The Bourne Supremacy (PG-13)

A smooth but violent thriller.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures
  • Directed By: Paul Greengrass
  • Cast: Brian Cox, Matt Damon, Franka Potente
  • Running Time: 90 minutes
  • Release Date: 07/23/2004
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 12/07/2004
  • Genre: Action/adventure
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: violence and intense action, and brief language

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has intense and graphic violence, including bloody injuries. Characters are killed and one commits suicide. Characters drink and a character gets drunk in response to stress. There is some strong language and some intrusive product placement.

Families can talk about why Bourne wanted to see Irena. Abbott says that "Conklin had these guys wound so tight they had to bust." What are the risks of training an operative like Bourne? Of not having one?

Message

Social Behavior:

Strong female character.

Consumerism:

Intrusive product placement.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Drinking, character drinks to excess.

Violence

Intense and graphic violence including fights, guns, and explosions, characters killed, suicide.

Sex

Language

Some strong language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

In the first Bourne film, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) was rescued from the ocean, suffering from a gunshot wound and amnesia. He eventually learned that he’s a spy, but he couldn't remember who was after him. Or why. He ended up with a girl he loved and the guarantee of being left alone to try to recover the rest of his lost memories and make some new and better ones.But in this sequel, someone's after him again. The CIA believes he was behind a recent assassination of two agents. CIA big shots Pamela Landry (Joan Allen) and Ward Abbott (Brian Cox), who knows more than he wants to tell, both try to track him down, though perhaps they have different purposes and goals. Bourne still remembers very little of what went on before he was fished out of the water. But now finding out is a matter of life or death.

Is it any good?

3
This is a smooth thriller for grown-ups. That means it has lots of chase scenes and action scenes but the mood is dark, even grim. The dialogue is smart but not smart-alecky. Instead of flashy fights where one dazzling kick to the throat knocks the bad guy out, the battles are messy and breathless and brutal. The chase scenes are like extreme bumper cars. And the primary pleasure is not some big triumph, just the fun of seeing smart people outsmarted.

Allen strides around in long, cool, black Matrix-style coats and Damon is nicely inexorable and relentless. Julia Stiles adds punch as Bourne's former liaison. She explains how the special operatives worked: "They don't make mistakes. They don't do random." When asked who is assigning Bourne's targets, she says, "Scary version? He is." Damon doesn't get to do much acting but delivers a serviceable performance in what is a serviceable movie. Like its title character, it does the job. And the last exchange of dialogue tops it all off nicely.

Other choices

Three Days of the Condor
The Parallax View
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 18 reviews.

4


Posted on 12/02/08 by ScottK Adult contributor

Incredible!

Parents should know that though this is an extremely enjoyable movie, it is both intense and graphic in parts. Some breif strong language, but no f**ks in this movie. This movie's violence is pushing the PG-13 limits, and if a rating existed, this movie as well as The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Ultimatum would be rated PG-15. Parents, this movie is not for all teens. Some thirteen and fourteen year olds will be fine, but not all. Know your kid...
4


Posted on 07/17/08 by ScottK Adult contributor

Not quite as goo as Identity, but still an amaziong movie...

Parents should know that though this is an extremely enjoyable movie, it is both intense and graphic in parts. Some breif strong language, but no f**ks in this movie. This movie's violence is pushing the PG-13 limits, and if a rating existed, this movie as well as The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Ultimatum would be rated PG-15. Parents, this movie is not for all teens. Some thirteen and fourteen year olds will be fine, but not all. Know your kid...
3


Posted on 06/01/08 by ninjaofthewind Adult contributor

Better than the first

Better than the first, but still not memorable. Again, I can vaguly remember a few things, but for some reason I cannot recall what the movie was about.
2


Posted on 02/17/08 by brino Adult contributor
5


Posted on 01/29/08 by soccerkid26 Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 09/29/07 by quest13 Adult contributor

Yeah

Good awesome cool fun thriller.
5


Posted on 09/19/07 by Julie3000x Kid contributor, age 14

Really cool!

First of all Matt Damon=HOT Okay with that out of the way... i recomend this movie for anyone 11 and up. Not horrably violent but i guess it depends on how sheltered and or squeamish you are.
5

Posted on 08/25/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
4


Posted on 08/11/07 by NickTwo Kid contributor, age 9

Good movie

Its good not that much vilonce.
5


Posted on 02/08/07 by automatic touchdown machine Kid contributor, age 10

See all 18 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 9 reviews.

4


Posted on 12/02/08 by ScottK Adult contributor

Incredible!

Parents should know that though this is an extremely enjoyable movie, it is both intense and graphic in parts. Some breif strong language, but no f**ks in this movie. This movie's violence is pushing the PG-13 limits, and if a rating existed, this movie as well as The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Ultimatum would be rated PG-15. Parents, this movie is not for all teens. Some thirteen and fourteen year olds will be fine, but not all. Know your kid...
4


Posted on 07/17/08 by ScottK Adult contributor

Not quite as goo as Identity, but still an amaziong movie...

Parents should know that though this is an extremely enjoyable movie, it is both intense and graphic in parts. Some breif strong language, but no f**ks in this movie. This movie's violence is pushing the PG-13 limits, and if a rating existed, this movie as well as The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Ultimatum would be rated PG-15. Parents, this movie is not for all teens. Some thirteen and fourteen year olds will be fine, but not all. Know your kid...
3


Posted on 06/01/08 by ninjaofthewind Adult contributor

Better than the first

Better than the first, but still not memorable. Again, I can vaguly remember a few things, but for some reason I cannot recall what the movie was about.
2


Posted on 02/17/08 by brino Adult contributor
5


Posted on 09/29/07 by quest13 Adult contributor

Yeah

Good awesome cool fun thriller.
4


Posted on 12/15/06 by jowriggley Adult contributor
4


Posted on 02/23/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor
4


Posted on 12/09/04 by wahoosigma Adult contributor
3


Posted on 08/13/04 by fivebewe Adult contributor

The first one is better

Matt Damon plays the part well, again. But the first "Bourne" story was much more nerve-wracking and twist-y. I liked it better than this one.<p>My husband and I really liked the movie but felt the car chase was definitely WAY too drawn out. We got the idea of what was happening pretty quickly, so it seemed over-done.<p>There are some tense moments and some pretty intense and violent scenes. Several killings, incl. a suicide. <p>The ending is kind of a cliffhanger. Wonder if they can take this to a #3?<p>I'd let my older teen see it. Probably not my 13 y/o.
See all 9 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 9 reviews.

5


Posted on 01/29/08 by soccerkid26 Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 09/19/07 by Julie3000x Kid contributor, age 14

Really cool!

First of all Matt Damon=HOT Okay with that out of the way... i recomend this movie for anyone 11 and up. Not horrably violent but i guess it depends on how sheltered and or squeamish you are.
5

Posted on 08/25/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
4


Posted on 08/11/07 by NickTwo Kid contributor, age 9

Good movie

Its good not that much vilonce.
5


Posted on 02/08/07 by automatic touchdown machine Kid contributor, age 10
5


Posted on 05/09/06 by soccer girl7 Kid contributor, age 12

Awesome Awesome Awesome!!!!!!!!

Man this movie was great. And I so agree w/ the reveiwer b4 me u can see this movie and b 12+ cuz my mom almost said no to this movie, but I convinced her, like always. Ps: I'm 13 now so do I have to make a new profile or is there some way I can change my age? Thanxs, CB
4


Posted on 05/02/06 by purplecatroo Kid contributor, age 13

Wow!

This Movie was AMAZING! Violent I will admit but man, this movie is great for teens of any age. Because of this inaccurate review so many teens who are 12,13,14,and 15 will not be able to see it and man, it was an amazing movie.
4


Posted on 04/05/05 by star Kid contributor, age 11

Good but is really really intence in volence.

Good and exciting but as I said it is so violent it almost made me throw up on how violent it was. So should be atleast 13 or older to see this movie.
5

Posted on 07/31/04 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

A very clever movie

I think The Bourne Supremacy was a perfect follow up for The Bourne Identity. I also think it would be okay for children 13+ because any one under that age would probably not know how to place the intense violence in context. It is a very very well-done movie.<p>PS Matt Damon is so hot!
See all 9 kids reviews >
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