Eric Bana continues his attempt at making a name for himself internationally as ‘that crazy-come-angry tough guy in high concept action flicks’ (which admittedly to date only really includes Star Trek and, at a bit of a stretch for different reasons, Hulk, Munich and The Other Boleyn Girl). This time around he plays a crazy ex-CIA bloke who has hidden away in the snowy wilderness of Finland, training his daughter Hanna (Ronan) to be the ultimate assassin in order to exact his revenge on corrupt CIA agent Marissa Wiegler (Blanchett).

Now seventeen, Hanna has had no real contact with the outside world since she was two years old. Setting out to kill Wiegler, she mistakenly kills a body double and is forced on the run. Using a fake cover provided by her father, Hanna goes on the road with an unsuspecting couple – Sebastian (Jason Flemyng) and Rachel (Olivia Williams) – whose child she has befriended, and slowly unravels the mystery of her family’s history.

Hanna is a tense European action-thriller from director Joe Wright who is best known for his dramatic films, Atonement and Pride & Prejudice. He brings with him an excellent sense for storytelling, one that is frequently absent from tentpole action releases, and manages to handle the action admirably (hardly a surprise as a number of the more breathtaking scenes in Atonement certainly hinted he was capable of stepping over to the genre). Essential viewing for anyone who enjoyed the Bourne films and action/thriller fans generally.

The second of the film trilogy based on the Robert Ludlum novels of the same name, The Bourne Supremacy picks up from The Bourne Identity with Jason Bourne (Damon) attempting to live a new life with girlfriend Marie (Potente). Putting it delicately to avoid spoilers for those of you who have yet to see it, another botched assassination attempt launches Bourne back into the topsy-turvy world of spies, action, deceit and betrayal – or in other words: business as usual.

The Bourne Supremacy is an edge-of-your-seat nail-biter of the highest calibre with split-second timing attributable to director Paul Greengrass’s unmistakable style. Matt Damon, as usual, is impeccable and one of the most reliable actors working today. Brian Cox, Karl Urban, Julia Stiles and Joan Allen round out the cast and make worthy antagonists and allies. Unfortunately, as the second of a trilogy, we are left without a complete resolution as Bourne ends the film still seeking answers to unresolved questions about his identity and past.

Nevertheless, this is a cracker of a movie. I know you’ve probably all seen it, but as with the rescreening of The Bourne Identity last semester, a second (or third) viewing loses nothing. Come along and enjoy.