Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Member since:29.08.2002
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Another day and another film review, over the weekend I had been incredibly bored so instead of doing the usual sit at the computer all day I actually decided to watch a couple of films. Of course yesterdays op was Welcome To Collinwood, today’s is going to be a film that I’ve been a big fan of since it’s release in the cinema. Adapted from a Robert Ludlum novel The Bourne Identity hit our screens in 2002, as an adaptation of this book, which I must say now I haven’t read, so can’t comment on how it compares.
A crew of fishermen find a body (Matt Damon) floating in the Sea just off the coast France, and upon pulling the body aboard find out the man is still alive. Having removed a number of bullets from his body, they help him to recover during the next few weeks at sea, however he has amnesia and the only clue to his identity comes from a small chip implanted in his back with details of a Swiss bank account.
Having arrived back on the French
mainland, he heads straight for Zurich and the bank, which the details on the chip point to. Finding that the details actually point to a safety deposit box he decides he needs to see what’s in there hoping it’ll give him a clue to who he is and what he does. Upon opening the box he is shocked to find the contents to be a gun, a load of cash and numerous passports each with his picture in but all stating different names.
Still being no closer to who he actually is he throws all the stuff into a bag only leaving the gun behind. Next he heads to the US Embassy but his actions are being recorded by the CIA, as it turns out he is one of their operatives who went missing during a failed assassination attempt a month previously. After a chance meeting with Marie Helena Kreutz (Franka Potente) he manages to get a lift to Paris where he now knows he has an apartment.
Now as he slowly remembers that he is in fact Jason Bourne and what he does for a living he has to try and evade trained operatives that the CIA have sent after him to shut him up for good. Although they don’t realise that he had lost his memory. Can Bourne stay alive long enough to get his full memory back and what happens between him and Marie, well if you want to know you will have to watch it.
Well that’s the plot but what you probably want to know was it any good, well in short yes, of course I’m not just going to leave it there. The Bourne Identity is the first in a series of three films with The Bourne Supremacy next due out sometime next year. However due to difficulties between director Doug Liman and Universal pictures he will not be directing the next two.
Of course he has directed this one and a fairly good job he did of it as well. Despite the arguments with Universal over locations, budget and filming schedule the film has come out in such a way that you almost feel Liman’s enthusiasm for the books he fought so hard to turn into films. His casting choices work well and filming location’s is almost perfect however it’s easy to see the budget must have run over.
The special effects and stunts are well done, with the best mini driving sequence since the Italian Job, as Bourne attempts to escape the Police through the streets of Paris in a style very similar to the scenes in Ronin. Explosions again are done well, however the best one comes near the end of the film. The soundtrack isn’t really very noticeable but in places creates a perfect accompaniment.
Performance wise other than films where Damon and Ben Affleck are teamed up this is probably his best performance. Although I feel they work better as a duo, both Damon and Affleck are making names for themselves apart. Damon’s portrayal of Bourne is excellent, from the dazed and confused start right to the end where he is fighting for his life.
To be honest other than Damon the remainder of the cast is really where the film is let down. Franka Potente isn’t at all convincing as the love interest and at times you find yourself wishing she’d be picked off by a sniper or some sort of similar fate. And with Damon being the only well known actor within the film it kind of detracts from the box office pulling power that the film could have so easily had.
So overall a fairly watch-able film, which only really has one star from beginning to end. So it’s certainly worth watching once and then consider buying it if you enjoy it the first time. With the Bourne Supremacy out next year and no doubt the third one wont be too far behind, all three films should be worth watching. I was gonna give it three and a half but as I cant I’ll be generous and make it a 4
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tried to watch this last night, hence me coming on here to find more out about it, ill give it another go...
sarah xx
richard_millar 24.02.2005 13:12
Good review. Loved the film. Can;t wait to see the second one
minigrile 13.12.2004 23:50
Franka Potente was much better than you suggest - an actress who can do subtlety for a change. The soundtrack was excellent, it helped to convey unease. There were a couple of scenes that were just silly, the falling down the stairwell one for a start, but otherwise this was a good, exciting, engaging film.
Freely adapted from Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller,The Bourne Identitystarts fast and ... more
never slows down. The twisting plot revs up in Zurich, where amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), with no memory of his name, profession, or recent activ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
He was the perfect weapon until he became the target.Explosive action thriller starring ... more
Matt Damon (Ocean's Eleven) and Franka Potente (Run Lola, Run) and based on the International bestseller by Robert Ludlum.Rescued with two bullets in his back, Jaso...
Advantages: Good character development, draws you into the story, superbly written, great start to the series Disadvantages: A little overkill in location desciptions but I feel they become necessary
Andy.mack 20.09.2004 (23.10.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Bourne Identity (DVD)
Advantages: Good character development, draws you into the story, superbly written, great start to the series Disadvantages: A little overkill in location desciptions but I feel they become necessary
Andy.mack 20.09.2004 (23.10.2004)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Bourne Identity (DVD)
![The Bourne Identity [DVD] [2002]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78538864.jpg "The Bourne Identity [DVD] [2002]")
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