The Bourne series is now a trilogy and the franchise doesn't appear to be slowing down.

 

"The Bourne Ultimatum" kicks the month of August off with a proverbial bang as the film has already been touted for its visceral jolts and expansive scope.  It offers the type of old-school action that many viewers are keen on and appreciative of.  Films that rely less on CGI and more on old fashioned stunt work offer something a bit more tangible for genre fans and the box office figures are backing this up (Live Free or Die Hard is one example).  While the 'Bourne' series has already established itself as intelligent action fare, the production team seems to have ramped up the intensity an additional notch this time out.  Expect this one to do very well at the box office.

 

All the principals are back for the third act including Composer John Powell, who has helmed the music for each of the three installments. Music for the first two 'Bourne' films were a bit lackluster and to this day I don't recall much from either. I pretty much thought the third film would follow suit. However, I couldn't have been more off target.  Powell unleashes his grittiest, most exciting music for 'Ultimatum' with a series of frenzied, uniformed action cues that are relentless.  It's as if someone opened a box and the music for this series sparked to life.

 

The soundtrack begins with energy and doesn't falter.  The second track, "Tangiers," is an incredible, extended piece of music that tracks Bourne's adventures at this location with use of local influences written into the pacing of the cue.  This is perhaps the most relentless track of the year thus far and it's quite a rush.  The percussive elements are pulse-pounding and the orchestra sounds like it has an attitude.  What I liked most about this track (my favorite on the album) is that it lasts with such vibrant energy for such a lengthy period of time.  This isn't just a quick 30 second burst of music.  And speaking of track lengths...this is yet another album where the packaging doesn't indicated the running time.  This is important since there are only 9 score tracks, but the running time is plentiful.  Don't let this deter you when you're scouting this CD out.

 

Back to the music --- while I have high accolades for the second track on the album, the rest of the content is above average as well.  Powell abandons suspense-setting electronics in favor of a more significant musical presence.  While true, there are moments in which the underscore preps you for oncoming action, this album has more weight than its predecessors and keeps the energy at a higher level.  This is a good reason why the music is so engaging.  What Powell also does effectively is adapt the flavor of the music to fit the film's locations, which in turn, also keeps things vibrant.  Lastly, the 10th track on the album offers a song by Moby entitled, "Extreme Ways." This is a very nice conclusion to the album as the song makes for a terrific listen. I particularly enjoy the hook in the chorus, which is quite catchy.

 

Overall, if you've been waiting for the music of the 'Bourne' series to become memorable, than you've found your answer with "The Bourne Ultimatum."  It's an impressive effort that will delight fans who enjoy intense score material.  If you're looking for something a bit more subtle, you'll have to turn elsewhere as these flavors will prove to be too bold for mild palettes.