Category Archives: Thrillers

I’ve been a fan of the “Bourne” espionage movie trilogy for a long time…both the original Robert Ludlum novels and the Matt Damon films loosely derived from the books. Even Eric Van Lustbader’s authorized sequels to Ludlum’s works – flimsier though they may be – are entertaining enough.

When I first heard the title of this fourth film installment, I expected it to be a direct adaptation of the Van Lustbader novel bearing the same name. The book, “The Bourne Legacy,” follows the ongoing adventures of a retired Jason Bourne as he fights to protect his family. I was naturally surprised to find that the “Bourne Legacy” film would center on a new character, Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner, last seen as Hawkeye in “The Avengers”).

Overlapping with the conclusion of “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Legacy” follows Cross’ battle to survive a top-to-bottom purge of the U.S. black ops program. With Jason Bourne’s story leaking out to the media, high-level coordinators plan to eradicated all incriminating loose ends.

But Cross is more than just a highly trained super-spy: he’s undergone genetic therapy designed to increase both stamina and intelligence. Dependent on a number of drugs to sustain his augmentations, Cross must locate a fresh supply of meds. Assisting him is Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz), an innocent biochemist caught in the crossfire.

It’s a major change from the international espionage and intrigue of its predecessors – and unfortunately, the shift doesn’t work particularly well.

First, the good: if this film was anything other than a “Bourne” movie, it would’ve been pretty strong. The cinematography is well-executed, the acting is top-notch, and the action scenes (particularly a climactic car chase) are still the gold standard for their genre.

The drugs/sci-fi angle, however, feels jarringly out of place. The “Bourne” franchise has always been grounded in reality, and the idea of genetically enhanced warriors doesn’t fit well with that milieu. Since this conflict serves as the backbone of the film, it’s hard to separate these elements from the rest of the movie.

Essentially, “The Bourne Legacy” feels like it was first conceptualized as a standalone work…and only later fitted with the external trappings of a “Bourne” sequel. The ties to the original trilogy feel tenuous at best – particularly the eleventh-hour introduction of yet another covert government program. There’s no holistic integration of “Legacy” into the rest of the series, and it never really justifies its own existence. A fourth film, honestly, was never necessary.

Frustratingly, there seem to be some interesting elements beneath the surface of this film. The very idea of black ops programs raises a host of ethical issues – to what extent, for example, may moral principles be overridden by individuals acting in the service of the state – but these aren’t developed. It’s never quite clear what nefarious deeds are being suppressed…and, in turn, why the government is so desperate to eliminate Cross. This critical omission robs the film of much of its narrative heft.

Some relatively simple fixes could’ve gone a long way toward improving this movie. For starters, too much exposition is provided up front, which robs the audience of the joy of solving the mystery. A bit of reshuffling – moving some scenes around and expunging others entirely – could’ve created a tauter, more intense product. “The Bourne Legacy,” as it stands, doesn’t feel quite polished; I found myself wondering if it’d been pushed into an accelerated release by studio executives.

All that being said, however, this is still an entertaining summer movie. It’s nowhere near the excellence of its predecessors, but it’s a serviceable adventure with plenty of flair. The action is still great, the storyline is engaging enough, and there’s visual style to spare.

If only it hadn’t called itself a “Bourne” sequel…

VERDICT: 6.5/10
An unfortunately pedestrian fourth installment in an otherwise outstanding series.

Normalized Score: 2.4

This book was my first encounter with Robert Liparulo – a celebrated writer of Christian suspense novels in the vein of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti. When I saw this title was being offered for advance review, I was certainly excited…I even stayed up late to reserve a copy. With an intriguing premise – what if God punished the Israelites who worshiped Aaron’s golden calf by “gifting” them with immortality? – I was curious to see what direction the book would go.

It’s not altogether terrible, but it’s certainly not great.

Tough-as-nails warrior Jagger Baird, still trying to cope with the car accident that killed his best friend, is working as head of security for an archaeological expedition on the Sinai Peninsula. Soon, however, he and his family run up against the Tribe – a group of immortal vigilantes bent on securing God’s favor by purging the world of “sinners.” Armed with stolen UAV codes, the Tribe plans to unleash divine vengeance against those who have embraced vice.

Aside from the high-concept premise, “The 13th Tribe” is really a very straightforward thriller. There are gunfights, car chases, family members in peril, and a suitably pyrotechnic finale. However, it never rises above the level of “generic Christian action novel.”

Most glaringly, Liparulo’s writing is pretty bad (particularly at the beginning of the novel). A constant flood of similes and metaphors makes for dull reading, not to mention that Liparulo spends far too much time “telling” and not “showing.”

The “spiritual message” of the novel, despite its inherent potential (is God a cruel or a loving deity?) consistently comes off as hackneyed. Characters sermonize for whole paragraphs, displaying very little in the way of real emotion or vulnerability. This reflects another of the book’s severe problems: an almost total lack of character development. With the exception of the protagonist, almost every single character is a one-dimensional cardboard cutout.

With the exception of two well-done twists in the novel’s last fifty pages, Liparulo plays things far too safe. A taut thriller must necessarily take risks: there must be a real chance that the hero will fail and that major characters will die. At no point does the novel become genuinely suspenseful, which makes for a plodding story lacking any sense of urgency. It doesn’t help that the “villains’ are singularly unimposing: not once did I believe they would ever do something truly horrific. (Later on, readers learn that their immortality can be overcome if they are beheaded; at this point, the once-intriguing concept starts feeling like a mashup of “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Highlander”).

Of note: there’s a fair amount of violence in “The 13th Tribe” (more than in most overtly Christian literature). Thanks to inept prose and poor character development, however, it feels more akin to a schlocky Syfy TV pilot than an R-rated action movie.

So, is this book worth reading?

Probably not. There are plenty of good suspense novels – both Christian and secular – on the market, and “The 13th Tribe” never rises to their level. As a $4 purchase from Half-Price Books before a long flight, it’s not terrible…but it’s certainly not worth purchasing at full price.

VERDICT: 4/10
A mediocre “thriller” that takes no risks and returns no payoff.

* I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”