When you study the martial arts, delving into philosophy and spirituality, you find that one of your main purposes is to reformulate yourself. What you are, what your family, society, bosses, teachers, and government have made you, just cannot stand. Something specific may have alerted you to this need. Perhaps it was a slight, received from someone disrespectful, that made you feel weak. Or, one evening, you were walking with your friend and you felt afraid of that group of shadowy figures who were loitering at the next corner. And after the exigency passed, you were ashamed of yourself that you were so fearful, so intimidated, and upon reflection you came to see that you were afraid most of the time, and maybe one day, youd be petrified but still have to defend yourself from a real attack. So, your path in the martial arts begins by transporting you from weakness to strength, from timidity to self-confidence. Jason Bournes journey is different. He has amazing gifts and abilities, especially in defending himself and disabling others. Suffering from amnesia, hes trying to learn whom he is, all the while being hunted by lethal adversaries who want to destroy him. Suffering from a vague sense of guilt about his past misdeeds, and seeking relief from haunting, short-circuited memories, he tries to survive long enough to unravel the mystery of his identity. He is a martial artist, and a stunningly capable one, but he is trying to reformulate himself, as well. A masterful physical specimen, he is nonetheless, spiritually weak, because his brawn has been used for questionable purposes. Being tough, isnt his goal, as it is for some novice pugilists. Being human, is closer to his mission, so undoing his twisted mental wiring is his task, becoming less of a cyborg, connecting more with his vulnerabilities, in the process. Informing this fast-paced and action packed thriller is the archetypal story of the Ronin, the master-less samurai. These tales ask: What becomes of us when we have no one, no cause for which we can serve; only polished killing skills that have marginal civilian value? Its a query thats relevant to all soldiers, for whom the next battle is coming to terms with who they are and how and what they served. Is Bourne a hero? I leave that to you to decide. Along the way, Im sure youre going to find this an exciting movie, technically competent, and fun to watch. |
