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‘Bourne’ again
Matt Damon stars in “Jason Bourne,’’ which opens Friday. (Universal pictures photos)
By Mark Feeney
Globe Staff

It’s been four years since the last Jason Bourne movie. Except that Jason Bourne wasn’t in that one. At least “The Bourne Legacy’’ had his name in the title.

Jeremy Renner, that most manful of movie stars, did his manful best to sustain the Matt Damon-starring franchise.

Did Renner succeed? The fact that “Jason Bourne’’ opens Friday, with Damon back as everyone’s favorite memory-monkeyed-with killing machine, indicates the answer is no.

So it’s a good time to look back at the four movies whose titles feature novelist Robert Ludlum’s paranoid-thriller paragon.

The Bourne Identity 2002

Itinerary: Marseille, Zurich, Paris, Mykonos

In pursuit: Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles

Helping out: Franka Potente

Memorable mode of transport: Italian fishing boat

Highlight: Chase through Paris with Damon at wheel of Austin Mini Cooper

The Bourne Supremacy 2004

Itinerary: Goa, Naples, Munich, Berlin, Moscow, New York

In pursuit: Brian Cox, Karl Urban

Helping out: Julia Stiles, Joan Allen

Memorable mode of transport: Volga 3110 taxi

Highlight: Chase through Moscow with Damon at wheel of taxi

The Bourne Ultimatum 2007

Itinerary: Moscow, Paris, London, Madrid, Tangier, New York

In pursuit: David Straithairn, Scott Glenn, Albert Finney

Helping out: Julia Stiles, Joan Allen

Memorable mode of transport: Honda Cota 4RT motorcycle

Highlight: Chase through Tangier with Damon on the Honda

The Bourne Legacy 2012

Itinerary: Alaska, Maryland, Manila

In pursuit: Scott Glenn, Edward Norton

Helping out: Rachel Weisz, Oscar Isaac

Memorable mode of transport: Honda CRF 450 X motorcycle

Highlight: Chase through Manila with Renner on the Honda

By Mark Feeney | Globe Staff

Mark Feeney can be reached at mfeeney@globe.com.