The Bourne Ultimatum,” bringing in $70.2 million on its opening weekend, marks the third Jason Bourne film as not only the most successful opener of the series, but with the largest August opening in film history. And it arrives in the nick of time.

Up till now the summer film fare has largely been either family-oriented films or those action films with an abundance of computer-aided wizardry like “Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix,” “Live Free or Die Hard,” or “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.”

With the arrival of “The Bourne Ultimatum,” there’s something that has been sadly lacking in films of late, human action. Get ready, because the latest in installment in the Jason Bourne series is the most action packed yet.

The film takes place as the situation from the second film, “The Bourne Supremacy,” is coming to a close. After Bourne gets out of Moscow, he heads to Paris to meet with Marie’s brother to explain her fate and the revenge he has meted out in her behalf.

As the action progresses, Bourne finds himself fighting the highest levels within the CIA. In his fight he encounters an unlikely ally in deputy CIA director Pamala Landy, who gained respect for Bourne as she hunted him in Germany previously. The action is non-stop until the final frame rolls.

David Straithairn and Scott Glenn are great additions as the corrupt CIA deputy and director respectively. Straithairn makes his director in charge of Blackbriar especially amoral and disturbing. Julia Stiles as CIA operative Nicky Parsons and Joan Allen as CIA deputy director return with heightened roles in part three.

Matt Damon has made the role of Jason Bourne his own. In the first film, “The Bourne Identity,” Damon often looked out of place or limited in what he could really do. With the second film, he became much more effective in the role that has made him in international superstar.

Now with the third film, Damon seems completely at ease with the character. The action is fast and furious and it has a much more realistic flare that the rest of the action fare in wide release today. It also seems that as the films progress, Damon as Bourne speaks far less and has more action sequences. Sure there are computer-generated elements here, but it’s the human side that stays in the forefront and makes “The Bourne Ultimatum” a thoroughly engaging film.

There is a fourth book in the Ludlum series, “The Bourne Legacy.” When asked, Matt Damon responds that he could see a future where he performed the role of Jason Bourne again. As the films mount, their connection to the literary figure of Jason Bourne have changed so dramatically they are bound in name only, which opens a lot of room for interpretation.

With his youthful appearance, Damon could theoretically perform as Bourne for several sequels to come. And if they were as good as this summer’s hit, they would be welcome indeed.

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John Malgesini teaches at Umatilla High School.