Movie reviews
The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.
The Bourne Legacy (Universal)
Mediocre extension of the popular action franchise — based on a series of novels by Robert Ludlum — that began with 2002's "The Bourne Identity." After the (now-absent) titular character's public exposure of a top secret program that biologically altered government spies to enhance their skills, the intelligence establishment (led by Edward Norton) decides to terminate a similar Defense Department project — and kill everyone involved. One subject (Jeremy Renner) manages to escape assassination, and teams with another of the authorities' targets, the researcher (Rachel Weisz) who treated him as he was being endowed with his heightened powers. The duo goes on the lam and struggles to evade their pursuers' global reach. Standard shootouts, fatal vehicular accidents and at least one close-up scene of medical unpleasantness mark director and co-writer Tony Gilroy's convoluted cat-and-mouse game as off-limits for youngsters. Most adults, though, will probably take these elements — along with the script's occasional lapses into foul language — in stride. Considerable, at times harsh, violence with some gore, about a half-dozen uses each of profanity and crude language, a few crass terms. (A-III, PG-13)
The Campaign (Warner Bros.)
A potentially salient critique of the nation's political process gets buried under a landslide of vulgarity and sex jokes in this comedy from director Jay Roach. With the career of a longtime North Carolina congressman (Will Ferrell) endangered after he misdirects an obscene phone call intended for his mistress, the two wealthy brothers who were formerly his most powerful supporters (John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd) scheme to replace him. They back the bumbling director of a local tourist center (Zach Galifianakis) in a race that quickly descends into farce. Though it includes a few relatively serious passages of commentary on issues like campaign finance reform, Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell's screenplay is primarily devoted to sophomoric humor and repellant shock gags. And some funny swipes at how politicians try to use religion to win votes are mingled with material genuinely odious to viewers of faith. An instance of blasphemy, some mild violence, an adultery theme, obscured frontal male and partial upper female nudity, a few uses of profanity, much sexual and occasional irreverent humor, pervasive rough and crude language, an obscene gesture. (O, R)
Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D (ARC Entertainment)
Amiable collection of stunts, performed with dirt bikes, monster trucks and even tricked-up Big Wheels, adapted for the big screen from the popular MTV series, with a crew headed by Travis Pastrana. The flying conveyances are balletic in slow motion, and their tricks are possibly not quite as dangerous as co-directors Gregg Godfrey and Jeremy Rawle would like you to believe. Fleeting crass language and stunts no one should try at home. (A-III, PG-13)
—CNS
Catholic News Service classifications: A-I — general patronage; A-II — adults and adolescents; A-III — adults; L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O — morally offensive. Full-length reviews: www.catholicnews.com/movies.htm.
The Bourne Legacy (Universal)
Mediocre extension of the popular action franchise — based on a series of novels by Robert Ludlum — that began with 2002's "The Bourne Identity." After the (now-absent) titular character's public exposure of a top secret program that biologically altered government spies to enhance their skills, the intelligence establishment (led by Edward Norton) decides to terminate a similar Defense Department project — and kill everyone involved. One subject (Jeremy Renner) manages to escape assassination, and teams with another of the authorities' targets, the researcher (Rachel Weisz) who treated him as he was being endowed with his heightened powers. The duo goes on the lam and struggles to evade their pursuers' global reach. Standard shootouts, fatal vehicular accidents and at least one close-up scene of medical unpleasantness mark director and co-writer Tony Gilroy's convoluted cat-and-mouse game as off-limits for youngsters. Most adults, though, will probably take these elements — along with the script's occasional lapses into foul language — in stride. Considerable, at times harsh, violence with some gore, about a half-dozen uses each of profanity and crude language, a few crass terms. (A-III, PG-13)
The Campaign (Warner Bros.)
A potentially salient critique of the nation's political process gets buried under a landslide of vulgarity and sex jokes in this comedy from director Jay Roach. With the career of a longtime North Carolina congressman (Will Ferrell) endangered after he misdirects an obscene phone call intended for his mistress, the two wealthy brothers who were formerly his most powerful supporters (John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd) scheme to replace him. They back the bumbling director of a local tourist center (Zach Galifianakis) in a race that quickly descends into farce. Though it includes a few relatively serious passages of commentary on issues like campaign finance reform, Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell's screenplay is primarily devoted to sophomoric humor and repellant shock gags. And some funny swipes at how politicians try to use religion to win votes are mingled with material genuinely odious to viewers of faith. An instance of blasphemy, some mild violence, an adultery theme, obscured frontal male and partial upper female nudity, a few uses of profanity, much sexual and occasional irreverent humor, pervasive rough and crude language, an obscene gesture. (O, R)
Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D (ARC Entertainment)
Amiable collection of stunts, performed with dirt bikes, monster trucks and even tricked-up Big Wheels, adapted for the big screen from the popular MTV series, with a crew headed by Travis Pastrana. The flying conveyances are balletic in slow motion, and their tricks are possibly not quite as dangerous as co-directors Gregg Godfrey and Jeremy Rawle would like you to believe. Fleeting crass language and stunts no one should try at home. (A-III, PG-13)
—CNS
Catholic News Service classifications: A-I — general patronage; A-II — adults and adolescents; A-III — adults; L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O — morally offensive. Full-length reviews: www.catholicnews.com/movies.htm.
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