The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity is high on my list of all time favorite movies. Matt Damon plays a former government agent who thanks to a series of unfortunate events finds himself with amnesia, unconscious and floating in the sea, which is where the movie starts. The rest of the movie follows his journey trying to figure out who he is and how he came to be floating in the sea with bullet wounds in his back. Of course his quest is made a little more difficult when the government decides they would rather he just disappear. This movie will hold your attention from the very beginning, the plot is interesting and the movie very well made. The main character Jason Bourne (Damon) is likeable and intriguing. The action is exciting and there really is no part of the movie where you start checking your watch to see if it is nearly over. In fact this is one of those movies that holds your interest from start to finish. Now for the negatives: I've heard that the movie does not follow the book too closely. Well boo hoo, if you'd rather read the book then do so. The government agency portrayed in this movie is a little ridiculous. Basically they make a phone call and immediately get the cooperation of police and agencies all over the world. They tap a few computer keys and immediately have access to surveillance camera images and other detailed information from all over the world. Sure America is a superpower, but the level of cooperation between America and the rest of the world is simply not this good. Finally on the negative side, there is one stunt where Borne falls several stories down a stairwell shaft while accurately shooting people and uses a body to cushion the fall. This takes the suspension of disbelief a little too far. I don't see anyone surviving such a fall in real life. I don't really see how this sequence was necessary to the plot. But for all the petty negatives this is one of those movies that I loved the first time, and continue to watch to this day. I'm sure I've seen it more than a dozen times, and there are not many movies I like to watch that often. If you like cool action movies with an intelligent plot, this one will not disappoint.

All three of the films in this trilogy (I understand a fourth is in the works) are superb actioners, but they are sequential; so if you haven't seen them yet, by all means start with this one. This is the only one directed by Doug Liman, who performs masterfully behind the camera; although he is the executive producer for the two follow-on films. This is of course based on the Robert Ludlum novel; and having read the novel many years ago, I do see some familiar reference points...the plotline, however, has been radically changed and updated. Please, no whiny complaints that this is not a faithful adaptation of a favorite novel. The screenplay, as written by Tony Gilroy, is intelligent and portrays a compelling and mostly believable espionage story. The only part that strained my credulity meter a bit was the clandestine obfuscation and confusion regarding the CIA black ops operation called "Treadstone". Perhaps it will be clearer to you than it was to me. Matt Damon was an inspired choice as the title character, Jason Bourne; as was Franka Potente, as his partner and love interest, Marie. Don't know what film some other reviewers were watching, but I saw excellent chemistry between the two...the romantic aspects are downplayed in favor of character development and action...which is fine w/me. Chris Cooper and Brian Cox are excellent as CIA management operatives...Cooper as head of Treadstone and Cox as his supervisor. Also look for Julia Stiles who plays a CIA logistics technician and Clive Owen, who plays one of the assassins sent after Bourne. Bottom line, this is a top drawer actioner and carries my highest recommendation

It's been a very long time since I enjoyed watching a movie this much. In fact I have to go back to the 1960s when the old Town Theater in Watertown, NY used to have James Bond marathons. The kids would all cheer when James got out of a tough spot. This movie is sort of a James Bond for adults. It closes the gap between what's totally impossible and what could be somewhat believable (with a little imagination that is). The characters captured my interest immediately due to the perfect casting. You feel like these are real people. They try to keep the main character sort of impersonable. You rarely see him eat anything, no big sex scenes. All of this is consistent with making him appear to be almost super human. It is quite funny at times as the girlfriend tries to comprehend what she has gotten herself into. "He went out the window. Why would somebody do that ?" Technically there are great fight scenes and weapons throughout the movie. They use a lot of silencers. It is true a ball point pen can be used to inflict serious injury on someone. However I don't know how true it is that two karate experts can continously smash each other in the face. Some people believe that the guy who killed Robert Kennedy was under some sort of mind control. He doesn't remember anything about what happened. We saw recently that a former KGB agent was poisoned in England with some bizzare radioactive substance. Yes those intelligence agencies are still out there. As often happens when people create something dangerous they themselves eventually become the victims of their own creation. Jeff Marzano Clint Eastwood Collection: Where Eagles Dare Thunderball

Good movie

Der Film hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Die Story ist sehr gut und gut durchdacht. Wir erfahren am Anfang, dass Jason Bourne eine Amnesie hat und er sucht danach, wer er ist. Wir als Zuschauer wissen nie mehr als Bourne. Des Weiteren ist der zweite Handlungsstrang auch sehr gut durchdacht und es bleibt dabei eine Nachfrage, die erst zum Schluss beantwortet wird. Der Film hat ein schönes und zügiges Erzähltempo und es wird einen nicht langweilig. Die Geschichte ist auch mit sehr guten Schauspielern besetzt, die ihre Figuren glaubhaft an den Zuschauer bringen. Des Weiteren ist diese spannend erzählt und verliert nicht den roten Faden. Ab und zu gibt es ein paar Actionszenen, welche sehr gut gemacht worden sind. Die Stunts sehen sehr gut aus. Die Musik ist gut und zügig und passt genau in den Szenen hinein, diese ist nicht laut und es macht Spaß sich den Film anzuschauen. Ich kann Ihnen diesen Film empfehlen. Für Actionfans ist dieser Film ein muss.

Film da vedere e da mettere nella collezione per poterlo riguardare quando si vuole.

... Since I saw this film in a Big Sreen in Madrid, Spain ... It caught my attention ... especially because of all the cities the action- driven plot occured ... a very good ROAD movie ... excellent cinematography ... and Mr. Damon could not be ever casted ...

Love the Bourne films.