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The Bourne Identity (Widescreen Collector's Edition)

The Bourne Identity (Widescreen Collector's Edition)

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An Razor-Sharp Action/Thriller.
Review: When a man (Oscar-Winner:Matt Damon) was pulled from the Sea with Two Bullets on his back. But this man has the skills of a Dangerous Man and No Memory of his Violent Past. Then he discovers his identity by the name of Jason Bourne and the most shocking truth that he is a Top Elite Gouverment Agent. But to the gouverment, Jason Bourne isn`t just their proprety, He`s a Malfunctioning Thirty Millin Dollar Weapon. Bourne is lethally trained and built to disappear. Once the gouverment try to solve their problem and the gouverment top operative are now after Bourne. Which Bourne has become their Number One Target. Bourne`s only help is a young woman (Franka Potente), who later become his friend and they help eachother for survival.

Directed by Doug Liman (Go, Mr. and Miss. Smith, Swingers) made a entertaining, fast-paced action thriller that is Based on a Novel by Robert Ludlum. Which Ludlum did Executive Produced the film before he passed on. This Popular Novel is actually a Remake of a T.V. Movie starring Richard Chamberland & Jacqueline Bisset. The Film`s Top Cast are Terrific, including:(Oscar-Winner:Chris Cooper), Clive Owen, Brain Cox, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Gabriel Mann, Walton Waggins, Josh Hamliton and Julia Stiles. Although Stiles seems a bit too young to play a Top Operative Computer Expert. This is One of the Biggest Hits of 2002. DVD`s has a sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an terrific-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (also in DTS 5.1 Surround Sound). The Bourne Identity is actually One-Third of a Movie, because there`s two another Ludlum Novels, which they are the Continuning Adventures of Bourne. Matt Damon brings a believable action hero performance in the film (Although some will might disagree), which Damon will be on the two another films. Screenplay by Tony Gilroy (Dolores Claiborne) and William Blake Herron (White on White). Executive Produced by Frank Marshall (The Indiana Jones Trilogy, The Sixth Sense). Super 35. Grade:A-.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: BOURNE TO RUN
Review: Matt Damon in his first "action hero" role is very good as the amnesiac Jason Bourne, who wakes up on a fishing ship not knowing anything about his past. As in all covert agent movies, Bourne is being hunted by his superiors to eliminate him since he failed in his mission. Damon has the right amount of boyish exuberance and masculine machismo to infuse life and credibility into his unbelievable predicament. Franka Potente is a good foil and companion for Damon in her role as his reluctant sidekick; her transformation from coquettish flirt to persistent helper is well done. Clive Owen in a small role as an assassin has a very good scene in which he extols the life of the undercover agent just before he bites the dust. Academy award winner Chris Cooper joins such notables as Al Pacino (Recruit), James Caan (Eraser) as the superior who will go to any lengths to tidy up a mess. Brian Cox and Julia Stiles round out the cast, but their performances are merely acceptable and nothing other talented actors couldn't have done..maybe even better.
I didn't see the first version of this (with Richard Chamberlain), so I can't compare; I also haven't read Mr. Ludlum's book..but this is a well done, well directed action movie, and I look forward to the sequel.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A thirty million dollar killing machine with a bad memory
Review: This film seemed to vanish quickly, so easily confused with about a dozen lesser films about spies and rampant covert operations. That's a shame, because this one is a cut above the rest that may have to wait a few years to get its due.

If you like spy films, or just well made action films that don't fizz at the end, you really should add this one to your collection. It's from the Robert Ludlum book, all about a highly and expensively trained covert agent suffering from amnesia. What this film has going for it is the following:

Director, Doug Liman, demonstrates an expert hand at action sequences. When master killing machine, Jason Bourne, senses something isn't right, Liman's expert film making begins to ratchet up the tension almost subconsciously. By the time the action comes, the viewer has been expertly brought to the edge of his seat. These action sequences build to a perfect climax of violence that is always satisfying. The fight scenes are among the finest I have seen in any recent film. There is nothing in this director's resume to suggest this, but trust me; he knows what he's doing. All the action has real weight and danger, which is an almost specialized talent for directors. Think Walter Hill. Thing Sam Peckinpah.

This movie also has brilliant, believable performances all around.

First and foremost among them, Matt Damon simply does everything right in this role. In an action film, often the lead isn't called upon to do a lot of top drawer acting, which is fine. Being believable in an action scene is talent enough, in my book. But in this role, Matt Damon is required to do some old-school, plain old acting, and he more than meets the challenge. See, the hook of this film is the main character, Jason Bourne, is waking up from an amnesia fog and slowly discovers his immense, instinctive prowess as a killer/agent. So the actor must make a shift now and then from moments of confusion and innocence to complete mastery of any physical situation. In addition, the character is slowly coming to the conclusion that the memories he has of his passed life, he no longer wants. In short, he does not want the life he is remembering. Damon is very touching in these scenes, and his acting is very, very solid. His performance here, and in The Talented Mr. Ripley, is so good it makes you wonder why he hangs around Ben Afleck.

Franka Potente, the actress who plays his romantic interest, is such an incredible actress. She is simply a pleasure to watch, and she always brings such authenticity to her roles. She is no model turned actress, this one. She demonstrated her action/acting chops in Run, Lola, Run, a few years ago, and it was a brilliant move casting her here. She is simply beautiful in a very unique way, and she can act the socks of the current crop of female leads. Potente always looks in place in al her roles, and it's a damn shame she doesn't get more work.

Finally, the smaller parts shine as well. My favorite being the assassin sent to kill Bourne, played with black-eyed menace by Clive Owen. It's a very small part, but crucial, and Owen makes the most of it. Also, the always reliable Chris Cooper and Brian Cox are on board as the sinister, competent bosses of the covert operations.

This is really a great addition to any action DVD collection. -Mykal Banta

Rating: 3 stars
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: 3 stars
Summary: Hunting poor Matt
Review: Jason Bourne wakes up on a fishing boat in the middle of the Mediterranean sea with two bullets in his back and no idea of who he is or how he got there. Sounds pretty much like an average Sunday morning to me...
He then goes on to discover he can beat up policemen with impunity, scale walls and pick up hot chicks at will. I guess that's where our paths diverge...
The Bourne Identity is a diverting if somewhat insubstantial thriller. It has the power to shock and, yes, thrill the first time around, but repeated viewings add nothing, except for a bewildering sense of how amazing technology is and how poor secret agents are at using it. Bourne relies on miraculous escape after miraculous escape and gets by on chance, fortitude and circumstance. Certainly doesn't reinforce one's faith in the "intelligence agencies". The plot is nicely played and well acted and the car chase bits are good, as is the tension between the main characters, but the love story that grows out of that is unbelievable and diverts from the main theme of the movie -
"Matt Damon can kick butt too!"

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Enjoyable thriller with some good action scenes
Review: I enjoyed this. It was good to see it brought into the 21st century, the 1988 Richard Chamberlain version did follow the book better but Matt Damon was pretty hot as the confused and memory challenged assassin Jason Bourne who wakes up on a ship with two bullet holes in his back and no memory of who he is or how he ended up in the middle of the ocean in a wet suit and a numbered Swiss Bank Account embedded in his hip.

Jason soon becomes aware that he is no ordinary man. He speaks several languages fluently and he can kill silently and efficiently. All of this adds to his confusion, and we are treated to a mad, frantic dash through the streets of various European Cities as Jason tries to remember who he is and what the word Treadstone means before he ends up on a slab in a morgue...

Franka Potente plays the young German woman who helps Jason find out who he is, she is pretty good as his love interest, being both brave and vulnerable in the same breath, you will probably remember her from "Run Lola Run" a quirky little film slightly reminiscent of the concept of "Sliding Doors" but with a sharper more violent edge.

"The Bourne Identity" is a fairly fast paced movie that is nothing like the book it is taken from which is a shame because the book is excellent; however this is a good little film in its own right. Not one that I would have gone to the big screen to see but I do think it is worthy of a DVD and its one I would watch again and again just for the excellent fight scenes and great chases especially the first car chase with a battered mini and some fantastic stunt driving.

Enjoyable and very watchable in my opinion.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DAMN IT WAS GOOD
Review: This was one movie I liked in 2002 because Matt Damon acted out the role very well and the film was just non stop action and thriller all the way. You can just tell that Matt Damon doesnt do much talking but acts out majority of the time, which I think is good. It is a great movie, see it

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Premise impossible to relate to and I actually fell asleep
Review: This 2002 film is based on the novel by Robert Ludlum. Matt Damon is cast in the role of a man rescued from the sea by some French fishermen. He has two bullet holes in his back as well as a small vial under his skin which reveals the number of a Swiss bank account. He just doesn't know his name or anything else about himself.

So far so good. It's rather intriguing to watch Damon's acting, especially when he goes to the Swiss bank and discovers passports from many countries with his photo as well as lots of cash. And, by the way, he also finds himself fluent in French and German as well as English.

All of a sudden, his life is in danger. And so is the life of the pretty girl, played by Frank Potente, who only meant to give him a lift to Paris and never meant the relationship to develop past that. Ha Ha!

Somehow the CIA is involved and paid assassins are sent to kill our hero. Chris Cooper is cast as the evil CIA commander. It's an easy role and certainly below the quality of fine acting demanded in other films such as Seabiscuit and Adaptation. But I guess that the powers that be know that he'll be good in whatever role is cast his way.

There's lots of action, several murders and many chase scenes. And I think I was supposed to care. But I found the premise impossible to relate to, and the action similar to that in a thousand other films. And when the plot got confusing, I actually fell asleep and missed the last 20 minutes of the film.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Damon shines in this one
Review: Jason Bourne is a CIA operative who kills for a living. His hesitation to kill in one instance nearly costs him his life and results in almost complete memory loss. His life is saved by a group of fishermen who rescue him unconscious on the open seas.

The rest of the movie deals with his attempts to regain his memory. He meets up with a German girl in Zurich who helps him along the way, and suprise, suprise they get romantically involved. Will these cliche'd romances ever end in film?

The film is action-packed from start to finish. Matt Damon is convincing as an assassin and perhaps his work in the Talented Mr. Ripley helped to create this impression for me. There aren't any suprises in the story and most of it is fairly straightfoward. So if you like movies which keep you guessing till the end, this one may not be your cup of tea.

If on the other hand, you love action films, which aren't totally mindless (See all films by Schwarzenegger) and have great acting, then this film may be for you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Exceptional!
Review: I thought Matt Damon's role in The Bourne Identity was every bit as good at Richard Chamberlin's in the original version, and maybe even better. The updating made the movie look great, and Matt has great expressions that can convey meaning without words. I like Richard Chamberlin, but I'm not sure he'd be able to do that. Great entertainment here and well worth adding to your collection!


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