Read other letters about this article

• Friday, August 3, 2007 06:42 AM

  Mind numbing MTV formula movie.

  I couldn't disagree with Ms. Zacharek more.

  I loved "The Bourne Identity" but hate both sequels largely because of the Greengrass formula. The directing, editing and shooting are from the MTV school of film making. The result indicates a mediocre director trying to compensate by throwing in every music video trick in the book. Character development and plot are secondary to technique.

  For example, in the first sequel by Greengrass, 75% or more of the film is comprised of cuts that are 1 second or less. There is no shot longer than 7 seconds. (I actually sat through it a second time with a stop watch.) This, combined with the excessive camera shake, persistent dim lighting and extreme closeups of action sequences, is disorienting, disconcerting and "motion" sickening.

  The flashbacks include all of the above with the added annoyance of a distorted lens. Both sequels are very hard to watch in one sitting because of the mind numbing pace.

  Imagine trying to watch Fred Astaire dance with the entire screen filled with a closeup of his pocket, in dim light, with a hand held, shaking camera, in one second bites, and no wide shots for context and you'll get an idea of how visually confusing both sequels are. One wouldn't even be able to know who Astair was dancing with. Likewise with Greengrass, you can't tell who's fighting whom, who's chasing whom and all you can remember are short visual images that don't connect; which is an apt description of the movie itself.

  Within the first 10 minutes of this second effort, it becomes apparent that Greengrass sticks to the same formula, which is why I had to get out of the theater ASAP. I prefer digestion to heartburn. Give me Stanley Kubrick's or Robert Altman's long langourous scenes that encourage reflection rather than the adolescent, addictive adrenaline rush.

  The fact that most critics are praising Greengrass' latest effort sadly indicates how the "nano-second attention span" has been fully integrated into our culture.

  It's not only a sad commentary on the movie itself but our culture in general.

  —Craig Rhodes Read Craig Rhodes's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel