A Cross to bear in ‘Bourne Legacy’

It continues the concepts and characters established in the previous “Bourne” films, which starred Matt Damon as the titular rogue spy, but “The Bourne Legacy” moves on with Jeremy Renner as its primary renegade agent.

Renner’s undeniably a good fit; in the span of barely a year, he’s had prominent roles in action blockbusters “The Avengers” and “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.” And it’s really no surprise that he’s taken over as Aaron Cross, another agent who rebels against his masters in “Bourne Legacy.”

Tony Gilroy, meanwhile, was the screenwriter of the previous “Bourne” films, and has taken over as director, exhibiting a penchant for establishing mood and atmosphere.

After a major expose on CIA activities, retired US Air Force colonel Byer (Edward Norton) orders the termination of potential enemies and loose ends. Agent Cross is targeted with other enhanced participants of the covert program, and he’s running out of chemicals essential to his survival.

His search for chems leads him to a scientist, Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz), similarly targeted for surviving an attack on medical experts involved in the maintenance of operatives. Together, they elude their well-armed pursuers, figure out the location of a drug plant, and prep for a trip to—you guessed it—Manila!

“The Bourne Legacy’s” Philippine sojourn gets to highlight familiar locations, some of which are nowhere near each other, but routes are re-imagined in the movie to support some chase scenes.

Dozens of Filipino extras move alongside the main actors on busy sidewalks, a cramped overpass and a factory. Established local actors John Arcilla and Lou Veloso briefly figure in some key scenes.

The Manila scenes give the film an interesting visual texture. There’s a lingering shot that contrasts houses of the poor with looming buildings in the background, a startlingly common enough sight here. Cross and Shearing’s dealings in the congested city streets and narrow alleys, however, become tediously predictable.

Like Jason Bourne, Aaron Cross is basically an operative who has deft mastery over countless abilities. Excellent sniper? Check. Formidable hand-to-hand combatant? Check. Skilled passport forger? Double-check! You automatically root for him, but it also becomes easy to dismiss dangers to the character’s near-superhuman well-being.

Still, Renner gives Cross necessary dimension. “Legacy’s” action sequences aren’t as memorable as some of those in the Damon-starrers, but they’re competently executed. And while “The Bourne Legacy’s” abrupt, less-than-stellar denouement makes one more than a bit baffled, the mythology has expanded, decently shaping a new crosshairs-evading protagonist in Aaron Cross.