2. Clancy
3. Freeman
4. ??
5. Profits

Unfortunately, step 4 tripped them up.  It was a boring, non-sensical foray into mediocraty.  Bourne however, ripped through the summer like a thunderbolt, and the rest is history.  So, two years from now, when the lights go down and you are enjoying Damon go hand-to-hand against Generic Thug C in Costa Rica; be thankful that it isn't another Affleck/Jack Ryan adventure about stopping nuclear weapons. 

Final Note:   My futures, however, are solidly placed on Director Affleck.  I'm starting the crusade right now to raise his value and equity.  Gone Baby, Gone was electric. 

Interesting TV news of interest: Actor JEFF GOLDBLUM will join the cast of USA networks, LAW & ORDER CRIMINAL INTENT, playing a detective [really…] on the show which is now in its 8th season. He will share the star spotlight with actor, Vincent D’Onofrio, throughout the 16 episode season. Goldblum will replace Sex And The City star Chris Noth who has been handpicked by Renee Zellweger to star in her upcoming movie, My One And Only. GOLDBLUM gained fame for his quirky acting style in popular films like Independence Day. Jurassic Park and The Lost World. He gave the performance of his career in director David Cronenberg’s THE FLY - one of the 80’s very best, and totally creepy, films.

"The reality is that the quality content isn't there yet," Liman said in an interview following the speech. "It's no different than going to Sundance (Film Festival) this year and people saying, 'The great independent film wasn't there this year.' That doesn't mean it won't be there next year. Given the direction the Internet's going-- with more and more people working in that arena--you're going to see an Internet equivalent of Swingers."

I totally agree with Doug that the internet has yet to see its breakthrough hit, although I'm not sure it's a "Swingers" that's needed as much as for people to continue to develop compelling storylines that take full advantage of what the web has to offer in terms of both interactivity and originality.

Too much of the web programming out there (and that I admittedly contribute to) is still basically very short-form TV.  The breakthrough will be in the form of more evolutionary entertainment that combines elements of traditional entertainment with social media and ARG's and other emerging forms.

Flesch Reading Ease: 72.66
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 6.00
Automated Readability Index: 6.00

For more info about readability tests, check out my post about those here.

This post is about my reaction and reflections on the three Bourne films (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum).

Reactions

My initial reaction after watching the first film (The Bourne Identity) was

"Why in the world have I only watched it just now?????? This movie is pure genius!!!". (ditto to the 2 sequels)

The movie is pure genius in terms of making the viewer guess and think things through, genius in terms of action, suspense, and thrills. Note that I'm only mentioning the film, not the novel by Robert Ludlum. And I know what you're thinking

"What?? The Bourne Identity was back in 2002, The Bourne Supremacy was in 2004 and The Bourne Ultimatum was last year! Where have you been living? Under a rock?"

Yeah yeah I know it's already been quite a while, and I know I should've watched all three (or at least the first two) years ago, but hey, I'm just 22. I had some other concerns back then, and I probably wouldn't have been able to appreciate the movies much if I watched them 4 or so years ago. Then there's still school of course and my other interests: programming, watching anime, gaming, reading books and so forth and so on enriching my knowledge and giving myself what I have and know today. There go my excuses and alibis for you.

The Bourne Identity garnered a massive 83% on rotten tomatoes' top critics (not just any critic of the site), The Bourne Supremacy got 74% on rotten tomatoes' top critics, and finally, The Bourne Identity gets a whopping 93% from rotten tomatoes' top critics. How's that for starters? The 3rd movie (though this is weird since the previous 2 movies were also highly acclaimed around the world. I guess the people over at the Oscars are too damn busy watching dancing people sing) got these on the 80th Academy Awards: Christopher Rouse for Best Film Editing, Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis for Best Sound, Karen M. Baker and Per Hallberg for Best Sound Editing.

Reflections

Anyway, I haven't read Ludlum's 3 'Bourne' novels yet, and even though the 3 movies deviate largely from the books, I still think Ludlum is a master of suspense action/thriller, as can be seen from New York Times and other reviews on his books. What's amazing was how Doug Liman (director of 'Identity' and producer of the last 2) and Paul Greengrass (director of the last 2 films) were able to update Ludlum's novels to the 21st century. Mr. Ludlum's novels were written in the late 80s, and one would quite certainly guess that the technology present in the 3 movies would probably be barely in Ludlum's imagination at the time of the writing of the novels ( and he certainly wouldn't have been able to accurately pinpoint what technologies would go off at our present time). This guess could be entirely mistaken, though, since I haven't read the novels yet, but I would certainly bet my money on my guess. The update and modernization of the films from their novel counterparts were partly due to director Liman's father's work in NSA (this coming from the DVD commentary).

Why the movies are so cool (translation: why I like the movies)

1) They're not Bond films

What got my attention on the 'Bourne' movies was primarily their espionage/black ops type of genre/film. I've watched almost all James Bond movies and believe me, I was a kid (around 10 or so) when I started watching those movies with my dad, and still I said to myself that James Bond stories and ending can't always be true (a hint of my future pessimism and partial paranoia?). First, James Bond always had the prettiest girls, always drank the best drinks around, drove the best cars etc. Then he has in his command, the latest (and usually the queerest or most impossible) selection of gadgets around. He (Bond) always saves the world, gets rid of the bad guys, and the cycle continues. That can't be right, can it? I mean, I love comic books and all but if anybody wants me to believe in James Bond, they have to do better than have comic-book-happy ending stories (while comic book stories don't usually have a happy ending like in 'Bond' films mind you). I love spy movies (probably due to my dad's liking of Bond films), espionage and stealth genres/themes, and I think that's why I'm also pretty interested in ninjas, among other things.

2) Very cool action

I also liked the action certainly: from the first till the 3rd movie, the action gets even more physical and makes you want to hold on to something. Car chases, hand-to-hand fights in the movies make James Bond films look like Saturday morning action cartoons. This is how an agent (at least an extremely talented and capable agent/assasin) moves.

3) Parallelism to MGS

Another thing that made me extremely like the 3 movies is their parallelism/similarities to the Metal Gear Solid game storyline. I am a huge (did I also mention big and devoted?) fan of the Metal Gear series and storyline. Metal Gear tells the story of Solid Snake (as well as his father's) and how they manage to pull through covert, black ops missions to save the world from nuclear holocausts. I tried searching through Google for possible mentions that Hideo Kojima (brilliant creator of the Metal Gear series and franchise) had some inspirations from mr. Ludlum's novels, particularly the 'Bourne' movies, but to no avail. A lot of people I read from the Internet talk about the parallelism especially of Jason Bourne and Solid Snake's (codename) father, Snake/Big Boss (also a codename), which I think is worth noting. The 2 were both very good at what they were doing (killing, covert/black ops, stealth missions) for the sake of their country, their people, and what they believe is right. However, they were both victims of their superiors' desires to amass illegal wealth and power. Both of them were used, then afterwards framed, by their superiors, after which they take the fight back to them (superiors). What's great about the 'Bourne' films is that Jason doesn't really have to hide in corners or in the shadows to move around stealthily (at least in the 'watchful' eyes of the CIA) since he knows how the CIA agents think and move, which is quite different in Solid Snake's case, as the latter requires some hiding etc in his missions. Then again, Solid Snake's missions are quite different from Jason's, as Solid Snake's mission are usually in highly secured areas like fortresses, jungles, etc. It's also quite 'refreshing' to see a spy film not use flashy gadgets or out-of-this-world equipments like those from the 'Bond' movies just so that one can defeat the bad guys, and also a spy movie which rely mostly on brains, and some brawn of course.

4) Strong women

What I also like very much on the 'Bourne' films is the way they treat women: women can and will have the power as well as the strength and the brains to do what they want. That's what I believe and the movies certainly do a great work on it (empowering women). The roles played by Joan Allen as CIA Deputy Director and Task Force Chief Pam Landy, Franka Potente as Marie Helena Kreutz (Bourne's girlfriend), and Julia Stiles as Nicky Parsons (CIA contact and logistics officer) all play strong women. Strong in this sense means great intellectual power, morality and sense of duty, though I would certainly think some of them can also kick other men's asses. I'm a firm believer that women, who have mostly been subjugated by self-righteous men (religious men not the least, though they may not really realize it, nor the women who willingly let the men subjugate them), and even at some places in the world women are taken into what J.R.R. Tolkien would refer to as thralldom, can leave their misery behind them. I believe that women should be treated as equals of men in terms of ability to work, hold office, etc. The 'Bourne' movies certainly shows this line of thinking, which I appreciated very much. Frankly, I currently prefer women like the ones in the 3 movies: strong, opinionated women. Of course, there's still room in my view for damsels-in-distress though.

4th movie/Sequel to 'Ultimatum'

Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon (Jason Bourne) have expressed that they didn't want another movie as they think they've "ridden the horse as far as they can" or so Matt said. However, as of March this year, due to the financial and critical success of the 3 films, Matt and Paul are going to do a 4th movie, though the details of the new film aren't out yet. The new film will most probably take some stories from the novel The Bourne Legacy

Finally, if you're looking for an extremely well handled action-suspense-thriller movie that let's you think, a movie that will make you hold on to your seats, and a movie that will touch you in many ways (physically, emotionally, psychologically etc), then this movie is definitely for you. I should say that it will not leave you unchanged after watching it.

Now, I'm off listening to the end soundtrack of the 3 movies: Moby's Extreme Ways.

 I watched this January, 2006 

Plot Summary: The viewer is slowly allowed to discover that an American spy operative, Jason Bourne, has become “lost” via amnesia.  As he discovers his identity, he realizes he has been a tool of deceit and evil.  He sets out to remove himself from the game and wreak vengeance upon those who were using him.  

What I Disliked

• Just not plausible.  He gets out of way too many things in way too smooth a style.
• If the NSA or CIA, or whoever it is that is over him wished to bring him down, one would think the “owner” could outwit and out war the “owned.”  I know this is part of the appeal of this series, but I am too much a skeptic to be taken in by it.
• Parts of this drag, parts are way to quick – seems to have trouble knowing what pace to keep.
• The whole romance thing is way off the beaten path.  What is going on with them?  Just can’t follow it. 

What I Liked

• Lots of action, I mean tons of action.
• Some witty moments.
• Damon seems to own this character and stays pretty consistent with it throughout.
• You don’t know the first time what is going down until it does – I like the tight suspense. 

Would I recommend it and to whom?: One thumb up.  It is worth the ride, but it does not improve the viewer in any meaningful way. 

The star attraction in this film is the story, based on the Steven Gould novel. For some reason jumping is never fully explained in the film, but it does become evident how it works; Jumpers can go anywhere that they can currently see and can jump anywhere that they've seen before, even in a photograph, so long as they have a strong visual memory of it. Weighing in at just under 90 minutes, Jumper is the ideal length for a easy popcorn movie, and has a cast that gel together well.

Despite getting top billing, Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen are simply used as pretty faces to keep things moving along. Any strong characterisation comes from the likes of Jamie Bell as fellow jumper Griffin and Samuel L. Jackson as Roland, leader of The Paladins - a secret organisation that has aimed to destroy the Jumpers for centuries.

Once you get past Bell's hugely irritating accent (a bizarre concoction of Geordie and American) it becomes clear that he is the strongest character in the film - bringing some much-needed humour to his scenes, often by virtue of his delivery alone.

The film is well paced, with plenty of action scenes peppered throughout, each one as strong as the other. Jumping is a fantastically cool super-power, and the Jumper vs Paladin battles look amazing thanks to the groundbreaking special effects created by the same innovative team behind the first Matrix movie.

As you'd expect from Doug Liman, the director of The Bourne Identity, there are some deeper layers there if you look hard enough, but for the most part, Jumper is exactly what it appears to be: a big, daft, fun, loud, action film. It may be flawed, but with a strong central conceit and impressive set-pieces, it's an enjoyable ride.

He examines the trilogy in light of its redemptive aspects and the parallels between Jason Bourne's character and both the life and significance of Jesus as well as the struggles of fallen humanity in a broken world. He sums up the Bourne Trilogy like this:

While Greengrass’ gritty, realistic style and Damon’s dour intensity have secured this film series the complement of being one of the most engaging and seamless trilogies every made, the intentional or unintentional ability of the series to tap into these aspects of the One True Narrative have made it more than an action series and give it a depth that will endure while other action heroes fade.

Give it a read.

SWAT team shot with the "Bourne Identity" color grading effect.

Today I spent some time editing the Kansas/Swat Team flash back edit. I took the comments and changes Tom and I talked about and made them. On top of that I added some additional sound effects, visual effects and did some color correction to add to the feel and make the scene really pop. I think it went well, even with the temporary placement music it looks like a cool little music video.

It was a crash course in sound editing and placement of various special effects to complete the scene. I've finally started to use the sfx collections that I've been collecting in the past few months. No matter how subtle or sometimes irrelevant a sfx may seem, they all compound and add to the depth of a particular scene. It enhances the audiences experience. I was able to find police radio messages, and even used Portuguese fishermen radio intercepts. I couldn't find a good "camera flash bulb" sound effect so I opted for a "car-hit" which did the job. Since we only shot in a couple of locations, after the entire mix it looks like it could be multiple locations which was the intended effect.

To top it off, I also placed Eddie G's voice over on the entire scene as he tells the story.

It almost feels like I applied every possible grading effect in this one scene, but I thought that if there was a scene we could do this in... this would be it.

For hundreds of thousands of years, female rhesus macaques have successfully ruled highly regimented societies in which the queenly alpha females control families, territories and resources, taking their followers into war as highly disciplined armies.

Armies. Their words, not mine. Worried yet? Read on.

The males? A few rough, tough stud muffins are tolerated in the ranks to help out with security and protection and to be around for the mating season. But any male will soon be physically hurting and on the outside looking in -- or dead -- if he angers the ladies who run the show.

Sounds like my family reunions, but I digress…

Rhesus monkeys may not be the smartest primates, but they are arguably the most successful primate species after humans, inhabiting more of the Earth than any other monkeys or apes. Their success, says Dario Maestripieri, may be because they are political animals, ruthless and opportunistic in ways endorsed for human politicians by 16th Century Italian philosopher/statesman Nicolo Machiavelli.

People who like to think human society might be kinder and gentler if it were dominated by women won't find much support in female-dominated rhesus macaque society, which specializes in what Maestripieri calls "Machiavellian intelligence."

Doesn't anyone remember how vicious the Amazons were?? I'm vaguely recalling something about "doomed to repeat" something. Oh well.

Dario was nice enough to give us this warning:

Every individual rhesus macaque, "male and female, is the equivalent of being armed and dangerous, ready to attack anyone at any time," Maestripieri said.

Holy crap! It's like the Bourne Identity, only it plausible!

"They fight endlessly, even when there is no need to fight. It is Machiavellian. They're not fighting for things, like food; they're fighting for power. It is all about nepotism and struggling to get you and your closest relatives in the most powerful position possible in society."

Isn't this how we elect our presidents?

"The females are very promiscuous," said Maestripieri. "Taking on lovers behind bushes out of sight from the king, they usually try to have at least one fling with every adult male in the group, not to mention passing strangers."

This is the same way Paris Hilton became famous. That and her crotch gets photographed more than her face.

"Rhesus females are organized like the army, which means rank and status of each individual means everything."

Welcome to High School Musical: Monkey Style!

These monkeys are organized, motivated and smart. If you can think like a monkey, (and I know some of you out there can) there may be hope for us yet! 

You can buy Dario Maestripieri's Macachiavellian Intelligence: How Rhesus Macaques and Humans Have Conquered the World online at Amazon.com.

** DISCLAIMER. Clicking on this link may result in you leaving my blog. TheLostGirl’s blog does not accept any responsibility for external content, damage caused by clicking on a link, or any offence taken from readers choosing to click on external links and viewing said material therein. In addition, TheLostGirl’s blog does not own any copy, images, sound, or branding contained in any external links on this site whatsoever. Nor does it claim to own any photos used either**

Extreme ways that help me
They help me out late at night
Extreme places I had gone
But never seen any light
Dirty basements, dirty noise
Dirty places coming home
Extreme worlds alone
Did you ever like it then?

I would stand in line for this
There's always room in life for this

Oh babe, oh babe
Then it fell apart, it fell apart
Oh babe, oh babe
Then it fell apart, it fell apart

Extreme sounds have told me
They held me down every night
I didn't have much to say
I didn't give up the light
I closed my eyes and closed myself
And closed my world and never opened
Up to anything
That could get me at all

I had to close down everything
I had to close down my mind
Too many things could cut me
Too much can make me blind
I've seen so much in so many places
So many heartaches, so many faces
So many dirty things
You couldn't even believe

I would stand in line for this
There's always room in life for this

Oh babe, oh babe
Then it fell apart, it fell apart
Oh babe, oh babe
Then it fell apart, it fell apart

(Fell apart)
Oh Babe (It fell apart)
Oh Babe (It fell apart)
(It fell apart)
Could you say my name
Say it again
You know I can
Oh, you know I can

Oh babe, oh babe
Then it fell apart, it fell apart
Oh babe, oh babe
Then it fell apart, it fell apart
Oh babe, oh babe
Then it fell apart, it fell apart
Oh babe, oh babe
Like it always does, always does

note: from Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum soundtracks

We hit the theater to watch The Bourne Ultimatum starring Matt Damon. The third in the Jason Bourne series. The first two were The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy. Damon has claimed that this will be his last Bourne movie, but the studios would like to turn it into a franchise like the Bond films, using other actors to play the title role. Well the think-tank over at Universal Pictures can rest a little easier now, because I have come up with 26 great Jason Bourne movie ideas. That will make it 29, which is short to make it an even 30 total films. Okay, you guys need to help me out here. I need one more prior to receiving my check in the mail.

1. The Bourne Bjorn: Jason Bourne finds out he has child and is forced to fight against his assassins with a baby strapped to his chest. In one scene he disguises the baby as a bomb and threatens his enemies by saying "I have an explosive!" In the next scene Bourne changes his baby's diaper and says "Man, I didn't realize you were that explosive." Huge laughs from the audience.

2. The Bourne Again Christian: Jason Bourne finds Jesus...and kills him.

3. The Bourne Identity Crisis: Jason Bourne thinks that before he lost his memory, he was destined to be a stand up comedian. After killing a heckler by strangling him with his microphone chord, he realizes he is an assassin after all.

4. The Bourne To Be Wild: Jason Bourne and some new found assassin friends go on a life changing road trip!

5. The Bourne Being Born: A prequel to all the Bourne movies, which shows Jason Bourne fighting his way out of his mother's womb.

6. The Bourne Illegitimacy: Jason Bourne finds out that he is an illegitimate child.

7. The Bourne Yesterday: After sustaining a brutal head wound, Jason Bourne is reduced to the mental equivalent of a 4 year old. Hilarity ensues.

8. The Bourne in the USA: Jason's Mom, Mrs Bourne, gives birth. Stars Bruce Springsteen in drag.

9. The Bourne Free: Classic black-and-white picture: Jason Bourne raises a lion cub to be a terrifying rogue killing machine, ramapging through the streets of Bulaweyo, Zimbabwe tearing people limb from limb. From the much-loved childrens' book by Joy Adamson.

10. The Bourne on the 4th of July: Wheelchair-bound Vietnam Vet Jason Bourne, confusingly played by Tom Cruise, must track down Matt Damon and celebrate Independence Day with him.

11. The Bourne Under a Wandrin' Star: Drag Queen Bruce Springsteen returns in this contraversial re-imagining of Jason Bourne's birth. Consists entirely of a single tracking shot following a shooting star crashing to earth whilst Mrs Bourne gives birth again, this time in Bethlehem.12. The Max Bourne Principle: Although this was both a critical and commercial flop, it is widely considered to be the only movie consisting entirely of theoretical physicists shooting each other.

13. The Bourne into Brothels: Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne, going undercover in New Delhi's red light zone. unsuitable for children and adults.

14. Bourne with a Silver Spoon in his Mouth: Jason, insufferably spoiled, is tracked down and killed by the mobsters his family has hired to assassinate him, but not before he makes a shadowy, boring porn with Paris Hilton.

15. Bourne with a Cleft Palate: A riveting documentary of Jason's 23 surgeries to make him handsome enough for Hollywood.

16. The Bourne-E-O: Tedious, island-based adventure in which Matt Damon adopts an Orangutan and moves to Indonesia.

17. The Bourne-acopia: Disturbing Art House picture in which a wicker Matt Damon is stuffed full of fruit. No one comes out alive, least of all him.

18. The Bourne of the Dead: Matt Damon is a zombie. Not as suspnseful as supervisors had hoped.

19. The Bourne Mower Man: Matt Damon is a retard. Even less suspenseful.

20. Airbourne: Free Willy, except with Matt Damon as the whale.

21. Children of the Bourne: A terrifying Steven King adaptation in which Matt Damon runs up and down some cornfields killing people.

22. Hallelujah, Christ is Bourne!: blasphemous sequel to the Passion of the Christ.

23. Bourne to Make You Happy: unexpected Britney Spears biopic starring a post-surgery transsexual Matt Damon as the drink-addled has-been starlet.

24. Bourne into Slavery: A raucous comedy in which Senator Trent Lott (oops I just threw up a lil in my mouth) is reborn in the past as a pretty little slave girl who is raped repeatedly by the asshole who owns him.

25. Bourne to be Alive: An inexplicable remake of the Patrick Hernandez disco video, starring Matt Damon as the glitterball.

26. Bourne to Quilt: tedious documentary about a knitting circle in Iowa, mostly indicative of me running out of Bourne ideas...

Hoho... film terakhir yang Q tunggu - tunggu sekitar setahun lalu akhirnya udah Q tonton. yups Q emang suka banget ama Matt Damon (yang sekarang udah nikah n punya anak..hiks), yang muncul lagi dalam Bourne Ultimatum.

Film ini memang lanjutan dari 2 film sebelumnya The Bourne Identity dan The Bourne Supremacy, yang mengisahkan "Life Journey" dari agen CIA yang gagal melakukan misi untuk membunuh Kwame Wambosi di film pertama dan sebaliknya Jason Bourne terkena tembakan dipunggungnya yang menyebabkan dia hilang ingatan. Jason Bourne saat itu ditemukan oleh kapal nelayan dan ia tinggal diatas kapal itu selama 2 minggu, dia sama sekali tidak ingat masa lalunya. Setelah merapat, Jason Bourne pergi ke Zurich untuk melihat save deposit box miliknya di zurich bank. Jason menemukan 6 paspor dengan nama yang berbeda dan banyak uang. ia lalu pergi ke Kedubes AS, dan ternyata dia telah masuk dalam daftar pencarian orang. disana lah ia bertemu dengan Marie Helena Kreutz yang akhirnya menjadi kekasih Bourne.

Di film ke dua Bourne Supremacy, Jason kembali menjadi incaran CIA atas peristiwa pembunuhan yang terjadi di Jerman. Namun sebenarnya ketika itu terjadi ia bersama Marie sedang berada di India. Meskipun telah bersembunyi jauh hingga di India, Jason masih menjadi target CIA lainnya yang mengirim pembunuh bayaran bernama Kiril (Karl Urban - yang main di Lord of The Rings). Dalam pelariannya dari incaran Kiril dengan menggunakan mobil, Jason yang semula memegang kemudi lalu bertukar dengan Marie dan Kiril sang snipper menembak tepat dikepala pengemudi yang ia kira Bourne. Inti dari cerita film kedua ini adalah tentang upaya Bourne untuk membuktikan bukan dia pelaku pembunuhan yang terjadi di Jerman pada 2 minggu yang lalu itu. Bourne datang ke Berlin dan ia sedikit banyak mengingat masa lalunya. Ia ingat pernah membunuh politikus Rusia - Vladimir Nesky - dan istrinya, dan membuat peristiwa itu seperti bunuh diri. Di Akhir cerita Bourne datang k Rusia untuk menemui putri dari Nesky untuk meminta maaf. dan kembali ke New York untuk menghubungi Pamela Landy yang semula menuduh Bourne.

Akhir cerita pada film kedua inilah yang kemudian berlanjut ke film yang terakhir. Ternyata setelah Bourne menemui putri dari Nesky, ia masih diburu oleh polisi Rusia. 6 minggu kemudian Bourne membaca sebuah artikel di The Guardian yang mengisahkan tentang perjalanannya selama ini, Bourne datang ke London untuk menemui Ross jurnalis yang menulis artikel tersebut, ia tahu bahwa pada akhirnya jurnalis itu akan menjadi sasaran, Bourne sendiri memutuskan menemui Ross untuk mengumpulkan informasi tentang dirinya. Namun Ross yang panik, akhirnya ditembak di tempat ramai di stasiun London. Bourne kemudian bertemu dengan Nicky dan mereka berdua lari ke Maroko untuk mencari Neal Daniel, namun Daniel telah lebih dulu dibunuh oleh agen lainnya -Dash. Nicky dan Bourne lah yang menjadi sasaran Dash selanjutnya, dalam duel antara Bourne dan Dash, akhirnya Dash meninggal. Nicky diperintah Bourne untuk mengirimkan sandi yang menunjukkan bahwa dirinya dan Bourne telah mati. Mereka telah dikira mati oleh CIA selama 1 minggu, dan selama itu pula lah ia merencanakan untuk membongkar proyek ilegal Blackbriar yang telah banyak menewaskan warga AS itu sendiri. Bourne akhirnya kembali ke New York dan bertemu dengan Pamela Landy, ia berhasil membuka brankas dan mengambil dokumen rahasia tentang Blackbriar lalu menyerahkannya kepada Landy. Landy dan Bourne bertemu disebuah tempat rahasia tempat dia dulu dilatih untuk menjadi agen pembunuh, Landy mengatakan bahwa Bourne memiliki nama asli David Webb yang lahir 4-15-71. ternyata itu bukanlah tanggal kelahirannya tapi tempat ia dilatih dulu. Dokumen rahasia Blackbriar tersebut telah sukses dikirim melalui fax, dan itulah akhirnya proyek ilegal CIA Blackbriar terbongkar.

Film ketiga ini begitu dinamis dan alur cerita yang cepat. Bourne dengan cepat berpindah - pindah dari satu negara ke negara lain. Bourne Ultimatum tergolong film action tapi buebeda dari film action lainnya. Tidak banyak adegan tembak2an, dan aksi super hero seperti film mission imposible, die hard, James Bond (maaf ya untuk penggemar film ini). Jason Bourne mengandalkan beda apapun untuk membela diri, bahkan ketika ia mempunyai kesempatan untuk menembak agen CIA yang memburunya pun tak dia lakukan. di film ini juga tidak banyak adegan - adegan yang bertele - tele, pononton disuguhi aksi cerdas Jason Bourne seperti ketika dirinya dan Nicky tengah diintai disebuah apartemen di Madrid, dan sebelum para agen kiriman CIA itu masuk, Bourne menelepon polisi Spanyol dan berbicara menggunakan bahasa Spanyol lalu menembakkan pistolnya 3x ke dinding seolah - olah terjadi penembakan atau pembunuhan, untuk memancing polisi datang. Tak lama polisi datang dan mengacaukan pengintaian yang sedang dilakukan para agen tadi, disaat yang sama Bourne dan Nicky keluar lewat pintu depan dengan leluasa.

Ada juga aksi cerdas Bourne lainnya yang menghubungi salah satu Bos CIA yang sedang memburunya. Ia merekam pembicaraan tersebut untuk dapat membuka brankas yang juga menggunakan kode suara, yang tanpa disadari bahwa saat itu Bourne berada di dalam kantornya. Setelah berhasil mendapatkan semua dokumen rahasia itu, Bourne keluar dengan santai dan sempat mengunci pintu kaca yang didalamnya terdapat semua agen lainnya yang bertugas melakukan pencarian dirinya.

Film ini kereeen Banget dehh, tapi Q saranin sebelum nonton Bourne Ultimatum harus nonton dua seri film sebelumnya The Bourne Identity dan The Bourne Supremacy. Akhir film ini juga lumayan lah walau agak menggantung. 2 orang Bos CIA termasuk yang melatihnya menjadi agen pembunuh ditangkap, Bourne dikira mati tertembak dan jatuh kesungai dari lantai 10, tapi mayatnya belum ditemukan setelah dicari selama 3 hari. Padahal sebenarnya Bourne tidak mati.

Matt Damon yang telah tercatat namanya di Walk of Fame -LA- mengatakan baginya Bourne Ultimatum adalah film perjalanan Bourne yang terakhir ia perankan, ia tidak mau ada lanjutan untuk kisah Bourne selanjutnya.

JD: Jason, thanks for stopping by today. This is the third movie about your exploits ... they are all equally brutal in terms of the physical beatings you take. How do you stay in shape for this kind of action?

Bourne: I don't remember.

JD: Oh. Well, you always have a beautiful woman ready to throw herself in your arms. Do you ever worry about comparisons to 007?

Bourne: What's 007? Is that what the program was called?

JD: Nevermind. Say, that scene in the police car was breathtaking. How did you walk away from that with barely a limp? And then given the opportunity to kill The Asset, you simply walked away.

Bourne: We do not even know why we kill. My argument is not with him.

JD: Hmm... do you know why you crash cars and break things? Nevermind. Say, if you had to choose between insider government intrigue babe Pam Landy and hot office girl turned super spy Nicky Parsons, who would it be?

Bourne: Pam should get some rest, she looks tired.

JD: Were you aware that Richard Chamberlain once played the role of Jason Bourne?

Bourne: I was willing to be anything they told me to be. He probably was too.

JD: Jason, you seem so unreal ... I mean ... in all of your adventures did you ever go to the bathroom, eat a meal, smile, read a magazine, see a movie, or kick back in a hammock?

Bourne: Up ahead, to your right, is a man with a camera. He's working for them.

JD: I guess not. Should we feel safer with Jason Bourne on the streets of the world?

Bourne: You don't realize what you've gotten yourself into. This is real. They will kill you.

JD? Me? I never said codeword BLACKBRIAR in a cell phone like one idiot I know. Do you know David Webb?

Bourne: (Cringing in a flashback) I am starting to remember everything...

JD: I think you need something to take the edge off, dude. Thanks for stopping by anyway.

JD watches as Bourne crashes through the window and out into the night.

JD mumbles about how much his window is gonna cost to get fixed while super boy goes running through the night in his make believe world.

The Break-Up: Two days in Chicago and my awesome roller blading scene was deleted. It was even deleted from the DVD's deleted scenes!! But like I've said before, I got to roller blade behind Jennifer Aniston, so there are no regrets.

Devil You Know: My role as the snooty matire'd who gives Lena Olin an angry look will very likely always remain a hidden treasure as it never went to theaters and I never heard anything about it since.

Without a Trace: I got to play an FBI employee fleeing from a building and after close examination of the episode, I was nowhere to be found.

And now another one to add to the list. I did work for a new FOX TV show called The Wedding Album about a wedding planner and his zany adventures. I believe I would have gotten some good "hey there he is" screen time but it seems FOX has gone with a different TV show about wedding planners, The Wedding Bells. Awesome.

There's only one left...a movie with Robin Williams called August Rush. I haven't seen any previews for it or heard any buzz yet, so I'll keep you posted. It's currently scheduled to come out in August. On the same weekend as the Bourne Identity sequel. So...good luck.

Who knows. If this doesn't work, I may have to jump back in and try it again. Don't think I won't, doggonit.

*UPDATE
Ok, I found this website on August Rush. Apparently some guy who does special effects worked on the movie and he has a couple of clips on his website of the film and how he made it look like there were actually a lot more of us in Central Park than there was in reality. He has four scenes in his clip; I am somewhere in each of the first three, but it's impossible to find me. Hopefully when the final product comes out I will be ready for my close-up.

To watch the scenes click here. Once you're there, click on REEL in the top right-hand corner and then choose August Rush. If nothing else, it's kinda cool to see the before and after of the effects.

The young man chooses the identity of Jason Bourne from the box. But who is Jason Bourne? The money and the IDs, along with his supersonic reflexes and hand-to-hand fighting skills, seem to indicate that he's not your typical car salesman. For whom does Bourne work? Is he an assassin? A good guy? A bad guy? And who's following him, anyway?

Bourne hightails it out of Zurich, heading to Paris in the company of Marie (Franka Potente), who accepts his offer of $10,000 to drive him (and another $10,000 when they get there). And of the course of the bulk of the movie, Bourne tries to reconstruct his life - and his identities.

The movie is based on a Robert Ludlum potboiler thriller, and was made into a TV movie in 1988, with Richard Chamberlain as Jason Bourne. Having not read the book yet, I had no real expectations of the movie. Matt Damon, however, did strike me as a little too young for the role. He's a good actor, and this is a good role for him to work on his acting chops, but he just didn't do it for me in this movie. Damon can be appealing at times, but he's still relatively early in his career, and just not the heavyweight that this role seemed to demand. He seemed very unsure of himself (although, of course, Bourne's very unsure, not knowing who he is or what he's become), veering at times from strong-willed action hero to puzzled milquetoast.

As Marie, Potente isn't half bad - she's actually very good, and she gets better as the movie progresses. She's a wanderer without a real home, much like Bourne, and Potente does a fine job of essaying her character's change from someone being forced on a mission to a faithful sidekick, of sorts.

Another problem is the lack of chemistry between Damon and Potente. The scenes they shared - and there were plenty - should have been sizzling, but they pretty much died in terms of chemistry. Luckily, there was plenty of action surrounding them to make up for this failing.

The worst problem, however, was the directing itself. Doug Liman (Swingers) is a pretty good director, but this was his first shot at a spy thriller. Too bad he dropped the ball - the pacing is absolutely leaden throughout much of the film. Either a lot of things were happening - which can be good, as it disguises plot holes - or nothing was happening. If providing a sense of atmosphere was the goal, the film did not succeed.

The writing itself was pretty crisp, although the characters were a little flat (and, aside from the two leads, they were caricatures, including Cooper's Machiavellian bad guy). The explosions and car chases were great, but that's become the norm for these films.

The Bourne Identity: 5