Byline: Daniel Neman

Aug. 3--The test of a movie is how well it does what it tries to do.

A comedy should make you laugh. A drama should emotionally move you. A horror film should scare you. And an action film should thrill you.

By that reasoning, "The Bourne Ultimatum" is an outstanding action film. It's pure celluloid adrenaline, the most thrilling action flick in years.

Surprisingly, the film is great even though it is not actually about anything. Despite the title, it doesn't even have an ultimatum in it. It launches from just the vaguest of motivations but rockets straight into edge-of-the-seat action that lets up only once.

Oddly, the single scene ...