This is an even better film, as Greengrass and Gilroy deepen Bourne's personal quest while ratcheting up the action. Even the low-key sequences are unsettling, due to Greengrass' jittering handheld cameras, so when the fighting/chasing starts, it's so gutsy and forceful that it leaves us gasping. Everything feels spontaneous: Sleuthing segments are thrillingly eloquent. The hugely elaborate Alexanderplatz set piece has strong Hitchcock overtones. The crashing race through Moscow actually invents a new film language for car chases. And all of the action meaningfully drives the characters as they seek resolution and/or redemption.

Bourne's quest to piece together his own history is marvellously involving, pitting his newly heroic outlook against his evil assassin past. Damon is exactly the right actor to make him come to life with his nice-guy looks and brooding-child determination. The actors around him are also far better than usual for these kinds of films--much more introspective and engaging, as we see past their role in the game of international intrigue into the real person beneath.

All of this seems like it should be standard stuff in the movies, but so many films get it so wrong that when one like this comes along it makes us want to cheer (as our audience of critics did after the astonishing Moscow car chase). This is brainy, intelligent, emotional filmmaking that just happens to be in the thriller genre. The violence is nasty and brutal without being gratuitous. The drama is authentic and riveting. And it's all so cool that you'll be itching for Part 3.