Jason Bourne (12/6/2016)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief strong language.

Starring Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, and Tommy Lee Jones

Directed by Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips, The Bourne Ultimatum and The Bourne Supremacy)

Jason Bourne is back!

After nine years, Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in Jason Bourne. Paul Greengrass, the director of The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bourne franchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows.

To catch up: Bourne has most of his memory back, but lacks info on the CIA program that ended with the murder of his father. Guilt eats at him for what he did as a government-built, $100 million killing machine. He picks up bare-knuckle fights to punish and be punished. But during an austerity riot in Greece, Bourne is contacted by former colleague Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) and learns that new CIA director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) is building his own shadow government with the help of compromised tech kingpin Aaron Kalloor (Riz Ahmed). The result could be something “worse than Snowden.”

I’m ok with Hollywood cranking out mindless action films like Independence Day or Transformers 8, as long as they give me real-deal action-movies like Jason Bourne. This is one of those intense thrill rides that didn’t sell out to stupid.

Let’s be clear, Matt Damon makes these movies great. Sure he is running around the globe — Athens, Berlin, London, Vegas — and the scenery is spectacular. But we’re here to see Damon stop the bad guys and save the world.

I love Paul Greengrass’ decision to go with the jittery hand-held cameras. They keep you on the edge of your seat and a little uneasy. That is way more powerful than CGI special effects. And the CGI special effects are top shelf. From the shootout in Athens to the car chase on the Vegas strip, the film is very intense.

Now I realize this all may seem a little too familiar to those who of us who have seen the other Bourne movies. But when your other options this summer were films like Warcraft or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this one is a real winner.

Besides the intense action, Greengrass causes us all to journey with Damon as he wrestles his past. It’s a brilliant performance and without a doubt, he owns the role. It’s an intense, action-packed mindbender that is “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No sexual content or nudity. But there is plenty of violence throughout. Fight scenes occur frequently, where blood can be seen and weapons are used (guns, ropes, sticks).

The language is on par with PG-13 films. There are no F-words, but 4 S-words and several other profanities.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. How would you describe the training Jason Bourne has gone through?

Read 1 Timothy 4:8

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.


2. What are some benefits to physical training?


3. Why does Paul say training for godliness is much better?


4. What are some “promising benefits in this life and in the life to come”?


5. What can you do this week to train for godliness?