Paul Greengrass's Matt Damon-starring film of the award-winning book by Rajiv Chandrasekaran may well be a subtle, nuanced examination of the US occupation of Iraq. But that's not what the trailer is selling

The world needs a hero. The world often does. And when Matt Damon hears that, he's always willing to step up.

And that is why we find Damon, returning to his buff Bourne action mould after a tubby, 'tasched turn in The Informant, in the very second frame of the trailer. He's in uniform, with the name "Miller" on his chest (showing that this is probably not another Bourne instalment).

Matt Damon in Green Zone Photograph: Public Domain

Unless Bourne is undercover, of course.

But maybe I'm being unfair. Comparing everything Damon does to Bourne seems mean. And, after all, this is a trailer for a totally different film, with no relation whatsoever to those previous, very successful films.

Green Zone titles: Bourne again Photograph: Public Domain

Oh. Apart from those relationships, of course. And the Matt Damon factor.

But everything else must be very different, surely. After all, Green Zone is based on the award-winning book, Imperial Life in the Emerald City, a complex examination of US-occupied Iraq. And if you have read it, or glanced through any of the reviews, you could only imagine the big-screen version would be a multilayered, highly-nuanced portrait of a deeply complicated situation. And that might well be the story the film itself does tell.

But that isn't the story this trailer is telling. This is the story of a tough, taut, bottom-kicking military man sent into a severely dangerous world. He's a man, on a mission.

Brendan Gleeson in Green Zone Photograph: Public Domain

Until, that is, ponderous CIA man Brendan Gleeson gives him a mission within that mission. Somehow, this goes wrong. Thus begins a mission within a mission within a mission, involving a million dollars, hidden truths, a dreaded cover-up and dubious higher powers.

And then it would appear Damon's character is suddenly forced to defend himself against the very people he thought were on the same side as him. He goes on the run. You can see him on the run here:

Green screen in Green Zone Photograph: Public Domain

He's the blob in the middle of the green area. Running.

And the more times you watch this trailer, I'm sorry to report, the more it starts to seem reminiscent of … well, that film they reminded you of within the first 10 seconds of the trailer by presenting the star, the director and the names of the films in big, bold letters to jog your memory.

And lots of footage of Matt Damon running. And shooting guns.

Matt Damon with firepower in Green Zone Photograph: Public Domain

Sure, it might be the most un-Bourneish film in the world once you're in the cinema. But from this set of clippings, you imagine the marketing people would have been much happier if they could have persuaded Paul Greengrass to tweak the title to The Bourne Resuscitation: Bourne Again. Or maybe something subtler, such as The Green Zonepremacy.

And just for those people who are saying, "Well that's all very well, but who cares how like the source material or derivative of past successes it is, as long as there are exploding helicopters. Will there be exploding helicopters?", the last moments of the trailer confirm that yes, there WILL be exploding helicopters.

Green Zone … asplode Photograph: Public Domain

Admittedly in that shot it looks a little more like a flambéed carp, but trust me, it's an exploding helicopter.