The Bourne Identity (2002)

His Review:

A man is pulled into a fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea, shot and has amnesia.  The only clue to his identity is a number on a device found inside his body and it leads him to a bank in Zürich.  When confronted by authority, this man, who learns his name is Jason Bourne, discovers he has a skill set high in combat, martial arts and espionage.  As he is being chased, he meets a woman named Marie (Franka Potente), who he pays to take him to Paris, and soon is linked with Bourne.  She isn’t safe, and he not only has to protect himself, but her as well.  As Bourne learns more and more about himself and the special assignment he was sent on, the men behind “Operation Treadstone” are hot on his trail and want him dead.

Based on the novels by Robert Ludlum, The Bourne Identity is the 1st of 3 movies that star Matt Damon as Jason Bourne as he tries to regain his memory and figure out what happened regarding Operation Treadstone.  After having seen all 3 movies, and knowing how it turns out, rewatching the first movie is surprisingly dry.  It is basically about a guy who doesn’t know what is going on, running from the cops while a bunch of guys at the CIA want to kill her over something called “Treadstone.”  Once you watch the other 2 movies, Supremacy and Ultimatum, the first will take shape with a purpose, but until then, be prepared for plenty of confusion and asking yourself, “Who is that guy?”  My best advice regarding the Bourne movies is to watch all of them before really analyzing the series, and then rewatch them.  It’s like the first Mission Impossible, you learn something new with each viewing.  Besides that fact, The Bourne Identity is full of intense moments of action, chases and gun fights.  Co-starring Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Clive Owen, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

7/10 Stars – The star of a great series, but the beginning can take it’s time getting on a roll.  Be patient!

Click below for links to IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258463/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bourne_identity/