Yeah, defenitely agree, he was really menacing in last movie, really came into his role quite hard more and more. And as said, you are defenitely right that it doesnt matter if you see the movies first, if the new Ludlum films will be like Jason Bourne, take lightly from the overall premise, instead of the clever and elaborate plot (I was suprised when reading the first book for example, like it had 80% more plot then the film).
But the one with Di Caprio and Nolan, I think reading the books is better first, because Nolan really likes clever plots and stories, especially this one being bit sci fi where the concept is so important, and no action movie.