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Amazon.co.uk Review
Freely adapted from Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller, The Bourne Identity starts fast and 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 activities, recruits a penniless German traveler (Run Lola Run's Franka Potente) to assist in solving the puzzle of his missing identity. While his CIA superior (Chris Cooper) dispatches assassins to kill Bourne and thus cover up his failed mission, Bourne exercises his lethal training to leave a trail of bodies from Switzerland to Paris. Director Doug Liman (Go) infuses Ludlum's intricate plotting with a maverick's eye for character detail, matching breathtaking action with the humorous, thrill-seeking chemistry of Damon and Potente. Previously made as a 1988 TV movie starring Richard Chamberlain, The Bourne Identity benefits from the sharp talent of rising stars, offering intelligent, crowd-pleasing excitement from start to finish. --Jeff Shannon
On the DVD:
Created to take advantage of the sequel playing in cinemas at the same time as this release, the "Explosive Extended" edition of The Bourne Identity is neither. Unlike many special editions, this is a still a single disc and several of the original DVD features--like the DTS and commentary tracks--are jettisoned for more extras, most of which are lightweight 3- to 6-minute featurettes. The new beginning and ending is incorrectly advertised as an extended edition--the feature is the same as the theatrical, and the new footage is seen à la carte, with explanations. These "bookend scenes" were shot after 9/11, an insurance policy for the filmmakers who were unsure how a spy film would play. Fortunately, the scenes were dropped and the results here are more a curio than anything else. The new featurettes are ordinary filler, pumped up with film clips and hooks for the sequel. A nice exception is a sound-mix segment and an all-too-quick recollection of author Robert Ludlum. Funny that "explosive" would be word chosen to represent a film that was quite proud of going out of its way not to be just a dumb, explosion-filled action film. --Doug Thomas
Synopsis
As The Bourne Identity begins, a man who may or may not be Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is found floating in the Mediterranean Sea and is hauled onto a fishing boat. When the ship's doctor examines the unconscious castaway, he discovers two bullet wounds and an implanted device that displays a Swiss bank account number. With nothing but this code, the amnesiac Bourne travels to Zurich and gains access to a safe-deposit box containing a gun, thousands of dollars in various currencies, and valid passports from numerous countries--each listing a different identity. Within minutes, Bourne is on the run from a seemingly ever-present agency, relying on language and fighting skills he didn't even know he possessed. Offering $20,000 for a ride to Paris, Bourne gains the reluctant help of the nomadic Marie (Franka Potente). Meanwhile, the shadowy organization, headed by a tough-talking bureaucrat (Chris Cooper), sends numerous assassins (including the Professor, played by Clive Owen) after Bourne and Marie. As their situation grows more perilous, the two strangers struggle to find out who Bourne really is and why they are being hunted.
Doug Liman's adaptation of Robert Ludlum's best-selling novel is a remarkable exercise in straightforward storytelling, with the director wisely choosing to focus on Bourne and his quest for identity. The fight sequences are thrilling, but never overly glamorized, and the film's pacing is engaging and deliberate. Damon, who displays genuine bewilderment as his character discovers his almost-superhuman abilities, anchors the proceedings with the subtle charm of an unlikely action hero. Potente also shines as Bourne's road companion, a savvy woman who slowly builds an utterly believable relationship with the confused man. Bearing distinct affinity for its European setting and classic Hollywood suspense films, The Bourne Identity succeeds as an unusually smart character-driven thriller.
Doug Liman's adaptation of Robert Ludlum's best-selling novel is a remarkable exercise in straightforward storytelling, with the director wisely choosing to focus on Bourne and his quest for identity. The fight sequences are thrilling, but never overly glamorized, and the film's pacing is engaging and deliberate. Damon, who displays genuine bewilderment as his character discovers his almost-superhuman abilities, anchors the proceedings with the subtle charm of an unlikely action hero. Potente also shines as Bourne's road companion, a savvy woman who slowly builds an utterly believable relationship with the confused man. Bearing distinct affinity for its European setting and classic Hollywood suspense films, The Bourne Identity succeeds as an unusually smart character-driven thriller.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having read the Ludlum - Jason Bourne trilogy of which Bourne Identity is the first, it is a little disappointing when I think how much has been left out of the printed version. Nevertheless, on its own, it is a superb thriller which Matt Damon really did justice to.
Just a shame to see how Hollywood is making people lazy to pick up a good book. Check out the 3-in-one trilogy....1400 pages (I just checked - :-)) of 'unputdownable' twists and suspense-ful turns, you wont regret it.
"...Cain is for Carlos, Delta is for Cain".
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you have read the book, the film is a shock as the story line has little resemblance. Although the stories start the same, the book and the film soon diverge. Gone are the clever twists and turns, gone is the mystery and bournes feeling of utter dispair as sinister events emerge around him. Gone is the core of the original story, the international terrorist Carlos the Jackal and the complex intrigue around him, the international conspiracies, the betrayals and gone is the crucial leading lady (replaced by a much weaker character). The eighties version, with Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith was much truer to the book.
Having said all that, this film is very good. You become sympathetic to Bourne (well played by Matt Damon) who struggles as the wounded amnesiac who discovers his mulitple identities, that everyone he meets either wants to arrest him or kill him and his ability to disarm and disable police, soldiers and assasins alike. He slowly works out who is behind his problems, his true identity and role in the dangerous world he finds himself in. His leading lady doesn't need to be the strong willed doctor of the book, because there is less for her to contend with in this simplified plot.
The car chase is good, the martial arts are good and the modified story, despite some obvious flaws is good enough.
Having said all that, this film is very good. You become sympathetic to Bourne (well played by Matt Damon) who struggles as the wounded amnesiac who discovers his mulitple identities, that everyone he meets either wants to arrest him or kill him and his ability to disarm and disable police, soldiers and assasins alike. He slowly works out who is behind his problems, his true identity and role in the dangerous world he finds himself in. His leading lady doesn't need to be the strong willed doctor of the book, because there is less for her to contend with in this simplified plot.
The car chase is good, the martial arts are good and the modified story, despite some obvious flaws is good enough.
This is worth watching if the proper tale of Bourne and his complex Identity doesn't bother you.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on the novel by Robert Ludlum, the Bourne Identity is a great example of the genre, quick, stylish and sharp. The action sequences, whilst not ground breaking, are classy and realistic, never giving the viewer the feeling that the hero (matt Damon) is invincible (like many other modern action films). The car chase however shines out, maybe one of the best ever, rivaling classics such as the italian job and ressembling that of Ronin. The direction and acting does a superb job of making the story believable when it could easily have been farsicle. If your looking for an entertaining 2 hours of fast paced action and stylish espionage then this film's for you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
did I get wat I paid for?
well, it plays, but the film is much duller, darker?, than as ive seen it on the same telly when broadcast from itv, but the sounds ok, so if im goin blind, at least im not deaf!! Read more
Published 7 days ago by oldgit
The Bourne Identity DVD
The three Bourne fims are really very good but it's important to see them in the correct order. Although I had seen all three at the cinema it's been great to watch them again -... Read more
Published 9 months ago by tillybean
Lets down the book
Having read the book which I thoroughly enjoyed, I thought that I would enjoy the film too... how wrong was I? Read more
Published 11 months ago by DD2060
bourne identity
The bourne identity is the first film in a series of stories about jason bourne (matt damon). The film is rated 12 and runs for nearly 2 hours. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Luke Thrower
Purchased for my husband in fact the whole Bourne series
My husband has always said he wanted to keep the whole series of Bourne collection so I purchased it for Christmas. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by Mrs. E. M. Cullis
Sparkling, Brilliant Bourne
I ignored the release of the Bourne movies and didn't take much notice of them when they were first released on DVD. Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2009 by luvstuff
Awesome bourne
The 1st part of the trilogy is unmissable, very original approach, love it to death !
Published on 16 April 2009 by Vishal
Painting by numbers
I bought the DVD as I thought it was a good film. I watched about 20 minutes and turned it off as I couldn't stand anymore. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by B. Wimsett
Brilliant Bourne, better than Bond
Jason Bourne (Damon) is suffering from amnesia. He finds a bullet in his back with a bank code and sets on a journey to find his identity. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2008 by Stampy
Excellent thriller
I can't comment on whether this film is as good as the original or even whether it is faithfully adapted from the book, but as a thriller, it certainly doesn't disappoint. Read more
Published on 22 May 2008 by Bezerus Bezby
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