Bourne Legacy and Writing Update
After three weeks I am now three pages into the 19th and FINAL chapter of Moving Forward and it's totally dragging ass. I'm not sure if this new snail pace is due to lack of motivation, crazy workload, lack of creative time, or all 3. I've never attempted something so big and come so close to completing it. Eight months and it feels a little overwhelming every time I open the word document. I want it to be better than the parts leading up to it. I don't want to end it, and I want it done and scratched off my neglected to-do list. Clearly whining about it on the internet is not going to accomplish any of that. Onwards, then.
In other news: I went last night and saw the Bourne Legacy. I can't believe it's taken me this long to see any of the Bourne series, considering the first one came out just about 10 years ago. I have an enduring weakness for big dumb action movies, but never really got interested enough to sit down and watch.
I liked it. I really, really enjoyed 90% of the movie. It took the first half of the movie for me to stop thinking of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, but once I got past that mental barrier I found the movie much more immersing. And somewhere along the way Renner started looking pretty cute too, which was slightly unsettling. Or maybe that was just him not standing next to Chris Hemsworth/ Robert Downey/ Tom Hiddleson/ ect.
The only gripes I have are the the defenestration of Aaron Cross' only character trait, irrelevant-seeming flashbacks, and the bit with the 'brains' withdrawal/ virus.
The first thing we learn about Aaron Cross is that he doesn't seem to mind swimming in Alaska in the middle of winter. The second thing we learn is he is made almost entirely out of wolf bait. The third, and first relevant thing, we learn about Aaron Cross is that he is very, very inquisitive. He asks a lot of questions of the scientists and guides about what they're doing. I don't have a whole lot of experience to draw from in the whole super-soldier standard behavior set, but the spirit of inquiry was interesting. Too bad it was dropped like a brick right when he rescued hot scientist chick Marta for the first time. After that the only question raised is 'Omg where can I get more of the MacGuffins on which I am 100% dependent for functionality?'
Most frustratingly about that is that there are no consequences for Cross not having his Chems. In the beginning, it's briefly suggested he's stockpiling extras in case of... something. But it's never mentioned again once things start blowing up. That would be interesting, show a lack of trust in his handlers, foresight, and be a fairly common behavior in an addict to boot. Not that it matters at all: the withdrawl doesn't hit until they've snuck into the lab where the injectable permanent fix is administered. And then he's still able to guide Marta back out of the lab to more or less safety. That scene, and the one following it with Cross being sickened by the cure left me feeling cheated. It could have been a great opportunity for Marta to step up to the plate and show herself to be more than just the Hot Scientist Chick in Need of Rescuing (Type A). That would have been interesting. Perfectly convenient timing is not interesting.
Thirdly, there are flashbacks to Aaron Cross sitting in a cell looking like shit and talking to some guy we can't see. I got a little background information on the previous Bourne movies, where the flashbacks happen because Jason Bourne has amnesia. Aaron Cross doesn't have amnesia, and while the flashbacks are more like fevered dreams... it didn't seem to add anything. Maybe it's foreshadowing for the very obviously next two-three movies, but mostly I was confused and a little grossed out.
Generally, I like my movies to be a bit more self contained: I didn't really like how this movie was entirely about setting up for the following releases. This movie was entirely exposition and car chases, but I know I'll be going to see the next installment, and probably go watch the previous Bourne movies on netflix. Unless I get distracted by the Expendables 2 and Dredd 3D.
In other news: I went last night and saw the Bourne Legacy. I can't believe it's taken me this long to see any of the Bourne series, considering the first one came out just about 10 years ago. I have an enduring weakness for big dumb action movies, but never really got interested enough to sit down and watch.
I liked it. I really, really enjoyed 90% of the movie. It took the first half of the movie for me to stop thinking of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, but once I got past that mental barrier I found the movie much more immersing. And somewhere along the way Renner started looking pretty cute too, which was slightly unsettling. Or maybe that was just him not standing next to Chris Hemsworth/ Robert Downey/ Tom Hiddleson/ ect.
The only gripes I have are the the defenestration of Aaron Cross' only character trait, irrelevant-seeming flashbacks, and the bit with the 'brains' withdrawal/ virus.
The first thing we learn about Aaron Cross is that he doesn't seem to mind swimming in Alaska in the middle of winter. The second thing we learn is he is made almost entirely out of wolf bait. The third, and first relevant thing, we learn about Aaron Cross is that he is very, very inquisitive. He asks a lot of questions of the scientists and guides about what they're doing. I don't have a whole lot of experience to draw from in the whole super-soldier standard behavior set, but the spirit of inquiry was interesting. Too bad it was dropped like a brick right when he rescued hot scientist chick Marta for the first time. After that the only question raised is 'Omg where can I get more of the MacGuffins on which I am 100% dependent for functionality?'
Most frustratingly about that is that there are no consequences for Cross not having his Chems. In the beginning, it's briefly suggested he's stockpiling extras in case of... something. But it's never mentioned again once things start blowing up. That would be interesting, show a lack of trust in his handlers, foresight, and be a fairly common behavior in an addict to boot. Not that it matters at all: the withdrawl doesn't hit until they've snuck into the lab where the injectable permanent fix is administered. And then he's still able to guide Marta back out of the lab to more or less safety. That scene, and the one following it with Cross being sickened by the cure left me feeling cheated. It could have been a great opportunity for Marta to step up to the plate and show herself to be more than just the Hot Scientist Chick in Need of Rescuing (Type A). That would have been interesting. Perfectly convenient timing is not interesting.
Thirdly, there are flashbacks to Aaron Cross sitting in a cell looking like shit and talking to some guy we can't see. I got a little background information on the previous Bourne movies, where the flashbacks happen because Jason Bourne has amnesia. Aaron Cross doesn't have amnesia, and while the flashbacks are more like fevered dreams... it didn't seem to add anything. Maybe it's foreshadowing for the very obviously next two-three movies, but mostly I was confused and a little grossed out.
Generally, I like my movies to be a bit more self contained: I didn't really like how this movie was entirely about setting up for the following releases. This movie was entirely exposition and car chases, but I know I'll be going to see the next installment, and probably go watch the previous Bourne movies on netflix. Unless I get distracted by the Expendables 2 and Dredd 3D.