Studying the Bourne Ultimatum

At the time of its release in 2007, The Bourne Ultimatum was described by one writer as the blockbuster it was 'okay to like'. What is it about this third entry in a Hollywood action franchise that satisfied both the cognoscenti and mass audiences? In Studying The Bourne Ultimatum, Neil Archer considers the film's status as 'a serious blockbuster'; compares rise of Jason Bourne in relation to the decline of another J.B. -- James Bond; analyses how the dynamics of the action thriller are used to depict the covert operations of US intelligence forces across the world; looks closely at the action sequences, focusing on their style and technological innovation; and considers the film's questioning of responsibility and culpability, asking whether -- against the backdrop of the 'War on Terror' -- it plays as a critique of American foreign policy, but also as a redemption for its soldiers.