Rating: 
Summary: INTERESTING, INTELLIGENT, NON-STOP ACTION, SPY THRILLER...
Review: This book is loosely based upon Robert Ludlum's book "The Bourne Identity". It is not a faithful adaptation nor is it intended to be. The book was just a springboard for something a little different. Having read the book and loved it, I also really enjoyed this movie. They are both excellent. Each forges its own path and entertains in its own way.The plot is simple, or so it seems. A man is found in the ocean with two bullets in his back. He is rescued by a trawler of Italian fishermen. When he regains total consciousness, he has no idea who he is or what he was doing that caused him to be floating in the ocean in the condition in which he had been. He shortly discovers his name to be Jason Bourne, and it appears that a great many people are trying to kill him, though for what purpose he has no idea. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) also discovers that he has some unusual gifts and automatic, instinctive responses in certain situations. It turns out that he is a natural "Bourne" killer (pun intended). Jason teams up with a German expatriate named Maria (Franka Potente), and together they run into some heavy duty action, as they run for their lives. Meanwhile, a team of CIA trained assassins, dispatched by Bourne's boss, a CIA honcho named Conklin (Chris Cooper), are hot on the plucky couple's trail. There are a number of stunts and action scenes that are guaranteed to make one's palms start to sweat. Matt Damon, looking very buff, portrays Bourne as an intelligent, resourceful character with a core of goodness imbedded in his assassin's psyche. He is simply terrific. Franka Potente is good as the free spirited Maria, who is also resourceful and Jason's love interest in the film, though, quite frankly, very few sparks fly between them. Chris Cooper is excellent as Bourne's boss, Conklin. He is coldly efficient and brutal in his mop-up operation. Unlike Bourne, he lacks that core of goodness. This is an action packed, inventive, spy thriller that will hold the viewer in its thrall. This film revives that genre of film that was beginning to get a little stale. Kudos to Damon for giving the viewer something fresh and entertaining in this genre. This is a film that is well worth having in one's personal collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Bourne to Run
Review: Take one amnesiatic super secret agent, add one semi-goth German gypsy chick and turn them loose amid the wintery splender of Europe and you've got yourself one of the more original and entertaining espionage thrillers in recent memory. "The Bourne Identity" follows Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) after he is rescued by a fishing trawler in the Med. Bourne suffers from amnesia and the only link to his identity is a bank account in Switzerland. Soon, Bourne feels that he's being followed but he doesn't know why or by whom. On the run, he enlists the help of an unsuspecting young lady is a boxy subcompact (Franke Potente of "Run, Lola, Run" fame). The two crisscross the continent pursued by a series of ruthless types as Bourne begins to realize he has highly specialized talents but has no idea how he acquired them or why. The action is tense, the dialogue intelligent and the scenery splendid. The contrast of the film is somewhat dark and reflects well the title characters mood throughout. Reminiscent of Zinneman's film "Day of the Jackal", "The Bourne Identity" is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing and gasping until the final frame.
Rating: 
Summary: A lot better than I was expecting.
Review: The Bourne Identity (Doug Liman, 2002) Why we need fluffy remakes of movies has been hotly debated in Hollywood for decades. (After all, it's nothing new. Bunuel's 1977 film That Obscure Object of Desire was the sixth adaptation of Louys' novel Woman and Puppet.) After all, rarely is the remake even watchable, much less on a par with the original. This is one of the exceptions. The new version of The Bourne Identity, directed by Doug Liman of Go fame, contains all the fluff factor of an awful remake yet remains watchable in a turn-your-brain-off way. Jason Bourne is portrayed here by Matt Damon, who shows that he really can be something other than Ben Affleck's geeky best friend. Obligatory love interest Marie is played by indie darling Franka Potente (Run Lola Run), and a well-cast batch of supporting characters keep the acting level higher than one normally gets from this sort of thing while never quite taking themselves too seriously. (The exception to that last bit is Chris Cooper, playing Bourne's boss, but then he's supposed to be a high-strung neurotic.) Good, solid fun from beginning to end. ***
Rating: 
Summary: If you liked the book, skip this movie
Review: I am a huge fan of the Lublum novel and was anxious to see the movie version. Other than the title of the movie and the name of the main character, there is very little resemblance between the outstanding novel and this very standard Hollywood action movie. And I really do not understand why the screenwriter decided to divert so dramatically from the novel. It sure was not to add more suspense -- Ludlum's novel was full of that. The movie even left out the villian of the book -- Carlos the Jackal. Hard to imagine leaving the bad guy out of a supposed spy thriller. My advice, read the book. You will enjoy that much more than this movie.
Rating:
Summary: first-rate character-driven action movie
Review: I really give this 4.9 stars, since I found one of the early action sequences to be a little less than perfect (you get spoiled seeing people like Jackie Chan and Jet Li in action movies), but the Matt Damon does a surprisingly good job with them, and his usual first-rate job of making the character come to life on the screen. The plot is only related to the Ludlum novel -- the screenplay was morphed into a nicely claustrophobic character story about a small community of people up to no good, and the movie is cast to perfection with a wonderful collection of actors who deliver terrific performances. The director also directed "Swingers" and "Go", and his indy-film background shows through in quite a few scenes where the tension is heightened by the use of handheld cameras and shooting in real locations without a crew. Damon is just outstanding as an amnesiac with a growing sense of dread about himself and his abilities, and Franka Potente has the presence and intelligence to bring off the character of the girl that helps him at first for money, and then later out of a combination of curiosity, tenacity, and aimlessness (she really doesn't have anything better to do). Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, and Julia Stiles are wonderfully menacing and matter-of-fact as the villians.
Rating:
Summary: A solid spy thriller.
Review: Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne, a man who's found afloat in the sea with several bullets in his back. He's salvaged by a fishing boat and awakens to discover he has no memory of his previous life. After he recuperates, he heads to shore to find his true identity. With the assistance of a pretty German woman (Franka Potente), Bourne goes on the run with covert assassins trying to kill him and top government agents trying to cover their tracks. The Bourne Identity is an interesting summer thriller. It's certainly not an all-out action blockbuster, as the previews might lead you to believe, but there are some terrific action sequences. What truly makes the film work is Damon himself, whose first bid as an action star is completely convincing and engaging. The movie nicely keeps us in the dark about his past, we know just as much as he does and eagerly anticipate every discovery he makes. From a certain point-of-view, Franka Potente isn't useful except as a love interest, and on that level, her presence works. Not only is she a fine actress, but she and Damon share a palpable chemistry. Hopefully, she'll return in the sequel, and this series won't go the Bond/M:I route with a new love interest in every installment. Take note, Hollywood, steadiness and consistent relationships are always appreciated. The Bourne Identity's premise is similar to The Long Kiss Goodnight's, but unlike that movie, takes its story seriously and aspires to work as both a thriller and a character-oriented drama, which it does. Once Bourne's past is revealed (not that it isn't that hard to figure out), the film loses a bit of momentum, but does wrap things up believably and in a suprisingly somewhat quiet fashion (compared to say, Bond, Triple X, or M:I). For action fans, there's enough here to keep them satisfied, with the standout setpieces being an excellent martial arts fight set in an eerily empty apartment and an exhilarating car chase through the streets of Paris. I've seen at least two other films with auto chases set in Paris (Ronin, The Transporter) and this one's my favorite, even though it's also the shortest and features the least attractive car (a mini as compared to an Audi in Ronin and a BMW in The Transporter). There are a few disappointments here and there, particularly Bourne's showdown with The Professor (Clive Owen), which concludes rather abruptly considering the huge build-up. Julia Stiles is also in the film, and her presence is rather distracting (I can't look at her without thinking, "Hey, it's Julia Stiles!") in a role that could have been played by just about anyone. But in the end, The Bourne Identity succeeds because it rarely goes over-the-top (no megalomaniacal billionaires here), maintains an even tone, and establishes likeable characters and good storytelling.
Rating:
Summary: At least Matt Damon Is Better Than Ben Afleck
Review: At first I couldn't see Matt Damon as an action star, but after watching him in "The Bourne Identity" he passes the test. Matt plays Jason Bourne, a government agent who doesn't know what's going on. After he's found alive by a fishing crew with two bullets in his back, he quickly is on the hunt for his identity. He has skills that everyday people do not, and knows just how to use them. He discovers that he has many passports with many identities, but doesn't know why. He meets up with a gypsy (Franka Potente) who has nothing except a car. A series of near death expierences follow and then Jason saves the day. The way they end it means there will be a sequel, but that doesn't mean there should be one. Overall a decent movie with great action sequences, but not worthy of a second run.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Based upon Robert Ludlum's book. Played by a couple of excellent actor. This movie was absolutely great from the beginning to the end.
A man wakes up and finds himself in a ship. He can't remember a thing not even his name. He's lost and he'll have to find himself including his identity. But how's that possible when he is haunted by people with the very "same" problem! The greatest thriller I've seen in years and I watch movies in daily basis. HIGHLY Recommended
Rating:
Summary: Jason's not paranoid, he's just in a tough spot.
Review: I'll be honest, I haven't read the Robert Ludlum novel, nor do I remember seeing the original film staring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith. So I'm not able to point out differences or inconsistencies, if indeed there are any. Having said that, I can't imagine its predecessor's topping Doug Liman's version of "The Bourne Identity." This is the sort of film I like to watch pretty often and each time I find something new to enjoy. The plot, while nothing very original, provides a useful framework around which we get to enjoy some of the most believable action sequences I've seen. Let's face it, an assassin suffering from amnesia is not going to lead a dull life, particularly not after his "friends" decide he's gone rogue. There's only so many ways you can film stunts and action sequences like a car chase but Liman has managed to somehow make the many action scenes seem fresh. I particularly liked seeing what looked like a mini-minor out driving the police using skill and good planing, rather than a high-powered engine or death-defying jumps. Most of the movie follows Jason Bourne, (Matt Damon), as he tries to reclaim his life and survive to see each new day. In this way, the audience is allowed to discover the pieces of the puzzle along with him. On the way he forms an unequal partnership with Marie Kreutz, (Franka Potente). It is good to see a female lead portrayed without either weakness or an unrealistic macho streak. Hopefully, this film will launch Franka's Hollywood career because she has more than earned her stripes in German cinema. Jason and Marie inevitably bond but despite not taking a major part of the narrative, I felt their stop-start romance suited the film. Perhaps a woman with no home makes a good match for a man with no past. I also liked the several times the couple tried to split up, to get Marie out of Bourne's troubles but I especially liked the realism when they finally managed to part. The plot really doesn't need her but it seems Liman used Marie as a means of reminding Bourne that there is more to life than survival. To some it would be nice to wake up one day and discover you were a sort of superman; able to speak half a dozen languages, had tens of thousands in a Swiss bank account and could out-fight Bruce Lee. His boss said it best when he described Jason as a $30,000,000 weapon. But more than advanced skills, Jason was gifted with intelligence and the experience of years of spy craft, even if he couldn't remember it. The thoughtful approach taken to achieve each objective, even on the spur of the moment, made the film almost educational. Hey, read a map before running from the police, use distraction and decoys to sidetrack you opponent, use the resources around you and think laterally. It's all good stuff for budding spies. While Matt Damon played the part with little emotion, deliberately I assume, some of the smaller roles were outstanding. Each seemed to wring so much depth from so few minutes of screen time that I felt like watching a spin-off movie for each of them. Probably the most affecting was the performance of Clive Owen, a fellow assassin who dies describing his constant headaches and bitter loneliness. Also of note is Julia Stiles, the overworked safe-house administrator; she exudes competence while comÂplaining of limited resources. All of these performÂance gems must be a credit to Liman's direction. It would be easy to dismiss "The Bourne Identity" as just another action flick. The action was great, but the true heart of the film was Jason's odyssey to reclaim his soul from the depths of a CIA black-ops hell. He used to be an amoral machine, doing his job without questioning the rightness of his work, just like the rest of them. But amnesia gave him the chance to step back from the abyss and evaluate his fate, eventually choosing to tear a new path into the future. The moral? Perhaps it's that "freedom" is more important than "patriotism."
Rating:
Summary: A MUST MUST MUST MUST SEE!
Review: the bourne identity us amazing! i love it. i now have this craving for a new spy movie that reaches the same level of supense and action. i can not find one that came even close. i have seen it over 12 times. i would get in a fullscreen format, though. if you go on this page to buy the movie and ou decide not to i think you might try again because this is a mmmmmuuuuuusssssstttt see!
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