The Bourne Supremacy: Critic Reviews

The way the film has been made, nothing that happens seems inevitable -- which is to say, anything seems possible. There's a word for that sensation. It's called excitement.

In the wake of 9/11, this globe-trotting post-cold-war melodrama full of standard cloak-and-dagger intrigue has the reassuring aroma of a home-cooked meal served while riding the world's smoothest roller coaster.

Gripping film.

Spy movies just got thrilling again.

The movie is utterly synthetic.

A terse, tight, impressively smart package.

Most of Supremacy is an overedited headache that hardly makes up in frayed nerves what the visuals lack in clarity.

The movie is mostly a series of frenetic clashes, dubious near misses and car chases. It lacks the human interest and snowy splendor of the first movie.

More action-filled and tense than The Bourne Identity.

A sequel that reaches a higher plateau than its predecessor.

This admirable franchise should change your idea of what makes a good thriller.

Of its kind, The Bourne Supremacy is incredibly skilled -- much more exciting than its predecessor.

The movie skillfully delivers a series of fights, stalkings, plottings and chases, punctuated by a little brooding.

Almost as good as its predecessor.

As a video game that propels the viewer through the course, Supremacy is supremely successful. I'm not sure that's enough for a movie narrative.

A worthy successor to the smash original.

As thrillers go, Supremacy is indeed supreme.

A solid cloak-and-dagger actioner.

Another of those incoherent Robert Ludlum spy thrillers with more logistics than logic.

Once again, Damon scores in the title role by never courting audience sympathy and playing his all-American good looks against the hard-shell brutality of the character.

A classy if over-caffeinated sequel.

Bourne's amnesia gimmick is a tired one, but there is a future in spy movies with this sort of blend of action and cynicism.

Good enough to make one have faith in certain things again, like spy movies, sequels and the charismatically low-key, quietly lethal movie-star charisma of Matt Damon.

The Bourne Supremacy not only lives up to the promises of the novel by Robert Ludlum, but in many ways manages to improve on the first film.

An entertaining, well-constructed spy story (though not as satisfying as the first film -- perhaps because it's not as simple).