BOOK REVIEW:
Although
based on Robert Ludlum’s novel of the same name, the
movie version of “The Bourne Ultimatum” and the
book version are entirely different entities. With perhaps
the exception of a character named Jason Bourne.
Published
way back in 1990 after “The Bourne Identity” and
“The Bourne Supremacy”, “The Bourne Ultimatum”
marks the closing chapter of Bourne’s intriguing espionage
career.
While
Bourne is still searching for his real identity in the third
installment of the box-office hit series, that Bourne in the
book version is already in his fifties, married with a wife,
Maria and two kids in tow. Using a false façade, Bourne
is a scholarly-mannered gentleman, David Webb. But an attack
at a carnival in the beginning of the book reveals that his
past is catching up with him. His nemesis, Carlos the Jackal
is still alive and wants him dead.
There’s
no lack of heroic men and women, political agendas within
the government organizations, military forces and corrupted
individuals, which definitely makes reading “The Bourne
Ultimatum” not merely a walk in the park. And the dozen
odd characters be it just pedestrians can be a bit tedious
to follow at times.
However,
there are only a handful characters surrounding Bourne that
truly deserves your attention namely Marie, Conklin (Jason’s
best friend), Dr Morris (Jason’s psychiatrist), Peter
Holland (Director of CIA) and of course the Jackal.
Clocking
in at 700 plus pages, Ludlum’s attention to details
is meticulous. Locations (from Paris to Moscow), mind-bogging
conspiracies and technical warcraft are believably conceived.
Compare to the reel version, it has no lack of action sets
either. However, I doubt Paul Greengrass’s shaky camera
movements is inspired by it.
“The
Bourne Ultimatum” or should I say “The Bourne
Trilogy” should be given a mini-series treatment. The
book created a larger Bourne’s universe but gets too
tedious, sagging at certain junctures. I got to admit I prefer
the screen version.
On
a side note, a writer by the name of Eric Van Lustbader has
taken over the writing duties of Bourne after Ludlum’s
passing in 2001. In other words, you still get to bond with
Bourne.
VERDICT:
You
seriously need to be either a Bourne fan or a literary lover
of Ludlum’s works to appreciate “The Bourne Ultimatum”.
 
Review
by Linus Tee
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