The Bourne Identity (DVD 2004)

Based on a book by Robert Ludlum,
Excellent interpretation of the book, a movie with great production values makes this thriller ‘a one to watch’ for action fans.

Speaking with ‘hindsight’ this is a great start to a three film franchise.

Plot summary:

Some fishermen pull a body of a man from the sea, even though he has two bullet holes in him, he is alive, and unfortunately he cannot remember who he is.

During the removal of the bullets an implant is discovered containing the number of a Swiss bank account.

Once healed the young man goes to Zurich accesses the account and discovers his name is Jason Bourne, also within the deposit box is a large amount of cash and numerous passports with his picture on them.

When confronted, his reflex reaction is to use his awesome martial arts skills, during the journey to discover who he is, other skills become apparent.

This journey will take him to confront directly with the CIA

Nice extras on this special edition DVD. For those wanting value for money try the boxset with all three films.

Robert Ludlum's labyrinthine thrillers have already attracted the attention of such film makers as John Frankenheimer ("The Holcroft Covenant") and Sam Peckinpah ("The Osterman Weekend"). However, it has taken the hip, quirky sensibility of Doug Liman ("Slackers") to bring his prose into the 21st century.

The result is "The Bourne Identity", a fast-paced, unpredictable and edgy yarn that breathes new life into the espionage thriller genre. Liman's secret weapon is Matt Damon who, despite being ten years younger than Ludlum's Jason Bourne, offers an interesting variation on classic spies like Harry Palmer and George Smiley.

When we first meet Bourne, he is a half-dead amnesiac rescued at sea with no identifying marks beside the bullets in his back and a Swiss bank account number embedded in his hip. Travelling from Marseilles to Zurich to Paris, Jason must work out who he is before the assassins sent by his former employers catch up with him.

It's an ingenious set-up that culminates in a thrilling "Italian Job"-style chase through the streets of Paris in a beaten-up old Mini. Unfortunately there's still an hour to go, and the subsequent diversion into the French countryside conspicuously lacks the energy and pace of what precedes it.

Franka Potente of "Run Lola Run" fame is shamefully wasted as Damon's love interest, and it would have been nice to see more of Clive Owen as one of the ruthless killers on Jason's trail. But this is still a sharply written and slickly edited above average blockbuster affair.

Went to see the 3rd film in the series at the cimena. I liked it so much that I decided that I needed to get the othe two. This is One of them.
A very good film and I enjoyed it a great deal.

A brilliant film, watched it many times and will probably watch it some more.
They do not come much better than this. Unmissable.

Was bought for my Husband who thought it was excellent. He now has the full set and has thoroughly enjoyed all these movies.

Had been given the two follow up dvd, so although had seen it before, needed to complete the set, it's one of those all actio packed movies you can watch again and again, as another little twist gets discovered at each viewing

A gripping action movie with awesome car chases...saw the tail end on television and knew it would have to be seen in its entirety.
First in a trilogy... so then bought the other two on Ebay....Brilliant !!