DVD Review: Bourne Identity, The (B-)

Bourne Identity, The (2002)
Directed by Doug Liman
Starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, Josh Hamilton, Julia Stiles and Clive Owen
MPAA:PG-13
Grade: B-

Review by Scott Standish

I was a fan of the old James Bond movies. You know the ones where Sean Connery wasn't afraid to punch someone in the nose or Roger Moore would just as soon sleep with a double agent as he would double cross her. Today's James Bond characters seem more concerned with how good they look than actually doing some damage. That's why I like the Bourne Identity hero, Jason Bourne. He doesn't even know who he is, so he's not concerned with looking cool. He just wants to get the hell out of the mess he's found himself in.

The Bourne Identity opens with Jason Bourne's body being fished out of the sea. He's been left for dead. He awakes and like Frankenstein's monster, he A) doesn't know who he is and B) doesn't know why everyone is trying to hunt him down. Matt Damon turns in a very believable performance here and co-star Franka Potente is excellent as usual. This is a tight, well done thriller that frankly, was a little better than I was expecting (yes, I admit it - I went into this thinking that it would suck.)

The Bourne Identity is a decent popcorn movie, a little guilty pleasure for those of us that like to get carried away into the action once in a while. Go into it with low expectations, and you will actually find yourself entertained.

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