I heard a rumor recently: Any film that makes over $200,000,000 in theaters automatically gets a sequel. Even if this were true, it still wouldn't explain the relentless onslaught of "2" movies this past summer, including Butterfly Effect 2, Bringing Down the House 2, The Hills Have Eyes 2, and the more subtly titled sequels Elizabeth: The Golden Age, 28 Weeks Later, and Evan Almighty. But this summer also saw the rise, or technically the fall, of at least four "3" movies: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Shrek the Third, Spiderman 3, and Rush Hour 3.

Disappointed and somewhat mystified audiences have the rest of the year to wonder what hit them. However, it is easy to see where these trilogies went wrong when you look at achievements like the Bourne series, which should be held as the standard for action films and "3" movies alike.

The Bourne Ultimatum is the capstone to a trilogy started in 2002, and stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, along with Joan Allen, Julia Stiles, and series newcomers David Strathairn and Scott Glenn. From film one, each Bourne installment has demanded a sequel, not driven merely by box office numbers but by sheer storytelling genius. In The Bourne Ultimatum, Director Paul Greengrass successfully transforms the final printed words of Robert Ludlum (the novel's late author) into an adrenaline-laced action masterpiece.

True to its title, the film has one subject: former CIA agent turned fugitive Jason Bourne. Though his opponents are still losing the elaborate game of cat and mouse, Bourne has yet to uncover the secret of his forgotten identity. The story begins 10 minutes after the second Bourne film, as Jason continues the hunt for his girlfriend's murderers. He soon realizes, however, that they may also hold the key to his mysterious past.

David Strathairn is CIA Deputy Noah Vosen, one of many pursuers who want Bourne dead. He is assisted, and eventually challenged, by agent Pamela Landy (Joan Allen), whose previous work with and against Bourne has taught her he is not a man to be underestimated.

Damon's performance as Bourne requires more nonverbal than verbal dexterity, and compared to actors like Allen and Strathairn, he has very little to say. Yet this is not the result of a plot-driven story, for even greater than the film's relentless action is the conflict within Bourne himself. Classic tragic hero suspense, where the avenger becomes what he hates, meets the darker side of the American justice system as Bourne confronts a fellow government assassin: "Look at us. Look at what they make you give." Matt Damon's performance makes us look, and keeps us engaged from start to finish.

Fans will find more reasons to watch on the just-released DVD. Several deleted scenes add dimension to Vosen's and Landy's characters, but not necessarily to Bourne's, which is probably why they were cut. There is also another scene with Nikki Parsons (Julia Stiles) and Bourne, which became unnecessary when Greengrass chose not to pursue their relationship. Other features include a European scrapbook of sorts, as the cast and crew explore their foreign destinations, optional director's commentary, and a video of Matt Damon's dangerous driving lesson.

All in all, we have to respect the filmmakers that take us so far, from Tangier to Times Square, the actors who risk so much (Damon did many of his own stunts), and the director who makes it so real, all for the sake of a few hours' entertainment. And it's worth every minute.
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