Aptly titled, “The Borne Legacy”, is a diluted adaptation of Robert Ludlow’s novel series that has essentially nothing to do with Jason Borne. Turns out there were more than one “Borne”, and the new franchise introduces one of them, Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker- 2008) as Aaron Cross.

In the original series, Matt Damon spends a lot of time, energy and three movies trying to find out his true identity. In the “Legacy”, new guy Aaron Cross knows who he is and spends 135 minutes trying to find out why his former handlers are trying to kill him and virtually everyone associated with him.

Rachel Weisz is a skittish scientist who escapes being assassinated and tags along with Cross to avoid the all-seeing eye of very effective villain Ed Norton. Interesting concepts are the probably true fact that virtually anyone can be tracked anywhere by the millions of ubiquitous cameras in the world. Shades of “Person of Interest” (CBS TV).

Impeccably relentless villain Ed Norton uses some interesting technology to track both protagonists, and he does it well. Norton is the last guy you want to see tracking you. Shades of: “Who are those guys?”- (from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid-1969).

Best part: The car/motorcycle chase at the end. However, it must, like all such events, be compared to the two gold standards: “Bullitt (1968) and The French Connection (1971). In comparison, It’s serviceable, watchable and updated, although a bit long.

Worst part: The persistent techno-hit man tracking Cross doesn’t quite fit.

It’s been long enough now since the Borne Trilogy that a separate updated story line can be created much like “Total Recall (2012). Jeremy Renner does a serviceable job as Cross, but the film doesn’t quite contain the writing kudos to make Cross as complex or interesting a character as Jason Bourne. It will take me a while to get used to Renner. That said, I initially felt the same about Daniel Craig as 007, but I quickly acclimatized as Craig is now said my many to define the role in the new millennium.

All factors considered, I liked the film. It was consistently interesting and suspenseful.

I give it 3.75 of 5 little blue pills.