The Bourne Legacy

This fourth film in the Bourne franchise may seem intentionally disorienting and hard to follow at first — until you realise it’s really about drug addiction, and the lengths to which a junkie will go to get his fix. Think of it as Drugstore Cowboy with an international scope and more explosions. That may help as you compare it with the first three films in the series that starred Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, the amnesiac CIA assassin of Robert Ludlum’s novels. Comparison is inevitable, especially given that a new leading man, Jeremy Renner, now plays the highly trained bad ass at the centre of the film’s intrigue. But it feels like Tony Gilroy is trying to do something more cerebral and potentially less crowd-pleasing here. Not that The Bourne Legacy is free of thrills; it’s just more grounded than spectacular. Renner stars as Aaron Cross, who’s alone in the Alaskan wilds on a training exercise at the film’s start. But he finds he’s the target of a legitimate threat when the super-secret government spy programme he’s a part of hastily gets shut down. Turns out, Jason Bourne was not the only person who was transformed into a killing machine — and the new models are even bigger-better-stronger-faster thanks to a combination of little blue and green pills. Rachel Weisz plays a research scientist at a pharmaceutical giant who becomes his reluctant partner on the run. PG-13 for violence and action sequences. 135 minutes. — AP

DVD reviews: New releases and classics in stores

The Big Bang Theory 
Season 5 (2011) (PG-13)

The geeks of what is probably TV’s top-rated comedy show today are back with 24 more episodes of mad genius, crazy relationship tangles and laughs for all. Leonard breaks it off with Priya to rekindle his romance with Penny while Sheldon is forced to officially recognise Amy as more than a friend-who-happens-to-be-a-girl. Raj may just allow his parents to pick his bride but in the meanwhile, the space-bound Howard must gear up for a wedding to Bernadette that seems to be undergoing one too many revisions so far.

Duration: 477 minutes

Genre: Sitcom

What’s good: You’ll laugh in spite of yourself; producers Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady weren’t depending on eye candy to propel this show to the top
What’s bad: 20-min capsules of fun just aren’t enough

Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Kaley Cuoco, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik


Rating: ΗΗΗΗΗ

Mike & Molly Season 2 (2011) (PG-13)

The lead couple — curvier than most — fall in love and are engaged by the end of Season 1. This season, Molly is occupied with planning their wedding, attempting to lose weight to fit into the dress and trying to get a promotion at work, while Mike is sneaking in food, freaking out about being a bad father, dealing with his eccentric mother and catering to Molly’s every need. A fun watch, not only do the pair win your heart, but the connection they share makes you all warm and fuzzy inside. The other characters are also brilliant with their strange jobs, family issues and drug and alcohol problems.

Duration:462 minutes

Genre: Sitcom

What’s good: The genuinely funny jokes, the enduring chemistry between the lead pair and the aww moments

What’s bad: Drags in parts

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Billy Gardell, Reno Wilson, Katy Mixon, Rondi Reed, Swoosie Kurtz

Rating: ΗΗΗΗΗ